Chapter 1160

Skylar spotted Annie and subtly furrowed her brows. The timing felt oddly coincidental. Stevan and Mona turned to look at Annie almost simultaneously. Stevan's expression darkened, while Mona, initially taken aback, quickly regained her composure. She recognized Annie—a popular online personality and former television host.

"I'm here shooting some videos," Annie said, addressing Stevan but subtly assessing Mona. "Didn't expect to run into you. Am I interrupting anything?"

Mona's excitement was evident. "You're Annie Silver! I love your show and videos."

Skylar shook her head internally. If Mona knew Annie was Stevan's ex-girlfriend, her admiration might wane. Skylar sensed Annie's scrutiny of Mona, a comparison laced with self-satisfaction. Annie's approach hadn't been about interrupting; it was intentional. "Yes, I'm Annie Silver," she replied.

Since their breakup, Annie had been curious about Stevan's new girlfriend, expecting someone stunning. Instead, she found a young woman who, in Annie's estimation, fell short. Mona was simple, unconcerned with competition. Yet, Annie's comparative gaze, filled with scrutiny, felt like an evaluation, a judgment of worth. Mona disliked the scrutiny, particularly the lingering gaze directed at Stevan. Annie's clear affection for him caused Mona's smile to fade. She murmured "Oh," and focused on the menu.

Skylar turned to Mona. "This place has great lamb skewers. Do you like lamb?"

Mona, a food enthusiast, nodded eagerly. "I love it! And the grilled lamb chops are amazing. I come here often."

"Really? I love lamb chops too," Skylar replied. "How about spicy chicken wings? Interested?"

Mona's eyes sparkled. "Finally, someone for a spicy challenge! Let's do it."

The two women chatted animatedly, seemingly oblivious to Annie. Stevan smiled at Mona. "Didn't you say you like grilled briskets?"

"Oh, yes! I want those too."

Stevan suggested, "Let's get six skewers, two for each of us."

"Sounds good."

The trio’s enthusiastic discussion momentarily eclipsed Annie. Her smile faltered, replaced by awkwardness and a pallor of humiliation. She glanced at Stevan, bitterness and disbelief swirling within her. Their passionate past felt distant. Less than a year later, he seemed genuinely fond of this woman, who, in Annie's eyes, paled in comparison.

Feeling ignored, an indescribable ache settled in her chest, the pain of rejection throbbing. Regret washed over her. Taking a deep breath, she quietly slipped away without a word.