Chapter 3 Uncle Carsten

Left with no other option, Norene stood next to Dillon, her legs pressed together, managing a strained smile towards the unfamiliar faces scrutinizing her at the table.

"Look who's here, Dillon and Norene. Come, take a seat. We've been waiting for you." The greeting came from a dashing young man, roughly Dillon's age.

This was Alex Franics, Dillon's old college buddy. He had initially planned to work alongside Dillon here, but when Dillon backed out, Alex proceeded alone. Rumor had it that he was doing quite well career-wise.

Alex invited Norene and Dillon to join them. As Norene scanned the group, her gaze briefly locked with a pair of cold, dark eyes.

However, the man only arched an eyebrow before he looked away.

Dillon offered an apology to the group. "Sorry we're late. The traffic was insane."

Everyone responded with laughter and said it wasn't a big deal.

Alex pulled out a chair for Norene, giving her legs a quick look, and asked casually, "Feeling cold, Norene? Do you need a blanket?"

Norene shook her head and politely declined, "No. Thank you."

She felt an odd gaze and turned to look at Carsten, who was holding a teacup. He had just shifted his gaze from her legs and was calmly sipping his tea.

Norene, still in her overcoat, was aware that others might be oblivious to her situation. However, Carsten was all too aware she was still in the same outfit as when she had visited him the previous night.

This realization made Norene feel deeply self-conscious.

As she took her seat, Norene noticed that Carsten was seated to her right. She could distinctly detect the masculine aroma, a blend of his presence and the scent of the cigarettes he often indulged in. This familiar fragrance threatened to trigger memories that were best left buried, especially at such an inappropriate moment.

Alex served Dillon some wine, teasing him with a smile, "You had an early flight, but you got here so late. Did you sneak off for some alone time with Norene?"

"What are you talking about?" Dillon tried to keep calm. "It took a while to collect my luggage, and then I got stuck in traffic. It's been ages since we've seen each other. I can spend time with my girlfriend whenever. Of course I wanted to catch up with you first."

"Really?" Alex looked doubtful and continued teasing, "You both look like you've been up to something. Especially Norene, she's not even walking properly."

Upon hearing this, Dillon shifted his gaze toward Norene's legs. She instinctively clutched the hem of her overcoat, offering a polite smile, and responded, "Yes, it's a bit chilly."

As Norene felt awkward, another voice chimed in, "Dillon and Carsten are an amusing pair. One looks overindulged, and the other, quite unsatisfied."

Clearly, the initial part of the comment echoed Alex's earlier teasing about Dillon, while the latter part playfully aimed at Carsten.

Following that remark, all eyes turned to Carsten, who was intently preparing his tea.

Dillon chuckled and looked at Carsten, saying, "My uncle has always been a bit of a loner. I've never seen him with a lady ever since I was young. If anyone knows a suitable young woman, please introduce her to him. His family is keen for him to settle down soon."

"Come on, Carsten, your nephew doesn't seem to know you very well. He doesn't seem to know about your numerous romantic escapades," one of the men chimed in.

Carsten, sipping his tea, quipped, "So many dishes here, yet you choose to tease me instead of tasting them, huh?"

Norene bit her lip, trying to hold back her laughter.

The uneasy feeling inside her was alleviated a little.

"Carsten can't be unsatisfied," another man added. "I heard a woman in Carsten's room last night, and I thought I was dreaming. The noise didn't stop until well past midnight, starting around nine. I never imagined the night could seem so endlessly long."

Norene, hearing this, quietly lowered her head. She had been in Carsten's room since nine o'clock the previous night.