The Year She Stopped Being Crazy for Him novel Chapter 265

"It's about time for lunch," the man replied evenly. "I'll join you."

"I made plans with a friend in advance. Why would you come along? I didn't reserve a seat for you." Natalie crossed her legs, resting her chin on her hand as she gazed out the window. "But if you just want to drop me off, that's fine."

His dark, bottomless eyes locked onto her. "You beat him up, and I smoothed things over. If someone else had bailed you out, would you be treating them with this kind of attitude?"

"Hah," she let out a dry laugh, finding the notion ridiculous. "Bailed me out? What do you mean, bailed me out? You were clearly just maintaining your family's connections. Don't try to dress it up like some noble crusade."

Her slender fingers pressed the button to roll down the window, letting the breeze rush in and toss her hair.

Her voice softened, almost carrying away on the wind. "Stop pretending. If you hadn't tricked Warren into confessing today, you would have ordered me to apologize to him in a heartbeat."

A faint laugh caught in her throat. "After all, Stewart funded Gardenia's education. He's your precious first love's benefactor. The savior of your savior—which makes him your savior, too."

She tapped her cheek lightly against her palm and glanced back at him. "If it weren't for him, how would Gardenia have ended up at the same high school as you? How would she have gone to the same university?"

The man sat calmly beside her, his gaze shifting from the road ahead to land heavily on her.

When his pitch-black, gleaming eyes fixed on someone, it felt like being dragged into the abyss.

A faint, curved smile touched his lips. He reached out and pressed his palm flat against her thigh. The dry heat of his hand stood out in sharp contrast against her cool, delicate skin.

His hand—long, elegant, and perfectly structured—applied just enough pressure to firmly correct her casual posture. "Does it bother you that Gardenia and I went to the same high school and university?"

"Why would I care?" she replied flatly. "You're just friends. Isn't that what you told me?"

He kept his eyes pinned on her. "Which friend are you having lunch with?"

Natalie shoved his hand off her leg. Her fingertips brushed against his cufflink. Because of its stiff texture, she glanced down.

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