His Destructive, Toxic Love novel Chapter 539

A not-so-great experience hadn't changed Eliza's view of the city. So, she wandered into a cozy little cafe nearby. With a steaming cup of coffee in hand, she soaked in the peaceful evening vibes. Across the street, a big screen in the square was showing the highlights of an awards ceremony, even featuring clips of her moment in the spotlight. It was kind of odd, actually. Despite the huge honor, she never seemed to feel all that excited about it. Maybe she'd been through too much in life or perhaps she just wasn't into the whole spotlight thing. That's why she'd only toss in a piece or two for big competitions every now and then. Yet, she always ended up winning—talk about lucky!

"An Americano, please." The voice from the counter jolted her back to the present. It sounded familiar, so Eliza turned to look. And there was Caroline, her sister, looking just as surprised to see her. "Sis?"

Caroline was momentarily flustered, but she quickly got it together. "Eliza? What are you doing... in France?"

"I'm here to pick up an award." Running into Caroline in a foreign land was a pleasant surprise for Eliza. "Are you here for work or just taking a break?"

"Uh..." Caroline hesitated, searching for the right words. "A friend of mine is here, so I thought I'd drop by."

"Oh, really? Why don't you bring your friend along and let's grab a meal together?" Eliza suggested, guiding Caroline to a seat. "I just got some prize money, so dinner's on me."

"My... friend, well, it's a bit tricky right now, maybe another time," she replied, a bit awkwardly.

Eliza didn't push it. "Alright then. It's not every day we bump into each other like this. It's been ages since I've seen you."