Chapter 284


    The pizza restaurant was a special delicacy. Its taste and atmosphere were the reasons why many


    people liked it.


    Thriving Pizza Hub had always been a ce frequented by Sherri, Natalie, and Edward.


    This pizza restaurant offered the best pizza in Athana. This was one of the reasons why they came


    here repeatedly. There was another important reason. The people who ate there were not pretentious.


    Theye for the pizza. They ate as they wished. Everyone was as forting in the restaurant.


    It was a very realistic ce to dine at. Unlike in an upscale restaurant, where one had to observe table


    etiquette and use a standard left-hand fork and right-hand knife. If one were not careful, one would be


    mocked by others for having the wrong dining habit.


    One did not need to pay attention to one’s eating manners. One was at ease at the pizza ce.


    The three, Sherri, Natalie, and Rose, were people who yearned for freedom and did not like to be


    restrained at all times.


    The first floor of the pizza restaurant was filled with liveliness and mor. The wait staff were busy


    shuttling between the tables, serving dishes, refilling water, and providing good service to the patrons.


    Sherri was considerate of Trevon’s preference and asked for a private room on the second floor to


    amodate the group. It was at the corner of the restaurant, and they would not be disturbed by


    others.


    The ambiance of the private room was excellent. There was arge white round table in the middle.


    The room was of the right temperature. Everyone had already taken a seat at the table. However, the


    room was quiet. No one spoke.


    The venue today belonged to Team Sherri. Of course, they had to speak first.


    Rose looked at Edward periodically across the table. She felt that Sherri’s brother looked a little


    familiar. It was not because he was part of the Landor family that she found him familiar. Ever since she


    went overseas, she had not watched the news. It was not that she did not want to watch the news, but


    she wanted to block out news on Athana, so she stopped


    Other than Hackett, there were also Trevon and Frank. She did not know what the other men were like


    after they grew up.


    She thought about it for a long time but could not recall where she had seen Edward. Her beautiful


    brows furrowed as she tried her best to. Suddenly, she had an inkling and stared fixedly at Edward’s


    side profile.


    Since her early resignation from her job in Sapphire City, Rose traveled everywhere. When she


    traveled to Country M, something unpleasant happened. She remembered that day when she wanted


    to go to the beach in Country M. She had done a travel guide with her. Many said it would be a loss if


    she went to Country M and did not go to the beach to enjoy the night scenery. It would be a great regret


    in her life. Given Rose’s personality, she did not want to live with any regrets.


    However, just as she was about to return, several men with tattooed arms. appeared on the beach.


    It was obvious that they had ill intentions. They were sloppy and hooligan-like. They wore pants, shorts,


    and a sleeveless singlet. It was unknown if they deliberately showed his arms to scare people.


    Anyway, in this weather, Rose felt that it was not hot enough to wear


    shorts.


    She was 100% certain that these people were not good. It was better to stay away from them.


    She lowered her gaze to avoid attention. She was not the only one by the riverside. There were many


    couples, olddies, old grandpas, single


    men…


    Noticing that she was about to leave, they tacitly formed a circle around her.


    One said, “Beauty, I can tell at a nce that you’re not a local. You’re so good-looking. Apany us


    for a chat. We’ll bring you around Country M. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied.”


    The other agreed, “Boss is right. Come with us; we’ll bring you around to have fun.”


    Rose chose to ignore them. What could she say to these people? She had only taken a few steps


    when her arm was grabbed.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    The tattooed men openly tried to pull her away. There was always a difference in strength between


    men and women. In addition, there were many of them. She shouted for help in English at the top of


    her lungs, but no one came to help.


    This was something Rose did not expect. She panicked, and her heart jumped to her throat. She did


    not want to die in a foreign country.


    She thought the online travel guides wereprehensive and full of good reviews. They said that there


    would be many proposing on the beach at night. There was also plenty of entertainment. It was very


    lively but did not talk about the danger.


    How could such a dangerous thing take ce in such a lively ce? She had never expected it.


    She cursed in her heart: What kind of lousy travel guide is this? It’s causing harm to others.


    After the incident, she discovered those people were the hooligans in this area. No one dared to


    provoke them. Just as she was about to be pulled to the car, a man in a mask and cap saved her.


    A tattooed man was afraid that she would run away. He knocked her out with his arms. Before she


    fainted, she remembered the side profile and back of the man who saved her.


    When she woke up, she had already been sent to the hospital. She knew that it was the man who had


    saved her.


    At this moment, Joseph’s side profile looked simr to the benefactor in Rose’s mind. She pondered


    over it for a while and unknowingly stared at Edward for a long time.


    Frank nced at Edward and nudged his sister, who was in a daze beside him. He reminded her,


    “She’s acting up.”


    Rose came to her senses and turned around to pinch Frank’s waist. She used a lot of strength to


    express her dissatisfaction and barked, “Shut up.”


    Frank pped Rose’s hand away. He rubbed his aching waist and frowned in pain. However, he did not


    make a sound. He wore a white short-sleeved shirt and his sunsses hung in front of his chest. He


    was unruly and leaned casually against the back of the chair.


    Hackett and Sherri and Edward sat on one side, Sherri sat between


    Hackett and Edward, and to Hackett’s right was Trevon, followed by


    Natalie, and the siblings Rose, and Frank.


    Trevon did not say anything. He only nced at Edward with disdain. and a hint of provocation.


    Meanwhile, Edward only calmly drank coffee without looking back. His eyes looked dull.


    Natalie pursed her lips and nced at the man beside her. She smiled and greeted Edward, “Hi,


    Edward.”


    She was addressing him the same as before, but it feltpletely different.


    Upon hearing this, Edward tightened his grip on the cup and forced himself to smile. He looked in


    Natalie’s direction and saw that she had be prettier and more feminine. The girl he had been


    waiting for had grown up, but she was already married. He hid his sadness and said,


    “Congrattions.”


    Natalie smiled and replied, “Thank you.”


    Trevon clenched his right fist and ced his index finger on the tip of his nose. He took the hand on his


    knee under the table and put it on Natalie’s. hand on the table. He sped his hands together.


    This scene was very eye-catching. The two rings intertwined.


    intentionally, making Edward feel suffocated. He wanted to go out and smoke.


    As a matter of fact, he was nning to do so as well. Just as he was about to get up, Sherri grabbed


    his arm.


    The atmosphere was silent for a moment. This was not the effect that Sherri intended when she


    organized the dinner celebration. How could there be an awkward silence? She grabbed Edward’s arm


    and introduced, “Edward, let me introduce you. This is my good friend, Rose. She is also Frank’s sister.


    You should know the others; I won’t introduce them.”


    Edward suppressed the urge to go out and greeted politely, “Hello.”


    The more she looked at him, the more she felt he looked like her benefactor. “Hello, my name is


    Rose.”


    Sherri stood up and picked up a can of beer on the table. Today, Natalie and I both registered our


    marriage together. Ruby and Jasper were born via cesarean on the same day. I’m so happy. Today is


    my treat. Eat freely,


    Hackett will foot the bill. Don’t worry about it!”


    Today was the day they got their marriage certificate.


    Edward subconsciously looked at Natalie. Wasn’t there a divorce?


    Two years ago, after what Gage said at the airport, he immediately called his friend who worked at City


    Hall to check Natalie’s marital status.


    Edward’s source revealed to him that the result of the investigation was that they were married. The


    status was deliberately changed to divorce in the system. However, the couple was still married.


    Edward did not believe it at that time. After confirming it repeatedly, the affirmative answer he got was


    that she was still married.


    At that time, his world had copsed. The flower he had carefully protected had been taken by others,


    and he could never own it again.


    What an irony. He thought it was just an idental pregnancy after she was drugged. How could he


    have known that the person Natalie was married to was Trevon?


    After Sherri finished speaking, he sat down and muttered to himself, “Oh my god, it’s as if I’m giving an


    award speech.”


    Trevon smiled and said to Hackett beside him, “Walking payment code.”


    Hackett rolled her eyes at him. “I’m happy to.”


    Edward did not look too good. He stood up and said to them, “I’m going to the washroom.”


    Rose, who had been sizing up Edward, had long understood his emotions. She seemed to have


    discovered a huge secret. Her intuition told her that there was something wrong.


    Sherri thought that her brother had fallen out of love overseas. He was a little down when he saw them


    showing off their affection. He did not know what Edward was thinking of. She urged, “Edward, be


    quick.”


    Edward did not answer. He pushed open the door and went out.


    Rose’s gaze followed Edward as he left the room and the party. She instinctively got up immediately


    and chased after him. Edward’s back view was indeed familiar. She had to ask him.


    Frank hurriedly asked, “Where are you going?”


    Rose raised her chin and eximed, “Bathroom, do you want to go together?”


    Frank lowered his head and ate. He no longer cared about his neurotic sister. He couldn’t control his


    sister.


    Edward washed his face in the toilet, took out a cigarette, and leaned against the wall. He looked


    upset. When he noticed Rose enter, he stood straight, turned sideways, and restrained his emotions.


    Rose did not go to the washroom. She stood in front of Edward and looked at him for a while.


    Edward did not stop her from sizing him up at first. This made him ufortable. He asked, “What’s


    the matter?”


    Rose asked directly, “Have we met before?”


    Edward took a puff of his cigarette and blew out a smoke ring. The smoke drifted onto Rose’s face. She


    did not wave her hand and only held her breath for a while.


    Edward looked at the short-haired girl in front of him. Her hair color made her skin look even fairer. Her


    exquisite face kept looking at him as if she were looking for an answer. She did not seem to be hitting


    on him. He replied, “No.”


    Rose did not give up and asked again, “Have you been to Country M this year? I’m not trying to hit on


    you. I felt that you looked like the person who saved me. I don’t have any other intentions. I want to


    express my gratitude.”


    Edward was silent for a while. He threw his cigarette into the trash can and said calmly, “No.”


    The more Rose looked at his side profile, the more she felt that Edward looked like her benefactor. She


    asked again and again, “Really? I identally met a few hooligans when I was traveling overseas. One


    helped me, but those hooligans had weapons with them. The person who saved me should be injured.


    I want to find him and thank him.”


    Edward remained expressionless. He only said calmly, “Good luck. I’m not the person you’re looking


    for.”


    Rose looked a little disappointed. As she watched him turn around, Rose stopped him by saying, “You


    like Natalie.”


    It was a statement, not a question.


    Rose felt that she could not have misinterpreted it. However, in the next second, Edward denied it. “I’m


    afraid you’ve seen wrongly. Natalie’s my


    sister.”


    However, his expression was filled with sadness from his loss. There was also regret, emptiness, and


    confusion. How could he feel that way for a sister?


    However, since the person involved did not admit it, Rose could not meddle in other people’s business.


    Everyone had a secret in their hearts. It was impolite to pry into other people’s privacy. Realizing this,


    Rose apologized, “I’m sorry. I was rude. I apologize.”


    Edward didn’t care. The sadness on her face was gone. He was as gentle as usual, but he looked like


    he was putting up a pretense, “I hope you won’t misinterpret any further.”


    Rose replied politely, “Okay.”


    The two returned to the private room one after another and sat down at their respective seats.


    The pizza was already delivered to the group’s table. Sherri carefully picked up a big piece for her


    brother and passed it to him. She wanted tofort her brother from his breakup. Edward epted it


    and picked up tableware to eat.


    Hackett kept serving Sherri. Whatever Sherri wanted to eat, Hackett would add it to her te. Her te


    was never empty. Edward thought well of how Hackett treated Sherri; he was relieved.


    Natalie was afraid that Trevon would not be used to such a venue. She leaned closer and asked


    quietly, “Are you used to it? Is there anything to your liking? Do you want me to order something else


    for you?”


    Edward looked up and saw this scene. His chest hurt, and he was stunned for a few seconds. His eyes


    turned red. When he retracted her gaze, he met Rose’s gaze and nodded politely.


    Edward felt like he had been caught in the act.


    The result was clear. It seemed that she had guessed correctly. Frank picked up a beef roll from the


    table and ced it in Rose’s bowl. He lectured in a low voice, “Mind your own business. Eat more food


    and talk less.


    Rose looked at Frank in surprise. She tilted his head and mouthed, “You can tell.”


    Frank did not answer Rose. He said, “Eat your food. You can’t talk when your mouth is stuffed, right?”


    Rose lowered her head and ate her food. She did not say anything else. and only cursed in her heart.


    Even though Frank saw things clearly, he did not sort out his feelings.


    He was not practicing what he preached.


    Trevon raised his hand and pinched Natalie’s neck before saying, “It’s fine. I’ll get used to it. I’ll help


    you take whatever you want to eat.”


    Natalie asked him with a questioning look, “Are you sure?”


    “Yes, I’m sure, honey.”


    Throughout the night, Edward was riddled with holes. He had been stabbed in the heart by Trevon over


    and over. He was simply heartbroken. He already regretted agreeing to Sherri’s invitation to dinner. He


    had long expected such a scene, but he still felt ufortable.


    This was a good oue. He hadpletely given up on Natalie now. Natalie looked happy from her


    interactions with Trevon. She was blissful from the bottom of her heart. It could also be seen that


    Trevon doted on


    her.


    Edward picked up a piece of spicy spinach and stuffed it into his mouth. Instantly, his eyes turned red.


    Hackett tried to break the silence in the room, “Edward, have some water.” Hackett had initially wanted


    to ease the tension between Edward and Trevon, but now it seemed a little strange.


    He suddenly felt sorry for his brother-inw. There were three of them, and he was alone.


    He wondered if Sherri had mistakenly called his brother-inw over today.


    Only Sherri, Natalie, and Rose came to this party voluntarily. Frank came for his sister’s sake, and


    Trevon came to amodate Natalie. Hackett did it voluntarily.


    However, only he knew why Edward was here.


    Perhaps it was to make him give her uppletely.


    Perhaps it was a final farewell.