On the day Sydney Sawyer was set to meet Andrea Wyatt, the hazy sky looked like it was brewing a sudden downpour.
Sydney Sawyer was dressed simply in a white T-shirt, a thin knit sweater, and black pants. Her legs were long, straight, and slender. Wearing a black baseball cap, she spotted Andrea Wyatt sitting by a window the moment she entered the restaurant.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Andrea Wyatt was dressed especially formally today in a well-tailored suit that made him look tall and sharp. He stood up and pulled out a chair for her. "No, I was early."
He hadn't expected Sydney Sawyer to be dressed so… simply.
He couldn't help but look at her a couple more times.
The girls he usually saw, including Kiara Dillon, were all impeccably dressed with flawless makeup. None of them were like her.
'Could it be true, what Mom said? That she doesn't care about me at all, so she's not even bothering with her appearance?'
'Or… after leaving me hanging for so many days, is she trying a different approach to get my attention? In that case, she…'
'...has succeeded.'
Sydney Sawyer's reasons were much simpler: her allergic reaction had just cleared up, and she was worried makeup might irritate her skin. Comfort was her top priority.
"Are you two ready to order?" the waiter asked, handing Sydney Sawyer a glass of warm water.
"It's still early. Why don't we get something to drink first?" Andrea Wyatt suggested.
"I'm good with either."
...
After ordering their drinks, they sat facing each other. Since they didn't know each other well, and considering what had happened before, things were inevitably a little distant and awkward.
"You've been back in Keston for a little while now, haven't you? How are you finding it?" Andrea Wyatt said, trying to break the ice.
"It's been good."
"Keston has changed a lot over the years. You should get out and explore when you have time. If you need a tour guide, you can always call me. After all, you used to call me brother when we were kids."
Sydney Sawyer managed a weak smile.
'Brother?'
'What's with me lately?'
'Just a few days ago, I ran into a guy who wanted me to call him 'Uncle,' and now I've met one who wants to be my 'brother'.'
"About what happened last time, I was being thoughtless. I bought you a little something as an apology. And since we haven't seen each other in so many years, you can also think of it as a belated welcome-back gift."
"I've already forgotten about what happened. Besides, if my mom found out you treated me to a meal *and* gave me a gift, she'd definitely give me a lecture."
"How has your mom been? I haven't seen her in years. I hope she's doing well."
"She's doing well. It's just, the older she gets, the more she nags."
"My mom's the same way…"
Sydney Sawyer had come to the meeting wanting to smooth things over from their last encounter, so she didn't reject his gestures of goodwill. When they started talking about their childhood, they found common ground and the conversation flowed pleasantly.
The Wyatt family was prominent in Keston, so it wasn't long before someone in the restaurant recognized Andrea Wyatt. Someone even sneakily took a photo and posted it to their social media.
[Ran into Andrea Wyatt. He's even more handsome in person than in his pictures.]
...
"We should probably order soon. Take a look at the menu while I use the restroom," Andrea Wyatt said, handing it to her.
Sydney Sawyer idly flipped through the menu, her gaze drifting out the window.
The sky had completely darkened. Just then, her phone vibrated with a notification forecasting light rain for later that evening. She had originally wanted to meet him for lunch, but Andrea Wyatt had claimed to be busy, so they had settled on dinner instead.
The Municipal First Hospital's main building was visible from the restaurant. 'I haven't seen him in so many days…'
Sydney Sawyer caught someone standing beside her in her peripheral vision. The moment she looked up, she froze for a second.
"Miss Sawyer? What a coincidence. You're eating here too?"
The speaker was none other than Kiara Dillon.
"Kiara, who's this?" a fashionably dressed girl beside her asked.
"You could say she's Andrea's little sister," Kiara Dillon said with a gentle smile.
The girl looked down at Sydney Sawyer, her scrutinizing gaze filled with unconcealed contempt and hostility.
"Oh, so this is the 'little sister' he grew up with?"
"That's her," Kiara Dillon said, her eyes on Sydney Sawyer. "Are you here with friends, Miss Sawyer? I can't believe our luck, running into each other again."
Sydney Sawyer's fingers traced over the menu. Keston wasn't a big city, but a chance encounter like this was still highly unlikely.
'Judging by her friend's expression… they're probably here to 'catch the other woman'.'
"It certainly is a coincidence," Sydney Sawyer said with a small smile.
**
「Meanwhile, at Keston First Municipal Hospital」
Sebastian Lockwood had just stepped out of the operating room. As he was about to take off his blue scrubs, someone nudged his arm. It was Donovan Sheridan, leaning in close. "The surgery was a success. Mr. Chandler's treating everyone to dinner tonight, and he said you have to be there."
"I have to go home and feed my cat."
"I already accepted for you. You'd just have to cook for yourself if you went home alone anyway, which is such a hassle." Donovan Sheridan said, stretching his back. "After being so busy for so many days, we finally get a day off tomorrow."
Sebastian Lockwood didn't respond. He took off his scrubs, disinfected his hands, and washed up. By the time he got back to his office, his phone was vibrating. He frowned at the caller ID but answered it anyway. "Hello?"
"Uncle," Andrea Wyatt said, his voice sycophantic.
"What is it?"
"Are you off work? Are you busy? I was hoping to treat you to dinner."
"Dinner?"
"Tonight. At a restaurant near the hospital."
"I have…"
"Last time we had dinner, you arrived late, and I feel I wasn't a very good host. I also left in such a hurry that I didn't get to say a proper goodbye. It's been bothering me. As it happens, I'm with Syd right now. Would you like to join us?"
Andrea Wyatt's plan was simple. He had just had a pleasant conversation with Sydney Sawyer, and he wanted to put on a good show for Sebastian Lockwood, to prove that he could handle his own affairs and wasn't just some love-sick fool.
'And what's more convincing than seeing it with your own eyes?'
Sebastian Lockwood raised an eyebrow. "She's there too?"
'Syd? He sounds pretty familiar with her.'
"That's right. Just the three of us."
"Send me the address."
Sebastian Lockwood hung up and found Donovan Sheridan leaning against his office doorway, arms crossed. "I already promised Mr. Chandler. Are you trying to bail?"
"I'm not bailing. Something came up. I have to go check on it first."
"Then I'll go with you. Mr. Chandler is still talking with a patient's family anyway, so we're not in a rush for dinner."
Since Donovan Sheridan had been the one to accept the dinner invitation on his behalf, he was naturally worried that a certain someone might trick him and disappear. Sticking with him was the safest option.
Sebastian Lockwood just chuckled. 'So childish.'
**
Meanwhile, a very excited Andrea Wyatt sent the restaurant's address to Sebastian Lockwood.
It was usually so difficult to get Sebastian to agree to anything, so he was thrilled it had gone so smoothly. Now, he just had to tell Sydney Sawyer. He was sure she wouldn't object.
He'd resolved the situation with Sydney Sawyer and could change Sebastian Lockwood's opinion of him, all in one day.
Solving two problems at once, Andrea Wyatt thought he was just your average, run-of-the-mill genius.
He checked himself in the restroom mirror one more time, straightening his clothes to ensure he looked his best when he faced Sebastian Lockwood.
When Andrea Wyatt returned to the restaurant and saw Kiara Dillon, he was completely stunned.
'What is she doing here?'
But then he instantly understood, and his face turned ashen with humiliation.