Chapter 222

They enjoyed their dinner, chatting and laughing like old times. But just as they stepped out of the restaurant, Elyana's steps slowed. Her eyes locked on a familiar figure near the entrance. “Arden?” Elyana called out, surprised. The man who had mysteriously vanished for a month turned toward the sound of his name. Standing beside him was a woman, her hand firmly wrapped around his. Mini, walking a step behind Elyana, followed her gaze. Her heart dropped when she saw Arden. And then it shattered when she noticed the woman next to him holding his hand. Arden’s eyes met Elyana’s first, a polite smile forming on his lips. But the moment his gaze shifted to Mini, that smile faltered. Mini quickly looked away, pretending to fix her eyes on anything but him. Arden noticed. His eyes flicked down to his hand, still linked with the woman’s—and without thinking, he pulled it away. He hadn’t expected to see them here. Especially not Mini. Elyana felt the shift in the air, the invisible tension t