Chapter 16 Melanie lowered her eyelashes. "I will." Viola pulled Eugene back to play the game. Eugene followed her and did not glance at Melanie. After leaving the bar, Melanie turned around and thanked Stephen. "Thank you for just now. Stephen said warmly, "You're welcome. I'll take you home." "No need…" Before Melanie could finish her sentence, Stephen interrupted her and pointed to the sky. "It's going to rain heavily tonight. It's not safe for you to go home alone." Stephen was insistent, so Melanie could not refuse and followed Stephen. Stephen had a sense of propriety. After sending Melanie home, he left without asking any questions. Melanie was still wearing his coat, which Stephen lent to her when she accidentally made her shirt dirty while towing her car earlier. She thought about returning it after washing it. The light drizzle turned into a heavy rain at midnight. Melanie did not like thunder, so she closed all the doors and windows beforehand. At 2:00 a.m., Melanie heard the sound of her digital door lock She was not asleep yet. Her heart sank , and she walked into the living room. Eugene had taken off his coat and was sitting on the sofa, pouring himself a glass of water. He had a chilly air about him because he was just outside. Melanie paused. "Why are you here ? " Eugene did not answer. He put down the cup and stood up. He started to unbutton his shirt to reveal his muscular body. Then he casually pulled out his belt and unbuttoned his pants. He said softly, "Bring me some clothes. I want to take a shower." Eugene left some of his clothes at Melanie's house in the past. Melanie did not throw them away but kept them nicely. By the time she took out his clothes, Eugene had already gone into the bathroom. The sound of the shower seemed to drown out the heavy rain outside. Before she could knock, the bathroom door opened from the inside. Eugene stood in front of her without bothering to cover up. Melanie subconsciously averted her gaze. He sneered." Why are you shy when you've already seen everything?" Melanie came to her senses immediately. There were only a handful of times when Eugene got drunk. The only time Melanie remembered Eugene getting drunk was the year she started dating Eugene. It was back when Eugene just started his career. At the time, Melanie went to pick him up. Eugene put his arm around her waist and said a lot of incomprehensible words. Seeing how distracted Melanie was, Eugene was upset and stretched out his hand to pinch Melanie's chin. He looked at her condescendingly, scrutinized her face, and frowned deeply. How ugly." Melanie slapped his hand away and bent down to pick up his clothes. She asked, "Then who's pretty?" Eugene stopped talking. He pushed Melanie away, walked out of the bathroom, and lay down on the sofa in the living room. Melanie wanted to wake him up and tell him to go back to his house, but she gave up when she saw his frown. Early the next morning, when Melanie got up, she saw Eugene sitting in the living room with a grim face . When he saw Melanie, he rubbed his temples and said, "Don't tell Viola." 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.