Chapter 758

She loved the child and the child's father. She even loved the ill-timed yet perfect destiny that had brought them together. Love was a simple reason to outweigh the drawbacks.

"I'm unprepared and a bit afraid of the huge responsibility of motherhood," she said, "but I can learn. If the child is here, it's destiny, and I won't take its life for my selfish reasons."

Alexander was so moved by her words that he embraced her. "You'll be a terrific mother," he declared. "The best mom in the whole wide world!"

Noah Richards dined alone amidst the couples and families at the buffet restaurant. His plate held little food; a bottle of red wine sat before him. Seated by the floor-to-ceiling windows, he enjoyed the city view—until the click-clack of high heels and a crisp voice interrupted him.

"Mr. Richards, enjoying the view?"

Noah didn't look up, adding another piece of meat to the mini-grill.

Arianna, unsurprised by his indifference, didn't retreat. Instead, she sat opposite him. "It's so boring to eat alone. Why don't we share a table?"

"F*ck off!"

He was used to people pursuing him and knew how to rebuff them. He'd turned countless away, but this woman was different.

"Mr. Richards, you're not going to make any friends behaving like this."

Unfazed, Arianna smiled and speared the grilled meat Noah had just placed on the grill.

"Put that down!"

Noah looked up, his impatience evident. This woman has no shame, he thought. Most people, especially women, would have run away in tears after my harsh rejection, but she didn't even leave; she sat down and helped herself to my food!

Arianna smiled, met his gaze, slowly ate the meat, and chewed.

Noah was speechless.

"Why so stingy? Good things taste better shared, don't you think?" She used tongs to place a piece of raw meat on the grill. "It's more fun working together and sharing."

"This is the last time I'm saying this. Fck the hll off!" Noah slammed his tongs down, his expression stern and his tone harsh.

Arianna calmly flipped the meat on the grill. "Mr. Richards," she said, "you've undertaken a difficult investigation. Why are you so angry?"

"Who the h*ll are you?" Noah crossed his arms, frowning intently.