Chapter 165: Not Here for the Reunion
What if I ran into Ellis at Carly’s place while I was there too? Could we bump into each other? Just a few days into my bout of insomnia, I shouldn’t be entertaining such thoughts—they could mess with my sleep quality!
Realizing his mind was wandering, Easton grabbed a glass of whiskey and downed it in one go, using the alcohol to suppress any thoughts that might disturb his peace. He wasn’t idle; he had better things to do than fantasize about random encounters with Ellis.
As he dealt with Liam, who was keen on continuing the conversation, Easton glanced at Taylor, signaling her to send him away. Once she received Easton’s silent command, Taylor promptly did so. After dismissing Liam, Easton found a more secluded spot to sit.
The dinner guests were almost all elites from various fields; casual interactions could lead to partnerships and even set industry trends, benefiting both parties and positively impacting society. The smart ones knew to network at these dinners, seeking opportunities. He was past that stage; he didn’t need to do much—just showing up was enough to give face to the hosts and support the event, especially since it was a government-organized affair.
If this dinner had been a few months earlier and Ellis had come along, she wouldn’t have thought about resources or opportunities. She would’ve clung to him like an outsider, a tag-along, always sticking close by his side. Tonight, her absence felt unusual to him. Maybe it was because, since the day she asked for a divorce, aside from his grandfather’s birthday (where Ellis was present), tonight was the first public event where he was without her.
Unbeknownst to him, outside the venue stood Ellis, dressed in business attire, which did little to hide her radiant charm. She looked over the venue’s exterior repeatedly, debating whether to go in.
“Ms. Harper, what are you skulking around for, planning to steal something?”
The voice was all too familiar, and without looking up, Ellis knew it was that scumbag Morty.
“I misspoke. What are you doing?” Morty quickly corrected himself as he saw Ellis’s glare. “Can’t get in? Need help?”
“I can get in.”
Ellis had come with Lois, holding an invitation from the organizers meant for Lois. It wasn’t that she couldn’t enter; she just didn’t want to, upon seeing that Easton was also attending. Running into an ex wasn’t about evasion; she genuinely didn’t want to share a space with Easton.
The air was stuffy enough with too many people around; Easton’s presence only made it worse! And if they had a conflict, what would she do in front of everyone? Scold him, or not? Scolding him would embarrass them both, but not doing so would suffocate her.
“You can get in, so why stand here?” Morty asked, puzzled.
“I want to,” Ellis shot Morty a cold glance. “Go inside; don’t worry about me.”
Maybe because she had seen Morty walking his dog outside Petal Estates lately, he didn’t block her way or speak to her in that irritating tone as he used to. He almost seemed decent, especially since he’d asked if she needed help. Morty had just arrived and wasn’t in a hurry to enter.
After sizing up Ellis for a moment, he looked around and remarked, “Standing at a busy doorway like this, aren’t you feeling awkward?”
“I’m not in a rush.” Morty looked ahead, making a guess. “Something dirty inside? You seem desperate to avoid it.”
Easton is the dirty thing! Ellis said nothing, her gaze urging Morty to get away from her sight. Her actions confirmed Morty’s guess. She was definitely avoiding someone! He carefully scanned the faces of the people around, and after a while, he vaguely saw Easton sitting in a remote corner.
“Easton’s here too,” he commented, turning his head towards Ellis, “Your ex-husband.”
Ellis glared fiercely at Morty. Couldn’t this scumbag just keep it down for once?
“You don’t want to bump into him, do you?” Recognizing it was Easton and seeing him possibly glance their way, Morty instinctively pulled Ellis toward a large potted plant that could shield her. “Are you afraid of running into your ex?”
Suddenly yanked, Ellis felt like cursing but restrained herself due to the people continuously coming and going, maintaining a semblance of composure. It was as if she was dusting off her shoulder, but in reality, she was disgustedly brushing off where Morty had touched her.
“Nosy!” Her tone was less than pleasant, verging on sarcastic.
Essentially admitting it, Morty raised an eyebrow.
“Forgive me for being nosy, but I’m really curious why you initiated the divorce with Easton!”
“Knowing you’re being nosy, yet you still ask?” Ellis shot him a look. “Shut your mouth and get inside.”