Chapter 410: Chapter 410: Handsome and Skilled, the Perfect Man
Romantic Restaurant.
Ivy Linden wore her new outfit, with a light touch of makeup, her hair styled in a bun with a few strands of slightly curled hair cascading down her ears and cheeks, making her look youthful, innocent, and charming.
The Western meal was already ordered, and on the table was a cake surrounded by bright red roses. In the middle of the rose garden stood a castle, in front of which was a caricature family figure of a young couple holding a little girl’s hand. This cartoon family bore a striking resemblance to Ivy Linden, Samuel Lockwood, and Nicole.
This was custom-made by Samuel Lockwood, full of thoughtful intention.
Ivy Linden glanced at her phone to check the time, and a sweet smile appeared on her face. Samuel and Nicole should be driving over by now!
Every year, Samuel was punctual for her birthday, always arriving early, never late.
So, Ivy Linden didn’t dwell too much on it and quietly waited.
Suddenly, the phone rang.
It was a call from Samuel Lockwood.
"Hello, honey, have you and Nicole arrived?" Ivy Linden answered the phone with a smile.
There was silence on the other end.
"Honey, say something! Why aren’t you speaking?" Ivy found it strange.
Samuel Lockwood stood outside the old Lockwood family house, took a deep breath, and slowly said, "My mom isn’t feeling well, darling... I may not be able to bring Nicole to celebrate your birthday with you."
Ivy Linden was taken aback. Not feeling well at this time?
How coincidental that Samuel’s mother’s "illness" should strike now!
"No problem, you and Nicole can stay with your mom!"
Ivy Linden trusted Samuel Lockwood. She believed this was a deliberate ruse by his mother, but to spare Samuel any embarrassment, she chose to be "understanding."
"Ivy... thank you."
Samuel Lockwood felt guilty toward Ivy Linden, and hearing that she didn’t blame him filled his heart with both pain and deep gratitude.
After hanging up the phone.
Ivy Linden’s eyes welled up.
Drip, drip.
Tears fell onto the smooth glass table of the Western restaurant.
This was the first time Samuel Lockwood would not be there to celebrate her birthday.
Ivy Linden didn’t blame Samuel Lockwood; she knew he was in a tough spot.
But she couldn’t help it—her heart felt so heavy.
A meticulously groomed, perfectly white finger handed Ivy a handkerchief.
Blurrily, Ivy Linden saw it, paused for a moment, took the man’s handkerchief, wiped her tears, and pretended nothing had happened: "Thanks, my eyes just suddenly felt sore and started watering."
"Hmph!"
The man gave a dismissive grunt, as if he didn’t believe Ivy at all.
Ivy Linden frowned and was about to return the handkerchief to the man when she suddenly realized it was that troublemaker Howard Yeats again.
"Why is it you again?"
Ivy Linden exclaimed.
"Disappointed to see me?"
Howard Yeats dragged the chair opposite her and naturally sat in the seat originally reserved for Samuel Lockwood.
Ivy Linden jumped up: "You can’t sit there."
Howard Yeats didn’t get up, raising an eyebrow as he said, "Why not? No one’s sitting here, so why can’t I?"
Ivy Linden fumed; Howard Yeats was so unreasonable.
"That’s my husband’s seat. We reserved this table and these seats—they belong to us tonight."
"Oh? Your husband... where is he? When will he be here? I’ll give him the seat."
"You..."
Ivy Linden had never met a man as shameless as Howard Yeats.
Ivy Linden didn’t want to deal with Howard Yeats anymore. Since Samuel wouldn’t bring Nicole tonight, she might as well go home.
Ivy Linden grabbed her bag, gave Howard Yeats a "You’ve won" look, and turned to leave.
Howard Yeats suddenly stood up and grabbed Ivy Linden’s arm.
Ivy Linden shook him off: "Let go of me, what are you doing?"
Howard Yeats said, "Since Samuel can’t celebrate your birthday with you, are you not going to celebrate at all?"
Ivy Linden froze. Howard Yeats had figured it out? She didn’t have the heart to scold Howard Yeats, as he had struck her most vulnerable spot.
Ivy Linden’s eyes welled up again. She didn’t want to cry in front of Howard Yeats, tried hard to hold back her tears, but... her tears wouldn’t listen.
Seeing her cry, Howard Yeats felt a pang of heartache and got flustered: "Ivy... don’t cry. I’m sorry... I’m an idiot, my mouth is foul."
Howard Yeats raised his hand and slapped himself twice.
It was unexpected for Ivy Linden to see Howard Yeats apologize, call himself foul-mouthed, and even slap himself.
Ivy Linden was amused by his actions.
Seeing her laugh, Howard Yeats laughed as well: "Crying and laughing—a little kitten."
Ivy Linden was annoyed and embarrassed: "Who’s a little kitten?"
Ivy Linden raised her hand and punched him.
"Ouch... ouch... your punches really hurt; they gave me internal injuries... now you have to take responsibility and care for me..."
Ivy Linden’s punches were just for show and couldn’t possibly hurt Howard Yeats, who pretended to be in pain and leaned to lie down on the floor.
This is a restaurant!
Howard Yeats was exaggerating, didn’t he care about his dignity?
Ivy Linden hurriedly pulled him up: "Stop pretending, the floor is dirty, and people will laugh at us."
Feeling all eyes on them, Ivy Linden’s cheeks flushed.
So embarrassing.
Howard Yeats played the rascal: "Unless you let me celebrate your birthday with you."
Ivy Linden’s eyes widened: "No way."
Howard Yeats immediately lay on the ground: "Ouch... this woman injured me... I can’t get up..."
Ivy Linden’s lips twitched—this man was really shameless.
Ivy Linden wanted to kick him a couple of times and leave him, but seeing the people around pointing at her, her face reddened even more.
A waiter came over: "Ma’am, this is not the place to play around on the floor. Please have this gentleman get up!"
Lying on the floor... playing around?
Ivy Linden was thunderstruck; who was playing around with Howard Yeats?
"It’s not what you think between us..."
"Whatever the case, could you have him get up first, please?"
The waiter kept a professional smile and was polite.
"I’m really not..."
Seeing the disbelief in the waiter’s eyes, Ivy Linden gave up; no matter what she said, people wouldn’t believe her.
Ivy Linden nudged Howard Yeats with her toe: "Get up."
Howard Yeats began to roll around: "Agree, and I’ll get up."
Ivy Linden felt dizzy, especially as other customers started to heckle.
"Ma’am, just agree. He’s even rolling on the floor."
"Yeah! If you don’t agree, he might roll all around the restaurant. Admit it?"
Blushing furiously, Ivy Linden whispered, "I agree. Get up, this is embarrassing."
Howard Yeats sprang up like a carp flip, pulling off a super cool move that instantly drew a round of enthusiastic applause from the ladies in the restaurant.
"Wow, wow, wow, so cool!"
"Handsome and skilled—a perfect man."
"..."
Howard Yeats raised his hand like a big star, telling everyone to stop clapping.
The applause stopped.
Howard Yeats clapped his hands.
Instantly, pink petals began to rain from the restaurant’s ceiling, accompanied by the appearance of a massive heart-shaped rose bouquet in deep red, pushed over by two tall, burly men in suits.