Alicia took a sip of her coffee, forcing an awkward smile.
‘It’s annoyingly good. They must’ve had this together.’
That thought stirred an unsettling feeling.
Watching her, Eugenie kindly offered a dessert.
“Would you like to try this? Eating something sweet helps when you’re tired.”
“Really?”
“You look really tired.”
A kind and considerate woman she was.
Wondering if she’d acted the same way with Eric, Alicia felt choked up again.
So, that’s how she wins everyone over, thought Alicia, as she stared at the dessert plate and finally took a piece.
“It’s delicious. Both the coffee and this. You’re really skilled.”
“Oh my, thank you for saying that. Actually, I was worried as I’ve just started this café.”
“Really?”
“I did find it tough initially, but I think I’ve been lucky. I’ve had people to help me.”
“People to help?”
Just as Alicia was about to ask if she meant Eric, a bell rang at the café door.
“Mom!”
“Son, you’re here?”
The child she’d seen before ran in and hugged Eugenie. An older woman, likely the child’s grandmother, followed.
“My dear, it’s nice outside today. Maybe we could set up tables outdoors? Oh, there’s a customer? Should’ve spoken softly.”
The grandmother quickly lowered her voice, but Alicia didn’t hear a word of their conversation.
Her hands tightly gripping her coffee cup, she stared at the child who was staring back at her.
‘Does he resemble Eric?’
Perhaps noticing Alicia’s intent gaze, the child hid behind Eugenie.
“It’s okay. Don’t be shy, greet her.”
“Hello.”
Hearing the child’s soft greeting, Alicia snapped back to reality and offered an awkward smile.
“Hi, what’s your name?”
“I’m Toby.”
When Toby shyly looked at Alicia and hid again, Eugenie answered for him.
“Hello, Toby. I’m Alicia.”
Regretting her earlier stare, Alicia forced herself to smile warmly.
“Your child is really adorable. And your husband?”
“The child’s father is a knight[—].”
“!”
Before Eugenie could finish, Alicia felt her heart sink.
Her hand trembled unconsciously, and Alicia gripped her coffee cup, attempting to take a sip.
The door opened and a man walked in, carrying a bunch of items.
“Hello[—]. Where should I put this?”
“Daddy!”
“Pfft!”
Startled, Alicia almost spit out her coffee as Toby cheerfully waved at the man who had just entered.
“Why is he doing this again? I told you not to call just anyone ‘Daddy.'”
“Sniff.”
The grandmother scolded Toby.
“Cough, cough. Daddy?”
“No.”
Eugene awkwardly waved his hand.
“Before the child was born, his father died in battle. So he calls any adult man ‘Daddy.'”
‘Alicia thought, ‘He’s not Eric’s son. He never was. That’s a relief… Ah, that’s not the point.’
Blinking, Alicia seemed relieved as she put her hand to her chest, then suddenly sat up.
“Ah, I apologize. I was being presumptuous.”
“It’s alright. It’s a thing of the past now.”
Eugene casually smiled and waved it off.
Beside them, the grandmother, bothered by Toby’s whining to go out and play, spoke up.
“Child, we should probably leave. The kid’s whining is disrupting the business.”
“Is that so? Will you go home then?”
“Yes. Let’s go with Grandma.”
The grandmother picked up the whining Toby and hurriedly moved on.
As Toby and Alicia made eye contact, Toby grinned and waved.
Alicia smiled back and waved in response.
Observing Alicia, Eugene tilted her head and asked.
“Your name is Alicia, right?”
“Yes? Yes.”
“Do you know Earl Russel?”
Eugene asked as if she suddenly remembered something.
A little surprised, Alicia hesitantly nodded.
“Oh my, then are you Miss Alicia Lancaster?”
“Do you know me?”
“Of course. I’ve heard a lot from the Earl. You’re his fiancée.”
“Ah[—].”
“Oh dear, I must have been very rude to you. I apologize.”
“No, it’s alright. I didn’t think you were rude at all.”
Relieved by Alicia’s unaristocratic demeanor, Eugene smiled.
Alicia had felt a different aura about her from the start.
Even though it was unlikely for a noble lady to be in a place like this, she had thought it couldn’t be Alicia.
“I’ve been really curious after hearing about you from the Earl, Miss.”
“Ah, yes.”
“I thought you’d be a reticent person, but you’re quite talkative. I was surprised.”
“Is that so?”
Feeling her face heat up, Alicia covered it as Eugene grinned.
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
