Chasing His Scentless Mate (Caroline) novel Chapter 379

Chapter 379: Chapter 379 Drunken Misery

Ava’s POV

My apartment had been a mess for this week. Witchcraft books were scattered on my coffee table, takeout containers filled my trash can, and I kept the blinds closed to block out the sunlight.

I stared at my phone again, looking through old messages with Joseph. Nothing new. Not even a simple "I’m back" text. The last message was from before his business trip.

"This is pathetic," I muttered, tossing my phone aside.

My life had become a sad routine— wake up at noon, look at spell books, order food, watch TV, and cry myself to sleep. I’d taken leave from work, saying I needed personal time. The truth was I couldn’t face the world when my heart felt broken.

When my phone rang, I jumped. For a moment, I hoped it was Joseph. The caller ID crushed that hope.

"Kenneth," I answered with a sigh.

"Ah, so the hibernating bear awakens!" Kenneth’s warm, rich voice filled the line. "Let me guess, you’re sitting in your apartment wearing pajamas at 3 PM, surrounded by books, and feeding exclusively on despair and takeout."

Despite myself, I laughed. "Good guessing. Are you spying on me?"

"No need when you’re so predictable, my dear Ava," he chuckled. "Listen, I can’t stand the thought of you wasting away in there for another night. Have dinner with me this evening. It’s not a request."

I looked down at my wrinkled t-shirt and sweatpants. "I don’t know if I’m fit for public consumption right now."

"Nonsense," Kenneth insisted. "I’ll pick you up at seven. Wear something nice. You need fresh air before you start growing mushrooms on your skin."

"Charming image," I replied dryly. "Fine. Seven it is."

Kenneth’s idea of "somewhere nice" was Harbor Bay’s most exclusive rooftop restaurant. Getting reservations usually took months unless you were someone important. Kenneth was clearly someone important.

"This is... excessive," I said as we sat at a table overlooking the bay. The sunset painted the sky orange and purple, reflecting off the water.

Kenneth looked perfect in his suit, his salt-and-pepper hair styled just right. At fifty, he had that distinguished look that came with age and confidence.

"Nothing excessive about treating a beautiful young lady to a good meal," he replied, ordering expensive wine without checking the price.

I’d made an effort, wearing a black dress and putting on makeup, but I felt empty inside. The food came. Beautiful seafood that should have made me hungry, but I just pushed it around my plate.

"You know," Kenneth said after watching me, "the food tastes better if you actually eat it instead of rearranging it into abstract art."

I smiled weakly. "Sorry. It’s delicious, really. I’m just not very hungry."

Kenneth studied me, then asked for the check. "This isn’t working, is it?"

"What do you mean?"

"This." He pointed around at the fancy restaurant. "You need something livelier. Come on, I have a better idea."

Thirty minutes later, we stopped in front of Pulse, one of Harbor Bay’s trendiest nightclubs. Bass music pounded through the walls, and young people lined up around the block.

"You can’t be serious," I said, staring at Kenneth.

He grinned, looking younger in the lights. "What? Did you expect me to take you to some stuffy cigar lounge where old men play poker and talk about their stock portfolios?"

The bouncer recognized Kenneth and let us skip the line. The people who’d been waiting for hours looked annoyed.

Inside, the club was full of energy. Lights pulsed with the music, people danced, and bartenders flipped bottles around.

"Bourbon, neat," Kenneth told the bartender, then looked at me. "And for the lady?"

"Tequila shots," I decided. "Four of them."

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