Unnecessary Worries

Reginald turned to Chloe, "You should head home, Chloe."

Chloe's lips pursed slightly, displaying some reluctance. Nevertheless, she stood up, saying, "Dear Arabella, please don't be upset. Reggie and I were just having dinner, and George can vouch for that."

George, sitting nearby, nearly rolled his eyes. What began as a simple meal of shrimp had turned into a feast of voyeuristic delights, with Chloe personally feeding Reggie soup and water.

Seeing no one insisting she stay, Chloe reached for her coat draped over the chair. As she lifted it, the hem knocked over a teacup at the table, shattering it into pieces.

Quickly bending down to collect the shards, the sharp edge cut her fingertip, and blood immediately began to flow. She cried out in pain, holding her finger, tears streaming down her face. Her fingertips trembled. She grasped the edge of the table for support, whimpering to Reginald, "It hurts so much, Reggie, can you take me to the emergency room to bandage it up?"

George glanced over and whispered, "I'll personally take you, Sister-in-law is here, and you better not disturb her."

With bloodied hands, Chloe tightly clung to the sleeve of Reginald, her eyes red, pleading like a helpless rabbit, "Reggie, I just want you to take me away."

Reginald paused for a moment, then stood up. "George can take you home. I'll take Chloe to the hospital, and then I'll find you."

She picked up Chloe's bag, supporting her shoulder as they walked out.

Arabella calmly asked the waiter for the bill and signed it. After signing, she neatly tidied up the untouched plates.

Once the food was organized, she expressed her gratitude to the waiter and left a tip.

Holding the neatly packed food, she walked out with George.

She did this to avoid Reginald and Chloe. She couldn't bear to see them affectionately leaning on each other.

While waiting for the elevator, George sighed towards the composed Arabella, "Sister-in-law, you're a good woman."

"Thank you." Arabella had a great figure, graceful demeanor, and a perpetual light smile on her face, like a commemorative portrait.

"A good woman possesses all virtues, but being too outstanding can make a man lose interest. Men like their wives to be proper in public but mischievous in private—playful when needed, vulnerable when needed, and shameless when needed. Sister-in-law, you should make more effort, otherwise Chloe will defeat you." Every word came from George's heart.

"Chloe?" Arabella asked softly.

George angrily replied, "If I hadn't been there, those two would have clashed long ago. Sister-in-law, you need to find a way to keep Reginald's heart."

Arabella tightly gripped the handle of the takeout bag, feeling complex emotions.

She believed that loving someone meant treating them right, but she didn't expect that it wouldn't be enough.

Raised by her grandparents, with a stern and serious grandfather and an elegant grandmother, coupled with her fiery and straightforward mother—dissoluteness was not her nature.

They took the elevator down.

Reginald hadn't left yet. He stood by the car, smoking, waiting for her.

Seeing them, he extinguished the cigarette and walked over, gently gripping her shoulder. He lowered his head to meet her eyes, unusually gentle, "I'll be back soon, don't worry."

Arabella smiled sadly.

She hoped he would hurt her for a lifetime so that she could find a reason to hate him.

But he was just too refined, too polite, looking so gentle and affectionate that she couldn't despise him at all.

She could only say, half-indifferently and half-sullenly, "Please take her to the hospital quickly."

"Okay." Seeing her indifference, Reginald got into the car.

The driver started the engine, heading towards the hospital.

Arabella told George, "I came with colleagues, and we haven't finished our meal. No need to take me back; you go on."

"Alright, remember what I said, we only recognize one sister-in-law."

"Thank you."

Arabella got into Cosmo's car, and they drove away.

As he reversed, Cosmo asked, "Who is that guy?"

"Which one?"

"Reginald, the Vice President of Thompson Group."

Arabella didn't know how to answer.

Say he's her ex-husband? They haven't divorced yet.

Her husband? He has already initiated the divorce, even paid a settlement; his heart has moved on to Chloe.

After a moment of silence, Arabella said, "Relative."

"Your cousin?"

Arabella fell into contemplation and whispered, "Yes."

Due to Reginald's leg injury, he could only sit in a wheelchair. They only registered the marriage without a ceremony, and few people knew they were married.

With a divorce imminent, there was no need to announce anything loudly.

Seeing her low spirits, Cosmo asked, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Nonsense, obviously, something is bothering you."

"Cosmo, what kind of women do you men like?" Arabella had a knot in her heart.

Cosmo laughed. "It varies; some like curvy, some like slender. As for me..."

His gaze discreetly admired her profile.

The oval-faced Arabella had fair and evenly proportioned features; her eyes resembled serene water pools, and her long eyelashes were like butterfly wings.

The diffused light through the window added an air of mystery to her appearance. She looked exceptionally beautiful, like a painting.

His heart raced. "I appreciate women like you—gentle, tranquil, unaware of their own beauty, talented yet humble and down-to-earth."

Arabella smiled faintly.

So, there were men who appreciated her for who she was. She didn't have to exhaust herself trying to be wild, promiscuous, or fake. Like her, there were people who liked her.

"I'm just a restorer, not as you describe." Her mood improved slightly.

"Not an exaggeration. Your restoration skills have reached the pinnacle in the industry. Many so-called experts may never reach your level in their lifetime."

"You're flattering me too much, Cosmo. My maternal grandfather personally guided me since childhood, and extensive practice from a young age was also helpful. If I still weren't good, it would be terrible for him."

"Talent and diligence are important, and temperament matters too. Restoration tests your temperament—something rarely learned by young people nowadays; it might disappear."

"That's true."

As the car turned, Arabella said, "Can you drop me off at home? I don't want to go back to the hotel."

"Of course."

They arrived at the neighborhood where Arabella lived.

She got out of the car with a packed dinner.

Cosmo followed, "It's getting late; let me walk you up."

"Thank you."

Cosmo took the food from her hands, smiling inwardly. It was the first time in his life seeing a rich young man like him with leftovers packed for takeout.

Cosmo provided her with generous compensation, and she shouldn't be so frugal.

Outside her apartment, Cosmo chatted reluctantly for a while, mostly about work.