淑女的欲望

Chapter 499 Food Slave Guild Gathering (2)

Before Maggie could finish, Francis appeared behind her, surprising Scarlett and Theodor.

"Wow! You guys came together?" Theodor narrowed his eyes on Francis and Maggie. 

"Brother Francis..." Scarlett was delighted to see them together. 

Maggie, feeling shy, received a lot of attention from Scarlett's friends, especially Theodor. She excused herself to Scarlett and promised to call her. 

"I will call you later, Scarlett..." She awkwardly said and closed the door, but Scarlett stood up from her chair and followed her outside. 

"Sister, wait—" Scarlett hurried her steps toward Maggie. "Are you guys... a couple now!?" she asked, her eyes shifting between Francis, who had already walked outside the restaurant, and Maggie in front of her—just by looking at how red her face was, she could guess her answer.

"Wow, Sister Maggie, I'm so happy for you... congratulations," Scarlett sincerely said.

Maggie immediately shook her head. "No... Not yet. We're not a couple yet. But after dinner at Dad's house, Francis's attitude toward me is starting to change. Since that day, he has been so nice to me." She blushed. "He is the one who contacted me first. And today also, he was the one who asked me out for lunch..." 

Scarlett smiled, happy to hear that. "That's a good sign, sis..."

"Hmm, I think so too," Maggie said. "Even though I still feel afraid that Francis didn't like me because so far, there's been no conversation that led us to become a couple. But I don't care; I will wait for him..." She faintly smiled.

"Sister Maggie," Scarlett's voice turned serious. Her eyes looked sharply at Maggie momentarily, and then her gaze slowly turned behind her, looking at someone who stood behind Maggie.

"—This time, you have to be firm, sis. Don't wait too long for Francis. If brother Francis doesn't express his feelings for you in a month, just cut a tie with him," said Scarlett calmly with a smile. She seemed to speak to the man standing behind Maggie.

Instantly, Maggie's face turned pale upon hearing Scarlett's words.

"Y-You... little sister. How could I do that? I like Francis so much. Right now, he's the only man who can shake my heart. He is the one who I want to become my partner. How could I forget him? No, I can't—" Maggie's voice trailed off when she realized Scarlett wasn't looking at her but behind her. 

Curious to know, Maggie followed Scarlett's line of sight.

When Maggie turned her head, what she saw shocked her: Francis was standing right behind her. Instantly, she could feel her knees turn into jelly.

'Oh, my God! Did he hear what I was saying? Since when did he stand there?' Maggie's mind felt blurry, and she was too shy. She composed herself to say, "F-Francis... since when did you—"

"Maggie, don't say anything," Francis stopped her. She pressed her lips, nodding, waiting for him to say something, but he remained silent. He just looked at Scarlett, which worried her.

Francis turned his gaze to Scarlett. "Thank you, Scarlett. Because of you, I now realize my true feelings. I owe you this time, sister..." He sincerely said.

Scarlett didn't say anything but nodded at him. She felt she no longer needed to stay there and left them — a new couple in her family.

Somehow, she felt pleased to finally be able to help her sister, Maggie, win Francis's heart.

Francis's smile grew wider as he looked at Scarlett, who walked away from them, and then he turned to Maggie before her.

"Maggie, give me a chance. I'll prove to you that I like you too..." He said gently while holding her hand firmly.

Maggie felt like all her muscles were betraying her now. She felt weak, too shocked by what had happened—Francis had finally said out loud that he would try to like her. This was a sentence she had longed to hear. 

****

Back to the VIP room,

"What happened, Scarlett?" Theodor asked when he saw her enter the room.

Earlier, Theodor had been worried when he saw Scarlett running out after Maggie. When he wanted to follow them, Logan, standing by the door, stopped him, prohibiting anyone from leaving the VIP room. Even the waiter, who had finished taking their order, had to wait.

Theodor had no choice but to wait and only wonder what was happening out there. 

"Did something happen to Maggie and Francis?" he asked again, looking at Scarlett as she sat in her chair.

"No worries. Nothing happened," Scarlett smiled at Theodor and asked him to sit down again. "Have you guys ordered?" She ignored Theodor's curious gaze and looked at Zara.

"Yeah. I ordered all their best dishes," Zara began showing Scarlett what they had ordered. At the same time, the others returned to talking again as if nothing had happened.

...

Their conversation continued, and before they knew it, nearly two hours had passed, the lively lunch coming to an end.

Scarlett couldn't help but feel slightly sad at the thought of parting with them. This may be the last time she sees them all before she leaves for Norway to find her mother.

She had no idea when she'd return to this city and have the chance to gather with them again. She wished she would come back soon, but she was worried that this trip would not be as smooth as she had imagined.

Later...

Scarlett bid farewell to them all. She left with Rex as they headed towards her house. Rex would be joining them for dinner, and she still had a lot of things she wanted to discuss with him.

In the meantime, the others went back to their respective offices since it was still during regular working hours.