My Stand-In Groom Is A Secret Tycoon (Audrey)

Sophie feigned contrition quickly as she prepared to leave. "Sorry, Mr. Hayes, that was out of line. I'll get going!"

With her goal accomplished, Sophie backed away, pretending to be remorseful, but smirking internally. She couldn't wait to see what might happen next, knowing Dominic's temper. Eliza gauged Dominic's mood carefully and spoke softly. "Dominic, maybe we should... find somewhere else?"

"Let's just eat." Dominic cut her off, his tone firm as the server brought their dishes. He picked up a piece of crab meat with his spoon and placed it on her plate.

Eliza looked down at the seafood on her plate, her eyes slightly misting. "Dominic, I'm allergic to shellfish."

Dominic frowned a little, then swapped their plates without missing a beat. "Sorry, I forgot," he said flatly.

Eliza offered a forgiving smile and said sweetly, "It's okay, really. If you're not feeling up to dinner, we can go."

"I'm fine. Let's eat." Dominic sounded defensive, and his voice was sharper than usual. No matter how hard he tried to hide it, the irritation on his face was unmistakable. Watching Eliza eat quietly across from him, Dominic couldn't help but picture Audrey instead.

It was a sunny afternoon, and Audrey had tapped him on the shoulder with that familiar smile, tilting her head with a playful request.

"Dominic, I heard there's a new restaurant on Harbor Street. They say it's amazing! Can we go there for our anniversary?" Audrey asked sweetly.

'How had I responded then? I said yes?' Dominic thought.

But on the day of their anniversary, they never made it. Dominic couldn't even remember what excuse he'd given her.noveldrama

Over the years, Dominic had disappointed Audrey so many times. But she never held it against him. And now, here she was, dining with another man.

Meanwhile, Audrey and Alistair had finished their meal. There was still plenty of food left, and Audrey was full.

As Audrey got up to leave, she stopped Alistair. "Could you grab a couple of takeout boxes from the front? There's so much left, and it'd be a shame to waste it."

Alistair looked at her, surprised. 'She has plenty of money, yet she wasn't above taking leftovers?' he thought.

Seeing his hesitation, Audrey explained, "Come on, I might be out of a job soon, and we should be saving where we can, you know? It's practical to make the most of what we have." These dishes could easily make a whole other meal, and they were delicious.

When Alistair heard this, his expression softened.

Alistair thought about saying he could fully support her, but knowing her independent spirit, he simply nodded and agreed.

Besides, if anyone in Willowdale found out that Alistair was taking leftovers, they'd be in for a good laugh.

Seeing his compliance, Audrey gave him a playful thumbs-up. "Good job! Sweetie! You're the best husband!"

For anyone else, this might be laughable. But those who would mock Alistair had no idea how meaningful such a simple gesture could be.

Keeping a straight face, Alistair replied, "Thank you, babe, for the compliment. I'll keep working hard to be the best husband, ready to meet all requests!"

Despite his serious tone, Audrey's cheeks flushed. She gave him a playful shove and said, "Alright, alright, go on already."

As Alistair walked away, Audrey's smile grew. She watched his tall figure for a moment before turning to pick up her purse from the chair.

But as she turned, Audrey found herself face-to-face with Dominic, who was staring right at her.