"Keep the story to yourself," Curtis said coldly. "I don't appreciate being manipulated. Either you or her will need to own up to this mess. Think it over."
When Skyler and Grace arrived, it was half an hour later.
As they entered, Grace nervously asked, "Why did Mr. Curtis want to see us?"
Skyler wasn't sure, either. It was Caleb who had contacted him. He and Curtis had been like brothers for years, and it was unusual for Curtis to reach out through an assistant. "We'll find out soon enough," Skyler replied.
When they entered room 266, Curtis and Leanne sat at a round dining table, enjoying a meal.
Leanne had just got off work, and Curtis had ordered dinner for her. The restaurant's crab was legendary, and he sat beside her, meticulously peeling the crab and feeding her the tender meat.
"Rushing us here, I thought you had some emergency, but you're just having dinner," Skyler commented as he led Grace inside.
Curtis barely glanced up. "Take a seat. We'll talk after she finishes eating."
He didn't even invite them to join the meal. Skyler headed to the sofa across the room, pausing when he noticed Xenia.
Grace seemed surprised. "Xenia, what are you doing here?"
Xenia looked a bit flustered and didn't respond.
Curtis ignored everyone else, focused solely on the crab, prying out its flesh to feed Leanne as if that was the most critical thing in the world.
The business was unresolved, and Joy hadn't left yet. She had been too busy warning Leanne about the impending confrontation to eat and watched with envy as Curtis prepared the crab meat for Leanne. Joy thought, "Since he's peeling, can't he peel some for me, too? Why make distinctions at a time like this?"
With her mind preoccupied, Leanne's appetite was small, and she soon put down her fork.
She looked thoughtfully at Grace, recalling their limited interactions over the years, trying to detect any signs of deceit.
"Grace, have I ever wronged you?" she asked.
Grace looked shocked. "Leanne, who's been filling your head with nonsense? I know that Joy and you don't like me, but I've always wanted to be friends."
Joy rolled her eyes.
"We know about your scheme with Xenia," Leanne said calmly. "I can't remember doing anything to make you hate me so much that you'd try to sabotage my relationship with Curtis by making her impersonate me."
Grace tried to speak, but Leanne continued, "I also don't understand why someone as smart as you would do something so self-destructive."
Curtis cleaned his hands with a towel, barely lifting his eyelids, his tone a mix of annoyance and disdain:
"What made you so confident I'd fall for such a trick? Am I blind, or am I too comfortable and looking for obstacles to challenge myself?"
Skyler glanced at Grace, still choosing to defend her.
"Curtis, about the housewarming party where Xenia showed up, Grace has explained to me that Xenia asked her for help. You've always had reservations about her, but she meant no harm. Besides, how could she influence you to meddle in your affairs and plant someone at your dinner? It must be a coincidence."
Hinting at something deeper, Joy asked Grace, "Hey, just curious. The guy who owns that puppet theater company is said to be quite influential. What's your relationship with him that he'd do you a favor?" Skyler's expression darkened instantly. "Ms. Campbell, please be more mindful of your words."
Joy shrugged. "Just asking."
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