Chapter 34 Toast Nicole gently compressed her lips in a smile. âDidnât they say already? Sheâs a doctor.â
Aleena puckered up her lips. âI wonder what her relationship with Eugene is. Could it be that he likes her?â
Nicole shot Aleena a disapproving look. âDo you know why men fall for women of this sort?â
Aleena was nonplussed. âWhy?â
Nicole leaned toward her and responded, âItâs because sheâs high up there, far away from him, playing hard to get. This would intensify every manâs desire to possess a woman. Even so, sheâs actually easy to hook up with as sheâs open-minded, bold, and is good at reading the room. Everyone that she has her eyes on will probably be in her bag.â
Hearing this startled Aleena. âWhat should we do then?â
A scornful look flashed across Nicoleâs face before she added blandly, âI feel like you can go and give her a toast. Itâs as if youâre giving Eugene a toast. Even though he didnât comment about what happened earlier, I canât say for sure that heâs not bothered.
Giving them a toast might help ease the tension between you guys, and it might also show what an understanding person you are.â
Aleena felt good about these words. âNicole, youâre the best. Just wait and see how Iâm going to cause her to be publicly humiliated.â
As Aleena spoke, she tip-toed her way to Olivia. âMiss Maxwell, Robinâs my cousin and he was here with me. Iâd like to offer my apology for making things so awkward during our first encounter. Please do forgive him. Iâd like to offer you a toast.â
Olivia still felt uneasy as she had already downed a few glasses of the beverage. She then smiled and responded, âYou can find your own way to drink with Mr. Nolan. I was just responding to the questions of the patient as a doctor. You guys lining up to apologize to me only makes me look like a narrow-minded person.â
Aleena responded, âDonât say that. Miss Maxwell, weâre not in the same line of work, and we also donât know you too well. Thatâs why we can only keep apologizing. Otherwise, we might offend you. By then, Eugeneâs going to blame us again.â
Olivia raised her eyebrows. Does this mean that Iâm not entitled to be unhappy when theyâre the ones picking on me?
Eugene put his wine glass down. âIâm afraid I donât have a big heart like the others. If you dare to pick a fight in front of me, then you shouldnât blame me for not feeling you out!â
Then, Aleena replied nicely, âYes. Youâre right. Thatâs why Iâm here to apologize. Am I not one of your friends anymore?â
As she spoke, she turned to Olivia and added sarcastically, âMiss Maxwell, you have to accept this toast. If you donât, Eugene isnât going to forgive me.â
At this point, Olivia frowned. âMiss, I donât think I even know your name, and I think weâre not on the same page. You didnât offend me as weâve never even talked before this. Save the apology. If youâre worried about what your cousin did, please donât;
Iâm not that petty. If youâre afraid that Eugeneâs still going to be mad at you, you should be giving him a toast instead.â
Aleena was slightly startled. She then frowned with a menacing look on her face. âBut what if I just want to give you a toast, Miss Maxwell?â
Eugene let out a frown. âWhat do you want? Didnât she tell you sheâs unable to drink anymore?â
At this moment, Aleena hatefully looked Eugene in the eye, looking as if she was being misunderstood. âIs she really not able to drink or are you not letting her drink?â
Eugene squinted and stared at Aleena. âIs there any difference?â
Aleena was rendered speechless. Now their misunderstanding had just become worse. Olivia must be really into Eugene, and thatâs why sheâs filled with all this enmity toward me.
âFine then. Iâll drink with you.â
Olivia had a gentle and generous smile on her face as she blurted out with her wine glass in the air, âCan someone pour me some wine?â
Being the gentleman that he was, Hayden asked, âMiss Maxwell, would you like beer or red wine?â
Olivia raised her eyebrows. âIâll drink whatever this lady is drinking.â
Eugeneâs face dropped. âYou havenât even eaten anything. Why would you drink now?â