Chase quickly nodded in submission. âOkay, no more nonsense from me.â
Belinda frowned. âMove to the other side of the table.â
Chase obediently agreed. âAlright, Iâll behave.â
He then stood up and seated himself across the table, looking proper and composed.
However, this arrangement felt even more uncomfortable for Belinda.
Because sitting face-to-face like this made it harder for her to avoid Chaseâs gaze. It was quite awkward.
âAhem, what brings you here?â Belinda feigned casualness, trying to divert the conversation.
Chase was all smiles. âI heard you were on a blind date here. I thought Iâd come and make sure everythingâs alright.â
Belinda knitted her brows. âWho told you that? Whoâs got such an annoying, big mouth?â
Though Chase could be a bit of a rascal, he did have some principles. He didnât betray-Byran by revealing that he was the source of the information.
âIf I want to know about you, Iâll find a way.â
Upon hearing this, Belinda blushed and scowled. âHa! Cut the crap! Youâre just interested in gossip about all women. You came to enjoy the show, did you?â
Chase helplessly spread his hands. âI swear thatâs not it!â
Belinda had seen Chaseâs playboy ways before. She wasnât about to fall for his sweet talk now.
âSo, you think itâs funny that I ended up on a date with such a weirdo?â
Chase shook his head. âNo. Itâs not funny, but it is strange.â
Belinda blinked at him. âWhatâs strange?â
âStrange that a guy would dare speak to you like that. If I hadnât been there, he might have even thrown his drink at you.â
Belinda gave a self-deprecating smirk. âWhatâs so strange about that? He thinks Iâm an old maid and that I have no right to look down on him, so he got angry and wanted to teach me a lesson.â
Chase raised an eyebrow. âNo. What I find strange is how a guy like that would have the courage to act that way towards Mr. Blanchetâs niece.â
Once Belinda understood what he meant, she became even more cynical. She shrugged and spread her hands. âEveryone knows Iâm Theoâs niece. I was once well protected by him. But now everyone also knows he has gone missing, and the Blanchet family isnât exactly close with us Wesleys. So thatâs just how it is.â
Chase narrowed his eyes. âThings arenât going too well at home?â
Belinda didnât want to admit it, but she didnât want to lie to cover it up either.