Chapter 17 "What is there to tell?" Melanie said in a soft voice while warming up a glass of milk. She had her period, so she did not feel like drinking coffee. She asked Eugene , Do you want a drink?" What answered her was Eugene shutting the door. It rained last night, so the road was wet. Melanie's car was still being repaired, so she had to take a taxi to the office. When she went downstairs, she saw Eugene, who pulled a long face and acted as if he had not seen Melanie. Thus, Melanie thought it was wise not to carpool with him to work. Melanie arrived at the office a few minutes later than usual. As soon as she entered the office, she heard muffled laughter. She looked up and saw several colleagues gathered around Viola. On Viola's desk was a bag that contained several cups of coffee from the cafe downstairs. Viola smiled as soon as she saw Melanie and greeted her innocently. "Melanie, come and have breakfast." Melanie shook her head. "No, thanks. I already had breakfast." "But I bought a cup of coffee for everyone using Eugene's money." Viola no longer addressed Eugene as Mr. Scott. She took out a cup of coffee and handed it over to Melanie. "Here. Your favorite Americano without sugar." Melanie looked at Viola's baby face without much expression. "Thank you, but I don't feel like drinking coffee today." The smile on Viola's face faded. She retracted her hand in embarrassment and said in a weak voice, "Sorry, Melanie." Melanie said nothing. During her lunch break, she passed by the lounge and overheard a colleague saying, "Why is Melanie being so arrogant? Viola is now Mr. Scott's girlfriend." Melanie was only focused on the fact that Viola was Eugene's girlfriend. Eugene liked to fool around before. He had all kinds of women around him, but he never claimed any of them to be his girlfriend. Even Melanie was not his girlfriend. Melanie was absent-minded all afternoon until Eugene suddenly went to her after work. "You need to go on a business trip with Walker next week." The door to the office was open. Eugene's voice was cold. "Why didn't you drink the coffee that Viola bought for you?" Eugene asked in a low voice. He looked at Melanie with his dark eyes. Eugene paused for a moment. He said casually, " She thought she offended you somehow and felt aggrieved." She looked at Eugene and said calmly, "So?" "Next time when she offers you something, just take it." When Melanie opened the door and went out, she met Viola's gaze. Viola looked at Melanie warily and smiled. Melanie was not bothered to put up a friendly act, so she returned to her desk, packed her things, and left. When she looked up, she saw Viola holding Eugene's arm unabashedly. Melanie paused when she heard Viola say, "Melanie, you must remember to come to the gathering this weekend." Only then did Melanie remember that she was forced to attend a dinner party on the weekend. She also had to bring her boyfriend with her. The next second, Viola said playfully, "You can bring Mr. York too." 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.