SWNOVELS Chapter 231: Stirring Trouble
Harvey Fieldmouse felt a shiver of apprehension. Ever since the news of Azure's return spread, he had sensed trouble brewing. Surprisingly, it unfolded sooner than expected and he found himself right in the middle of it.
What was Azure doing at Meredith's restaurant? Azure was Terrence's ex-girlfriend, and Meredith, his current wife. This was a clear recipe for disaster.
Yet, it wasn't exactly right to call Azure Terrence Sterling's ex-girlfriend. They were never officially together, but they matched so well and were so close that everyone assumed they were a couple without needing any confirmation. Harvey Fieldmouse wasn't the only one who knew Azure. His friends who accompanied him today were also close to Terrence Sterling, having grown up together. They all spotted Azure and exchanged uneasy looks.
Was today's cheese fondue something they just couldn't miss? They totally didn't mind skip the meal now!
Meredith noticed their strange expressions and asked with a puzzled look, "What's wrong? Your usual private room is ready on the third floor."
Harvey Fieldmouse, rubbing his temples, signaled his friends to go upstairs first. They scampered away quickly, eager to avoid any drama. It was one thing to join in the fun, but quite another to become inadvertent victims in a skirmish. Watching his friends flee, Harvey Fieldmouse muttered under his breath about the true bonds of brotherhood. Meredith, seeing him still standing there, frowned and asked, "What's the matter?"
"Nothing... it's just been a while since I last saw you. I just wanted to catch up," Harvey said with an awkward and somewhat forced smile. "Why don't you join us?"
"I'm still full right now," replied Meredith. "You guys go ahead."
Harvey was reluctant to leave. With both Azure and Meredith present, he feared a confrontation if Azure spoke out of turn. As he pondered his next move, Azure stood up and invited, "Harvey Fieldmouse, why don't you sit at this table and join me?"
At her words, Harvey's smile froze, and he glanced anxiously at Meredith to gauge her reaction. When Meredith heard Azure greeting Harvey, she looked between them and asked, "You know each other?"
The connections were clear: Azure knew Harvey, who knew Terrence, and now Azure was here. Meredith guessed the reason behind Azure's frequent visits. It turned out she was Terrence's exceptionally talented ex-girlfriend, a pinnacle of modern dance at the national level. What an ex he had got for himself!?
Meredith sensed a hint of jealousy in Azure's tone when she spoke. Azure, aware of who Meredith was, admitted openly, "Yes, we've known each other for many years."
Harvey chuckled nervously, his face muscles stiff with discomfort. Meredith suggested, "Since you're all acquainted, why don't you sit down and catch up?"
Thus, Harvey found himself seated between Meredith and Azure, his heart pounding with the awkward tension of the situation. It seemed he was always the one to suffer for his boss's past affairs.
Azure then deliberately stirred the pot by reminiscing about the last time they had dined together, which had been on Terrence Sterling's birthday five years ago. She mentioned how quickly time had passed and brought up that Terrence was now married, living in Thornfield Gardens-a place she had once admired. This revelation made the atmosphere even more strained, as Azure was clearly trying to provoke a reaction by highlighting her past with Terrence in front of his wife. Harvey, desperate to defuse the tension, coughed loudly and hinted at Azure to stop talking. He quickly interjected, "Let's not dwell on the past. I hear you're doing well abroad, and now you're back and have been promoted to principal dancer."