Free Web NovelChapter 345: Chapter 343: You Really Are a Very Good Girl
At seven o’clock that evening, Mia Grant and Felix Sinclair met alone.
At a restaurant booked by Ian Sinclair, no less.
The thought that Ian had chosen this place made Mia feel strange. Her mind began to wander, and it was only when Felix said her name that her attention snapped back.
Mia stared blankly at him, dazed. "Were you just talking to me?"
Felix had noticed that Mia’s attention had been easily distracted lately.
Thinking about what had happened to her at the hospital last night, combined with what Ian had told him before he came, Felix’s brows furrowed slightly. A flicker of worry crossed his eyes, but he quickly concealed it.
’She’s too perceptive. I can’t let her pick up on these feelings.’
With that in mind, he shook his head gently. "Would you like something to drink?"
Mia thought for a moment. "Red wine?"
Neither of them could hold their liquor particularly well.
But Felix didn’t refuse. "Sure. It’ll help us get a good night’s sleep when we get back."
That was what Mia was thinking, too.
Over the course of the meal, they made small talk about Felix and Simon Adler’s collaboration.
Speaking of Simon, Mia slapped her forehead. "I’m planning on poaching him."
Felix was surprised. After hearing her explain the whole story, he thought for a moment and said, "He’s more agreeable than the rumors suggest."
Mia smiled, propping her chin on her hand and looking at him through the flickering candlelight. "He probably didn’t agree because he’s agreeable."
Felix didn’t understand what she meant.
"He said he likes me," Mia stated bluntly. "So, I think he agreed because he’s still holding out some hope for me."
’Honestly, this isn’t a good deal for him.’
’Maybe Simon really does want a fresh start.’
’But he probably wouldn’t leave Portia, where he’s lived for so many years, or ’betray’ his brothers.’
’And yet, he did it anyway.’
...
Felix’s expression shifted. In just a few seconds, he was already debating whether to terminate the collaboration with Simon’s branch company.
’Then again,’ he thought, ’Mia is about to poach him.’
’It seems there’s no need for that anymore.’
Thinking back to what he had just said, he found it absurd himself.
’Is Simon Adler agreeable?’
’No.’
’It’s not like the two of them have never interacted.’
A while ago, for the sake of their collaboration, he had specifically flown to Portia, and the two of them had a long, face-to-face talk.
That man is not an agreeable person. He’s pragmatic and blunt, unwilling to even bother with pleasantries.
"So, you..." He felt the question was inappropriate, paused, and then stopped himself.
Mia guessed what he wanted to ask. "I don’t like him."
"To be honest, I have no desire to conquer anyone, nor am I a proactive person. If I had any other choice, I would have avoided everyone from the very beginning."
’If I could go back to the very beginning of the story, if I’d been able to escape the prison that is the Grant Family right away, I definitely wouldn’t have gotten involved with any of them.’
’If I could have run, I would have grabbed the money and bolted immediately.’
’Even though I enjoyed the ’battlefield of love’ experience when I read the original book and loved the male lead archetypes, I would never have risked this much.’
’Now, I’m just mentally and physically exhausted.’
’Things like feelings... I can think about them later, after I’ve figured out how to save my own skin and put food on the table.’
’After all, that stuff isn’t a necessity for me.’
’I won’t even consider it until my own life is completely stable.’
’To be brutally honest, love, for me right now, is more of a burden than anything else.’
’If it weren’t for these burdens, if I could be a bit more carefree, I wouldn’t have to agonize so much over every choice.’
’Emotion and logic. Whichever one you choose, as long as you take it to the extreme, there’s no right or wrong.’
’The worst thing is to waver, to let emotion and logic pull you in different directions, to get tangled up.’
’It’s the most foolish thing to do.’
’And apparently, I’m a fool right now.’
The red wine went down her throat, and after a moment, Mia felt a warmth spread through her body.
Her cheeks grew hot.
But she wasn’t drunk yet.
It was easy to drink too much red wine, but Felix kept an eye on the amount, not letting her have too much.
A little bit helps you sleep.
But drink too much, and you’ll just get a headache.
Mia barely ate anything throughout the meal. Ever since she got sick, her appetite had been poor.
She swirled the stemmed glass.
Gazing at the scarlet liquid inside, she thought it was a miracle she hadn’t thrown up yet.
Felix thought she had actually taken his words about not overdoing it to heart, since she had only been taking small sips and hadn’t drunk much.
In reality, the very color of it was enough to make her lose her thirst.
"You probably know what Ian’s goal was for tonight, right?"
"Yeah."
As if she hadn’t heard him, Mia’s lips curled into a smile. Cupping her face in her hands, she said, "That’s just like him. He wants us to ’compare notes’ on our conditions."
’Only he would come up with something like that.’
"How have you been lately?"
After a pause, Felix understood what she was asking and nodded. "I’m fine."
’But you look terrible.’
If someone had to endure this suffering, Felix wished it could be him who was so tormented and distressed right now.
Ever since he got the news last night, he had been thinking about one thing.
Namely—when exactly did Mia get sick?
He was also blaming himself.
’I’m someone who’s ’been there,’ so why didn’t I notice anything?’
He didn’t think it was because she was too good at hiding it; he just felt that he hadn’t been observant enough.
He had overlooked too much.
It seemed he had always been preoccupied with her relationship with Ian, with her relationships with other people, with all sorts of trivial little things.
But he had forgotten to be concerned about *her*.
His Adam’s apple bobbed with a difficult swallow. He asked, "Are... are you okay?"
He was distressed, finally understanding what had been troubling Ian when he had sought him out.
He also had "experience," but unfortunately, he was completely useless at comforting people.
Mia stared at him for a long moment, the smile on her face fading slightly. "I’m not okay."
Felix froze.
"Not okay at all. Nothing is okay."
She looked at him, and it was unclear who she was accusing. "I never thought someone could make such a mess of their own life."
"But..."
"You don’t need to worry."
"I’m going to see a doctor."
"I don’t actually think I’m sick. It’s just that... there are some things I really don’t know how to handle."
That was why she planned to ask a doctor.
The candlelight on the table suddenly leaped with a soft SIZZLE, like someone had tossed a handful of damp kindling onto a fire.
The sound successfully roused the young man sitting across from her.
"We’ve known each other for so long, and there’s something I’ve never said to you."
Mia looked at him calmly.
"Mia."
"I like you, and not because you’re beautiful. It’s because you yourself are a genuinely good person."
Mia’s eyelashes trembled.
’That sounds a lot like he’s putting me in the friend zone.’
"I know you might not believe me, but that’s what I truly think."
"You really are a wonderful girl."
