Chapter 258

Steward stood across them, watching them depart with wide eyes. He dared not approach, feeling unworthy to do so. As he trailed them with his gaze, suddenly, someone turned around. Will looked at Steward. His gaze was disdainful, but also contained a challenge between men. Steward froze! He just noticed an extra person, but didn't think much of it. Now, he clearly understood; this person was here for Harper. At that moment, Steward wanted to rush up and declare his authority. But, he couldn't even lift his foot. Everyone knew he was not qualified. Including himself. ... The breakfast shop was chosen by Harper. She knew best which one had the tastiest food in the area. It was just a regular breakfast in Finceland. Harper thought that perhaps the food wouldn't suit Will's taste, so, she purposely asked, "Mr. Frankie, can you eat this?" Will nodded, "Sure, I'm not picky." While the two were talking, Giselle, who was already shipping the romantic plot, stared at them with an indulgent, laugh-as-if-you-are-the-auntie expression. She unabashedly stared at Will for quite a while, as if no one else existed, until Maverick Mo beside her finally couldn't resist anymore. With a slap, he put the menu in front of her. His voice was exceptionally deep and cold, "Order for yourself." This sudden movement startled Giselle; she looked at him, frowned, and muttered quietly, "How strange." Swiftly marking her choices on the menu, she dutifully handed it to Will and said casually to Harper, "Harper, why don't you recommend something to Mr. Frankie?" As Harper was introducing the menu to Will, Giselle switched her gaze between Harper and Will. They both spoke in hushed whispers, Harper was cool and reserved, Will was lofty and refined. Even before digging deeper, just this sight was rather pleasing and well-suited. Giselle was so engrossed in observing that she didn't notice her left hand, which was supporting her shoulder strap, was about to hit the table. Maverick Mo stretched out his hand and pulled her backward. In his haste, the action was somewhat rough. Giselle, who had been treated this way by Maverick all morning, was clearly a little irritated. However, not wanting to disturb others, she frowned at Maverick Mo and whispered, "Maverick Mo, why did you pull me?" Maverick gave her a cool look, "Did you forget you're a patient?" What did being a patient have to do with this? Giselle silently rolled her eyes. After Harper and Will had finished ordering, they slid the menu towards her. Since it was a table for four, they sat down in pairs. As Maverick reached out to take the menu, Giselle beat him to it, then casually handed it to the nearby waiter. Clearly, she had forgotten that Maverick hadn't placed his order yet. Maverick, who was repeatedly ignored, looked even more displeased while Harper reminded Giselle, "Giselle, your husband hasn’t ordered yet." "Huh?" It was only then that Giselle reacted, hurriedly handing over the menu to Maverick. This breakfast, Maverick ate it with great displeasure. He didn't even finish eating before he was taken by Giselle, who was pretending to be in pain, back to the hospital. She was extremely keen on matchmaking! As they left the breakfast shop, she kept babbling into Maverick's ear. "What do you think of Will?" "I just observed him for a bit, he seems very good, steady and gentlemanly, handsome too. He's much better than Steward." "Is he better than me as well?" with a cold tone. "..." Giselle paused for two seconds. Was Maverick feeling jealous? She quickly denied, "How can he be? He's just a smidge better than Steward, but he can't compare to you." "Really?" Maverick scoffed, "Isn't he more handsome?" "Who said that?" Giselle retorted seriously, "Who's blind to think that? My husband is clearly the handsome one." These words calmed Maverick slightly, but he still asked, "Aren't you getting tired of it?" "..." Giselle had figured it out, no wonder Maverick had been behaving strangely all morning, "Did you hear it?" "I'd rather not have heard it." Huh! What Giselle was concerned about now was, hadn't Will heard it as well? She had even called him a jerk, and mentioned that he was chasing Harper. If Harper found out that their conversation had been heard by these two men, they'd probably feel so embarrassed they'd want to dig a hole and hide. ...... After dropping Giselle back at the hospital, Maverick headed off to his company. Giselle's arm, which required physiotherapy both in the morning and afternoon, kept her in the hospital. Maverick would pick her up and take her back to Shallow Bay after he finished work. The hospital, Giselle would go mad if she had to stay there every night. Upon arriving at the Hyland Group, as soon as he exited the elevator, Judd approached him, "Mr. Hyland, Mr. Brown is in your office." Maverick acknowledged this and walked into his office. On the black leather couch sat Steward, his head down, looking rather dejected. Hearing the sound of Maverick coming in, he lifted his head and looked over. "You're back from the hospital." His words felt useless. Maverick glanced at Steward indifferently. Over two decades of friendship and seeing his haggard look, Maverick could not turn a blind eye. He said, "If you have something to say, just say it." "Harper... Is she okay?" Maverick hummed in response. Steward breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time, he also felt distressed. It was contradictory. He didn't want Harper to suffer, he hoped she was fine. But if she was truly fine, he would feel distressed. He was afraid that she would move on from him too quickly, too thoroughly. He was even more afraid; someone else would suddenly appear by her side. He couldn't accept it. "Just now...."Steward started, unable to help himself but ask, "The guy who was with you guys, I've never seen him before, who is he?" Maverick answered, "A friend of Harper's." "Her friend? Since when? How come I didn't know?" After stringing together a series of questions, there was a long silence. Maverick didn't reply, and even Steward felt that his words were superfluous. "Is he pursuing her?" That man's look at him, Steward understood too well. Maverick glanced at Steward, the desperation he was trying to suppress was still very apparent. "You're a man. You should understand." If there were no feelings involved, why would he go visit her in the hospital early in the morning? Moreover, Maverick remembered well when Giselle asked Harper in the washroom if Will was pursuing her. Will responded, “Mrs. Hyland is very smart." It was clear that he wasn't hiding his intentions. It's just, maybe, Harper didn't know. After all, based on Maverick's impression of Harper, she wasn't sensitive in the matters of love. Steward, who had pursued Harper in the past, once groaned, "Is it that I'm not showing my feelings clearly, or is she merely engrossed in her studies?" ... Of course, Steward understood. Therefore, he was restless and anxious. "Do you think I still have a chance?" "This is another rhetorical question." Maverick coolly replied, "You should know better than anyone else." Steward, covering his face with quivering bodies, said, "I realize my mistakes, truly do." His low and husky voice was full of despair and regret. But isn't it already too late? There's always someone waiting for mistakes to be made, to seize the opportunity, and to take the upper hand. Whether it's Will or Maverick.