Chapter 5

The car window rolled down to reveal a familiar face. Isabel, who was seated in the car, smiled at Mayra and asked, "Can we have a chat?" Mayra nodded. She opened the door to the backseat and hopped in. Isabel examined the girl carefully. "You must be… that girl who's always hanging around Anderson. You're Mayra, aren't you?" Sensing Mayra's nervousness, Isabel took her hand. "Don't be nervous. You can call me Isa if you want. I only saw you in photos before this, so I'm just surprised by how much better you look in person. You'll be a real beauty when you're all grown up." Feeling inferior in front of Isabel, Mayra softly mumbled, "Hi, Isa." Isabel seemed satisfied by the response, judging from the smile on her lips. "Do you have a lot of homework today?" "No. Why did you look for me?" Isabel replied, "I've been thinking of having dinner with you. I came to pick you up since I happened to pass by your school. Anderson is still busy with work, so he'll be late. Let's head to the restaurant and order food now." Mayra fell silent, thinking that Isabel must have learned about how she had threatened to take her own life upon learning of Anderson's engagement. Anderson clearly was in the dark regarding Isabel's attempt to reach out to her. Mayra wondered if she was trying to prod about her relationship with Anderson. Half an hour later, they arrived at Parizia, a quaint restaurant. The restaurant manager welcomed them with a smile after recognizing Isabel. "Ms. Fisher, welcome! We've reserved a lounge for you. Let me show you there." Isabel and Mayra entered the spacious lounge. Isabel graciously settled on a seat, while Mayra sat by her side. The manager served them personally, offering them some menus. Isabel handed a menu to Mayra. "Mayra, take a look. See if there's anything you'd like to order." Mayra noticed that every item on the menu cost at least three figures. She could not afford anything on it. Feeling uneasy, she hugged herself and replied, "Isa, I'm okay with anything." Isabel noticed Mayra's unease and smiled. "Let's order Anderson's favorites. He likes non-spicy foods, just like you." … Shane received a call from Parizia. When Anderson emerged from the meeting room at the Barlow Group's building, Shane went up and told him, "Mr. Barlow, Ms. Fisher has just picked up Ms. Sadler. They're at Parizia now. The restaurant just called to check on your arrival time." Clad in a black suit, Anderson towered over Shane. He entered the president's office with his hands in his pockets. Frowning, he demanded, "Who told her to look for Mayra?" Shane shook his head. "Ms. Fisher must have run into Ms. Sadler on her way, I guess." Anderson instructed, "Cancel my plans. Let's make a move to Parizia." Shane nodded. "Got it, Mr. Barlow." Anderson thought he had made it clear that no one was to reach out to Mayra. However, Isabel had always regarded Mayra as a love rival. Isabel's move today was to indirectly claim Anderson as her man. It was an attempt to remind Mayra of the unbridgeable gulf between her and Anderson due to their differing wealth and social classes. Not only that, the age difference between Anderson and Mayra was stark. He'd turn 30 when Mayra was 18. Mayra had her whole life ahead of her. At Parizia, Mayra sipped on her drink while Isabel fussed over her. Isabel ordered some desserts that were hits among teen girls. Anderson joined them at 7:00 p.m. after all the food had been served. Mayra was gripped by nervousness when she heard his footsteps from outside the door. She clenched her fists in anticipation. Then, Anderson opened the door to the lounge and met her gaze. She fearfully looked away. Isabel, however, went up and held his arm. "Why are you only here now? Mayra and I have been waiting forever." The air-conditioning in the lounge was turned on. Like an obedient wife, Isabel helped Anderson remove his jacket and hang it on the coat stand nearby. They interacted like a couple who had been married for years. The top two buttons of his black shirt were undone. His muscular body could just be seen beneath it. Anderson had a great physique. He always looked slim but strong in any outfit. He could rival even international models. On top of that, women swooned over his handsome features and his position as the president of Barlow Group. Seating herself between Anderson and Mayra, Isabel offered him a set of utensils. She asked, "You're not angry at me for bringing Mayra here without your permission, are you?" He said in a low voice, "No. How did your checkup at the hospital go?" Smiling, she replied, "Don't worry. The doctor said everything was fine. I'm planning to try for a baby soon, so I won't order wine for us today." Trying for a baby? Mayra accidentally spilled her drink when she heard those words, and she shot up in awkwardness. Isabel hurriedly grabbed some napkins to wipe the stains off Mayra's outfit. She said to Mayra, "Oh, you're so clumsy. I'll bring you to the restroom to wash up." Mayra quickly declined, "I-It's fine. I'm okay. I planning to do my laundry tomorrow anyway." Isabel responded with concern, "Let me know if you don't feel comfortable in that outfit. I happen to have a new set of clothes in my car." Mayra shook her head. "It's fine. No need for the trouble, Isa." Throughout the conversation, she deliberately avoided Anderson's gaze. When she settled down on the seat again, she quietly ate the food that Isabel had placed on her plate. Isabel said encouragingly, "Eat more. You can take the leftovers home if you can't finish it." Anderson suddenly interjected, "Is the allowance enough?" Staring down at her plate, Mayra nodded and muttered, "Yeah." She saw him taking out a black wallet and retrieving a card from within it. He said to her, "Pay for anything you'd like with this card. Don't eat leftovers. You have stomach issues, remember?" It turned out that Anderson had remembered Mayra's digestive issues, which were the long-term effect of starvation at the orphanage, as she couldn't fight the others for food. She couldn't take anything cold, and she'd suffer cramps after eating leftovers. There was once she ate some leftovers and ended up with gastric pains late at night. Anderson had to rush her to the hospital and watch over her throughout the night. Hearing that, she hurriedly waved his hand away. "Andy, I haven't used up the allowance from before. I can't take anything more from you." Isabel tried not to let her emotions show. She took the card from Anderson and shoved it into Mayra's hand with a smile. "If Anderson offers you the card, just take it. It's a brotherly gesture from him. Money is not a problem for him, so you don't have to skimp for him. If you ever need money, you can come to me as well." Then, Isabel patted Mayra's hand. Mayra felt helpless as if she had been forced to receive charity. "By the way, I will be engaged to Anderson in a few months. This is the invitation to our engagement. Mayra, promise me you'll come."