Out of Ashes Into His Heart

"What's she doing at the obstetrics department?" Dawn had clearly picked up on it too, leaning closer to whisper with a mischievous tone, "Could she have some... unpleasant disease?"

Everyone knew the entertainment industry was a mess, and Mandy had been abroad for years.

"Or maybe she's pregnant?" she continued to speculate wildly.

"Forget about her," I said, glancing around with complete disinterest in her affairs. "There's an elevator over there. Let's go that way."

But she grabbed my arm. "Wait! Maybe there's some drama to watch."

I had no choice but to let her peer through the door crack for what felt like forever.

In the end, even after Mandy left, Dawn hadn't figured out anything juicy and

finally gave up.

"Mandy is definitely hiding some unspeakable secret," she declared confidently as we walked out.

"Who cares about her secrets? Just hearing her name makes me nauseous. Let's drop it, alright?"

"Fine," Dawn said with a teasing grin, holding onto my arm. "Let's—"

Before she could finish, we heard a car unlocking nearby. Our attention turned to see Tom stepping out of a sleek vehicle.

"Tom?" I said, utterly surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to drop something off for Greg. I was just about to leave when I saw you two," he replied casually, tilting his head with a lazy smile. "It's almost lunchtime. Would you two ladies care to join me?"

"Oh, we wouldn't want to impose..." Dawn said, pretending to be polite, but her face lit up excitedly.

He was no ordinary person. He was the only heir to the White family—the most prominent family in the city. His wealth and background were legendary, making him the envy of countless people.

An invitation to dine with him was practically a miracle.

With a faint smile, Tom opened the car door. "Hop in. We'll drive over together."

"Thank you, Tom!" she said eagerly, grabbing my arm. "Grace, come on. Let's get in the car."

Compared to Dawn's excitement, I felt a little embarrassed.

After all, just a few days ago, I had said I would treat him to a meal, but he ended up footing the bill. And now, he was inviting us again...

"How about I treat you this time?" I offered tentatively.

While fastening his seatbelt, Tom glanced at me through the rearview mirror, his lips curving into a smile. "Sure. You pick the place."

I thought for a moment and suddenly remembered something. "How about we go to that seafood boil place near campus? I remember you liked it too, didn't you?"

Dawn and I used to frequent that seafood boil restaurant when we were students. We even bumped into Tom there a few times.

We were always surprised that someone as polished and privileged as him would enjoy something so simple. It almost felt unreal.

After I married Gavin, though, I didn't go back. His preference for bland food made him dismiss seafood boils as "junk food."

With a soft click, Tom fastened his seatbelt, his smile deepening. "Alright."

Soon, his car pulled up on the bustling commercial street near Fuvine University.

It was lunchtime, and the seafood boil restaurant was packed with people.

"You two grab a seat. I'll go place the order," I said, taking charge like a host.

But the line at the counter was overwhelming, and I repeatedly jostled backward. Instinctively, I cradled my stomach and frowned.noveldrama

"Excuse me!"

Suddenly, a group of tall, burly students pushed through from behind, and one bumped hard into my shoulder.

I stumbled, nearly losing my balance.

Just then, my wrist was firmly grasped, and before I could react, I was caught off guard and collided with a broad, warm chest.

"Careful," the man said, his chest rising and falling slightly. A familiar, subtle scent of sandalwood lingered in the air, drifting into my senses.

Still shaken, I looked up and met deep, dark eyes. His light brown irises reflected my face clearly.

It was Tom.

"Thank you, Tom," I said hastily, stepping back from his embrace, my cheeks heating up.

When I returned to the table with the food, I was already sweating from the crowded chaos.

Maybe it was the nostalgia of eating something I hadn't had in years, but my mood lightened considerably.

However, we weren't even halfway through the meal when Dawn received a call from her company, summoning her back for a meeting.

"Finish eating before you go," I said, worried she would work on an empty stomach.

Now unconcerned with appearances, she quickly scarfed down a few bites and

had a large spoonful of soup. Grabbing her bag, she dashed out. "Alright, I'm full. I'll get going!"