Chapter 140

Rosemary shifted her body, avoiding Hogan’s hand: "Don’t cause such misunderstandings. I’m here to ask for your help.

Hogan locked at his own empty hand, shrugged, and followed her.

The booth was originally designed for couples, tiny as hell. Having four people in there, even with two standing, it was still terribly crowded.

Under the waiter’s complex gaze, Hogan looked up at the two bodyguards standing straight as statues, like they're guarding the gates of heaven or

something: "Why don't you go sit in the next booth? I'll pay for it.”

The bodyguard looked down at him, “No.”

This man obviously looked like he had some shady plans for Mrs. Templeton!

A polite smirk appeared on Hogan's face, “Then, do you two mind standing outside? You standing here like this, it's not you who’s feeling awkward

it's me.

He held a position in the team and regularly dealt with a bunch of hotheads. If he was not authoritarian, he couldn't control the situation. So even

though he was smiling now, the intangible pressure and danger emanating from him instantly made people tense.

The bodyguards were professional; they only obeyed their boss. So even if they sensed the danger, they didn't back down at all. Instead, they

instinctively reached out to shield Rosemary.

Rosemary said, “You guys can wait outside. Mr. Abbott is my friend, and we have something to discuss.

The bodyguards responded “Yes.” One stepped outside, while the other headed to the reception desk.

There were two curtains hanging above the booth, one of cloth and the other of gauze. Hogan only let the gauze one down — he wouldn't let

Rosemary be the subject of gossip. He was used to being rough, and didn't care about others' comments, but he wouldn’t stand for anyone

badmouthing a lady he liked.

As for picking a lover’s café, that was all because he heard his sister mentioning this café with her friends during a chat. Otherwise, being a person

who had just returned less than a month ago and not fond of wandering around aimlessly, how would he know about this place?

Rosemary pulled out her phone that had been trashed by Stacey, "I was hoping you could find someone to retrieve the data fram this.”

Hogan took it. glanced at its busted exterior, and joked, “Did this get run over by a truck?”

“Is the stuff inside important?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay, I'll have someone look at it.” Hogan pocketed the phone and flashed an insouciant smile at Rosemary, “But does this mean you owe me a

favor?”

“If there’s anything I can help you with.

“Bro!”

A sweet voice interrupted. The next second, the gauze curtain was lifted, and Sylvia Abbott poked her head in. Her big eyes lit up like crescent moons

upon seeing Hogan, “What a coincidence, running into you here...”

It wasn't a coincidence, though. She brought her BFF over to “bump into” Hogan. Her brother had mentioned to her about coming to this place when

he was leaving, which she found odd. After all, her brother didn’t drink coffee nor had a girlfriend, so why would he suddenly want to go to this couple-

themed café?

Then she saw Rosemary at the side. She clammed up. her baby-fat cheeks flushing with awkwardness. “Bro, is this your girlfriend?”

Sylvia couldn't bear to look back at her friend. Molly had been crushing on Hogan for ages, and while he had been gone for military service, she had

remained single. She claimed she wasn’t waiting for him, but everyone could see Molly was holding out for Sylvia’s brother.

Now that he was finally back, before she could muster the courage to confess, she saw the man she had fancied for many years fly to someone else

— that would be a blow to anyone.

Hogan's tongue prodded his cheek before leaning into Rosemary’s ear: “See what you get for jumping straight to conclusions? This is karma, huh?”

The man was so close that his breath tickled her ear. She instinctively shifted to the side.

Hogan said: “Didn't you say to ask if there's anything I needed help with? Play along, and we'll call it even.

Without waiting for her consent, he casually draped his arm over the back of her chair. Although he didn’t touch her, it was undeniably a pose full of

possessiveness to others.

Sylvia looked like she was about to cry; her grip on Molly’s hand was shaking.

“When did you two start dating? Mom asked you the day before yesterday, and you said you were single then.”

“Just yesterday.” Hogan lied without missing a beat, "What, does it take a few years to establish a relationship?”

Sylvia turned to Rosemary, “Sis, are you and my brother really a couple?”

Rosemary could only offer an awkward smile.

As a “newly pepular influencer,” the

buzz around fier being Maxwell's

secret wifeHad just died down. But.

with the whole debacle at the time;

who knew how many still recognized

her? Atthough Hogan asked her ite)

help acting, even if she reluctantly

admitted, she still felt a litte

embarrassment. ike)

“You're not some actress my brother hired to trick our mom, are you?”

Violet Abbott had laid down the law — if Hogan didn't bring home a daughter-in-law by this New Year, she’d make him hold a placard in the square to

help him find a date.

Hogan put his arm around Rosemary's shoulders, giving her a subtle squeeze.

Meeting Sylvia's inquisitive eyes, Rosemary mumbled a noncommittal, “Uh-huh.”

“So, itis an act?"

Hogan retorted in an unkind manner,

“Act yourhead. Just because you

kids watched TV dramas, you think

the world I is so dramatic? Come on,

withsyour brother’s good looks, does

he-need to pay for someone to act?”

Céntent belongs to

Sylvia agreed without even turning her head. “Of course, you don't need that.”

Just as he was about to knock on Sylvia's head. Molly walked up. She looked at Rosemary, looking her up and down several times, then said,

“Hogan, she looks familiar. Have I seen her somewhere?

Hogan casually replied, “Probably in one of my family albums.”

Being best friends with Sylvia and having long been fond of Hagan, she'd definitely seen the Abbott family aloums, even swiping a few photos. But

she was certain Rosemary wasn't in them.

That face

At this moment, a scene she had seen earlier suddenly flashed through her mind.

Molly's eyes widened in surprise, staring in disbelief at Rosemary, who was talking to Hogan.

Hogan glared at her, “Alright, enough. You young ladies go and play on your own. Don't crowd around here. It’s not easy for an old man to have a

romance, so don't go scaring off my fiancée.”

Rosemary was-beyond the point of

roasting hig Hogan did get one

thing right he didn't need to pay =>

someoneto act. With his good looks

and good family background, there

were plenty of girls willing tobe his

gir friend.

4

Molly's expression was visibly disdainful, “Hogan, do you know who this lady really is? This lady.”