Rhett had dark shadows under his eyes but didn't say anything.
He looked at Kelsey calmly. Kelsey didn't seem to notice his gaze and just sat quietly next to Quiana.
She didn't expect the guests Quiana mentioned would be Rhett and Elise. The world's honestly way too small.
Rhett hated the idea of her showing up in front of them, yet they just had to meet again. She couldn't help but feel like it was kinda ironic.
She really wanted to see what Rhett would do next.
Quiana looked surprised. "At first, I thought she looked just like someone I used to know. I figured it was just a coincidence. I mean, how could someone look that similar unless they were twins or something? I didn't expect it. Like, it's one thing for me to meet someone like that, but now you have too?"
After saying that, she stared closely at Kelsey's face. "Such a pretty face, and it's not even the usual type of pretty that's common. How did she actually end up looking like her?"
Kelsey smiled helplessly. "Are you just using this as an excuse to compliment me?"
Quiana didn't even try to hide it. She just wrapped her arm around Kelsey's shoulders and said proudly, "She is beautiful. I'm not wrong."
Elise had finally calmed down a bit, but her suspicions were even stronger now.
Was it really not Kelsey?
Could it seriously just be someone else who looked like her?
But like… is that even possible? Can two people in this world really look that alike?
Quiana turned to Kelsey again. "These are the guests I told you about. This is Rhett Clark, the president of Clark Group. And this is the famous actress Elise. You know her, right? And President Clark is her…"
She paused suddenly, then smiled and looked across the table. "Is he your boyfriend or your fiancé now?"
Elise's face went pale, and she didn't answer.
She gave Rhett a look so obvious that anyone could understand what she meant.
Quiana clicked her tongue. "Ooh, sounds like something good is happening between you two. So when's the wedding?"
Rhett finally looked away from Kelsey and answered flatly, "In two months."
"So soon? Will you even have time to plan everything?"
"It doesn't have to be too big. Just something simple," Elise forced a smile and tried to sound normal.
"Then when are you two getting the marriage certificate?" Quiana asked, and the whole dinner table went a little quiet.
Elise's expression changed right away, but Rhett still looked calm. "There's no rush."
Anyone could tell that when Rhett said no rush, Elise's whole vibe went off.
Even though she was trying to hide it, girls just know, we've got that sixth sense or whatever.
Even Quiana, who usually didn't notice this stuff, could tell the atmosphere felt kinda weird. So she quickly started talking about something else to lighten the mood.
She glanced at Kelsey, who had been super quiet since sitting down.
Quiana was worried she'd feel left out, so she leaned in with a grin and said, "Kaitlyn, what kind of guys do you like? Want me to set you up with someone?"
"Ahem…"
Kelsey choked on her water and turned red trying not to cough too hard.
Her eyes started tearing up, and she reached out for a tissue.
The tissue box was on the opposite side, so she leaned over to grab it. Rhett saw and quietly handed her one.
Kelsey paused, looked down without making eye contact, and said softly, "Thank you…"
It was just a small gesture. No one noticed.
But Elise clenched her fists under the table, her eyes getting darker. She glanced at Kelsey, then looked at Rhett.
Rhett didn't even seem to notice her mood at all. He was still calm and distant, like that coldness was just part of him.
He hadn't really thought anything when he gave her the tissue. He just happened to glance at her outfit.
The dress actually suited her, but she'd never worn something like that before.
He looked away again, but the image of her trembling eyelashes when she looked down stuck in his mind.
And then this weird feeling of restlessness started rising inside him.
Quiana didn't think too much about it.
She saw Kelsey's reaction and even teased her, "Why are you so shy? You're young and super pretty. You can't stay single forever, right? Might as well find someone now and enjoy it while you can!"
Kelsey smiled and said nothing.
Quiana rested her chin on her hand and suddenly said, "Don't be so shy. I know a ton of hot guys. I can introduce you to whatever type you like…"
Before she could even finish, someone stuffed a piece of green veggie into her mouth.
"Ah wu…"
Quiana got cut off and looked sadly at the guy next to her.
Hunter ignored her look and waited until she finished chewing before pulling back his chopsticks with a straight face. "I can't even shut you up."
Quiana pouted in annoyance but didn't say anything else. She just poked at the rice in her bowl.
Hunter ate really properly, but every now and then, when he noticed Quiana being picky again, he'd frown and help her grab more food.
Even though Quiana looked like she didn't want it, she only complained a little and ended up eating everything obediently.
She acts all spoiled, but she actually listens to Hunter.
Kelsey thought their relationship seemed really nice, and she lowered her head and smiled to herself.
It was just a small smile, but in Elise's eyes, it was blinding.
Whether she's Kelsey or not, that face, looking almost exactly like her, is like a thorn stabbed into Elise's heart.
A constant reminder she can't get rid of.
This woman should've vanished from Rhett's life the moment she fell.
Not be showing up again and again like this.
Elise felt all this frustration building up inside, but when she looked at Rhett's blank expression, she had nowhere to vent it.
She paused, then suddenly smiled. "You really shouldn't say things like that in front of Dr. Lewis. You know so many handsome guys, aren't you afraid Dr. Lewis might get jealous?"
That hit Quiana right in the feels.
She immediately leaned closer to Hunter with a big smile. "Are you jealous?"
Hunter was quietly eating when he suddenly saw her face right in front of him. He pushed her head away like it was nothing. "Can you not just eat properly?"
"You're totally jealous…" Quiana didn't even get mad after being pushed back. Instead, she laughed to herself and mumbled happily, "Don't worry, Dr. Lewis. You're the only handsome guy I like."
Elise looked over at Kelsey. "Looks like Quiana only introduced you to the leftover guys."
It sounded like a joke, but if you really listened, it had a bit of bite to it.
Quiana narrowed her eyes and sat up straight, her foxy eyes full of playful smiles. "Let's not talk about that anymore… Oh yeah, why didn't you bring your baby today? I heard newborns are so cute. I haven't seen him yet, but I've been really looking forward to it."
Talking about the baby made Elise's expression soften a little. "He's still really young and can't travel far yet. I'll bring him next time."
Quiana nodded like she understood, then suddenly turned the topic and looked at Rhett with a grin. "I'm honestly kinda jealous of President Clark. Everyone knows Elise used to be the famous White Swan* among all the rich young masters in Spring City. And now she's even willing to have a baby for him without being married."
Then she laughed, "President Clark, she gave you a whole son and you haven't even held a wedding yet. Don't you think that's kinda… rude?"