Love or Leave Behind Novel

Chapter 43

Shelmaine’s gaze was calm, and so was her heart. She said, “Can I choose not to?”

In the three months after her move, Shelmaine’s life was rather peaceful. The Hastings were not disturbing her, and she enjoyed it. She didn’t want to be associated with them

anymore.

“Fine. Since you’re not interested, I won’t force you to hear about it. It’s not good news, anyway. But never mind, let’s not talk about those people.

As long as they didn’t talk about those people, their moods were elevated even when all they drank was water.

After drinking some water, Shelmaine wanted to use the washroom. After telling Isabelle about it, she excused herself to the washroom.

Soon after Shelmaine lett, Isabelle happily munched away on almonds. But when she casually glanced over at the entrance of the restaurant, she was shocked to see somebody unexpected.

“Why is he in Aurich? Shelmaine would be disturbed if she saw him!” Isabelle thought.

When Shelmaine came out of the washroom, she received a text from Julien.

He wrote, “May Imow if you have time tomorrow? My sister really liked the rings. She wanted me to thank you.”

Shelmine didn’t want to reply to the text, but she still replied out of courtesy and consideration for maintaining a good relationship with her customers.

“Thank you,” Shelmine wrote, including a smiley face after that.

But just as she walked around the corner, she bumped into Julien, who had his phone in his hand.

He was surprised, but he smiled and said, “I was just texting you, but I didn’t expect to bump into you. What a coincidence Were you having a meal here?”

Shelmaine silently sighed and then smiled. She said, “Yeah, what a coincidence. I was having dinner with a friend.”

“Where is your husband?”

“He’s busy,” Shelmaine said, smiling lightly. Not wanting to talk further, she continued, “My friend is still waiting, I’ll excuse myself.”

But Julien said, “Wait a minute, Ms. Clarke. Sorry to take up your time, but here’s the thing, my sister is getting engaged and I’d like to give her a gift as her brother. She doesn’t lack anything, so I don’t know what to give her. I saw your designs, and I thought she’d like them.”

Naturally, Shelmaine wouldn’t say no to a customer. She said, “Sure, but what designs are you looking at? Andy

d your budget..”

Julien asked, “Does your friend mind an extra person? Why don’t we sit down and talk?”

Shelmaine gave it some thought and said, “My friend shouldn’t mind. Let’s go.”

“Watch out!”

Shelmaine was about to turn around when Julien swiftly pulled her into his arms. He also stabilized her by holding her shoulder.

She turned around to see a waiter with a bowl of hot soup. The waiter almost spilled it on her, but Julien was quick to pull her away. The spilled soup was beat.

as still steaming from the

But even so, Shelmaine’s cales were s splattered with some soup. She was wearing a skirt, and it left her calves exposed. The waiter hurriedly apologized, asking if Shelmaine was

burned

Julien’s face was grim, but he controlled his anger. He said, “Be careful”

Shelmaine was fine. “I’m okay”

The waiter was frightened, and the restaurant manager came over immediately, apologizing to Shelmaine, Julien also checked on Shelmaine, even wiping away the soup that was on Shelmaine’s calves.

Shelnuine passed, and she avoided him out of reflex

“I can do that melt, it’s time”

Chapter 44

Julien noticed Shelimaine’s discomfort, so he stood up. “I’m glad you’re okay”

“I’m terribly sorry, sir and madam. Our waiter was being too careless,” the manager apologized. He mistook the both of them as a married couple.

shelmaine wanted to explain that they were not acouple, but it felt like she was trying to cover something up. Before Shelmaine could explain, Julien’s phone rang. He glanced at it and hung up.

Julien said to Shelmaine, “Are you really okay?

“Yes, I’m fine”

He seemed genuine as if he were just being concerned for a regular friend. Shelmaine brought Julien to their table and introduced him to Isabelle.

“This is my customer’s brother, Mr. Gallagher,”

Julien introduced himself and said, “I’m Julien Gallagher. Nice to meet you.”

isabelle looked at Shelmaine, then at Julien. As if she understood something, she chuckled and said, “Have a seat. Don’t just stand.”

After they got seated, Isabelle and Julien began chatting away. They hit it right off, and trabelle was very enthusiastic Soon, Isabelle found out everything about Jullen. He answered every question she asked.

Shelmaine kept signaling Isabelle to stop asking so many questions, but isabelle ignored her.

Isabelle said to Julien, “Shelly’s only been in Aurich for a short while, and she’s not very familiar with the place. If she needs any help, please give her a hand, Mr. Gallagher” Shelmaine was drinking water. Surprised by Isabelle, she choked and began coughing. Her face was flushed red. Isabelle gave her tissue and said, “What’s the rush? Drink slowly, what’s the rush?”

pullen was concerned about Shelmaime, too. Shelmine guiltly looked away. She wanted to signal to Isabelle, but it wasn’t the right time, so she gave up

“By the way, Mr. Gallagher. This is my business card. I work in South Haven, and I’m worried about Shelmaine being alone in Aurich. I’ll have to trouble you to watch out for her. If anything happens to her, please call me. I feel better knowing she has a friend in town”

Shelmaine thought things were getting out of hand. Why was Isabelle giving Julien her contact number? But Shelmaine knew what Isabelle was getting at; she was concerned about Shelmaine being alone in Auch.

But Shelmaine wasn’t a child, and she could live independently.

By the time the meal was over, everyone’s minds were thinking of different things. Then, Julien’s phone rang.

“Excuse me, but let me take this call”

When Jullen walked away, shelmaine hurriedly bold Isabelle, “Don’t say those things to him. You’re making it seem like I have no friends and need him to take care of me.”

Isabelle chuckled and said, “But you don’t have friends in Aurich: See, your belly is getting bigger. If anything happens, at least there’s somebody in town who could help. What if, right?”

“He’s just a customer, not a friend. We’ve only met a handful of times.”

Isabelle feigned ignorance and said, “But he didn’t say anything, did he?”

shelmanne was troubled. She took a deep breath.

“It’s okay, Shelly. Don’t be so stressed about it. I’m not trying to matchmake you, I just thought Mr. Gallagher was kind and would make a good friend. As for whether he has any other intentions, it’s up to the both of you,” Isabelle quickly said.

But Shelmaine was firm. She said, “I’m still pregnant. Even if he had any thoughts, I could not date him while I was pregnant. So, regardless, nothing can happen.”

Isabelle guiltly stirred the soup in her bowl and said, “I wasn’t talking about now. Hey, Shelly. Don’t be so uptight. I’m just concerned for you.”

Shrimane sighed. Just as she was about to say something she heard Julien speak.

“Samuel

“It really is you. When did you come to Aurich?”

Shelmine turned around by reflex to see Samuel. He was supposed to be in South Haven, yet here he was in Aurich

Samuel was speaking to pulien Shelmaine immediately turned around and clenched her fists She felt her chest tighten, and she struggled to breathe.

abelle gazed at Shelmaine concernedly. Isabelle whispered, “Shelly…”

Even İsabelle hadn’t expected Julien to be associated with Samuel.

Prebælle delt a little anxious. She said, “How do they know each other? Samel couldn’t have sent him as a spy, did he

Shelouine’s muud soured drastically