Reclaiming Her Heart

Chapter 522 What Does Raymond Mean? Selena was so engrossed in her meal that she failed to notice Raymond's arrival. With her right hand injured and temporarily out of use, she had resorted to using her left hand to spoon up her porridge. Lucas Den had thoughtfully peeled sshrimp for her, placing them in a small bowl within her reach. She ate them with a fork, oblivious to the world around her.

Raymond made his entrance, followed closely by Olivia. The sight of Selena caused Olivia's pupils to constrict, her face souring in an instant. It dawned on her then, with crystal clarity, that Raymond had chosen this particular restaurant for the sole reason that Selena was there. Otherwise, given his refined palate, he would never have chosen such a place.

Despite her irritation, Olivia held her tongue, deeming it inappropriate to voice her displeasure at that moment. Instead, she took a seat opposite Raymond, her expression a mask of forced neutrality.

A waiter approached their table, menus in hand. "Sir, what would you like to have?" he asked Raymond. Raymond's gaze drifted towards Selena's table, a mere two meters away. "Sas them," he replied.

Upon hearing his response, Olivia could no longer contain her annoyance. She plastered a smile on her face, her voice strained as she spoke. "Raymond, I'd like something different," she said.

Her voice caught Selena's attention, causing her to turn her head and notice their presence. Her brows furrowed in confusion. Why can't they leavealone? she wondered.

Raymond, still holding the menu, felt Selena's gaze on him. He stiffened but didn't turn his head to meet her eyes, maintaining the facade of a coincidental encounter.

When Olivia thought he hadn't heard her, she repeated her request. "Let's have something else. I'm not in the mood for that meal," she insisted.

Raymond, however, simply set down the menu, seemingly fixated on Selena's choice. He appeared indifferent, as if Olivia's words had fallen on deaf ears.

A minute later, a waiter approached their table, his expression apologetic. "I apologize, sir, but due to an error by our staff, this table has already been reserved and the guests will be arriving shortly. Unfortunately, there are no other free tables available at the moment. We're very sorry for the inconvenience. May we offer you a $100 voucher for your next visit to our restaurant as compensation?" he offered.

The restaurant, though not upscale, was clearly doing well. Business was booming.

Olivia's frustration deepened upon hearing this. The restaurant's offer was the spark that ignited her simmering anger. "What do you mean? Do you think we're here for the $100? I wouldn't want to eat in this dump anyway," she retorted indignantly.

Her anger was not without cause; her evening had been a series of frustrations. From the moment she stepped out, she had felt constantly upstaged by a junior designer. Now, being asked to leave was the final straw. The waiter, his demeanor apologetic, presented his final proposition. "If it's not too much trouble, perhaps you could share a table with another party," he suggested tentatively.

Olivia was far from pleased with the suggestion. The scarcity of available tables had already put her on edge, and the thought of sharing her dining space with strangers was, in her opinion, utterly distasteful. However, before she could voice her objections, Raymond interjected. "We don't mind. We'll simply join the adjacent table. Just bring over a couple more chairs," he stated nonchalantly.

The waiter, relieved, nodded in agreement. "I'll go speak with the other table." Raymond dismissed the waiter's concerns with a wave of his hand. "There's no need for that. We're all friends here." With that, he hoisted his chair and relocated himself next to Selena. The sight of Raymond's sudden proximity seemed to sour Selena's appetite, as she regarded the shrimp in her bowl with newfound distaste. What was Raymond thinking? Suddenly, Olivia found herself alone at their original table, the impending arrival of its reserved guests looming over her. If she made a scene now, in front of Raymond, it would only exacerbate the embarrassment and awkwardness of the situation.

Taking a deep breath, she mustered her self-control to suppress the urge to lash out. Instead, she dragged her chair over to join the table where Lucas Den was seated.

The table was rectangular, designed to comfortably accommodate four diners. However, it felt significantly less spacious than their previous arrangement. Selena and Lucas Den, who had been sitting opposite each other, now found themselves with unexpected company at their sides. Feeling her discomfort intensify, Olivia beckoned the waiter over. "We'd prefer not to share our table with others," she stated.

"But the gentleman claimed to be friends with you," the waiter replied, his face a mask of confusion and anxiety. "I'm sorry, but we're about to serve the meal. Perhaps you could discuss it amongst yourselves?"

Raymond, observing Selena's visible irritation, felt a strange sense of satisfaction. Selena, for forherpartm chose not to respond. It seemed unnecessary to involve the waiter in the fallout of Raymond's actions. She fell silent, pointedly ignoring their presence.

Raymond's satisfaction grew, but it was soon replaced by confusion. He had never dined in such a restaurant before and was perplexed by the unfamiliar eating utensils. The fork's prongs were unattached, leaving a hollow space in the middle. How was he supposed to use it to pick up his food? "Selena," he called out, gesturing for her to demonstrate how to use the perplexing utensil.