The Mafia Lord's Secret Lover (Evelyn) novel Chapter 273

Chapter 273: A Dinner Invitation

Alicia narrowed her eyes at her daughter and said, "I do not faint easily!"

"You fainted when the dog barked at you last year."

"That dog was huge!"

"It was a corgi," Stella deadpanned.

"That corgi had a killer aura!"

Stella blinked. "...Mom. It was waddling."

Alicia slapped her arm lightly, "Stop arguing with me. You are not my cute baby, Oliver, alright!"

Instead of saying anything, Stella laughed, hearing her mother’s words.

"The point is, you should have told me!" Alicia continues. "Do you know how dangerous that was? What if that young man did not save you?"

Stella’s cheeks reddened. "Mom... don’t call him a ’young man.’ He’s in his thirties. And he has a name...Dylan!"

Alicia waved a hand. "Nonsense. I saw him at Evelyn’s housewarming. He looks younger than you and for a guy in his thirties!"

"He does not!"

"He does!"

"Mom!"

Alicia leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "Do you like him?"

Stella choked on air. "W-what? Mom! No!"

Alicia gasped loudly. "You do! Oh my goodness! My daughter likes a mature, handsome man who saved her life."

"Mom. Please stop!"

Alicia wasn’t listening. Her imagination had entered hyperspeed.

"Does he like you? Did he confess? Did something happen when he saved you?"

"NOTHING happened—"

"Well, he hugged you back, didn’t he?"

Stella’s eyes bulged. "Who said that?"

"Your sister Eve, of course."

Stella clutched her hair. ’Sister Eve... why do you hate me...’

Alicia’s expression softened...just slightly. "Stella. This man saved your life. You should thank him properly. Invite him to dinner."

"Mom, please—"

"Do it!"

"Mom—"

"I’ll cook!"

Stella sandwiched her face with her hands. Her entire life had turned upside down in under ten minutes.

Worse, the man her mother wanted to invite...

Lived in the same building.

On the top floor. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Probably overheard her screaming in the elevator just now.

Alicia placed a comforting hand over her daughter’s. "Stella, sweetheart. A man like that is rare. Brave. Mature. Employed. And he probably doesn’t live with his parents."

"Mom..."

"Alright, I was just joking about your feelings for Dylan. However, I am genuinely serious about inviting him for dinner. Since tomorrow is Friday, go ahead and invite him. I’ll take care of everything."

Stella stared at her dinner plate as if it might swallow her whole.

Her mother was unstoppable.

Her sister was a traitor.

And Dylan... lived fifteen floors above her.

This was going to be a long week.

...

Stella had never eaten dinner so fast. The moment she finished the last spoonful, she stood up with an excuse so quick it could have been written on a prescription pad.

"Mom, I need a bath. And sleep. Urgently."

Alicia gave her suspicious eyes but let her escape.

Stella practically slid down the hallway, shut her bedroom door, and leaned against it with a groan. Now that she was alone, exhaustion finally hit her.

"Hi Dylan, my mother knows about you helping me that night. And she asks you to come to dinner with us this Friday night."

Then reread it again.

And again.

Was it too formal?

Too casual?

Too obvious?

Too stupid?

Should she add an emoji?

No, emojis were dangerous!

They could convey all the wrong things. Imagine sending a heart by accident. She would immediately move to another city.

She hit send before she could change her mind.

Her heart instantly tightened like it was trying to shrink into the size of a raisin.

She waited.

One minute passed.

No reply.

She waited again.

Another minute passed.

Still nothing.

Great. Now the silence was killing her.

Maybe he was asleep. Or busy. Or laughing at her message. Or reading it out loud to his friends. Or taking a screenshot and sending it to Evelyn. Who would absolutely tell Axel? Who would absolutely tease her to death.

Panicking, she typed another message.

"There is no need to reply now. Please respond tomorrow. Sorry for bothering you in the middle of the night."

She hit send.

Then tossed her phone onto the nightstand like it was a bomb.