False Love After Betrayal

At the restaurant entrance, Hendrix pushed the glass door open. He entered first and I only followed.

Out of the blue, someone at the side suddenly jumped to surprise Hendrix. Before he could see her face, she used her hand to cover his eyes and excitedly asked, "You guess who I am?"

Hendrix stepped back, paused and quickly put his arm around Whitney's waist.

He did it with practiced ease like he'd done it many times before.

Suddenly, he nervously released her and glanced at me with confusion.

When our eyes met, I raised my eyebrows and smiled at him.

"Oh, don't worry. You two can continue talking. I won't bother anymore," I told them.

Hendrix grabbed my waist and stopped me, "No, Stella. Whitney is just joking with me. Don't take it seriously."

It seemed that she just noticed me, so Whitney pouted and nodded.

Whitney also said, "Yes, Stella. Hendrix is right. I am just playing around with Hendrix like this. Are you angry with me?"

Before she could add, I reacted, "Don't misunderstand my reactions. I am not furious. I mean, you guys can continue playing games whenever you like. I'm just going to have a meal."

Whitney's face turned too serious, while Hendrix's turned as cold as ice.

"Yeah. We better go in," said Hendrix while he held my arm. He was in a hurry as if he was avoiding something.

Inside the private room of the restaurant, which they booked, everyone was already around.

"Hendrix! You're late!" Logan exclaimed, seeing Hendrix. "Three glasses of wine as punishment!"

However, when Logan saw me, he was astounded.

"Why did you bring Stella here?" Logan asked, puzzled.

Hendrix was too curious and replied, "Didn't you mention you want me to bring my family members here? Isn't she part of my family now?"

Upon hearing that, Logan was stunned; his eyes widened and he looked at Whitney, saddened. He didn't expect he would tell that, nor did I.

Hendrix, at that time, froze in place.

Shrugging my shoulder, I sighed and said, "It seems the family members you refer to don't mean me. If that's the case, then I better leave now."

"Logan!" Hendrix shouted at the top of his lungs, almost echoing around the room.

"I am sorry, sister-in-law. It is my fault. Please forgive what I have mentioned earlier," Logan said.

"Okay, as a punishment, I better make you drink three glasses."

Melissa pulled me aside and said, "It's been long since we haven't seen each other."

I sat down in an empty chair. Hendrix was sitting on my left and Whitney was sitting on his right.

After the dishes were served, there was a dish of shrimp.

Whitney placed one onto Hendrix's plate.

"Help me peel it, please," said Whitney.

As expected, Hendrix picked up the shrimp and started peeling it. Afterward, he placed it back on Whitney's plate.

"You always said you love to eat shrimp, but you just don't like feeling it," he said.

Whitney smiled and replied, "Isn't it you, Hendrix? You're really good!"

Hendrix and Whitney were always acting like that. They kept telling me they were just friends, but they did something out of bounds.

Just like before, seeing such a scene, I was so uncomfortable that I lost my appetite.

It was from the past. I didn't mind it now and I focused on eating.

The mood at the table was quiet and Hendrix was only drinking some alcohol. After finishing my meal and drinks, I stood up and went to the bathroom.

When I returned, the restaurant's private room door was slightly open. I could hear Whitney crying from inside, making me wonder what was happening to her. She was very lively when I left.

I continued to listen to the conversation inside.

"Please, Hendrix, I didn't mean to leave you back then. It was my dad who went abroad. I am so sorry," Whitney explained while still sobbing.

There was a long silence inside. After a minute of waiting, I finally heard Hendrix's voice.

"That same year, if you haven't gone abroad, perhaps you'll be my girlfriend," he said.

Based on what I had heard, I had already made up my mind and pursued the decision I wanted to make.

"Stella has decided and pretended not to care," he added.

My heart felt like being stabbed multiple times by a dagger.

I looked up, blinking twice to halt myself from crying. I then pushed open the restaurant's private room to enter.

Everyone around the table was surprised, moving their gazes towards my direction.

I smiled and clapped my hands. Their relationship was indeed touching.

For a sudden, Hendrix's face turned pale and said, "Stella, please listen to me. I'll explain to you my side."

I shook my head.

"No need, Hendrix," I replied.

I removed my ring from my ring finger. I remembered that he used his first month's internship salary to buy me a pair of less expensive rings the year I graduated.

"Stella, please bear with me. I'll buy you a diamond, right? I promise!" Hendrix promised.

Since then, I have tried to bury the past.

The ring left a light spot on my finger. After wearing it for a long time, it felt like the ring was part of me.

My finger hurt when I took the ring off.

Despite that, I firmly removed it and threw it before Hendrix.

"Congratulations, both of you, for buying nothing!" I sarcastically exclaimed. "This ring is for the two of you."

I continued, "I hope you both can have a happy and long life together!"