Chapter 68: Chapter 61: Vinegar Jar

’How could it be such a coincidence?’

Shane Sterling seemed to have called right on cue.

“I have to get going.”

After saying this to Silas Lockwood, Isla Prescott walked under a tree and answered Shane Sterling’s call.

“Hello.”

“What were you two talking about so lovingly?” Shane Sterling’s tone on the other end of the line wasn’t pleasant.

’He’s in Nordenburg?’

Isla Prescott was startled and instinctively turned to look for him, but the street was bustling with people, and she couldn’t spot him anywhere.

“Where are you?”

“Well, not in your heart, that’s for sure.”

’He’s so jealous I can practically smell it through the phone.’

“Where on earth are you?”

Across the street, a black car flashed its headlights. The window slowly rolled down, revealing Shane Sterling’s sullen face.

Isla Prescott hung up, crossed at the crosswalk, and walked toward him.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, standing by the car window.

“Thought I’d come cheer you on.” He looked down, fiddling with the cufflinks on his suit, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Looks like I came at a bad time, though. Sorry to bother you.”

Just as Isla Prescott was about to explain, she saw Annabelle Leighton approaching with two fruit teas. “Isabelle, what did that Silas Lockwood want with you? He hasn’t given up on you, has he?”

Annabelle Leighton’s words reached Shane Sterling’s ears, and his expression immediately soured even more.

Isla Prescott shot Annabelle Leighton a look.

Annabelle Leighton didn’t see Shane Sterling in the car and continued, “I thought since Silas Lockwood was having dinner with that Miss Langley, it meant he was over you. But from the look in his eyes just now, it seems like he’s still in love with you.”

“Annie!” Isla Prescott quickly tapped on the black car’s door. “Look who’s here!”

“Who?”

Annabelle Leighton tilted her head to look and nearly fainted.

“You… what are you doing here too?” Annabelle Leighton gave Shane Sterling an awkward laugh. “Are you guys here as a group to see Isabelle?”

“What kind of group?” Shane Sterling said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Go on, give it a suitable name. I’m listening.”

’The Love-Rival Squad.’

But Annabelle Leighton didn’t dare say it out loud.

“Um… don’t look so glum, have some fruit tea. It’s really sweet.” Annabelle Leighton shoved the two fruit teas she had just bought through the car window and into Shane Sterling’s hands. “I’ll head back to the hotel now.”

As she spoke, she turned and mouthed “You’re on your own” to Isla Prescott, then immediately scrammed.

Isla Prescott stood there blankly, not knowing where to even begin her explanation.

“Get in the car,” Shane Sterling said.

“Where are we going?”

“I haven’t eaten yet. Come eat with me.”

He had rushed to Nordenburg right after his plane landed. He had originally planned to call Isla Prescott as soon as he arrived, but as luck would have it, he ran into her on the way.

What was even more of a coincidence was that he happened to see Isla Prescott with Silas Lockwood.

Hearing that Shane Sterling was still hungry, Isla Prescott quickly got in the car.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Whatever.”

“All the remotely well-known places around here already have long lines. You might really have to settle for ’whatever’.”

“Whatever.”

Seeing he was being difficult, Isla Prescott said to the driver, “Sir, could you please find a home-style restaurant or a noodle shop nearby?”

“Okay.”

The driver took them to what was said to be a time-honored noodle shop.

Inside the noodle shop, Shane Sterling still had a cold expression on his face.

“What are you having?” Isla Prescott looked up at the menu on the wall. “Don’t say ’whatever.’ The owner can’t magically whip up ’whatever’.”

“The signature crab roe noodles.”

Isla Prescott couldn’t eat anymore, so they ordered one bowl of noodles and went to find a place to sit.

After they sat down, Shane Sterling kept his head down, fiddling with his phone, and wouldn’t look at her.

“If you have something to say, you can just say it,” Isla Prescott said.

“I don’t want to affect your mood for the competition.”

“But it seems like you’re the one whose mood is affected right now.”

Shane Sterling took a deep breath, locked his phone screen, set it aside, and looked directly into her eyes. “What’s really going on between you and Silas Lockwood?” he asked.

“Nothing happened between us.” Isla Prescott looked at Shane Sterling. “If I wanted to get back with my ex, I would have done it long ago. I wouldn’t have waited until today.”

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