Chapter 269


    Disappointment was inevitable, but Edgar had braced himself for it. Lifting his hand, he offered the


    bag he was holding to Reba. "Could you please give this to Sherilyn?"


    Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    "Sure."


    Taking the bag, Reba noticed it was from Crimson Table, known for its exquisite desserts.


    "Thanks," Edgar said with a smile, then turned to leave.


    "Take care," Reba replied.


    Watching Edgar''s retreating figure, Reba sighed and made her way backstage, cing the bag


    in front of Sherilyn. "Here, from him. Sweets from Crimson Table, and they''re not cheap."


    Sherilyn frowned, feeling a heavy weight in her heart.


    "Sherilyn?" Reba asked, curiosity getting the better of her. "You''re avoiding him, aren''t you? But


    he seems quite the gentleman. Don''t you like him?"


    "He''s beyond nice, truly," Sherilyn evaded the question with a sigh. "That''s precisely why I need to


    keep my distance."


    "What?"


    Reba paused, then ventured a guess. "So, he''s from a wealthy family?"


    Sherilyn nodded.


    "That makes sense... I get why you''d choose to stay away. Folks like us shouldn''t aim too high."


    "Yeah."


    There was a moment when Reba seemed lost in thought, but she quickly snapped out of it. "Let


    me grab your coat."


    "Thanks."


    ...


    Having waited outside the dance studio for nearly half an hour, Gilbert finally saw people emerging


    from the staff exit. Among them was Sherilyn,ughing and walking arm in arm with a girl.


    He got out of the car. "Sherilyn!"


    Stopping in her tracks, Sherilyn looked puzzled. "Is... is there something you need? Did Sylvia send


    you?"


    Gilbert frowned, evidently displeased with the assumption. "Why, can''t I seek you out on my own


    ord?"


    Reba, recognizing the tension, gestured to the side. "I''ll wait over there."


    "Alright, thanks," Sherilyn replied, grateful for the escape route.


    Turning back to Gilbert, she treaded carefully, aware of his unpredictable temper. "So, what is it you


    need?"


    Gilbert pulled a hair tie from his pocket – one he had re-purchased from TeeMall. He tossed it to


    Sherilyn. "Your hair tie."


    Sherilyn reflexively caught it, barely avoiding dropping it. Despite the poor lighting, she instantly


    recognized it wasn''t hers. "This isn''t mine."


    "I couldn''t find your original one," Gilbert admitted, his usual tough demeanor slightly faltering.


    "Yesterday, you refused to take it back. So I... I bought this one. Take it or leave it."


    Before Sherilyn could respond, he asked, almost hesitantly, "Do you like it?"


    Sherilyn, though bewildered by his behavior, nodded. "Yeah, it''s nice."


    epting the hair tie, she couldn''t help but see it as a simple gesture of goodwill, unaware of its


    true value or origin. On the other hand, Gilbert appeared almost hopeful for her approval, a stark


    contrast to his usually tough exterior.