Barbara Sutton left alone with a hint of jealousy. Just as she stepped out of the lobby, heading toward the bus stop, she saw a familiar car parked not far away. At that moment, Monica Usher, sitting in the driver’s seat, saw her coming out and walking in her direction. Monica calmly put out her cigarette and honked the horn. Barbara jolted in surprise. The car window rolled down, and her gaze met with Monica’s. Barbara felt inexplicably nervous. She looked around, unsure of how she felt, and hesitated before getting into the car. Monica quickly drove away, "Where do you want to have dinner? It’s on me today." Her tone was casual. "Monica, what do you want to talk about?" "Huh? Can’t I just look for you without a reason?" Monica glanced at her with a smile and said, "It’s rare that I get off early, and I don’t have many friends around, so I thought of you." Barbara felt a bit embarrassed. Monica seemed to be in a good mood, "I know a place up ahead that serves amazing steak. Want to give it a try?" Was there really nothing else? Barbara found it hard to believe. The car soon arrived, and Monica led her into a high-end Western restaurant. Noticing her nervousness, Monica said, "Don’t worry, I have coupons. We can practically eat for free! I got them from work." Walking beside her, Barbara hesitated before speaking, "Monica, let me pay you back 200,000 first, and I’ll pay the remaining 50,000 in installments." "Why?" Monica’s expression suddenly turned serious, and she looked at her, "Why don’t you pay Mia back first? Didn’t I tell you to pay her back first?" Barbara felt a bit awkward and didn’t know how to explain. Monica continued, "She doesn’t need it, and I do? I already told you, my money’s not urgent, I’m not in a hurry for it." "But I feel uncomfortable owing you." Barbara said, "I owe you a lot already, and you even helped find the best doctor for my mom." "And what about what you owe her? Does that make you feel better? We’re friends; helping each other is what friends do, right?" Monica said to her, "Remember when I was at my lowest? You were the one taking care of me, remember? You cleared out my liquor cabinet, bought me breakfast, and even washed my dirty clothes, all because we’re friends." Hearing this, Barbara felt a little less burdened; maybe she was just overthinking. "Alright, alright." Monica proactively hugged her shoulder, "Don’t think too much about it. I’m not in a rush. Pay her back first." Seating her by the window, Monica asked again, "What do you want to eat today?" letting her order. "Anything’s fine." Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on novel★fire.net "It can’t just be anything; we haven’t had a proper gathering in a long time." Barbara sensed that Monica was in a good mood today. After ordering together, Monica inquired about her mother’s recovery and her current feelings, without asking anything related to The Kingston Group. "Barbara, there’s no bad mood that can’t be solved with a good meal," Monica poured her some juice and said with a smile, "If one meal doesn’t work, then two. Once it passes, you’ll realize that sometimes it’s just an obsession." Barbara pressed her lips together, thinking suddenly of the moments between Special Assistant Morgan and Hailey Hale, feeling inexplicably tense. "Do you guys feel awkward when you meet now?" Monica looked up, "You see each other every day, right?" "It’s okay." She picked up the glass and took a sip of juice, "We still greet each other; it’s the same as before. I feel a bit awkward, but he seems fine." "You’ll get used to it," Monica said, "Sometimes you have to learn to let go, even though loving someone makes you want to have them." Barbara asked her, "Have you let go?" Their eyes met, and Monica’s mind flashed with the image of Justin Kingston, making her mood suddenly heavy, "Someone who’s entered your heart, how can you just forget?" Her voice was filled with helplessness, as she raised the juice and drank it down, then smiled to encourage her, "But Barbara, we both have to be good, especially you, because you’re still young."