I grow stronger by making my wife happy.

Chapter 306: 306:Looking for problems.

Shirley crossed the restaurant with the same confidence Ravenna remembered from years ago, her five companions following close behind her while she wore a pleasant smile that would have fooled almost anyone who didn’t know her personally.

She had always been good at that. The gentle voice, the warm expression, the slight concern in her eyes whenever she spoke about something unpleasant; Shirley had perfected the ability to make cruelty sound like concern long before Ravenna had learned how to stop reacting to it.

Ravenna slowly placed her drink back on the table.

Of all the people she could have encountered in Alpha Three, Shirley had not been anywhere near the top of the list.

Mallory shifted beside her, visibly less pleased by the approaching woman. Unlike Antony, she didn’t need an explanation about who Shirley was or why Ravenna’s mood had immediately changed.

Mallory had spent enough years around Ravenna to know exactly what kind of relationship existed between the stepsisters, and judging from the way her lips pressed together, she was already preparing herself for whatever performance Shirley intended to put on.

Antony noticed both reactions and leaned slightly forward.

"I get the impression this isn’t going to be one of those happy family reunions where everyone hugs and complains about how long it’s been."

Ravenna gave him a sideways glance.

"If Shirley tries to hug me, you have permission to drag me out of this restaurant before I commit a crime."

Antony looked toward Shirley again.

"That bad?"

"Worse when she has an audience."

Ravenna’s eyes briefly moved toward the five girls accompanying her stepsister.

Shirley had always enjoyed audiences. Sure enough, the moment she reached their table, her smile became even brighter.

"Ravenna? It really is you."

There was just enough surprise in her voice to make it sound as though discovering Ravenna here was the most unexpected and wonderful thing that had happened all day.

Ravenna didn’t bother matching her enthusiasm.

"Hello, Shirley. I was hoping you hadn’t seen me, but I suppose expecting that much luck in one day was being greedy."

Mallory immediately lowered her face to hide a smile. Antony coughed into his hand. Shirley’s expression barely changed.

That was another thing Ravenna remembered. It took effort to crack the mask. She stepped closer to the table.

"You haven’t changed at all. I haven’t seen you in so long, and that’s the first thing you say to me? I was actually worried when I recognized you. Nobody told us you’d arrived in Alpha Three."

"I didn’t realize my travel schedule required family approval."

"That’s not what I meant."

"Then I’m sure you’ll eventually explain what you meant."

One of the girls behind Shirley frowned. Shirley, however, simply smiled. Her eyes travelled over Ravenna, then Mallory, then Antony.

Finally, she looked around the table as though searching for someone. Ravenna immediately knew which question was coming.

Shirley tilted her head.

"Where’s your fiancé?"

There it was.

Mallory stiffened. Antony’s earlier amusement vanished almost immediately, but neither of them spoke.

Ravenna felt something tighten inside her chest, but she refused to let it reach her face. She reached for her glass instead and took another drink.

"He’s not here."

Shirley waited for her to continue. When Ravenna didn’t elaborate, she raised an eyebrow.

"That’s all you’re going to say? I heard you were travelling together, so I assumed he’d be here with you. I was actually curious to finally meet the man who convinced you to accept an engagement."

Ravenna lowered the glass.

"Then you’ll have to remain curious for a little longer. I’m sure you’ll survive the disappointment."

Shirley’s gaze remained fixed on her. Ravenna could almost see the questions forming.

Fortunately, Shirley didn’t know enough to understand what had happened , and Ravenna had absolutely no intention of explaining Silver’s disappearance to her.

It was not something to be turned into gossip. Shirley’s eyes eventually shifted around the restaurant.

"This is quite an expensive place."

Ravenna waited for the bomb. Shirley smiled.

"What are you doing here?"

Ravenna glanced toward the table, then toward the menus, and finally back at Shirley.

"We came here to eat. I thought that was generally what people did in restaurants, but perhaps things have changed since I left."

Antony’s shoulders shook. This time Mallory didn’t even bother hiding her smile. One of Shirley’s companions whispered something to another. Shirley heard them, her smile tightened immediately.

"I wasn’t asking why people come to restaurants, Ravenna. I meant what are ’you’ doing here? Places like this aren’t exactly cheap."

Ravenna understood the implication immediately. This was the first real attempt.

She could have answered by mentioning Silver’s money, mentioned her own resources, or could have pointed out that Shirley had absolutely no idea what her finances looked like.

Instead, Ravenna simply leaned back.

"I looked at the prices before ordering. I assure you the restaurant isn’t holding me hostage until someone pays the bill."

Antony laughed before disguising it as another cough. Shirley’s eyes moved toward him.

"And who is this?"

Antony smiled pleasantly.

"Someone trying very hard to enjoy dinner."

Ravenna almost laughed. Shirley looked him over before apparently deciding he wasn’t important enough to focus on yet.

Her attention returned to Ravenna.

"I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. You always did hate explaining yourself."

Ravenna shrugged.

"I stopped explaining myself when I realized some people only ask questions because they already decided what answer they want."

For the first time, Shirley’s smile faltered slightly, then it returned.

"You’re still so defensive."

Ravenna didn’t answer.

That seemed to irritate Shirley more than any insult could have. One of the girls accompanying her stepped forward slightly.

"Shirley, you never told us you had a sister."

Shirley’s expression immediately softened.

"Stepsister."

The correction was gentle, clearly deliberate. Another girl looked at Ravenna curiously.

"You two don’t look anything alike."

Shirley laughed softly.

"We have different mothers."

Ravenna continued drinking.

She knew where this was going. Shirley rarely attacked directly. She preferred leading conversations toward whatever subject she wanted and then pretending she had been forced to discuss it.

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