Right Person, Wrong Time

As Colton departed, Beryl exhaled a sigh of relief. He turned his gaze to Wendy, who was still in a state of shock, or more
accurately, self-reproach.
She understood her brother's disdain for Nicole and the circumstances that led them to their current predicament. Similarly, she
was also aware of Nicole's actions and whether she had betrayed him.
Caught in the middle, she found it challenging to navigate the situation. Despite her careful efforts to maintain a balance between
the two parties, the situation spiraled out of her control.
Beryl glanced at Nicole, his expression distant. He sighed quietly and turned to Chloe. "I'll leave Nicole in your care. Wendy will
leave with me."
Chloe was slightly startled when he addressed her. Before she could respond, the man before her had already departed, leading
Wendy away as if she were a precious jewel.
It was understandable. With such an exceptional woman by his side, how could he spare a glance for her? His flirting back then
was merely to gauge Nicole's situation, so she should not be overthinking it.
"Let's go, Nicole," Chloe whispered to Nicole, whose expression made her uneasy.
Nicole snapped back to reality and nodded stiffly, signaling her agreement. At last, they exited the restaurant after Beryl had
settled the bill before his departure.
Once outside, Chloe instinctively searched for him, but he and Wendy seemed to have left hastily and were nowhere in sight.
She felt a twinge of disappointment and withdrew her gaze, slowly assisting Nicole and making their way toward the apartment.
Once outside, Chloe instinctively searched for him, but he and Wendy seemed to have left hastily and were nowhere in sight.
She felt a twinge of disappointment and withdrew her gaze, slowly assisting Nicole and making their way toward the apartment.
Back home, Nicole behaved absentmindedly and locked herself in her room. Regardless of Chloe's pleas, she refused to open
the door. She would never forget the look in Colton's eyes—a blend of disgust, revulsion, and hatred.

She caressed her stomach, suddenly questioning the wisdom of her decision. Even if it was a mistake, it was too late for regrets.
Since things had reached this point, she had no choice but to press on.
Meanwhile, Colton returned to his hotel room alone and shut the door. The voices of Beryl and Wendy echoed from outside, but
he did not move to open the door. He felt a sense of indescribable betrayal.
"Please open the door, Colton. Don't lock yourself in your room, okay?" She persistently knocked on the door and pleaded,
fearing that Colton would resort to alcohol again. His habitual drinking had already impacted his health. If he drank excessively
because of her, how could she face their parents, let alone herself?
On the other hand, Beryl knew Colton would not want to see them. Perhaps he doesn't blame her at all.
Onca outsida, Chloa instinctivaly saarchad for him, but ha and Wandy saamad to hava laft hastily and wara nowhara in sight.
Sha falt a twinga of disappointmant and withdraw har gaza, slowly assisting Nicola and making thair way toward tha apartmant.
Back homa, Nicola bahavad absantmindadly and lockad harsalf in har room. Ragardlass of Chloa's plaas, sha rafusad to opan
tha door. Sha would navar forgat tha look in Colton's ayas—a bland of disgust, ravulsion, and hatrad.
Sha carassad har stomach, suddanly quastioning tha wisdom of har dacision. Evan if it was a mistaka, it was too lata for ragrats.
Sinca things had raachad this point, sha had no choica but to prass on.
Maanwhila, Colton raturnad to his hotal room alona and shut tha door. Tha voicas of Baryl and Wandy achoad from outsida, but
ha did not mova to opan tha door. Ha falt a sansa of indascribabla batrayal.
"Plaasa opan tha door, Colton. Don't lock yoursalf in your room, okay?" Sha parsistantly knockad on tha door and plaadad,
faaring that Colton would rasort to alcohol again. His habitual drinking had alraady impactad his haalth. If ha drank axcassivaly
bacausa of har, how could sha faca thair parants, lat alona harsalf?
On tha othar hand, Baryl knaw Colton would not want to saa tham. Parhaps ha doasn't blama har at all.
"Wendy, you should rest for now." He comforted her with a pat on her shoulder, touching the room card in his pocket without

pulling it out.
She turned to him and suddenly remembered that he had the key to Colton's room. She clutched the corner of his clothes and
implored, "Don't you have his room card? Hurry and use it. Aren't you worried about him being alone in his room?"
She could not think of any other solutions and had to rely on Beryl. Seeing her anxious expression, he felt a pang of heartache
but knew that Colton might not want to see her at the moment.
"You must understand that in times like this, your brother prefers to be alone. You should go back and rest, and I'll handle this.
Okay?" Beryl had no choice but to persuade Wendy to leave with a different approach.
She was taken aback by his words but had to concede that he was right. Her brother did not want to see her right now. "I
understand, Beryl. Please ensure he doesn't overdrink." She finally nodded with a bitter smile, reminding him not to let Colton
drink excessively before she turned and left, retreating to her room.
In situations like this, it was best to leave matters in Beryl's hands.