Chapter 10 When Melanie arrived at Scott's residence, dinner was about to begin. She handed the gift she prepared to the nanny and saw that Eugene was already seated. Eugene lowered his head and played with his mobile phone. When he heard Melanie's voice, he simply raised his eyelids. Cedric frowned and said in a stern voice, "Why did you come here? Eugene said you wouldn't come . " "I was stuck in traffic. Happy birthday, Uncle." Melanie's expression was flawless. She smiled slightly and sat down in the empty seat next to Eugene, who was messaging Viola. Eugene noticed Melanie's gaze, put his phone on the table, lowered his eyes, and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "I thought you weren't coming." Melanie said, "You asked me to wait for you in the underground parking lot." Eugene paused. "I forgot." He was very calm as he said, "It looked like it was going to rain, so I sent Viola home first. You have a car anyway." "You didn't reply to my message." Melanie lowered her eyelashes to conceal the emotions. swirling in her eyes . Her voice sounded the same as usual, but her hands on the table were clenched tightly. "You didn't answer my calls either. I thought you had something important to do." It turned out that Eugene sent Viola home first. Many relatives came for Cedric's birthday dinner, so Stella was busy greeting people and had no time to trouble Melanie. Melanie also did not want to get involved. When someone asked about Eugene's marriage, Stella reluctantly looked at Melanie and said, Her? It's too early to tell. Nothing might come of it." The relatives were surprised. "Haven't Melanie and Eugene been dating for a few years? Why haven't they decided to get married yet?" Even though these people knew that Stella looked down on Melanie, Melanie had been with Eugene for several years. Even Cedric had acquiesced to their relationship, so they all thought that Melanie would marry Eugene. Stella was getting frustrated answering these questions , so she beckoned to Melanie. She looked at Melanie with a meaningful stare. "What is going on with you and Eugene?" What else could Melanie say? Stella knew about Viola's existence , so Melanie could only tell the truth. "It's still too early to discuss marriage. Eugene and I are focusing on our careers at the moment." Melanie stood still and was about to turn around and leave . Melanie's lips twitched. "I was just passing by." After she finished speaking, she turned to leave, but Eugene grabbed her wrist. Eugene stared at her with dark eyes. Melanie thought for a moment and said, "I didn't hear anything." Only then did Eugene's eyes move downward. His eyes were fixed on the bracelet on her right wrist. He frowned slightly. "Why are you still wearing it?" Melanie raised her wrist and said, "It's a habit." This was the bracelet that Eugene gave her when she was in college . It was not expensive, but Melanie always wore it. Eugene let go of her arm and said, "You should be tired of it since it's been so many years." (Cliopter 11 Title: A Fated Encounter In "A Fated Encounter" by CrushReels, a captivating modern romance unfolds. Emma Brown finds herself entangled in a complex web of family obligations when her father, Henry, pressures her to marry Tommy Anderson in place of her sister Bella to salvage their struggling business. As Emma navigates this unexpected turn of events, she discovers that Tommy is not the man rumors portray him to be. Their relationship evolves beyond mere obligation, revealing layers of depth and emotion amidst the backdrop of societal expectations and personal desires. This novel delves into themes of duty, love, and self-discovery as Emma grapples with conflicting emotions and the realization that fate may have a different plan in store for her. With nuanced character development and a unique twist on the conventional romance narrative, "A Fated Encounter" stands out as a compelling tale of love and sacrifice. Experience this engrossing story online at CrushReels and immerse yourself in a world where destiny intertwines with the complexities of the heart.