Chapter 24 Dinner and Settling Scores

Hannah ignored Susan, her car parked at Heroic. Susan loved the food at this place. Regardless of who she was dining with, Susan always insisted on coming here.

Unhappy, Susan followed Hannah into the private room. Inside, a man was already waiting. He stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, resembling a prince. He turned around, facing them, and gave a slight smile. Hannah suddenly felt that this man was the epitome of a prince charming. He didn't have Oscar's astonishing face or Charles' pretentious elegance and nobility. His aura was more like that of an elf prince.

"Have you been waiting long?" Hannah asked.

"I just got here." Manuel replied.

"Take a seat." Hannah gestured.

Manuel found a seat while Susan deliberately sat as far away as possible. Hannah was speechless, but clearly Manuel didn't mind. They settled in, and a waiter respectfully approached them with menus. All three of them started browsing through the options.

H"Manuel, it's been a long time since you've been back. Is there any particular dish from Kensbury that you've been craving?" asked Hannah.

Manuel had yet to speak. Susan chimed in, "I doubt they have spicy food abroad. Since you're back in Kensbury, you must try something spicy."

Manuel pursed his lips but remained silent. Although they had grown up together, they were well aware of each other's culinary preferences. Even though Manuel had moved to Kensbury at the age of 8, he originally came from the Capital, where the food tended to be sweeter and never spicy. Despite living in Kensbury for so many years, he still couldn't get used to its spiciness. And now, after being away for so many years, it was clear he couldn't handle it.

Susan proceeded to rattle off a list of particularly spicy dishes to the waiter.

"Would you like to order a salad? We..."

"Make all the dishes spicy for me!"

"Oh, alright. But Miss Phillips, the dishes you've ordered today are quite spicy. I suggest adding a refreshing vegetable soup..."

"No need for soup. Just bring us beer." Susan interrupted the waiter's well-intentioned suggestion.

The waiter hesitated for a moment and replied, "Alright."

"Hurry up and bring the food. I'm starving," Susan urged, not giving anyone else a chance to order. Hannah watched as Manuel closed the menu, seemingly uninterested in ordering anything else. Hannah returned her menu to the waiter as well.

At the table, Susan took out her phone and started playing, completely oblivious to Hannah and Manuel's conversation, acting like an outsider. Fortunately, the food arrived quickly. Susan excitedly started eating. Hannah took a few bites as well. It was indeed spicy, but she could handle it since she enjoyed spicy food. However, Manuel hadn't even touched the food yet.

Hannah thought of asking the waiter to order something else. Suddenly, Susan poured beer into her glass. "Isn't this a celebration? No drinks? How unenthusiastic!"

Hannah glanced at Susan, who knew very well that Manuel couldn't handle alcohol.

Manuel picked up his glass. "Thank you."

They started drinking. At first, Susan didn't even acknowledge Manuel, but now she was getting into the drinking spirit. She seemed determined to drink him under the table.

"Let's eat something," Hannah couldn't bear it any longer. If they kept drinking like this, Manuel would end up sprawled on the table.

Manuel nodded, probably feeling uncomfortable in his stomach. He then took a small bite of meat. As soon as it went in his mouth, he started coughing. Manuel was instantly red-faced from choking.

Hannah quickly handed him water. Manuel took a few sips, but he couldn't stop coughing.

"You still can't handle spice!" Susan taunted.

"I just choked accidentally." Manuel said. Then he picked up another piece of meat and ate it without changing his expression this time.

Susan didn't say anything more and happily continued eating on her own.

In that moment, the door was suddenly knocked. Everyone turned their heads to see Martina Sawyer appearing at the doorway and walking in.

Susan didn’t like this woman. While she spoke highly of Charles, Martina was someone Susan detested from head to toe. Back in school, they weren't even in the same class, and Martina was a grade below. It was a mystery how they became enemies, and they had even come close to a physical altercation.

"Manuel, why didn't you contact me when you’re back in Northfield? If my friend hadn't seen you here, I wouldn't have known you were back." Martina complained.

"I’ve been back here not long ago, and I've been busy." Said Manuel.

"Busy with what? Trying to get into Phillips Bank?" Martina blurted out.

Susan's blood was boiling.

"No, I started a small company with a friend. I plan to start my own business." Manuel replied.

"Really? So you're different from certain people. Some people just leech off their family, doesn't know how to do anything, and is always out clubbing..."

"Are you talking about yourself?" Susan interjected bluntly.

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Martina got angry. "When did I go to a club!"

"Well, luckily, I have evidence." Susan pulled out her phone.

The image of Martina drunk at a bar appeared on the screen.

"And who's this man you're clinging onto? He's quite handsome." Susan commented while looking at the phone. She deliberately showed it to Manuel, saying, "Take a look, is he handsome ... Ah!"

Suddenly, Martina snatched Susan’s phone right out of her hand. Furious, Susan confronted Martina, "Give me back my phone!"

Martina snorted then she opened a small window on the floor-to-ceiling window before throwing the phone out, into the moat outside.

"Martina! You bitch!" Susan exploded with anger. She lunged forward and grabbed Martina by the hair.

Martina winced in pain and retaliated by grabbing Susan's hair. The two of them finally engaged in a fight they couldn't have back in their student days. And it was a brutal one. Susan probably couldn't tolerate being grabbed by Martina for too long. She yelled, "Hannah, help me!"

In her past life, Hannah had intervened several times when Susan wanted to teach Martina, Charles’s sister, a lesson. But this time, she had scores to settle, grievances to air!