Chapter 1307: Breaking off the engagement might be a mistake

"Is that the best you can do? Did your mother bleed so much just to birth a donut?" Ginnie remarked, arching a brow as she watched Hugo’s reaction.

"Is it too much?"

Hugo shook his head before grinning. "It’s perfect. Holy shit, Ginnie. You’re really good at this."

"Hehe." Ginnie blushed a little and sheepishly tucked a portion of her hair behind her ear. "In case you don’t know, I watch a lot of movies with mean characters as study materials."

"Wow..." Hugo was in awe, clapping his hands slowly before glancing down at his food. "By the way, Ginnie."

"Yes?"

When he looked up at her, his face showed dismay. "Are the portions here always this small? Or is this some sort of sample before they serve the real food?"

"Senior Hugo, aren’t you rich?" she asked out of pure curiosity. "I mean, obviously, you’re broke. But your parents are rich, aren’t they?"

"So?"

"Haven’t they ever taken you to a fine dining restaurant?"

"Ginnie, did you forget I got enlisted when I was eighteen?" Hugo frowned. "My dad takes my mom on dates to places like this, but he never brings us kids. He’s mean."

Ginnie chuckled, only now realizing how close Hugo was to his father despite his complaint. "Well, that makes sense." She rocked her head side to side. "This is the actual serving size."

"Seriously?" Hugo gasped in horror. "Then how come it’s so expensive?"

"Because the chefs put art into it."

"I don’t want to eat art," he said. "I want to eat real food."

"You can order more," she suggested. "Max is paying, anyway."

"Damn right, I will." With that, Hugo raised a hand to get a server’s attention. When the staff approached, Hugo said only one thing: "I want everything on the menu. I think that’s the only way I’ll feel full."

The server looked at him strangely before glancing at Ginnie. She simply smiled back.

"Alright..." The server nodded, albeit reluctantly, unsure if he should take the order. But then again, these guests were personally invited by the new owner. If they weren’t, Ginnie and Hugo would have been turned away at the entrance based on their attire alone.

"I’ll inform the chefs right away," he said before leaving to relay the bizarre order.

Meanwhile, Ginnie and Hugo watched him go before she turned back to Hugo.

"Senior Hugo, are you really going to eat all of that?" she asked, only for Hugo to scoff.

"Ginnie, trust me. I don’t even think I’ll be full after eating everything on their menu," he huffed, tapping his firm stomach. "I’m hungry... and I feel like eating some real cheeseburgers."

Her brows rose before she chuckled. "I know, right? I’ll never understand fancy food."

"Same here." Hugo shook his head. "If I brought Penny here, she’d be furious at me for starving her. That woman has a beast in her stomach."

"I think you two have the same appetite." Ginnie laughed, considering Hugo had already devoured four plates. "You two really are siblings."

---

Somewhere in the city...

Max had wanted to stay at the restaurant and see if Hugo and Ginnie were hitting it off romantically. However, just watching them at the same table had been too much to bear. So, with a heavy heart, he left and found himself in an exclusive bar where soft jazz music played.

A nightclub would have been a good distraction, but tonight, Max craved peace and quiet.

Seated at the bar counter, he chugged his second glass in one go. Hissing, he exhaled and stared at the empty glass in his hand. The image of Ginnie smiling—her eyes squinting into mere slits—while having dinner with Hugo replayed in his mind like a broken record.

’I was the one who arranged the date,’ he reminded himself. ’But why...’

He clenched his chest. Why does it hurt so much?

His face twisted as he fought to keep himself together. Initially, he had been fine. But the more he drowned his sorrow in rum, the more painful the memory became.

Wasn’t alcohol supposed to numb pain?

Or... had he simply not drunk enough?

Assuming the latter, Max ordered another glass from the bartender. He didn’t care about anything anymore tonight. He just wanted to get drunk and forget.

As he waited for his drink, his brows lifted when he noticed someone sitting two stools away.

Turning his head, his eyes narrowed as he took in a familiar profile.

"Cassy?"

"I was hoping you wouldn’t notice me," Cassandra said, slowly casting him a side glance. "But it’s good to see you, Max."

"How long have you been here?"

"Since before you came," she replied, tracing the rim of her glass with her finger. "I didn’t want to disturb you since you looked like you didn’t want to be disturbed."

Max scoffed lightly and shrugged. "And you look like you don’t want to be disturbed either." He paused as he picked up the drink the bartender slid toward him. "Anyway, how long has it been since I last saw you...?" He hummed, thinking. "I think the last time was when you went abroad to study the crazies, right?"

"I don’t study the crazy, Max," she retorted. "Don’t tell me you’re one of those people who think I should’ve pursued something more ’prestigious’ instead?"

"Whoa. Whatever issues you’re dealing with, I want no part of it," he shot back. "I’ve got my own mess to handle." He swirled the drink in his hand. "And honestly, why would I care what you pursue? It’s not like I have the moral high ground when it comes to life choices."

Silence fell between them as they focused on their drinks.

Max took a long sip before sneaking a glance at Cassandra. She was simply staring at her untouched drink.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked, a bit concerned. They had never been particularly close, but Max had been best friends with Finn, Cassandra’s ex, so she was a familiar presence in his past.

Cassandra didn’t answer right away. She muttered under her breath, "I think... breaking off the engagement was a mistake."

"Huh?" Max furrowed his brows.

Cassandra smirked before taking a sip.

"Hey, what do you mean by that?"

"I meant it literally." She shrugged, sighing as she licked her lips. "I shouldn’t have agreed to end it."