Chapter 3The Two Projected on the Screen

I calmly looked up at the impeccably dressed woman who was staring down at me with unconcealed disdain. She squeezed in next to Adrian, sitting opposite me.

“Let me introduce myself,” she said, her voice smooth as silk. “I’m Adrian’s girlfriend, Nora.”

I said nothing.

She deliberately rubbed against Adrian’s arm. “Adrian, honey, aren’t you going to introduce us? She is…?”

Adrian looked uncomfortable. Nora’s sudden appearance had clearly caught him off guard.

His evasive glance was almost comical. “I’m an employee at Mr. Wright’s company,” I said smoothly. “The restaurant was full, so we were just sharing a table.”

Adrian’s head snapped toward me, a flicker of shock in his eyes, quickly replaced by a wave of relief. “Ah, yes. This is one of my employees, Kristina.”

Nora’s smile was dazzling. “Miss Miller must be an exceptional employee. This is the first time I’ve ever seen Adrian share a meal with any woman other than me.”

She placed her phone on the table, casually pushing it toward me. The message was clear. It was a challenge.

I glanced at her screen. Her profile picture was, as I suspected, the other half of Adrian’s. Even their outfits were a coordinated color scheme, a high-end designer couple’s set. Sitting together under the soft restaurant lighting, they looked like a perfect match.

I put down my chopsticks and stood up to leave.

Nora grabbed my arm. Where Adrian couldn't see, her long, sharp nails dug into my flesh. “Miss Miller, you’re leaving as soon as I arrive. Did I say something wrong? I can apologize, if that’s what you want.”

I had no patience for her games. I yanked my arm free.

As I was examining the angry red marks on my wrist, her hand suddenly flew out and slapped a small boy who was playing near our table.

The boy, shocked and hurt, burst into tears.

Nora’s eyes immediately filled with tears of her own as she rushed to apologize to him. Adrian quickly followed suit, offering to pay the boy’s parents.

But the little boy pointed a trembling finger at me. “It was her!” he sobbed. “She pushed that lady’s hand, and it hit me! I want her to say sorry!”

Nora immediately adopted a wounded expression. “Miss Miller, I don’t know what I did to offend you. If you have a problem with me, you can take it out on me, but please don’t involve innocent children.”

Suddenly, all eyes in the restaurant were on me. Murmurs and judgmental glances followed.

Adrian shot me a furious glare. “What are you just standing there for? Apologize! Aren't you embarrassed?”

Emboldened, the little boy ran over and bit my hand, clamping down hard and refusing to let go. The more Nora tried to “soothe” him, the harder he bit.

I wasn't about to get into a fight with a child. I apologized.

But Adrian wasn't satisfied. He couldn't see the blood welling up from the bite marks. He grabbed my arm as I tried to leave. “Kristina, apologize to Nora.”

Nora feigned reluctance. “Adrian, it’s fine. I’m not hurt. The little boy just got a scare, that’s all.”

He looked at the red mark on the back of Nora’s hand with exaggerated concern. Then he turned back to me, grabbed my hand, and shoved it into a bowl of hot soup that had just been delivered to the table.

The soup wasn’t boiling, but it was hot enough. The salty liquid seeped into the open wounds, a searing, agonizing pain that made me tremble.

“Kristina, how can you be so vicious? This is a lesson for you.”

“Is that what you really think of me?” The question was out of my mouth before I could stop it, even though I already knew the answer.

The commotion had attracted more attention.

“Which one is his girlfriend?” someone whispered.

“Are you blind? Obviously the one he’s protecting. Can’t you see their matching outfits?”

Their gazes turned to me, filled with pity. “Hey, kid, that’s enough. You’re going to cook the girl’s hand!”

My face was pale, but I looked at Adrian and laughed, a cold, empty sound. For a moment, he seemed flustered.

Finally, he released my hand, took Nora’s, and swept out of the restaurant.