She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 605

Melanie Royce had assumed that when her father called her out of the blue, specially reminding her to dress beautifully, the dinner would involve some important client or major figure.

Everett Kingsley was already seated, but the moment he saw Melanie, he shot to his feet.

Nathaniel Royce watched from the side as Everett stared at Melanie, utterly captivated, and nodded in gratified approval.

Everett stared at her for a long time, so long that even he realized he was being impolite.

"Oh, s-sorry..."

Apologizing, he sat back down, a flush creeping up his neck.

Melanie didn't feel offended.

She was just confused.

"Dad, the dinner you mentioned... is it just the three of us?"

she asked as she took a seat.

"That's right."

Nathaniel confirmed it briskly.

This only deepened Melanie's confusion.

It wasn't like she didn't know Everett. Her father and the Kingsley family went way back. Did a casual dinner with him really warrant dressing up so nicely?

Melanie pursed her lips and glanced down at her outfit.

If it was just dinner with him, wasn't she a little overdressed?

As she thought this, she caught sight of Everett out of the corner of her eye.

Only then did she realize with surprise that he was also dressed to the nines.

Everett usually wore inexpensive suits from affordable brands that were casual and comfortable.

It matched his overall unassuming vibe.

Yet tonight, he was wearing what looked like a custom-tailored suit.

Even though Melanie wasn't an expert on menswear, she could tell at a glance that the fabric was high-end, the design impeccable, and the cut a perfect fit.

It was visibly expensive.

So...

why was Everett dressed like this?

Just to have dinner with her and her father?

Melanie tilted her head, even more puzzled.

But she already had the dress on, and it wasn't like she could take it off now.

Complimented by him, Melanie looked down at her dress.

She felt beautiful, too.

She loved this dress that Preston Whitmore had bought for her, and she felt it suited her perfectly.

"Thank you. Preston bought this for me. He has great taste."

The moment those words left her lips, the light in Everett's eyes instantly dimmed.

Beside them, Nathaniel furrowed his brow.

"Why bring Preston up out of nowhere?"

Melanie blinked.

She was only stating the fact that Preston gave her the dress. Why did it feel like her dad was unhappy about it?

The atmosphere in the private dining room grew awkward until Nathaniel cleared his throat and asked the server to bring out the food.

Truthfully, he had no issue with Preston himself.

Furthermore, during his time in the hospital, Preston had been the one keeping him company and playing chess with him to pass the time.

Preston had even taken paid time off from work to stay at the hospital as his caregiver, which had deeply moved Nathaniel.