Ella gasped, dumbfounded. She looked like she had a million questions but didn''t know which one to ask first. "

    YOU

    ?! Breaking up the engagement with my cousin? Is the world going to end now?"

    Zachary was staring at me like I''d grown horns. "Wait, are you really Eve?"

    Cole''s frown deepened, and although he was trying to keep a calm exterior, I could tell he was shocked. He opened his mouth to say something but quickly shut it again, clearly at a loss.

    That was when I saw Claire entering the restaurant.

    Finally

    . Thanks to her, I''d been stuck in this awkward situation far longer than necessary.

    I stood up, brushing myself off as I smiled at the group. "My meeting partner is here, so please excuse me." My eyes locked on Cole one last time, cold and final. "Congratulations, Mr. Fay. You''re free now. Just like you always wanted. I won''t bother you anymore."

    Before turning to leave, I leaned toward Zachary, whispering in his ear, though loud enough for Cole and Ella to hear. "Thank you for the treat. I''ve already instructed the restaurant on where to deliver my order."

    With that, I swept out of the restaurant, dragging a confused Claire behind me.

    === ???? ===

    Zachary and Ella sat in stunned silence, eyes flickering between the empty doorway and the man who remained motionless in his seat. Even Cole, typically sharp and composed, looked utterly speechless.

    "W-what . . . what just happened?" Zachary muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. He wasn''t addressing anyone in particular, just trying to comprehend the whirlwind that had swept through the room.

    Ella was the first to recover, a soft chuckle slipping through her lips. "Looks like she finally came to her senses. Snapped out of it," she said with a mix of amusement and admiration.

    Zachary blinked, still baffled, his gaze darting between Cole and the door. "Wait . . . so does that mean she doesn''t like you anymore? Is the engagement . . . over? After all this years that she was pursuing you, why change of heart all of a sudden?" His voice trailed off, as if the reality of it all was only beginning to settle in.

    Watch

    ."

    Before Ella could respond, a waitress approached their table, all smiles and carrying a neatly folded bill. "Excuse me, sir. Here''s the bill for Miss Eve''s order. Once it''s fully paid, we''ll begin preparing and delivering the items to the specified address."

    Zachary, still grinning, took the bill without a second thought. But as his eyes scanned the number printed at the bottom, the color drained from his face. "What the—$200,000?! Are you kidding me? Who is she feeding, an entire army?"

    The waitress maintained her professional smile. "Miss Eve ordered everything on the menu, sir. Including exotic seafoods. Enough for one hundred people."

    Zachary''s mouth fell open. "ONE HUNDRED? What is she, hosting a banquet for the homeless?" His voice rose, and he ran a hand through his hair in disbelief. He could afford the bill, sure, but $200,000 for a single meal? His father would have questions, and Zachary wasn''t looking forward to that conversation.

    Ella burst into laughter, unable to contain herself. "Oh yes," she said between giggles, "I can just see it now. She''s

    definitely

    going to fall in love with you after this, Zach." The sarcasm dripped from her words, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she nudged him with her elbow.

    Zachary groaned, burying his face in his hands. "This is not how I imagined impressing her," he mumbled, his voice muffled but filled with exasperation.

    Cole, meanwhile, remained quiet, his expression hardening once again. But beneath the indifferent facade, something stirred—something he refused to acknowledge. He didn''t care, or at least, that''s what he kept telling himself. Yet the image of Eve walking out with that sweet, mocking smile lingered in his mind, refusing to let go.

    "Cole," Ella''s voice cut through his thoughts, her tone teasing but with a sharp edge, "I wonder . . . will you be fine if she never looks back?"

    Cole''s jaw tightened. He didn''t respond. Instead, he stood up abruptly, tossing his napkin onto the table. Without a word, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Zachary and Ella watching his retreating figure with a mix of curiosity and confusion.

    "Well," Ella said with a shrug, "I guess we''ll find out soon enough, won''t we?"

    Zachary shook his head, still clutching the outrageous bill in his hand. "I think I just got played."

    Ella''s laughter echoed through the restaurant.