Chapter 299: Stirring the Pot

Cameron couldn’t understand Easton’s behavior, but he maintained the demeanor expected of a host and offered Easton the menu, saying, “Easton, want to look at the menu and pick something?”

Easton casually set the menu aside and turned to look intently at the girl beside him.

“From your expression, I take it Andrew didn’t give you too much trouble?”

Ellis detected no hint of concern in Easton’s inquiry. He always had a way of making even caring words sound condescending, especially with his judgmental once-over that seemed to look down on others, easily making someone uncomfortable.

She ignored Easton, looking somewhat sullenly at Cameron instead.

Picking up on Ellis’s frustrated signals, Cameron felt lost. Morty’s arrival had upset her, and now Easton’s presence did the same.

He understood why she might have been unhappy to see Easton—after all, friendly post-divorce relations are rare—but the distress at Morty’s arrival had puzzled him.

Cameron tried to explain, “I… I…”

Alright, he admitted to himself, he was a gossip and had unnecessarily shared the situation with Easton and Morty.

Embarrassed, he coughed and diverted, “Let’s focus on the food; it’s best when it’s hot!”

Hearing Cameron stress that the food was best hot seemed like a clear dodge from explaining why Easton was also there. Ellis, already lacking an appetite, found it completely vanish at the sight of Easton.

She nudged Maya’s shoulder, “Let’s go, we’re heading home.”

“I’ll take you,” Easton stood up to offer.

“Mind your own business; stop meddling in others’,” Ellis snapped back irritably.

She didn’t want to spend another second in Easton’s presence; his mere sight irritated her. It was a new year, and she wished he would just stay out of her life.

“I should look after you, if not, you…” Easton started.

“Get this straight, you think you are who? You have no right to ‘look after’ me!”

Their exchange left the other three at the table with varying expressions and thoughts.

Maya sensed Ellis’s irritation was a desperate bid to rid herself of Easton’s annoyance.

Unlike Morty, Easton wasn’t nearly as likable. Morty had respectfully taken a seat next to Cameron, not imposing on Ellis’s personal space.

In contrast, Easton showed no sense of boundaries, even suggesting he escort Ellis home, which only served to aggravate her more.

Cameron wore a confused and worried look, clearly wondering about the extent of Ellis’s displeasure with Easton. It made him curious about how unhappy their divorce had been for Ellis to so strongly dislike her ex.

Morty frowned subtly, watching the interaction between the former couple intently. After a divorce, shouldn’t they be like strangers? What is Easton’s purpose in coming here? And his offer to take Ellis and Maya home, what is that about?

These changes went completely unnoticed by Easton, as he only had eyes for Ellis. Her strong resistance to his presence left him feeling stifled, prompting him to purse his lips tightly.

No one could see how lost he felt, unsure of how to proceed. He hadn’t found a way to persuade his ex-wife to consider remarrying him or even allow him closer proximity—a situation that felt like being swallowed by darkness, unable to reach the light.

The remaining text appears to be a jumble of unrelated phrases and sentences, possibly notes or drafts, and is therefore omitted.