Chapter 480

"Hey, you vixen! Are you trying to fight me for Little Saint?" Melina listened to the chaotic sounds and swiftly turned her gaze to Dante. Dante, who disliked being stared at and discussed, appeared perfectly normal, devoid of any hint of paranoia or madness. She was somewhat taken aback. It had only been a few days, yet Dante had changed so drastically. It seemed Dante was oblivious to everything around him. He suddenly extended his hand and grasped Melina's, saying, "Ms. Crawford, I haven't had breakfast yet. Could you take me to eat?" Talia, who had been waiting with a dark expression, could no longer hold back and interrupted, "Melina, I still haven't finished talking to you!" Talia had finally managed to voice her thoughts and didn't want to abandon her pursuit midway. Dante abruptly turned to Talia. The gentle and obedient gaze he had when talking to Melina had now transformed into one of a viper, his pale gray eyes devoid of human warmth. He said coldly, "Ms. Crawford has a good temper, but that may not be the case for her friends. Some things are better left unsaid." Talia's expression shifted multiple times. "What do you mean by that? Melina and I are friends." Dante leaned in closer to Talia, lowering his voice, and Talia felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. She instinctively wanted to step back. Dante whispered in a low voice so only Talia could hear. "If you wish to leverage Ms. Crawford to latch onto Andrew, you ought to consider whether you're worthy of that. "Do you really think anyone gets access to opportunities to collaborate with Andrew? Andrew isn't so easily approached. The Pierce family doesn't seem quite up the mark for such an opportunity." Talia's complexion paled. Though she didn't recognize the youth before her, the casual mention of Andrew indicated that his family background was certainly extraordinary. Considering the Pierce family, even her father would refer to Andrew as "Mr. Wentworth". Talia wanted to retort, but Melina interjected from behind, "Dante, don't be so rude." Dante obediently retreated, falling silent as if nothing had been said. Once Dante stepped back, Melina turned to Talia. "I'm sorry, but I can't help you with this matter. As a friend, I hope you will refrain from bringing it up in the future." Melina's gaze was as steadfast as if she were joining a political party, making it clear that her stance was unchangeable. After a profound glance at Melina, Talia turned to leave. Initially, her dissatisfaction stemmed from Melina marrying into such a wealthy family, but now it had morphed into bitterness. Melina didn't attempt to retain her. There were some principled matters on which she could never compromise. Noticing Melina's serious expression, Dante tugged gently at her sleeve. Melina turned to him, responding gently, "Dante, I won't be able to accompany you today. My shop opens in two hours, and I need to prepare." Dante was no longer alone. He had many admirers behind him and a manager who had always cared for him nearby. Melina felt a sense of letting go as if a child had grown up. She no longer planned to accompany Dante in everything. At that moment, Dante still clutched Melina's sleeve, slightly lowering his head and whispering, "I've never eaten in a school cafeteria." His tone was filled with an immense sense of pity and grievance. From the moment Dante had become self-aware, he had shunned the eyes of outsiders, unwilling to face the stares that regarded him as an oddity. All of his academic pursuits were overseen by private tutors. He had never run around the campus like a typical child, nor had he dined in the school cafeteria. Upon hearing Dante say this, Melina's heart twisted in sympathy. The thought of parting ways with him seemed to tug at her heart too much. There was no way she was letting go! Having a meal with him wouldn't disrupt the opening. In three seconds, Melina convinced herself and promptly replied, "Alright, I'll take you to the cafeteria for breakfast!"