Hiding Behind Her Superficiality by Kyla Olson

Chapter 750 Side Story: Childhood Sweetheart 10
"Ally doesn't eat fatty meat, Damian. Did you forget because you're so occupied?" Liam's smile faded, his words laced with
sarcasm.
Damian didn't respond as he gazed at Alice.
To Liam's surprise, when he turned to look again, the fatty meat in front of Alice had vanished.
Seeing her chewing, he froze. "You ate it?"
"I can manage it somehow." Alice nodded, chewing with effort.
After chewing, she felt nauseous in her stomach. But with so many people around, she couldn't exactly throw up, so she
swallowed with difficulty.
Alice swiftly left the dining table after eating, using the excuse of getting some fresh air to dispel the nauseating feeling in her
stomach.
Liam grinned and was about to follow, but Ethan discreetly held him back, claiming to have something to discuss.
Eventually, as Alice went out alone, Liam glared at Ethan. "Why did you stop me? It's not safe for her to go out alone this late."
Ethan smirked, briefly casting his gaze toward Alice's departing figure, then retracting it. "No need to worry. She won't be in
danger."
...
Alice wandered around outside for a while until the sick feeling in her throat subsided.
"Why force yourself to eat fatty meat when you can't?" A sudden voice startled Alice, nearly making her stumble into the pond.

"D-Damian... Why are you out here?" Alice steadied herself and inquired.
"Nothing. Just taking a stroll." Damian's voice was detached as he glanced at her. "You still haven't answered my question. Why
eat fatty meat if you can't stomach it?"
He was the one who had given it to me, right?
Baffled, Alice couldn't bring herself to ask, so she just mumbled a vague agreement.
"Cat got your tongue?"
"You gave it to me," Alice replied, her voice laden with grievance. Strangely, when Damian heard this, his lips curled into a
contented smile.
"You ate it just because I was the one who gave it to you?"
She felt wronged. Is he teasing me?
"Well, I won't eat it next time."
His expression turned cold. "Why?"
"F-Fatty meat really doesn't taste good. I-I almost threw up just now..." Alice explained with an awkward stammer, her words
jumbled due to nervousness.
"Alice."
Moonlight streamed down the clouds and enveloped them silently.
Startled, Alice looked up and locked eyes with Damian, her heart racing. "What's wrong?"
"Isn't the interaction between us quite peculiar?" he asked, a touch of weariness in his tone.

Alice didn't want to engage in this topic, so she shook her head to feign indifference. "Not really. I think our relationship is pretty
normal."
"Our relationship has always been normal, but I meant our interaction isn't," Damian clarified.
Alice's heart skipped a beat, and unintentionally, an image from that night after he had been drinking flashed through her mind.
Unhappiness that she couldn't explain washed over her. "I don't think so. Maybe you're overthinking it. It's probably because
you're so occupied with work, and we naturally don't interact much."
"Is that really the case?"
Damian's skepticism was evident.
"What else could it be..."
"I feel like you're avoiding me," Damian repeated, his tone grave. "It's very obvious. Alice, can you tell me what you're thinking?"
Alice shook her head. "I'm not thinking about anything. I genuinely think you're overthinking it."
"If you still don't tell me the truth, don't blame me for taking matters into my own hands." Damian's tone grew insistent. He
approached her, his hand gripping her waist, pulling her into an embrace. "I'll give you one last chance. Will you speak up?"
Alice found this close to him for the second time after that last encounter. The scent of his familiarity overwhelmed her, leaving
her slightly dizzy. She raised her hand to push him away, but her strength failed her.
Perhaps she was so nervous that she had forgotten how to push.
"Alice, aren't you going to tell me?" Damian's face inched closer to her cheek. Memories flooded back, and Alice closed her
eyes, her face pale.

"Damian."
That one word snapped him out of his reverie. With irritation, Damian released his grip, allowing Alice to step back and create a
safe distance between them.

"You know, I don't want to continue like this with you," Damian voiced, his tone carrying fatigue. "Please tell me whatever is on
your mind, okay?"
Alice stared at her feet in silence for a while.
Finally, after a moment, she heard a soft sigh from Damian. She couldn't hold back any longer and looked up at him.
His face still bore the familiar smile, causing her heart to stir. An inappropriate question escaped her lips. "Who is Ellie Lake?"
"Ellie?"
Damian's expression shifted, growing more serious. "Why? Did she say something to you?"
Alice's heart already had an inkling about the truth from his reaction.
A faint, wan smile curved on her lips, and her voice showed a hint of helplessness. "She didn't say anything to me. You don't
have to worry."
Damian seemed to think she had misunderstood something. Before he could explain, a hurried call sounded from behind. "Ally!"
Ethan had turned away from Liam for a second and accidentally allowed him to slip away.

Like a savior, Liam appeared before Alice. Alice waved to him, and he hurried over. This time, he boldly grasped Alice's fingers.
Originally, Alice intended to pull away, but considering that there was someone else watching, she refrained and let her hand
stay put.
"Why are you here? I couldn't find you." He grinned, affectionately brushing her nose.
Their interaction was a bit too much. Damian narrowed his eyes as dangerous tension spread among the three.
"Damian is too boring. Let me take you somewhere fun," Liam suggested, lightly squeezing her hand as a signal for her to go
with him.
Comparing the awkwardness of staying with Damian to escaping with Liam, she quickly made a mental choice.
"Alright."
Alice didn't display excessive enthusiasm. She simply nodded as if following orders.
However, Liam didn't mind. He shot Damian a triumphant look, his smugness hard to hide.