“Hey, Ms. Daugherty, why’s Mr. Winters here, too?” Serene said as she took Adina‘s arm and pointed at
the bar counter.
Adina looked toward where Serene was pointing and a man sitting at the counter. Although it was just his
side profile, the silhouette alone confirmed that it was Duke.
‘Didn‘t he go searching for Earley? Why is he here?‘
Adina was about to get up when she realized that Duke was facing an equally familiar figure.
It was a woman with blonde chestnut hair and a deep–set face. A foreigner...
‘Wasn‘t this woman the one who visited Duke at the hospital the other day? I think her name was
Catherine, and she‘s a therapist. What are they doing here?‘
Adina‘s doubts disappeared in a flash. She stood up and walked towards them.
“Ms. Daugherty, call Mr. Winters over for a drink with us,” Serene said with a wink.
Although everyone was fearful of Duke’s aura, they were more curious about what he would look like
with Adina by his side, even if it meant having to witness public displays of affection.
Adina laughed. “Alright, I‘ll get him to come and drink with us.”
After she whispered this to Serene, when she raised her head and looked back at the counter, she
realized that Duke had disappeared. Catherine was left sitting alone there with a glass in her hand.
‘Where did he go?‘
Adina rushed over. Even after a cursory look around, she could not find Duke‘s figure.
“Ms. Daugherty, what a coincidence.”
Catherine put down her glass and leveled Adina with a penetrating gaze. A faint smile tugged at the
corners of her mouth.
Adina returned her gaze with a frown. “Where‘s the man who was just drinking with you?”
“Just now?” Catherine raised her eyebrows. “I‘ve been drinking alone here all the while; no one else was
with me. Maybe you were mistaken.”
Adina‘s brows furrowed even tighter.
If it had only been her, she could have seen wrong. But Serene had also seen him.
Duke must have seen her from that angle just now. Why did he leave without saying a word to her?
Adina said airily, “Why are you drinking alone, Ms. Catherine ?”
“Work has been too hectic, so I came here after work to de stress.” After finishing half her glass,
Catherine‘s eyes fell on Adina and ineffably said, “I really admire you, Ms. Daugherty. You are only two
years my senior, yet you have already settled
down with a happy family, four cute kids, and Duke‘s unconditional love. You are the luckiest woman in
the world.”
Adina thought what she said was quite strange. With the same airy tone, she said, “You‘ll meet your
destined one, too, and have children of your own. You don‘t need to admire me for this.”
“Is that so?” Catherine bitterly downed the rest of her glass.
She did have someone she loved, but that man lived in the darkness. That was why she knew that she
would never be in a loving relationship of her own.
Adina was thinking about Duke and was about to give him a call when she heard a commotion at the
bar.
Several bodyguards suddenly stormed into the bar and blocked all the exits.
Then, a man in a suit walked in with his own group.
Catherine‘s hand shook when she saw the newcomer. Through pursed lips, she said, “I need to use the
washroom.”
She set down her glass and hurried away.
Adina frowned again.
She clearly saw Duke drinking with Catherine earlier. Why was he walking in from outside?
The more she thought about it, the more puzzling she found the situation.
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