Chapter 582:

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“Um…” Renee admitted, “I think you’d prefer a professional chef. Cooking isn’t exactly my strong suit.”

“Have you ever cooked for Mr. King?” Kristopher asked, shifting the conversation to Marcelo.

Renee shook her head. “No. We always have chefs handling the cooking at home.”

Marcelo had never cooked for her either. In that regard, they were on equal footing.

Kristopher seemed pleased by her answer. With a smile, he said, “Then let’s go to a restaurant.”

He chose a secluded French bistro known for accepting only two tables of guests each day, offering an intimate dining experience.

When they arrived, Kristopher didn’t sit down right away. Instead, he let Renee take her time soaking in the atmosphere.

Half an hour later, a waiter began setting out the dishes: Black Forest cake, black truffle mushroom soup, sirloin steak, and a fresh salad arranged neatly across the table.

𝗥om𝗮𝗻с𝘦 𝗮ոd p𝘢𝘴𝗌іо𝗻 o𝘯 𝗴а𝗅𝗇ove𝗹𝘴.𝗰o𝗆

After a while, Kristopher returned. He wiped his hands with a warm towel and finally took the seat across from Renee.

“Mr. Wright, I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you earlier,” Renee said, her voice faintly uneasy. “I owe you my gratitude.”

“It’s no trouble at all,” he replied smoothly.

He wondered, briefly, whether she would still feel grateful if she learned the full truth behind their meeting.

Curious, Renee asked, “When did you recognize me?”

Kristopher held her gaze for a moment before answering, “From the very beginning.”

The words implied more than simple recognition. It sounded as though Renee had never truly left his mind.

“I understand now,” Renee said softly.

Even though Kristopher had known her right away, she hadn’t remembered him until he brought himself back into her life.

“You don’t need to apologize,” Kristopher said, as if reading her thoughts. “It’s only natural that you didn’t recognize me.”

After their first rain-soaked encounter, their paths had never crossed again.

When dinner ended, Renee declined Kristopher’s offer to drive her home.

When Renee reached the entrance of her apartment complex, she saw three familiar figures waiting outside. Security was strict here—only residents were allowed past the gate.

Susanna’s voice carried across the distance as she waved enthusiastically.

Daniel stood beside her and gave Renee a polite nod.

“Renee, I heard from Susanna that you live here now,” Flossie said, her eyes flicking toward Renee with visible unease.

Noticing her hesitation, Renee guided her a little farther away, somewhere more private.

“Renee…” Flossie hesitated, then forced the words out. “Levy left one of his outfits at my place. Could you tell me the next time you’re all hanging out? I’d like to give it back to him.”

Renee frowned slightly. “You’re dating him. Why don’t you return it to him yourself?”

“We… broke up,” Flossie admitted. The words hung heavy between them.

Renee was startled. Deep down, she believed it was probably for the best, but the sorrow—and quiet self-mockery—in Flossie’s eyes made it hard to feel relieved.

“Flossie, Levy won’t miss an outfit,” Renee said gently. “Or you can give it to me, and I’ll make sure he gets it.”

She could sense there was more behind Flossie’s request than a piece of clothing.

At Renee’s soft implication, Flossie’s composure cracked. “You’re right,” she whispered. “I can’t let him go. Renee… I really want to see him again.”

“Flossie, have you lost your mind?” Renee’s concern was obvious, but she kept her voice low so Daniel and Susanna wouldn’t overhear. “Levy isn’t right for you. Even his friends Marcelo and Jason have said that.”

Men understood each other best. If Levy’s own friends thought he wasn’t a good match, there was truth in it.

Flossie gripped the fabric of her clothes tightly, her eyes swirling with turmoil—like someone fighting a tide she couldn’t escape.

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