“Thank you, Stan. It’s flattering. But as we both know, I have already had a boyfriend.” I smiled and patted his hand. “Friends?”
Constantine sighed, but he finally nodded. “If it is what you can offer me, I will take it for now.”
I was relieved and confused at the same time. Constantine blackmailed me into having dinner with him yet gave up so quickly when I asked to be friends with him. Also, the makeover offer, was I wrong to judge him? Maybe he wasn’t so bad.
After finishing the main dish, finally, the server came with the dessert. I enjoyed my ice cream.
“Is it good?”
I nodded. “Want to try it?”
“Sure!”
I moved my ice cream bowl in front of Constantine. But then, he shook his head.
“Spoon it, please?”
I giggled. “What are you? A five-year-old?”
“Come on. It is not hard to spoon the ice.”
I finally spooned him, and he smiled, so similar to Ethan. Maybe my longing for Ethan created the illusion, but I missed him badly now.
“Helena?”
I blinked. “Yes?”
“What are you thinking? Your expression is suddenly sad.”
“Nothing.”
“Are we friends? Friends share their problems, right?”
If Constantine were indeed my friend, I would tell him about Ethan. However, it was not the case, and I only smiled. “Yes. Nothing to worry about. I’m only tired.”
“Okay. After finishing your ice cream, we will go home.”
“Thanks, Stan.”
I enjoyed the ice cream until the last spoon. When I raised my head, Constantine’s amused expression was clear.
“Do you like ice cream so much?”
I nodded. “Yes. Why?”
“Do you want more? Then, you can order it.”
“No, that one is good. Another bowl may lessen the satisfaction.”
“Ah, marginal utility.”
I grinned and snapped my fingers. “Precisely. Are you an economy department graduate?”
He shook his head. “No, but I learned a lot here and there.”
“I see. You may want to read at the MPL. We have an extensive collection of economy books.”
“I believe the library does. But I am afraid that I have no time to do that. Maybe later if you accept my offer to be my woman.”
I only smiled. “Thank you. For now, I must say no.”
“It is all right. Who knows that someday you will change your mind.” Then his expression turned firm again. “Finish?”
I nodded. So, Constantine raised his hand.
A server came. “Yes, sir?”
“The receipt, please.”
“Right away, sir.” The server left. Later, he returned with the receipt.
Constantine paid and gave a massive tip until the server bowed a few times and said thank you numerous times. Finally, when we walked to the door, the host smiled and bowed his head slightly. Constantine gave him money too, and the host’s smile was wider.
I touched his arm to get his attention. “Why do you give them a lot of tips?”
“Why not? I am satisfied with their services tonight, and I have the money.”
“You are so generous.”
“No.”
“What do you mean? You gave the server and the host big tips. Maybe it’s the same as their salary in a month.”
“I am not generous, my dear. I only think that everyone has a price. They will remember me, and if I revisit the restaurant one day, they will serve me better.”
“Ah, I see.”
We didn’t talk when we were in the car. Constantine drove well, and when the vehicle arrived in front of my house, he opened the door for me. “Please send my regards to your mother. Don’t be late for tomorrow. I will pick you up at 6 a.m.”
“Thank you for dinner, Stan. It’s delicious. Good night.”
“Good night.” Then he left.
When I was about to enter the house, suddenly I was shocked to hear a voice behind me.
“Luna.”
“Red! You scare me!” I placed my hand on my chest.
“Sorry. Uh, I saw you go with Lord Constantine again.”
I nodded. “But it’s not like you think. Constantine blackmailed me into going with him.”
Red shook his head. “I won’t question you, Luna. You have earned my respect, and I know you won’t do something stupid.”
“Thank you, Red.” But then, I turned my body to face him. “Do you follow me?”
He scratched his head. “Yes, you’re not safe with him after what happened before.”
“Stan, I mean, Constantine told me that he and Ethan were half-brothers. Is that true?”
“Yes, and Lord Constantine hates our Alpha King so much.”
I opened the door. “Why?” Then I pointed at the couch in the living room. “Let’s sit and talk inside.”
Red came in and sat. “Alpha and Lord Constantine have the same father but different mothers. Our Alpha’s mother is royalty too, making him pure royalty blood. In contrast, Lord Constantine’s mother is … well, enough to say that she is not an honorable person. So he was born outside of wedlock.”
“Oh!” It explained many things, but I didn’t understand how Constantine managed to bring himself. He looked more royal than Ethan. “If you didn’t tell me, I wouldn’t have guessed it. Constantine seems truly a nobleman.”
“Maybe because he tries to cover his lack of background.” Red shrugged. “So, did you enjoy the dinner? Are you okay?”
I nodded. “Yes. Constantine and I became friends. He even offered me a makeover session tomorrow.”
“What?!”
“Makeover session. You know, you go to the beauty salon and get treatment to make you look better.”
“I know what a makeover is.” Red shook his head. “I feel something’s off. Lord Constantine is a selfish person who only does something because he can get many advantages.”
“Who knows if he has changed.”
“People can change, Luna. I don’t deny that.” Red smiled. Next, he scratched his head. “Like me, for example. I have changed drastically from being against you to supporting you 100% with our Alpha.”
“Thank you, Red.”
“But I don’t believe Lord Constantine can change so fast. So please, be careful, Luna. If you need my help, I’ll always be around you.”
I nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”