Ophelia Gets Thrown Out (Ophelia) novel Chapter 33

**Paths Lead To Purpose — Kevin Masters**
**Chapter 33**

Ophelia raised the intricately designed cup to her lips, savoring the moment before taking a deliberate sip. “The flavor’s quite delightful. This is definitely high-quality coffee,” she remarked, her eyes lighting up with genuine appreciation.

Alaric’s lips curled into a warm smile. “If you enjoy it, I’d be more than happy to bring some for your parents. I know how much your dad relishes a good cup of coffee.”

At his words, Ophelia felt a flicker of annoyance. *What is this? Is he trying to win my father’s favor through me?* she mused, feeling a mix of skepticism and amusement.

“No, thank you. My dad’s already stocked with plenty of excellent coffee,” she replied, though she couldn’t resist taking another sip, the rich aroma still captivating her senses.

Truth be told, she did boast a collection of fine coffees at home, yet none had the enchanting fragrance that this particular brew from Alaric possessed.

As she savored the drink, Alaric’s expression softened, a rare glimmer of fondness shining in his eyes. It was a fleeting moment, one that didn’t go unnoticed by Connor, who watched with a frown etching deeper on his brow. He wanted to compliment the coffee again but felt the words stuck in his throat, so he settled for a half-hearted, “Smells nice, tastes okay, I guess.”

“When I get home, you should come visit me,” Connor continued, forcing a smile. “I’ll make sure to get you some good coffee then.”

Ophelia returned his smile, albeit faintly. “Alright, thank you, Connor.”

But Alaric was not ready to concede just yet. “Ms. Rowle, you may be young, but it seems you have quite the appreciation for coffee. I actually have two limited-edition varieties at home. One of them is called Boomlong from Fokoarland. You should definitely come over for a drink sometime.”

*Connor is inviting the woman I admire to his home?* Alaric thought, a flicker of competitive spirit igniting within him. *I could extend an invitation as well and see which way she leans.*

“Boomlong?” Ophelia’s initial instinct was to decline, but a frown crossed her face at the mention of the name. “Isn’t that the coffee developed and exclusively supplied by some enigmatic, affluent figure?”

She recalled the whispers she had heard—only the closest friends of that elusive tycoon were granted a small supply each year, making it a coveted treasure in certain circles.

Connor’s brow furrowed in disbelief. “You’ve been hoarding such exquisite coffee all this time and never mentioned it?”

Ophelia turned to Connor, her voice warm with gratitude. “Connor, I really appreciate you bringing Mr. Barrett and the others downstairs earlier. It was a small matter, but you took the time to handle it personally.”

Connor, ever humble, didn’t want the spotlight. He glanced at Alaric, wanting to shift the credit. “I didn’t think it involved you, and I hadn’t planned on coming down. It was all Alaric’s doing,” he replied, trying to downplay his role.

Hearing this, Ophelia turned her gaze to Alaric. While she considered him a bit too clever for his own good, she felt grateful for his assistance and offered him a polite thank you. “I didn’t expect to trouble you again, Mr. Caldwell. Thank you.”

Alaric’s smile widened, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes. “Ms. Rowle, if you truly want to thank me properly, how about we grab lunch together? I happen to be a bit hungry.”

At this, both Ophelia and Connor stiffened, caught off guard by his boldness.

Ophelia’s mouth twitched slightly, *This guy is utterly shameless,* she thought, a mix of exasperation and amusement swirling within her.

Meanwhile, Connor’s expression shifted to one of wariness. *He just talked about fair competition. Is he making a move now?* he pondered, his protective instincts flaring up.