Chapter 258
Alaric and Stellan had done their homework ahead of the meeting with Richard and Rowena, watching Richard’s films and listening to Rowena’s songs. However, they had neglected to research their personal lives. So, when Richard casually mentioned that he and Rowena were a couple, Stellan was genuinely shocked.
Richard, noticing her surprise, grinned and asked, “What? Don’t we look like a couple?”
As he spoke, he moved a little closer to Rowena, his tone playful.
Stellan gave a strained smile and quickly explained, “Well, I simply didn’t consider it. I thought you were just friends, but it turns out you’re a couple.”
She wanted to ask Rowena about Cormac, but with Richard sitting right there, it didn’t feel appropriate to inquire about her past with him.
The rest of the dinner was tedious. Richard couldn’t stop flattering Alaric, while Stellan, eager to shift the conversation, chatted casually with Rowena.
By the time the meal ended, it was already ten o’clock. As they made their way back to the car, Stellan couldn’t hold her frustration in any longer.
“I thought they just paired up a male star and a female star who might or might not know each other. I didn’t expect them to actually be a couple. Rowena is dating that Richard?!” Stellan exclaimed.
“I didn’t expect it either,” Alaric admitted.
“I really like Rowena. Her singing is incredible, and I’d love to be her fan,” Stellan continued, her voice tinged with frustration. “But Richard… ugh. He’s so fake and disgusting. He’s just a bit handsome, and somehow, he has so many fans? I don’t get it.”
“Richard’s acting skills are indeed lacking, and he’s definitely opportunistic,” Alaric agreed.
“Exactly. If Rowena is the girl Cormac’s been pining for all this time, her taste in men is seriously off. Richard is way worse than Cormac!” Stellan said, her anger inexplicably rising.
“Let’s hope Rowena isn’t Cormac’s girl,” Alaric said, almost as if concluding the conversation. “I don’t think she is. Cormac dated her for so long. If she were really that girl, he would have mentioned me to her. Even if they never met, she wouldn’t be so unfamiliar with me.”
“Not necessarily,” Stellan refuted immediately. “If she is that Rowena, and you’re Cormac’s friend, she might not acknowledge you in front of her current boyfriend.”
“That makes sense,” Alaric agreed, his brow furrowing in thought. “You girls are really hard to understand sometimes.”
Stellan, already in a foul mood, snapped, “Why are you generalizing all girls? Do you want a beating? Just drive!”
Alaric could only chuckle helplessly and continue driving obediently.
Meanwhile, Richard, who had just left the club, was in a celebratory mood, practically beaming with pride.
“They say Alaric is aloof and hard to approach, but he was so friendly at dinner. After all, we’re both top stars now. Even Alaric has to give us some face,” Richard boasted, looking pleased with himself.
Rowena didn’t respond, merely offering a half-hearted acknowledgment.
“What’s wrong, Rowena? You seemed a little distracted during dinner,” Richard asked, noticing her quiet demeanor.
“Probably just too tired,” Rowena replied slowly, her voice soft. “After the concert yesterday, I didn’t have time to adjust to the jet lag and flew straight back to the entertainment city.”
“Yes, you’ve been working nonstop,” Richard said, reaching over to massage her shoulders. “You need rest. Go back to the hotel and get some sleep.”
“Okay,” Rowena answered lazily, leaning back in her seat and closing her eyes.
Back at the hotel, Rowena was physically and mentally exhausted, but sleep wouldn’t come. She decided to take a long soak in the bath. As she lay there, her thoughts drifted to Cormac, his memory still vivid in her mind. He had always treated her kindly, never doing her wrong. But after Griffon’s injury, she had become acutely aware of the disparity in their backgrounds, which made her lose the courage to love him again.
The day they broke up still haunted her heart. It had taken years to heal from that pain, but even now, the shadow of their past lingered.
Rowena often wondered what might have happened if she had been braver, if she had stayed with Cormac. But as much as she wished for a different outcome, there were no “what ifs” in life. Once something was lost, it was gone for good.
Today had been strange. First, she reunited with Cormac, and then she had dinner with Alaric. But neither of them mentioned the other. Had they really fallen out?
Her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts, and as the water in the tub turned cold, she remained still, lost in her reverie.
Richard, on the other hand, was still elated from his conversation with Alaric, sensing opportunities for the future.
After dropping Rowena off at the hotel, Richard went to a bar with some staff to celebrate the night.
“Richard, you asked me to look into Cormac, and I found something big!” the manager said, his tone eager. “I didn’t think much of Cormac at first, but I found something unexpected.”
“Ex-boyfriend!” Richard was shocked. “Cormac is Rowena’s ex-boyfriend?”
“Yes, he used to be a rich young master, but now he’s fallen on hard times. The Nash family went bankrupt, and now he’s working as a laborer at a dock, living in poverty,” the manager explained.
Richard’s face twisted as he processed this information. “So, Rowena’s ex is now destitute. He must have some ulterior motive for trying to get close to her.”
“Now that you and Miss Rowena are back in the country, you can’t afford to have any scandals,” the manager cautioned.
“Don’t worry,” Richard said confidently, knocking back another drink. “He has no power now. What can he do? A man this down and out still dreaming of getting back with Rowena? Dream on. I’ll make sure Rowena sees his true colors.”