"Mr... Mr. Thorne?" Anya Forrest was a bit stunned, quickly refusing: "No, no, that’s not necessary, I can handle it myself."
"No need to be so polite, it’s the right thing to do."
Anya Forrest still wanted to refuse, but saw Raymond Thorne’s gaze sweep over her phone, instantly realizing he already knew of her predicament, and her face flushed swiftly.
She stopped being polite: "Thank you, Mr. Thorne."
After Raymond Thorne settled the bill, he proactively picked up Anya Forrest’s art portfolio: "Let’s go."
Anya Forrest’s eyes sparkled as she picked up her handbag and followed him.
As they were going downstairs, Raymond Thorne spoke up: "Can I ask you a question?"
"You mean why I gave that man one million?"
"Yes indeed," Raymond Thorne said, "You’re not wealthy enough to not care about that million."
"You’re too kind. Actually, that million is my entire savings," Anya Forrest paused for a moment before saying, "I know giving him that million would leave me penniless, but I’m a young person with full capability, won’t I manage without starving?"
She blinked her eyes: "Besides, I’m living with my best friend, if worse comes to worst, I’ll just mooch some meals. This temporary struggle can’t compare to a life."
Raymond Thorne’s eyes flashed with a hint of intrigue at her words: "That may be true, but someone willing to give up everything like that, you’re the only one I know."
Anya Forrest was about to speak when a rumbling sound akin to thunder erupted. The source of this content ɪs nοvelfire.net
Seeing Raymond Thorne looking at her, Anya Forrest bashfully said: "I bet this is your first time meeting a girl who acts rich on an empty stomach."
Raymond Thorne laughed heartily: "Miss."
"Anya Forrest," Anya Forrest said with a smile, "My name is Anya Forrest."
"Anya Forrest, really, thank you today. If it weren’t for you, the person losing a million would have been me."
Anya Forrest waved her hand: "Don’t be so courteous, besides, the way you look doesn’t seem like someone who’d fall for a scam; maybe I meddled too much. Alright, I have to go now."
With that, she reached for the art portfolio that Raymond Thorne was holding for her.
As she grabbed it, her hand slipped, and the portfolio fell to the ground with a bang.
The black fabric covering the portfolio fell off, revealing the artwork inside.
Unexpectedly, it was a painting of Raymond Thorne having tea by the window.
"Sorry... so sorry..." Anya Forrest immediately went to pick it up, but she was too flustered to cover the portfolio up properly.
Raymond Thorne bent down to help and handed it back to Anya Forrest once it was fixed.
"Thank you." Anya Forrest reached out to take it, but he didn’t let go.
She instinctively looked up to see Raymond Thorne gazing at her warmly: "Anya Forrest, if you’re not busy, could you give me the chance to take you for a meal?"
"Don’t hesitate, considering today’s events, I should thank you; otherwise, I’d have been out a million," he said. "Now, I’m just inviting you to dinner; in a way, I’m getting off easy. Besides, with such a sincere invitation, can you really turn me down?"
Anya Forrest instinctively replied: "I can’t."
Realizing what she had said, Anya Forrest looked quite frustrated, but Raymond Thorne laughed cheerfully.
Shea lay bored on the sofa: "Casper, what’s Anya’s mommy gone to do?"
Casper North sat on the carpet in front of the sofa, his fingers clattering on the keyboard: "Heard she went to catch herself a guy."
Shea didn’t believe it: "Would Anya’s mommy need to catch a guy? Anya’s mommy is so beautiful, isn’t it always guys chasing after her?"