She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 528

Everett immediately started shrugging off his jacket to offer it to her.

"I'm fine. I'm not cold, thank you."

Melanie replied, her tone polite but entirely uncompromising.

Everett's hands froze in mid-air, clutching the jacket. A hollow ache settled in his chest.

If Preston had offered her his coat, she definitely wouldn't have turned it down.

Quietly pulling his arms back, the hopeful light in Everett's eyes dimmed into dull shadows.

"By the way, where are you staying now? Don't tell me you're still at that rundown motel?"

Everett looked at her and nodded.

"Yeah, I'm still there for now."

"If you aren't planning on heading back to Bresford anytime soon, why don't you rent a decent apartment here?"

"I want to, but... I'm a complete stranger in this city. I have no idea which neighborhoods are safe or where to find a fair deal. Do you think... maybe you could recommend a few places?"

"Me?"

Melanie pointed to herself, looking slightly surprised.

It was true that Everett was totally unfamiliar with Averin, but she wasn't exactly a real estate expert either.

She certainly couldn't recommend an ultra-luxury complex like Rosevale Heights.

"Uh... if it's too much trouble, just pretend I didn't ask..."

Seeing his embarrassed expression, Melanie shook her head.

"It's no trouble at all. How about this... you browse some rental listings online tonight, and tomorrow I'll carve out some time to go apartment hunting with you?"

Hearing that, a bright, boyish grin instantly broke across Everett's face.

"If you're willing to come with me, that would be amazing. Thank you, Melanie."

In truth, the main reason Everett hadn't moved out of that depressing motel was that he simply didn't want to go apartment hunting alone.

He desperately wanted Melanie by his side.

More accurately, he was using the excuse of renting an apartment to manufacture a reason to spend one-on-one time with her.

Everett knew it was manipulative.

The bold suggestion caught Melanie entirely off guard.

Meanwhile, over in Darsenia.

The sudden arrival of Prince Alaric had drawn the absolute elite of Aldoria's political and business circles to the opulent Draconic Sovereign Hotel.

Preston and Gabriel were there representing Stellaris PharmaTech.

Because the royal visit was a strictly private, unannounced trip rather than a diplomatic mission, only a select, highly connected few had been tipped off. The ballroom was packed with the most powerful titans in the country.

To Preston's mild surprise, he spotted Elara Bennett among the crowd.

Naturally, Elara saw him, too.

A man with Preston's devastating, magnetic looks was impossible to miss in any room.

As their eyes met, Preston didn't even offer a polite nod. He simply broke eye contact, completely and utterly ignoring her existence.

Elara's complexion paled. She ground her teeth, a suffocating wave of humiliation burning in her chest.

Gripping her champagne glass, she marched aggressively toward him.

But before she could get close, a tall figure deliberately stepped into her path, blocking her view.