Free Web NovelChapter 297: Chapter 295: He’s Leaving
Inside the mall, Julian Vaughn consulted the directory and asked her what she wanted to eat.
Mia Grant took a look and pointed to a hot pot chain on it.
Julian Vaughn checked the location, smiled, and nodded. "Let’s go. It’s up this way."
Mia Grant followed quietly.
Fortunately, it wasn’t too crowded today, so they didn’t need to wait for a table.
Yawning, Mia Grant ordered using the tablet, then handed it to him. "I’m done. See if you want to add anything."
Julian Vaughn took it, casually added two desserts, and placed the order.
Two minutes later, a figure stopped by their table. Mia Grant, thinking the hot pot base had arrived, quickly sat up straight.
The moment she looked up, her gaze met a pair of eyes as dark as ink.
She froze. "Kian..."
The figure smoothly sat down in the empty seat next to her. Mia Grant quickly scooted over. "Be careful. Don’t bump your leg."
She looked around but didn’t see Aaron or the others.
She couldn’t help but frown. "Are you alone?"
"Yes. They’re eating downstairs."
Mia Grant was surprised. "Then what are you doing here?"
"I saw you."
As the two were talking, a hand reached out from across the table and placed a glass of lemonade next to Kian Keller.
The conversation halted. Mia Grant and Kian Keller simultaneously looked up at the person opposite them.
Julian Vaughn smiled slightly. "Mr. Keller, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Julian Vaughn."
Kian Keller stared at him expressionlessly, his gaze as unrestrained as ever, looking at a stranger as if he were an ant.
Mia Grant glanced back and forth between them. Under the table, she quietly raised her hand and poked Kian Keller’s good leg.
His brow twitched, and he finally gave a response. "Mm."
"..."
Mia Grant cleared her throat softly.
Kian Keller’s thin lips parted. "Hello. It’s not our first time meeting. We met once in Portia, a long time ago."
Julian Vaughn was surprised. "Is that so? I don’t seem to recall."
’Something even Julian doesn’t remember, a person like Kian Keller, who looks down on all of humanity, actually remembers?’
’This isn’t normal.’
"A coincidence," Kian Keller said simply.
Just then, a waiter came over with the hot pot base.
Mia Grant had ordered a half-and-half pot, as Julian Vaughn couldn’t eat spicy food.
"Have you eaten, Mr. Keller?"
"No."
"Would you like to...?"
"Sure."
Julian Vaughn paused for a moment, then let out a laugh.
Mia Grant’s mouth twitched. She hadn’t expected Kian Keller to be so forward.
Probably to save her face, he paused for a moment, then offered a perfunctory, yet somewhat polite, "Sorry to intrude."
"It’s no intrusion. We just came out for a casual bite. It’s not like there are any outsiders here."
Julian Vaughn was very understanding.
But for this very reason, Kian Keller found him increasingly disagreeable.
His brow furrowed. He stared at the bubbling pot on the table and pressed his lips together.
He didn’t eat spicy food, nor did he eat hot pot.
A long time ago, back home, Mia Grant used to love eating this kind of thing.
He would barely touch his chopsticks, just watch her eat.
Occasionally, Mia Grant would be mischievous and, when he wasn’t looking, slip a piece of some unknown food into his mouth with her chopsticks.
Once, he choked on a chili pepper and was in discomfort for a long time.
After that, Mia Grant never messed around like that again.
And she basically never ate hot pot in front of him again.
"Don’t you eat this?" Mia Grant glanced at him. "Should I order you something else?"
’This is a hot pot restaurant; there aren’t any other kinds of dishes to eat.’
"It’s fine."
Kian Keller hadn’t come to eat in the first place.
Halfway through the meal, Julian Vaughn said he was going to the restroom.
After he left, Mia Grant immediately put down her chopsticks and looked at Kian Keller. "Weren’t you supposed to be at home today?"
"Yeah, I went to see my grandfather. I saw you on the way back."
Mia Grant nodded. "I see. So you have to go back soon, right?"
Kian Keller hummed in agreement.
"Did you... need me for something?" Mia Grant asked, confused.
’He suddenly showed up, so he definitely didn’t come just to freeload a meal.’
’Knowing Kian Keller’s aloof personality and the fact that he never shows up without a reason, he must have something important to discuss, right?’
"No." He paused, his gaze dropping to look at her.
"You seem nervous?"
"...No kidding." Mia Grant silently rolled her eyes. "The way you were looking at him just now, it was like you wanted to eat him alive. What, does he owe you money?"
"He’s not a good person. Are you two close?"
"Let’s not talk about whether we’re close or not. What’s the definition of a good person?" Mia Grant scooped up a piece of the mousse cake, the dessert Julian Vaughn had ordered for her.
"He’s not as pure and harmless as he appears on the surface. You’re easily fooled by appearances."
"Is that so?" Mia Grant was skeptical.
"Hayes Hughes is an example."
He stared at her coldly, and Mia Grant choked on her words.
"But..." Kian Keller retracted his gaze and continued, "Hayes Hughes bears you no ill will. This Julian Vaughn, I’m not so sure."
"He’s been with the Sinclair Family for many years. Perhaps he was just biding his time."
"Biding his time?" Mia Grant mulled over those words, then chuckled. "Maybe he had that idea before."
"What do you mean?"
"We’ve talked."
"He was completely open with me. While I can’t say for sure if he’s a ’good person,’ it seems he doesn’t have any ulterior motives toward me or the Sinclair Family for now."
"When did you two meet?"
Mia Grant asked. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
Kian Keller processed her words for a moment before speaking:
"A long time ago. It’s been a few years."
"Is he really your brother?"
Mia Grant tilted her head. "I guess so. I did a paternity test with Yuri Sinclair, and there were no issues. As for him, I’m not sure. But since Yuri Sinclair says he is, it should be fine."
"He..."
"Don’t worry, it’ll be fine." freewebnσvel.cøm
Kian Keller was about to say something more when a mouthful of cake was suddenly fed to him.
It was sweet and a little cool.
He glanced to the side, his eyes meeting her mischievous ones.
"Is it good?"
Kian Keller said expressionlessly, "No."
The smile on Mia Grant’s face froze. She shot him a glare. "Then you can just starve."
As soon as she finished speaking, she felt a sudden warmth on her lips.
The kiss was brief, there and gone in an instant.
Mia Grant blinked, looking around. Fortunately, no one had noticed them.
"What are you doing?"
She gently kicked his shoe with her foot.
He picked up the lemonade to rinse his mouth. "Not as good as you."
"..."
Mia Grant was speechless. It took her a good while to process his words. "You need to stop learning all this nonsense from Zelo."
"I’m begging you."
"Just be a normal person."
Kian Keller fell silent.
After dinner, the three of them walked out. Kian Keller offered to see them off.
"No need, it’s just a short walk for us. You should head back," Mia Grant refused.
Kian Keller stood to the side, saying nothing.
Mia Grant waved her hand, ready to leave with Julian Vaughn.
Julian Vaughn glanced behind him and said, "I’m going to grab a coffee over there. Wait for me a second."
’Don’t we have coffee at home?’ Mia Grant wanted to ask, but he was walking so quickly that he was already gone before she could speak.
Behind her, the man’s voice sounded at just the right moment. "After the new year, I’ll be going abroad for a while."
Hearing this, Mia Grant turned around, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Abroad? For what? For work?"
"No."
A thought occurred to Mia Grant. Her gaze shifted downward, landing on his leg, and her heart tightened.
