Next Man, Better Plan novel Chapter 160

Stephanie returned to her apartment, took off her jacket, and by the time she finished making dinner, the sky was completely dark.

Why wasn't Jonathan back yet?

He said he would be home for dinner, but it was already eight o'clock.

After waiting for a while, Stephanie was too hungry to wait any longer and decided to grab a few bites herself.

Soon after, she heard a sound at the door.

When Jonathan walked in, he saw Stephanie sitting alone at the dining table, enjoying her meal.

He entered the house without a word, not sparing her a single glance.

Stephanie put down her utensils and hurried over to greet him. "You're back just in time. Dinner is..."

Before she could finish, Jonathan brushed past her.

The man didn't say a word and headed for the second floor, his gaze so cold it was as if he were looking at a complete stranger.

Stephanie froze.

Everything had been fine when she left Ironhold Investment Group this evening.

What had happened in just a few hours to make him like this?

Stephanie watched Jonathan's back for a moment. Seeing him enter his room and close the door, she decided not to dwell on it.

Just as women could get inexplicably irritable during their period, perhaps men also needed their own space sometimes.

She could understand that.

However, she had noticed a strong smell of alcohol on him as he went upstairs. Had he been drinking?

Stephanie frowned. Why didn't he tell her he had already eaten out? He was the one who said he would be home for dinner.

Feeling a little annoyed, but not wanting to waste the delicious meal she had spent hours preparing, Stephanie returned to the table.

She sat alone, enjoying her food.

Stephanie was baffled but didn't overthink it for too long.

She went back to her room and sat for a while. Then, Susan called. "Stephanie, Vivian and I were out shopping yesterday, and I think I saw you at the mall."

For reasons she couldn't quite explain, Stephanie denied it. "You must have seen someone else."

"You should come over for a meal sometime. It's been a long time since we've seen each other."

Stephanie's fingers curled. "At the Yates' house?"

Ever since Susan remarried, mother and daughter rarely met, and they hardly even spoke on the phone.

Stephanie's last visit to the Yates family had been seven or eight years ago, and it had not been a pleasant experience.

Susan suddenly said, "Do you remember when my birthday is?"

Stephanie answered without hesitation, "It's tomorrow."

"The Yates family is throwing a birthday party for me. You're my daughter, so you should be there. We're not having it at their house, but at a restaurant."