Chapter 265
Kingsley pushed the restaurant doors open just in time to catch every single word of Lucy’s icy dismissal. His gaze swept the room, immediately landing on Evie hovering by their table.
He marched over and pulled Evie back, his tone harsh and protective. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Evie maintained a calm expression, quickly explaining, “I was just coming over to say hello to Lucy.”
Kingsley scrutinized her with a dark, predatory gaze, clearly weighing the truth of her words. Before he could press further, Lucy spoke up, her tone dripping with detachment.
“She was just saying hello. But seeing as we aren’t close, it was entirely unnecessary.”
Seven couldn’t quite grasp the undercurrent of tension crackling between the adults, but he instantly recognized Kingsley. His eyes lit up, and he called out sweetly, “Uncle Kingsley!”
At the sound of the little boy’s voice, the rigid tension in Kingsley’s jaw instantly softened.
A faint, genuine smile graced his lips as he murmured softly, “Hey there.”
Seeing the interaction, Evie turned back to Lucy, offering a sincere apology. “Lucy, I’m sorry for bothering you.” Feeling like she had overstepped, she quickly hurried away.
Kingsley looked at Lucy, his voice steady and reassuring. “Enjoy your meal. She won’t bother you again.”
With that, he turned and followed Evie, leading her upstairs toward the private dining rooms. As they passed the host stand, he made a deliberate stop to quietly pay for Lucy and Seven’s meal, adding two extra desserts to their order.
Evie stood quietly to the side, watching him take care of them. She murmured softly, “Kingsley, you’ve changed so much. Lucy has changed, too. We all have. None of us are the same as we used to be.” Kingsley didn’t reply. He just kept walking upstairs without missing a beat.
Once they entered the private booth, he sat down, resting one hand on the table. His gaze was somber as it locked onto Evie, his tone leaving absolutely no room for argument.
“Evie, no one is allowed to cross them—and that includes you. They are completely off-limits.”
Evie’s eyes crinkled as a soft smile touched her lips. “Kingsley, that’s not fair. I really wasn’t giving them a
hard time.” She picked up the teapot
from the table, pouring him a
сир
and sliding it over. “I genuinely just bumped into them today and
wanted to say hi I know did a lot of crazy things in the past, so it’s
completely normal that Lucy doesn’t
want to see me. If I were her, I
wouldn’t trust me either.”
Kingsley picked up the teacup and took a slow sip, offering a simple warning. “Good. Don’t bother them again.”
Evie nodded, then changed the subject, a hopeful glint in her eyes. “It’s a shame, though. I would have loved to hear my little nephew call me Auntie Evie.”
Kingsley couldn’t help but let out a low, breathless laugh. “He hasn’t even called me ‘Dad’ yet, and you’re already jumping ahead.”
Evie took a delicate sip of her tea, her eyes shining with mischief. “Then you better step up your game, Kingsley. I’ll be waiting to hear him say it.”
Suddenly remembering something else, she added with a laugh, “By the way, did you know Bacchus’s new girlfriend is younger than both of us?” A faint smirk pulled at the
corner of Kingsley’s mouth, his tone completely indifferent.
“I had no idea. I don’t care to keep up with his business.”
“True,” Evie agreed with a knowing nod. “Your only focus right now is winning Lucy back.”
She handed him the menu. “Here, you order. Dinner is on me.”
Kingsley took the menu, casually picking out a few dishes before looking up at her.
A hint of genuine approval softened his voice. “You really have grown up.” Downstairs, Lucy and Seven were entirely unfazed by the minor interruption.
Seven, in particular, was starving
after burning off all his energy in the
pool fe didn’t stop eating for. a single second, happily devouring every bite on his plate.