Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 198

A bunch of people swarmed around the entrance, suddenly making the spacious hall feel cramped.

Even the air seemed to freeze.

I thought to myself, if Darren hadn’t shown up just in the nick of time, I bet these folks would start thinking I was up to no good again, right?

And Darren, clueless as ever, didn’t seem to notice the mix of looks being thrown his way. He gave me a gentle glance and then politely said hi to Hogan and Hilary.

Hogan was his usual self, all cool, calm, and collected, without a flicker of emotion on his poker face.

But Hilary couldn’t take her eyes off Darren, with a hint of nosiness in her gaze, and she said, “Professor Yearwood is all dressed up today; I could hardly recognize him without a closer look.”

That’s when I noticed Darren had gone all out, wearing a charcoal grey single–breasted suit and crease–free trousers, which gave him a more businesslike and polished vibe, dialing down his usual casual and laid–back look.

Pretty snazzy.

in his even–keeled manner. “You flatter me, ma’am. To have

Cecilia, who was standing by, chimed in, “Congrats Xaviera, it

where Cecilia got the idea that I was meeting Darren’s parents, I frowned slightly and lost all

my breath on someone who doesn’t

the straightforward guy he is, sincerely said. “Ms. Irwin, you’ve got it wrong. We’re just having tea with the elders. Besides, you

to Hogan with a helpless

give a straight answer. He glanced at my face briefly before shifting his

was a hint of mockery in

to

tried to smooth things over by softly suggesting, “Shouldn’t we go to the elders?

down at me, and our eyes met, then he quickly got the hint. “Look at me, all caught up

understandingly, with a smile in her eyes, “It’s not polite to make the

any further and

heard Hogan say, “Now that everyone’s here, let’s go in too.”

entered the hall one after the other, and just as we were nearing our booth, Darren suddenly stopped and looked

“What’s up?”