Love's New Bloom by Simone Hastings

Chapter 49 Awkward Encounter

“What?” Erin thought she misheard him.

Her surprise looked like disappointment in Caleb’s eyes. If he had made the right guess, that wouldn’t be her reaction.

He lowered his gaze and said calmly, “It’s nothing. I was just joking.”

“Joking?”

Erin was still a little confused, but Caleb had already changed the topic. “What would you like to eat? I’ve already ordered some food. Have some with me. If you don’t think it’s enough, we can order more.”

Erin shook her head at Caleb, who passed the menu to her. She said, “It’s my treat! You paid for coffee last time.”

Caleb found it hard to accept her way of thinking. He said with a smile, “You don’t have to count down to the penny with me. Do you think I’d be so broke that I can’t afford to buy you a meal? If that’s the case, it would humiliate me as the director!

Erin immediately explained, “Mr. Grant, don’t take this the wrong way! That’s not my intention! I just think that as colleagues, we should pay for ourselves.”

What she said instantly drew a line between them. Caleb’s hand that was picking his glass of water up stiffened in midair. He looked at Erin for a long while, speechless. Naturally, he looked unpleasant. When he came to his senses, he took a sip of water and placed the glass down.

He sighed and said, “You don’t have to reject me so fast. I’ve already said that I’ll wait for you to deal with your relationships.”

Erin didn’t know what else to say. She felt if she were to continue being overly polite with him, it would hurt him, so she merely smiled at

Caleb and remained silent. 1

When the food was served, they ate in silence.

Right at that moment, lan and Tracy exited the booth to pay for their meal. Walking past the open seating area, they noticed Erin and Caleb sitting by the window.

Tracy sneered and said, “lan, look at how desperate Erin is. She has barely divorced you, yet she has already found a new lover.”

from Erin and Caleb. Tracy clearly said those words so that Erin could hear her. At that point, lan could no longer pretend he didn’t see them, even if he wanted to. After

distancing himself from her made Tracy grit her teeth. She knew that

and Tracy right at that moment. When she

appetite and placed her cutlery

was dressed in a revealing outfit. He could not hide

they were. He ignored them and merely placed a piece of steak onto Erin’s plate.

how thin you’ve

lan’s instinct immediately told him that this good–looking man liked Erin! His suppressed anger was instantly raging. He walked over to Erin and said mockingly, “Erin,

reached his right hand out, saying, “Hello, I’m

hand and shook it out of

ex–husband. From what I can remember, I don’t

your ex–wife. It’s only normal that you won’t know about

interesting friend, but how come he doesn’t even know you don’t like beef? Turns out your friendship is not quite what it seems.”

upon hearing what lan said. Erin was also speechless, being put on the

He said, “Have a nice meal. We’re

at him for

looked at Caleb and forced a smile. “I’m sorry you had to witness

sat down and looked at her. He said with a guilty tone. “I’m sorry, I don’t even

normal since I’ve never told you. You’ve never asked me

He tried hard to suppress his excitement and asked her

had indeed gotten divorced from lan, she no longer needed to hide it, so she

nodded.

her hand. “Congratulations!” he said excitedly.

please?”

stunned by Caleb’s sudden confession.

passing by when this happened, and

box in his

already become Mr. Frost’s woman, how could she