Chapter 48 Her voice wasn't loud, but Eugene and Viola were not far away from them and heard it. Eugene immediately stopped walking. This went unnoticed by Melanie, who got into Stephen's car. In her hand was the figurine Stephen gave her. " I thought you wouldn't be interested as many think it's boring," said Stephen with a chuckle. He had a gentle and charming appearance, and his voice always sounded polite. It soon snapped Melanie out of her thoughts. She looked at the figurine in her hands. "Well, I might not know much about clay art." "I can tell you everything I know," said Stephen. The exhibition was in a museum in the north of the city. When they arrived, it was nearing the end of the opening hours, so only a few people were inside. Melanie knew little about clay art. She followed Stephen as she listened to his introduction to the stories behind the clay art pieces. When they stopped before an elegant vase, Stephen looked at it with a nostalgic look. "This is my grandfather's favorite masterpiece!" Melanie was stunned. She remembered Stephen had mentioned his grandfather was dead. She didn't know what to say, so she silently admired the vase with Stephen for a while before saying, "It's pretty." Stephen smiled, but it was different from the faint smile before. This time, it looked more sincere. "I can show you more of his masterpieces if you like this." After leaving the exhibition, it was almost dinner time. Stephen had just offered to treat Melanie to a meal, but he happened to receive a call from a friend. His friend said something on the other end of the call, and Stephen looked at Melanie with some embarrassment. "It's my friend's birthday today. They're in the bar nearby. Do you want to go there with me?" Melanie did not know Stephen's friend and wanted to reject it. "I can go back in a taxi." "It's okay. We can pop in for a while and leave. If I go alone, they might make me drink." Stephen shrugged helplessly. Stephen and Eugene had different personalities, so their friends were mostly from different circles. That was why Melanie had not expected to meet Eugene at the bar again. When they arrived, Melanie stopped outside the private room and told Stephen she was going to the restroom. Melanie walked into the private room after Eugene entered. She was not surprised at all. After sitting beside Stephen, she whispered to him, "I can drive you back if you want to have a drink. " He looked calm with a wine glass in hand, which seemed strange in a noisy and loud environment like this. It looked as if he were bored and disliked this place. Eugene happened to look at her when she was looking at him. When their eyes met, Melanie looked away immediately. When she looked at him again, he had already looked away. It was as if his gaze earlier was just an illusion. Eugene seemed to be a close friend of the birthday guy, so he had to toast his friend. He couldn't avoid drinking as it might be disrespectful. Chapter 49 1/2 Chapter 49 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.