On the way to the restaurant, Sabrina noticed Cedric's face suddenly turn gloomy after he took a call-like a storm was brewing. Her heart skipped a beat.
Yep, he hasn't changed. Still has that scary temper when he's pissed.
So, the second Cedric hung up, Sabrina quickly said in a thoughtful tone, "If you've got stuff to do, just go. I can eat by myself, no problem."
"It's fine." Cedric's voice was still icy cold, not softening one bit.
Sabrina gave him a sheepish grin. She clearly didn't want to burden him, but twisted her words to sound like she was annoyed: "Really. With your gloomy face hovering around, I'm pretty sure anything I eat's gonna taste like cardboard."
Cedric was caught off guard for a second, then adjusted his tone. When he spoke again, it was gentler. He didn't argue, just said, "I'll drop you off at the restaurant. Just be careful on your own."
"Deal!" Sabrina agreed without missing a beat.
Still, she felt a little bummed. Once they said goodbye, who knew when they'd meet again?
But then she remembered that cooperation email from Gracewell. That gave her a flicker of hope again.
After hopping out of the car, Sabrina flashed him a bright smile and waved as he drove off. Only when his car disappeared from view did she head inside.
Honestly, it made sense Cedric didn't join her. Even though he'd seen her at her worst, it had been years, and she kinda wanted to show him the more refined version of herself. She'd already failed that once at the hospital, and was hoping this dinner would be her redemption arc. Too bad he had stuff to handle.
No biggie. Eating well came first.
So she opened the menu and, with zero guilt, ordered everything high-cal, rich, and delicious-looking.
BBQ ribs, buffalo wings, a whole fried chicken-she didn't hold back. And she definitely didn't eat like a lady, either.
She had a fried drumstick in one hand and a messy rack of BBQ ribs in the other.
She didn't even look up as she scrolled through her phone, typing replies with her pinky rather than give up either piece of meat.
Most of the messages were work-related. Skincare brands kept asking about her availability for collaboration on the next research phase with Twinkle.
Sabrina ignored them all.
Then her apprentice dropped a message, saying Gracewell was desperate to set up a meeting-they'd sent more emails. She asked what Sabrina wanted to do.
Just as she held down the voice button to reply-
"Ahem."
A cough came from across the table.
Sabrina was sitting at a big round table. The waiter had originally arranged a table for two, but probably upgraded her spot because she'd ordered so much, and the plates were massive.
She looked up, confused about who had just cleared their throat-
And froze.
Her whole body stiffened.
The drumstick and ribs slipped from her hands and landed with a thud on the red tablecloth.
"Your friend's got quite the appetite, huh?" The young cop, holding a notepad under one arm, tried to put it nicely.
Cedric let out a small laugh, eyes flicking over her shocked face like he was enjoying the show. "Yeah... she really does."
Sabrina felt like she got struck by lightning.
So that's how she ended up with both Cedric and the officer sitting at her table.
"Don't be shy. Eat up." Sabrina forced a smile, stood, and pushed the dishes around to make them look more inviting, trying hard to act like everything was totally fine.
The young officer gave the dishes on the table a quick side glance-dang, every single one loaded with calories. He scratched his head awkwardly, "Uh, no thanks, you go ahead."
Sabrina gave a sheepish grin. "I don't usually eat like this, seriously. It's just... I was kidnapped, stuck for a whole day, scared and starving..."
She said it like she was talking to the officer, but let's be real-she had someone specific in mind she hoped heard that explanation.
The cop chuckled, clearly trying to be polite. "Yeah, yeah, I get it."
Except no, he totally didn't.
Honestly, he debated pointing out that most people who go through a kidnapping can't even touch food right after, let alone tear through half the menu. But he bit his tongue.
"You go ahead and eat, no need to be awkward around me. I'm just here to take down your statement. Kidnapping's a big deal. Just tell me everything you can remember," he said, clicking open his pen.
Sabrina took a second to shift gears, then began recounting what happened.
Of course, she left out that the kidnappers were from the Pama Conglomerate and also didn't mention she was a skincare expert.
Though the kidnapping sounded intense, her account was short. She didn't know the area and could only say she'd been taken to some really out-of-the-way shack. That's about all she could manage.
Ten minutes later, the statement was done. The young cop left, with Cedric walking him out.
When Cedric came back and sat beside her, Sabrina frowned. "Why'd you come back?"
Had she known he'd return, she wouldn't have ordered so much-maybe just some veggies and plain oatmeal to keep up a "frail victim" vibe.
"I suddenly remembered you didn't have your wallet," Cedric fibbed casually, sipping tea from the cup on the table.
Sabrina instinctively looked down at herself-yep, still wearing the same trashed outfit. Her little purse and phone were long gone on some countryside ditch. "Oh, shoot! You're right!"
She'd completely forgotten. How ridiculous was she, walking into a restaurant dead broke like all was fine? Then she looked over at Cedric, eyes lighting up like stars. With him around, she didn't need to sweat the small stuff.
What a great guy... too bad someone else had his heart.
Frustrated, she bit into a massive buffalo wing. Whatever. A man that wasn't hers-what's the point pretending to be the perfect damsel?
Cedric wasn't quite sure if she believed his wallet excuse.
The moment she got out of the car earlier, he had driven through two intersections, seconds ticking slow and heavy. His gut kept twisting-she'd just been kidnapped, she must've been beyond shaken. Yet when he got that call, she quietly stepped aside and told him to go do his thing.
He never told anyone this, but the thing that always got him wasn't her anger, or her drama-it was her being too understanding, too ready to back down.
Just like years ago-thinking he had someone else, she simply walked away without a word.
Before his brain could even finish processing whether to go back, his hands already had the wheel turned around.
And since he was heading back anyway, he swung by the station and asked an old friend to tag along, get her statement recorded properly.
The meal wasn't cheap, but she devoured it all-and only left scraps. They looked hefty, but hardly had any meat.
Sabrina rubbed her full belly, and while Cedric was signing the check, she piped up, "About the bill-should we swap numbers? Once I get a new card, I'll pay you back. This place looks affordable but actually it's pricey, see? Just look at this-tons of bones, barely any meat. Totally not worth it~"Cedric clicked the pen cap on and listened quietly to what she said.
A waiter nearby couldn't hold it in and quickly jumped in, "Madam, our BBQ ribs are always full and juicy-usually even a group of guys can't finish a plate. You're really the first one to complain about the portion."
Sabrina had no words.
Outside the restaurant, Cedric kept walking. Sabrina picked up her pace, then tried again-light, almost casual.
"Mind if I get your number? Just to pay you back, I mean."
"No need," Cedric said without looking back, walking a few steps ahead of her. His voice came from in front.
Sabrina stopped in her tracks, caught off guard by his rejection.
"If you get kidnapped, anyone would step in," Cedric added, still not turning around-almost like he was explaining it to himself more than to her.
Sabrina had a feeling she knew what was coming, and when she spoke again, her voice was trembling, tears threatening to spill, "Why do you always act like this!"
Seriously, was she not allowed to feel anything?
Cedric didn't respond.
But in that split second, he realized he'd messed up.
As they were walking out, he'd spotted an elderly man sitting near the entrance. The man's profile looked a lot like his grandmother's.
His mood flipped, just like that.
Cedric had been raised by his grandma. His parents were barely around when he was growing up-it was his grandma who shaped the way he saw the world, who instilled his values. That calm wisdom of hers-he admired it more than anything.
That bond? Runs bone-deep.
When he didn't say anything, Sabrina's eyes welled up even more. Wiping her cheeks with her sleeve, she choked out, "If you don't like me, then just let me go. Don't save me, don't take me to the hospital, don't come back halfway to have dinner with me, and then say something like anyone would've done the same!"
She felt ridiculous.
Like someone being toyed with-the kind of guy who makes it look like he cares on purpose, only to turn around and say it was all just friendly concern.
Cedric didn't know how to respond. He stood there frozen for a couple seconds. When he glanced up, he saw Monica striding toward them in heels.
Someone had arrived to be with her. That was enough reason for him to leave.
Sabrina saw him turn and walk off without saying a word. Furious, she shouted his name, "Cedric!"
But he didn't even glance back-just got in his car and drove away.
She instinctively wanted to run after him, but a hand suddenly pulled her back. She turned, breath hitching, and saw it was Monica, nearly out of breath.
Seeing someone like a big sister right in front of her, Sabrina couldn't hold it in anymore. The tears came instantly. "Monica..."
"Don't go running after him like that-come on, some dignity," Monica scolded, then wrapped an arm around her. "You scared me to death. Why didn't you call me when you got back?"
It was Cedric who had contacted her, saying Sabrina was at this restaurant. She rushed right over-still couldn't figure out what Cedric had said or done to upset her again.
"Wuuuugh..." Sabrina sobbed.
Partly because of how cold Cedric had been, but also because the reality of the kidnapping was finally hitting her. Her emotions always took their time-it was only after the fact that things started to scare her.
Monica gently stroked the back of her head, letting Sabrina cry on her shoulder.
After crying a bit, Sabrina calmed down. Between sniffles, she told Monica everything-how she was saved, got checked out, how Cedric had left but came back to eat with her.
Because deep down, she wanted Monica to say it meant something-anything. That Cedric cared about her. Not just because it was the "decent thing to do."
