The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 71

As the gathering drew to a close, a waiter pushed open the door to present the bill, instantly killing the mood in the private room.

Dylan, having had a bit too much to drink, squinted at the receipt, his words slurring slightly.

"Total is... forty-five thousand. How many of us are here today? Let me calculate, if we split the bill, each person owes..."

Although everyone was doing reasonably well, dropping a few thousand dollars on a single meal wasn't something everyone could do without blinking. Some pulled out their phones to open calculator apps, while others lowered their heads, sipping their tea in silence. The expensive bottles of red wine added later had cost a fortune, and they had mostly ended up in the men's stomachs.

Asking the female classmates who had only drunk soda and juice to split the cost equally naturally didn't sit well with everyone.

Emily finished touching up her lipstick and snapped her compact shut with a sharp click.

"How are we supposed to split this? Some people drank wine worth thousands a bottle, while others just had water. That's hardly fair, is it?"

"Then... should we calculate the alcohol separately?"

Ignoring Dylan, Emily turned her gaze toward Clara.

"Clara has been a full-time housewife for years now with no income of her own. If we split the bill, will she have to submit a request form to Captain Huntington to get the funds approved?"

Several people around them who enjoyed a bit of drama stayed silent.

The Lane family was in the building materials business. Although not as prosperous as before, Emily still carried herself as a wealthy heiress within their circle. Back at Ashton University, Clara had stolen the spotlight—department beauty, receiving love letters from the senior Emily had a crush on—and Emily had never quite gotten over it. Now, seeing the massive diamond ring on Clara's hand only made it more of an eyesore.

"How about I cover Clara's share?" Emily pretended to be generous. "We're classmates, after all. It's just a few thousand. I wouldn't want to cause discord in Clara's marriage over such a small amount."

Simon's temper flared instantly. He rolled up his sleeves, ready to stand up.

"Emily, did you wash your brain down the sink with your toothpaste today? Flashing cash like it makes you something special?"

Clara pressed his hand down.

"Why bother getting mad at her? If a dog bites you, are you gonna bite it back?"

It wasn't worth it.

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