Page 133 of Avenging Azalea

She turned her stern stare on me, and I knew with one glance that I was going to get an earful.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been busy.”

Mrs. Chen scoffed and crossed her arms.

“I heard. You are leaving all of us for Nathaniel,” she said with genuine hurt in her eyes.

“Not everything has been separated. Once the dust settles, I fully intend to be the one here on my family’s behalf. Besides, it gives me a good excuse to come and get the best dim sum in the city.”

“Ha…state,” she scolded, but her mouth twitched with a smile.

“You’re right, in the state. I stand corrected.”

“Fine…you are forgiven for now. But we will see if you keep your promise,” Mrs. Chen said, putting her hands on her hips.

Fawn watched our interaction closely, and I knew she was wondering how Mrs. Chen and I were acquainted.

“I wouldn’t dare not keep my promise. I want to introduce you to someone. This is Fawn, my…” I stopped, unsure what to call our relationship at the moment.

“I’m his better half,” Fawn said teasingly.

I smirked at how she jumped in to rescue me from my blunder. Smiling, Fawn reached out to Mrs. Chen. When Mrs. Chen gripped her hand, I knew Fawn had her approval.

“I like her. I hope this means you’re not marrying that turkey vulture,” Mrs. Chen said, waving her hand around like something was above her head. “Damn buzzards are always flying around looking for their next meal. I thought she was going to carry off your carcass after she picked the meat from your bones.”

Fawn burst out laughing as I shook my head.

“No, thankfully, that is over. Never should’ve happened to begin with,” I said, looking at Fawn. Our eyes met, and a deep blush crept across her cheeks.

“I’ll go check on your food and bring you some water.”

Mrs. Chen turned and disappeared through the door to the kitchen.

“I really like her. Why have we never come here before? You two seem to know one another well.” I opened my mouth, but Fawn held up her finger, stopping me. “Actually, don’t tell me yet. There is something I need to ask you, and I don’t want to get distracted again. Vera managed to do that once.”

“This sounds serious,” I said.

Fawn shifted in the booth so she could look at me, and I had an awful sinking feeling I knew where this was heading.

“I need you to be honest with me, Titus. Did you do something to Dr. Taylor?”

Yup, I was right. I honestly didn’t think Matt would rat me out, but I’d underestimated his determination to win Fawn.

“Why? What did he say?”

Fawn pressed her lips together as her eyebrow arched.

“Nothing, actually. But he was acting strange today. My schedule has been changed so that, other than for surgeries, we are never in the clinic alone. And now he’s taking someone else on the visits to local shelters. You don’t know anything about that, do you?”

Shit.

“Yes, I paid him a visit.”

Fawn practically growled. It was adorable and sexy, but I didn’t dare say that.

“Are you kidding me? Titus, you said you trusted me. You had no right to interfere in my work.”

“I do trust you. I don’t trust him. Yes, I may have gone a little more aggressively than needed, but I had to be sure. There was something far too perfect about him. I mean, why is a successful man who is that handsome, fit, and rich, not married?”