The woman sat by a seat close to the window upon entering the private room. She admired the view outside before turning to Jack and saying indifferently, "Stop standing there. Have a seat."
After he did as told, a staff member brought them expensive coffee. The woman waved a hand to dismiss the staff before handing Jack the menu. "Order whatever you want."
She paid attention to his reaction as he took the menu. She wanted to see whether the exorbitant prices would make him feel embarrassed and uneasy.
Sure enough, he frowned upon reading the menu. It wasn't because he was embarrassed he couldn't afford the food there, though. He only felt that the prices were much too high.
The woman said, "Go ahead and order. Don't worry about the bill."
Jack ordered a few dishes and put the menu down. He waited for her to get to the point.
She sipped her coffee gracefully, seemingly savoring its aroma. Finally, she put the cup down and looked at Jack gently. "Hi, I'm Bella's mother. I've observed you for some time, and it seems to me that you're dating her. Am I right?"
The realization dawned on him—no wonder he'd found her familiar earlier. She and Bella resembled each other. His attitude became more respectful when he learned who she was. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Cole."
Her name was Clarice Avans. She nodded, and her tone took on a hint of forcefulness. "Not only have I investigated you, but I've also learned everything there is to learn about your family back in Perther City. That includes your parents and sister."
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