Chapter 877


    He blurted it out without thinking, his concern as instinctive as breathing. It was as though it was


    etched deep in his bones, he waspletely oblivious to how his eagerness might be putting his


    girlfriend next to him in an awkward spot.


    Dorothy was the first to recover, clearing her throat with a subtle cough and offering a light chuckle,


    "Been caught up in a bit of a whirlwindtely. Thanks for your and your girlfriend’s concern."


    It was only then that Keh remembered he had brought his girlfriend along. An awkward grin


    tugged at his lips as he took a step back and pulled his girlfriend into the introduction, "This is


    Eleanor, my girlfriend. This is my cousin Karen, and that''s her husband, Jeffrey. And this is..."


    He paused for a moment before finding the right words, "Karen''s bestie, Dorothy."


    "Nice to meet you all!" Eleanor seemed unfazed by the earlier awkwardness, her greeting warm and


    friendly, "Karen, Keh always talks about those childhood capers of yours."


    Karen squinted her eyes in a yful smile, "Well, you might want to take his stories with a grain of


    salt. Keh surely hasn''t painted a verydylike picture of me."


    Keh rolled his eyes in resignation, "Mainly because you''re rarely everdylike."


    "Hmph!"


    The group moved into the private room,ughter and banter flowing easily. The table was already


    set with a feast of pre-ordered dishes.


    Dorothy chose a seat near the door, nning her exit strategy for when the conversation lulled—


    she felt out of ce and was so exhausted that she wanted to go home and rest. After a restless


    night filled with intermittent awakenings and vivid dreams that still clung to her memory, she


    slumped into her chair, her mind drifting in and out of the ongoing chatter.


    "Dorothy?"


    Keh''s voice snapped her back to the present.


    "Oh, what''s up?"


    "Dig in, will ya? All your favorites are here. You should eat more and stop wasting away." His words


    wereden with genuine concern.


    She felt like a deer in headlights, "Yeah, sure! I''m just gonna hit the restroom real quick. You guys


    carry on."


    With that, she bolted from the room—not so much fleeing as needing a moment to breathe, ssh


    some water on her face to elevate her spirit—or she’d just sit there and fall into sleep.


    After getting directions from a server, Dorothy found the restroom was a bit of a walk away, which


    suited her just fine—it meant she could dy her return.


    She sshed cold water on her face and rummaged through her purse for a disposable towel to dry


    off. Before she could find it, a towel was handed to her.


    "Here, use mine."


    "Thanks!" She mumbled, not quite making out the face without her sses. She patted her face dry,


    then put her sses back on to see Eleanor, Keh''s girlfriend, holding out the towel.


    "You look a bit off-color. Are you feeling alright?" Eleanor''s voice wasced with concern.


    "Just a rough night''s sleep, that''s all."


    Eleanor nodded with a smile, "I was worried you were avoiding me."


    "Why would I?" Dorothy couldn''t be happier to see Keh with someone else.


    Eleanor didn''t linger by the sink. After washing her hands, she turned to face Dorothy, "I know about


    you and Keh and the fact that he''s waited for you for years."


    Dorothy didn’t reply.


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    "I don''t mind." Eleanor said.


    Dorothy''s expression was the very picture of embarrassment.


    "I don''t even mind that in bed, he insists on calling me Dorothy. I know he''s not calling out for me."


    Dorothy was at a loss for words.


    "He doesn''t really like me, but that''s okay. I don''t really like him either."