Chapter 1186


    The man was none other than ric.


    He had a look that set him apart from the crowd, with piercing, narrow eyes that seemed to hold


    secrets of their own, and a sinfully handsome face that blurred the lines between masculine charm and


    feminine allure.


    His presence was maic, a walking invitation to both envy and desire, and there was no mistaking


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    him for anyone else.


    By his side trailed three women. The one keeping pace with him, Hertha recognized immediately—it


    was Angelina, with whom she had crossed swords just a few days ago.


    Trailing behind were two more women. One of them, a youngdy, was all too familiar to Hertha. It was


    Georgia, the rake-thin beauty whose advances ric had declined twice with Hertha''s help. Despite


    her high-end fashion and meticulously applied makeup, the gauntness of her cheeks betrayed a certain


    world-weariness.


    Georgia was arm-in-arm with a middle-aged woman, dripping in jewelry and dressed to the nines,


    obviously a woman of wealth. Hertha surmised that this must be Georgia''s mother.


    What could bring ric and his mother, along with Georgia and her own, to a restaurant like this? A


    brief flicker of thought and Hertha realized—they were likely discussing a union between the two


    families.


    While Hertha''s gaze lingered on ric''s entourage, she caught his sharp eyes ncing her way. In that


    split second of eye contact, she swiftly diverted her gaze, feigning ignorance of his presence.


    Her hand, hidden beneath the table, clenched tightly as she turned to face Spencer with a forced smile.


    "There''s nothing like hitting a bar for a drink and some music now and then. If you''re into painting,


    Spencer, I could show you a trick or two when I''m free."


    She had intended to shock him with her supposed vices and send him packing, but ric''s presence


    had thrown her off. The fiery words she had prepared got stuck in her throat, and she found herself


    speaking to Spencer with a demure tone that masked her inner turmoil.


    Spencer, who had initially been taken aback by her mention of bars, thinking her to be a party girl,


    rxed when she continued. His schrly smile returned, soft eyes behind his sses offering a look


    of gentle understanding, as he tried to cover his briefpse inposure.


    "Then let me express my thanks in advance, Ms. Kensington. I''ll toast you," Spencer said, pouring


    coffee into Hertha''s cup and raising his in a toast.


    Hertha responded in kind, clinking cups with Spencer and downing her coffee in one go—a bold


    gesture that he matched by finishing his own.


    Beneath the table, her hand found Thssa''s leg and gripped it tightly, seeking to steady her nerves


    and resist the urge to look back at ric. Co?tent of Drаmа?ovels.cоm


    Since Hertha had resolved to act as if she didn''t know ric, Thssa followed suit, pretending not to


    recognize him either.