Chapter 14: Jealousy

Ursula couldn't tell if it was her illusion, but she felt like this man's gaze was constantly fixed on her, making her uncomfortable to the point of restlessness, so much so that she dared not raise her head.

The Alaskan King Crab was not only enormous but also particularly delicious when steamed. They had ordered eight, and after steaming them for about ten minutes, they were ready to be enjoyed with the restaurant's unique sauce.

Ursula, not one to leave everything to others, wanted to open the crab herself, but Timothy chuckled: "Look, Dylan lets Matthew do it. Ursula, can't you let me serve you for once?"

"Exactly!" Dylan said, with his mouth full of crab meat that Matthew had cracked open for him, mustering a justified tone: "Let him do it, this is when you need a boyfriend."

Ursula smiled and let Timothy take over.

Dylan was lively and enjoyed chatting. This attracted Ursula's attention and she couldn't help but glance over to see Dylan leaning against Matthew's arm, chatting about something until eventually, their laughter rang out.
Matthew wore a faint, elusive smile, seemingly in good spirits as he opened a crab, his beautiful hands were familiar to Ursulatoo, and it hurt seeing them.

They had been together for three years, and Ursula almost always took the initiative to cook when at Matthew's place, carefully remembering what he liked to eat. She would even purchase the most difficult to prepare seafood just to please him.

Yet in all this time, he had never once shown the same heartfelt care for her, except when she accidentally cut her finger. He then painstakingly peeled an entire pomelo and fed her the segments.

She had been moved for a long time by this solitary gesture, unaware that the man was not unkind; he simply kept his tenderness for someone special, and it was clear to her that she was not that person.

Ursula felt a sourness in her heart, and it hurt. She bowed her head, sipping lemon water, fearful of betraying her emotions.

Shouldn't she be happy for Dylan? Why this reluctance?

"Ursula, Ursula?" Dylan waved a hand in front of her, and upon noticing Ursula's absent stare, he frowned slightly, "Are you under a lot of work stress lately? You seem so distracted."

"Maybe." Ursula responded with a forced smile, asking, "What's up?"

"Nothing, just wondering if you and Timothy want to hang out this weekend." Dylan snuggled up to Matthew, her expression sweet. "Matthew just finished a big case, so he's free to spend some time with me."

"I..."

"Of course, we're free too," Timothy interjected, smiling as Ursula struggled to utter a single syllable, "It'd be an honor to join you."

"That's great!" Dylan exclaimed enthusiastically. "I was worried you might be busy. Oh, and where do you live now, Ursula? Maybe Matthew and I could pick you up."

Timothy, absentmindedly placing the crab meat into Ursula's bowl, said, "Ursula's living with me now."

"Ah?" Dylan seemed genuinely shocked by the answer, briefly at a loss for words.

Ursula could feel the atmosphere shift, as Timothy spoke, the man across from them visibly darkened in expression. The moment she looked up to meet his penetrating, sharp gaze, as if he were questioning something, guilt made her lower her head even more.

"Wow, that's really great!" Dylan finally regained her composure, glanced at Matthew, and murmured, "Matthew says he's a light sleeper, doesn't even let me stay over at his place."
Timothy chuckled as he took Ursula's hand in his and held it tight within his own, "But my girlfriend's cooking is great, and I worry about her walking home alone every night after work, so living with me is obviously the best solution."