Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 22

Hogan and Cecilia’s private room was right next door.

Talk about a crazy coincidence.

“It’s fate.” Darren said with his usual chill vibe, his voice gentle. “Hogan, mind if we have a drink. together?”

Hogan’s response came cool and distant, “Is that appropriate?”

There wasn’t any emotion in his voice.

Darren joked half–seriously, “Mr. Zade, are you giving me the cold shoulder?”

After that, he called them over to sit down.

The head of the table.

Cecilia had just taken her seat when her eyes suddenly landed on Darren’s camera bag. She exclaimed in surprise. “Wow, the camera bag Xaviera was so choosy about turned out to be a gift for Mr. Yearwood.”

Darren paused. “Choosy?”

Cecilia, ever the social butterfly, said in her sweet, soft voice, “Yeah, in the middle of broad daylight, Xaviera ran off to the mall. The sales lady said she took ages to decide.”

After Darren heard this, he glanced my way, a twinkle in his eye.

feel kinda embarrassed.

too expensive or too cheap wouldn’t be right. Of course, I had to pick carefully.

painting it this way, it seemed like I’d gone to great lengths.

was slightly annoyed, hoping to get the meal

“Xaviera, you’re sitting over there.”

pointed to the seat

of Darren’s, didn’t know the backstory between Hogan

just like that, with his cue, all eyes, as if on cue, turned to me.

still two seats open, but if I stubbornly refused to go over, it would be a bit of a slap in Darren’s face.

a scene and quietly took

the corner of my eye, I felt a gaze brushing past me, and when

11:40

cleaning utensils

were now tainted with the scent of everyday

food and drinks were served, and after toasting the

when Cecilia’s sweet voice floated over from two guys away, “Xaviera, Mr. Yearwood, thanks to you both, I’ve had

with

extra emphasis on

lingered in my chest all night suddenly spread in that second, rushing

about to

pick up on it and spoke calmly, “Ms. Irwin, you are mistaken. Xaviera and