My mute bride

Steven and Jolly approached them once they left the car.

Rachel immediately introduced Steven to Justin, “This is Steven. He’s Jolly’s cousin.”

Justin looked at him and greeted him politely.

Steven didn’t greet him back, though. Instead, he crossed his arms and shot Justin an appraising look. Then, he started interrogating Justin, “You’re Rachel’s boyfriend?”

Justin nodded. “Yes.”

Steven kept staring at him, and then he suddenly extended his hand. “Hi, I’m Steven.”

Wow, pretending to be an adult is so juvenile. Justin smiled at him and looked at Rachel, then he played along and shook Steven’s hand. “Hello.”

Steven said. “I just landed in Riverdale. We’re going to be seeing each other often. Call me if you need anything. Don’t be shy.”

“Is that so?”

“Rachel’s problems are my problems.”

Justin cocked his eyebrow. “Hm?”

Jolly caught up to him and smacked the back of his head. “Stop embarrassing yourself. Get inside. Now!”

“Ow!” Steven gasped. “That hurt!”

Jolly pushed Steven’s head down and apologized, “I’m so sorry that my stupid cousin ruined your date with Chris, Justin.”

“It’s alright.”

“Are you here to pick her up?”

“Yeah.”

“I guess I can’t ask you to stay for dinner, then.” She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at Rachel. “It’s still early. You can still go on your date if you want.”

“It’s late. This is no time for dates. It’s time to go home,” Steven interrupted. “Come with us, Rachel. Let’s have dinner together.”

“Shut up, you!” Jolly would stuff his mouth up with something if she could. “We’ll be leaving now.” She immediately dragged Steven inside despite his protests.

They had already gone quite far, but Steven was still shouting, “You should go home now, Rachel. I bet he’s a perv. No decent man would ask a girl out for a date at this hour. Be careful. Don’t drink anything he gives you. Call me if you need anything. I’ll pick you up anytime!”

He kept shouting until the door slammed shut, and the air was finally silent.

His antics amused Rachel.

Justin said, “It looks like I came in time.”

“How so?”

“Someone might steal my girl away if I didn’t.”

Rachel laughed. “Stop it. He’s just fooling around. We just met for the first time today.”

Justin cocked his eyebrow. “Love at first sight?”

“Are you jealous?” Rachel regarded him closely.

Justin admitted to it, “A bit. But I don’t think I have to be, now that I’ve seen the kind of guy he really is.”

Rachel laughed. Anyone could see how childish Steven was. It would be shocking if Justin actually were jealous of him. “It’s a bit odd, though. He went to the race course because he was invited. Not even Jolly knew. It was a shock.”

“He was invited?” Justin frowned. “Get in the car. We’ll talk later.”

“Yeah.”

Their car left the residence, leaving nothing but their tail light, and the darkness eventually swallowed up even that. Steven was leaning against the window in the living room, staring outside as if he could still see Rachel.

“You can stop staring now.” Jolly kicked him. “They’re long gone. If you have the time, why don’t you help Mrs. Lancaster serve the food and get ready for dinner?”

Steven turned around and plopped down on the sofa. “That’s just a geezer. He’s not so tough.”

“He’s not so tough?” Oh crap. This guy actually told Justin to call him if he needed anything. Justin, of all people. She rolled her eyes. I guess I have to crush his confidence now. “Do you know who he is?”

“I don’t care who he is.”

“You didn’t even ask for his name.” She heaved a sigh. “Well, since you’re here, I guess I need to teach you a life lesson. You know the Burton Group, don’t you?”

“Yeah. Everyone knows that. Especially their boss, Justin Burton. My roomie idolizes him. He told me about his legend in the business world. He’s a pretty awesome man.”

Jolly nodded. “Didn’t expect you to call someone awesome.”

“Hey, it’s an objective opinion. He’s awesome.”

“So what do you think about him now that you saw him in person?”

Steven froze. “What? Who did I see today?”

Jolly cocked her eyebrow. “Your roomie’s idol. He just left our place.”

Steven’s eyes widened in shock. “He’s Justin?”

“You don’t believe me?” Jolly chomped down on her peach. “Google him, then.”

“There’s no way he’s Justin! The entertainment news says he’s super ugly!”

“And you believe them? You wouldn’t have said something so stupid if you had just read some finance magazines. He did plenty of interviews. Do you have any idea how many women would kill to date him?” She rolled her eyes. “Stop looking so mad. Compared to him, you had a happy childhood.”

Steven was still annoyed that his crush had a boyfriend, but the fact that he was Justin shocked him. There was a finance magazine on the table, and one of the columns detailed an interview with Burton Group’s boss. There were no pictures, but words alone depicted how wise and calm Justin was.

Jolly looked at the magazine. The reporter invariably started asking some private questions. Relationship questions, to be honest.

“Mr. Burton, everyone is interested in your relationship status right now. I heard you had a fiancée of five years, but the marriage is canceled. Is that true?”

“We both agreed on the cancellation.”

“Are you single now, then?”

“No.” His curt answer was printed on the next line.

Jolly could imagine how aloof he must have looked during the interview. Suddenly, she realized that this magazine wasn’t a new one. It was an old one dating back to the last half of the year. He hadn’t made up with Rachel yet back then, and he was already telling everyone he wasn’t single. Not many men could refuse the ladies’ advances, especially not when he’s a successful one. Justin can have any woman he wants, but he only wants one. “You don’t have a chance, Steven.” She looked up at him. “Not a chance in hell,” she said seriously.