Chapter 100
When Barry heard Autumn remark that he and Rico looked like each other, it left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Just to annoy him, Rico deliberately slung an arm over his shoulder. “Yup, this little cousin of mine-”
“Can we talk?” Barry immediately brushed his filthy hand and said, “Family business.”
Rico gave him a look and told Autumn, “Give me a minute.”
Then, they walked off to the side.
“Your mom says you’re 30 years old now, so when are you getting married?” Barry said.
“Damn, did you knock your head or something? Why are you rushing me into marriage? Aren’t you almost 30 years old too? Your turn’s coming soon, so you shouldn’t team up with them on
this.”
“My mom’s pretty curious too. She told me to check on your situation.”
The moment Rico heard it was his aunt, Kendra Winn, asking, he gave in. “There’s no situation. I don’t have anyone I like. You know me—I just like making friends. But for me to actually like someone, that’s really hard.”
Rico had been in a few relationships before. He got together with those women because he was interested in them at first. But over time, he just couldn’t fall in love with them.
He would lie to himself, telling himself he loved them. But once he couldn’t keep up the lie, they would break up.
Back then, Rico had wanted to see if things could develop with Autumn simply because he was drawn to her cool, distant personality. But once Dawson got jealous, his feelings for her fizzled out before anything happened.
For Rico, there was no such thing as love at first sight.
Barry’s eyes, half–hidden under long lashes, darkened slightly. Oh, so there was nothing going on between Rico and Autumn.
Having gotten the answer he wanted, Barry lost all interest in small talk. His expression turned cold as he bluntly said, “I’m leaving.”
“Wait,” Rico said.
Barry didn’t wait for him at all.
“Damn,” he cursed and followed after him. “It sounds like you’ve got someone you like from the way you’re asking.”
“That’s none of your business.”
Rico was speechless. He quickened his pace, cutting in front of Barry and blocking his path.
Barry came to a stop.
The next second, Rico held up a hand and gave him the middle finger.
This time, it was Barry’s turn to be momentarily at a loss for words.
Then, he brushed past Rico coldly and walked up to Autumn. The coldness in his expression was gone, and in its place was a warm smile.
“I’ll be leaving now. Let’s catch up next time,” he said in the kind of tone that put people at ease.
Even though he really wanted to stay, he knew he couldn’t rush things.
Autumn took it as the kind of polite gesture adults made and nodded. In reality, there wouldn’t be a next time.
Rico shot Barry a sharp glare. Damn playboy, was he ever going to break that habit of flirting with everyone he saw?
1
He was starting to worry on Kendra’s behalf now. Who knew just how many illegitimate grandkids might be scattered out there somewhere?–
After Barry left, Autumn said to Rico, “Come on, let’s head back for another match.”
The two of them returned to the court. When the others saw Autumn come back, no one asked her anything. After all, whatever was going on between her and Damien was a private matter. It wasn’t something others should ask about too much, or it would come across as overstepping boundaries.
When playing tennis with the senior executives from Westgate Group, Autumn only ever saw herself as a low–level secretary. She never imagined herself as their friend. Their relationship was distant, almost formal. The only exception was Rico, of course,
So, it was completely normal that none of them had intervened in her situation with Damien just now. To them, it was like overhearing gossip about a coworker they weren’t close to. They might watch the drama unfold, but there was no reason to step in.
“Do you want to have a match now? I’ll be your partner,” Rico asked.
“I’ll sit for a bit first,” Autumn replied.
“Alright,” Rico said and headed back to the court.
Jamie was playing tennis with Della, but Rico switched in to take her place.
Della walked over with her racket in hand and sat down beside Autumn.
“How’d it go?” she asked.
“He’s already left,” Autumn murmured.
“Are you two dating?”
“We’re married.”
Della let out a cold snort and said nothing more.
Autumn picked up a hint of sarcasm in her tone. “We’re already divorced. All that’s left is for the papers to come down.”
Hearing that, Della finally turned to look at her again. “And after that?”
Autumn didn’t understand what she was getting at, “After that, we go our separate ways.”
Oh, really? You’re not even planning to fight back or teach him a lesson after the way he treated you?”
