Chapter 364 Don't Avoid Me
Everyone took their seats. Wendy sat between Lillian and Angela. When she looked up, she saw Caspian sitting directly across from her. Caspian also looked over, and they stared at each other. Wendy quickly averted her gaze and pretended to talk to Lillian.
Caspian looked away, feeling a bit disappointed. He cherished his friendship with Wendy, and now, because of her confession, they couldn't even be friends. He didn't want it to be this way.
He couldn't help but glance at Evelyn and Amos, whispering intimately. He felt less jealous than before as if he knew they would break up eventually, so there was no need to be envious.
The banquet began, and the atmosphere was lively with food and drinks.
Wendy stole a few glances at Caspian as he drank heavily. She was a bit worried about him but felt she had no right to express her concern.
Angela suddenly called out to Caspian, who looked over with a flushed face and glassy eyes from drinking.
"Dr. Turner, what's up?" Caspian teased with a playful smile, his usual carefree demeanor temporarily masking his worries.
Angela said, "Mr. Wade, I'm not trying to spoil your fun, but you don't look well. You should drink less."
"Why are you diagnosing me at the table, Dr. Turner? You're too kind." Caspian raised his glass and toasted her, saying, "This one's for you. I'll come by your clinic tomorrow for a check-up."
"Don't come; you're not welcome. I run a gynecology clinic," Angela replied, raising her glass. "After this drink, switch to beer. If you don't follow my advice, you'll suffer."
Alexander chimed in, "Caspian, you should listen to Dr. Turner. Switching to beer is already considerate."
Caspian smiled, "I'll be good, I'll switch."
Watching from the side, Tom asked Angela, "Angela, why do you care so much about Caspian? Do you like him?"
Theodore looked up at Angela.
Evelyn looked surprised, glancing between Caspian and Angela, then finally at Wendy with a puzzled expression.
Angela looked at Tom and said, "If you don't have anything to say, maybe just stay quiet!"
"Then tell me, out of everyone at this table, why do you only care about Caspian? Are you still saying you don't like him?" Tom insisted, his drunkenness making him persistent.
"Who I like is none of your business! Stop interrogating me!" Angela retorted.
Tom downed his drink and slurred, "I used to pursue you, and you rejected me. Fine, I gave up. But now I want to know who you like. What's wrong with that? I just want to see if the person you like is better than me!"
Evelyn said, "Tom, calm down. Caspian hasn't even started acting drunk yet, and you're already losing it!"
"Evelyn, since Caspian broke off the engagement with you, he hasn't acted drunk. Think about why!" Tom mocked Evelyn.
Caspian poured himself a beer and watched the scene unfold without saying a word.
Evelyn sneered, "Tom, what do you mean? Are you being sarcastic?"
"I'm not," Tom said, turning to Angela. "Just tell me, do you like Caspian?"
"I don't want to deal with you. Go drink your beer!" Angela said angrily, getting up and leaving the table.
Lillian and Alexander, watching the drama, couldn't stop laughing.
"Tom, stop making wild guesses. Angela is focused on her career; she's not interested in dating," Lillian said.
Tom hiccuped and pushed Caspian, asking, "Do you like Angela?"
Caspian smiled knowingly, "I wouldn't dare like Angela. Someone else has feelings for her."
He looked at Theodore and teased, "Isn't that right, Mr. Wellington?"
Theodore, caught off guard, replied seriously, "How would I know? You're asking the wrong person."
Wendy, not wanting to see more drama, got up and left the room.
In a side hall by a floor-to-ceiling window, Angela stood with her arms crossed, smoking silently and looking at the lights outside.
"Angela, thank you," Wendy said softly, leaning her head on Angela's shoulder.
Angela exhaled a puff of smoke and said, "I just didn't want you to worry about Caspian.."
"Well, I like him," Wendy said, swaying playfully.
"Is he really that great?" Angela said dismissively. "I don't think he's good enough for you."
"Don't say that," Wendy said, coughing from the smoke but still leaning on Angela's shoulder. "He doesn't even like me. I've decided to just watch him silently. Not talking will avoid more awkwardness."
Angela stubbed out her cigarette and looked at the night view without saying.
After a moment, Wendy stood up straight and, seeing the sadness in Angela's eyes, asked cautiously, "Angela, are you thinking about him again?"
"I think about him every day," Angela said, turning to walk away.
Wendy stood alone for a while, then went to the restroom. When she came out, she was surprised to see Caspian standing at the door, smoking.
She paused, then walked to the sink to wash her hands, trying to stay calm.
As she walked forward, a pair of black shoes blocked her path. She tried to move left, but the shoes followed. When she moved right, they did too.
Frustrated, she looked up and asked, "What do you want?"
Caspian threw his cigarette butt into the trash and said, "I don't want you to avoid me. I don't want to lose you as a friend."
Wendy smiled self-deprecatingly, "I'm dispensable."
Caspian said sincerely, "Wendy, I know you won't believe me. We've been through so much together. We've faced hardships. Aren't we friends? I like your simplicity, kindness, and sincerity. In my heart, I see you as a sister, a friend. I don't want us to drift apart. Do we have to become strangers just because we can't be lovers?"
"Caspian, I can't be as carefree as you. For now, it's better if we stay strangers."
"I understand. Maybe that incident hit you hard. When will you be able to adjust? Give me a timeframe, and I won't bother you during that period," Caspian asked eagerly. "Also, I miss Molly."
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