Chapter 1021 Sincerity
"You know, Ms. Harrington already got a new boyfriend," Curtis said, giving Diana a quick look.
"Yeah, so don't try to set me up," Diana added, feeling a weird pang of guilt.
New boyfriend? What a joke. She'd already turned him down.
"Would Ms. Harrington give our professor this watch if she had a new boyfriend?" one of the students asked.
"I heard this watch is a couple's watch, pretty meaningful," another chimed in.
"Really? A couple's watch? Meaningful? I haven't heard that," Diana said, feeling even guiltier.
Curtis pulled out a chair. "Take a seat."
Diana sat down, but Curtis sat right next to her, making her feel oddly pressured.
Diana thought she might be too proud, too confident, maybe even arrogant. She always felt like she was Curtis' girlfriend.
"What does Ms. Harrington's new boyfriend look like? Is he more handsome than our professor?" a student asked.
"Looks aren't everything," Diana explained.
"So, he's not as handsome as our professor. Is he as warm, and can he cook as well?" another student asked.
"Well, no, not really," Diana admitted.
She knew Yosef could cook well too, but liking someone wasn't just about their cooking skills.
It was about that feeling, that instant, deadly attraction.
"Or is he richer than our professor?" another student asked.
"Do you, rich people, always care about matching social status?"
Diana thought these students had a deep misunderstanding about wealthy families.
Diana smiled awkwardly but politely. "Let's eat first. The food will get cold."
"Try this soup. See how it compares to your new boyfriend's cooking," Curtis said, serving her a bowl of soup with a warm smile.
Diana looked at the soup, then at him. "Don't smile like that. They'll think you want to rekindle our old relationship."
"I'm just happy today," he explained.
Diana took a sip of the soup.
The taste immediately warmed her heart.
She sighed inwardly. How could she find a new boyfriend when she was already so attached to him? Maybe she should just marry someone for convenience, pay him well, and not expect any love or affection, just a title.
Eloise and Arabella arrived just as the students were leaving.
"Ah, youth is wonderful," Eloise remarked.
The students greeted them politely.
"Hello," Eloise responded cheerfully, waving at them.
The two women walked arm in arm. "They must be his students," Arabella said.
"He seems to handle teacher-student relationships well. He might be able to handle you," Eloise said.
"Mom, what do you mean by that? How am I difficult?" Arabella protested.
"Alright, I'm the difficult one," Eloise conceded.
They saw the light on in Diana's room and rang the doorbell.
"Strange, it seems like no one's home," Arabella muttered, calling Diana.
The phone rang inside, but no one answered.
The two women exchanged glances and then looked across the hall.
Just then, Diana emerged from the apartment across the hall, with Curtis trailing behind her.
Curtis offered to walk her home, but she said, "No need, you..."
Diana turned around and froze. "Grandma, Mom, what are you doing here?"
"We came to check on you since you haven't been home in a while," Eloise said, noticing Arabella's silence.
"I haven't been avoiding home. I've just been staying here," Diana explained.
"Staying where?" Arabella asked.
Diana quickly stepped out of Curtis's apartment.
"Hello, Mrs. Harrington," Curtis said politely.
Diana was about to take them back to her place when she heard his polite inquiry and turned back, puzzled.
He usually avoided her family.
Diana didn't want her mom and grandma to pressure him.
"Let's go inside and talk. We don't want to bother Curtis," Diana said.
"Diana, why don't you introduce us?" Curtis suggested, stopping her.
Diana looked at him for almost a minute, unsure what kind of introduction he meant.
"Hello, Mrs. Harrington. I'm Curtis, Diana's ex-boyfriend," Curtis said, feeling it was time to formally meet them.
Diana felt unsettled and lowered her head.
"Since we're here, if it's convenient, can we visit Curtis's place?" Eloise asked politely.
"Of course, but the students just had dinner here, so it might smell a bit. I hope you don't mind," Curtis said.
"Oh, Diana eats spicy snacks with me all the time. Don't worry, I can handle it," Eloise said, patting Diana's hand.
"Please come in, Mrs. Harrington," Curtis said, knowing Arabella's sharp gaze.
He was well aware of the Harrington family's matriarch's temperament, not just from outside sources but from Diana's words.
"Your place is quite tidy. Do you clean it yourself?" Arabella asked.
"Yeah, I manage it myself. Please have a seat. I'll get some coffee," Curtis said.
"I'll help you," Diana offered, wanting to explain things to him.
"No need. You stay with them," Curtis said with a reassuring smile.
Diana felt his look before he went to the kitchen was meant to comfort her.
But as soon as he was in the kitchen, she couldn't help but ask, "How did you find this place? People might get the wrong idea."
"We came to see him tonight, nothing more," Arabella said, sitting on the couch and placing a cushion behind Eloise's back before looking at Diana.
"Grandma, please tell Mom not to be too harsh," Diana pleaded, fearing Arabella might give Curtis a hard time.
"Oh, my dear, your mom being strict will show his sincerity," Eloise whispered.
"But, Grandma, Mom, please go back. Who brought you here? Felix?" Diana asked, looking out the window.
"Just stay put. We'll leave after a while," Arabella reminded her.
Curtis came out with coffee.
Though it wasn't the most expensive set, it was of good quality, and Arabella appreciated his taste.
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