Leonel felt like cursing at the situation. Despite his efforts to chase after Chloe's car, his eyes were fixed on the sedan with license plate T-115-A. Sometimes the vehicle sped up; sometimes, it slowed down. What Leonel knew was that a loyal driver was accompanying Chloe.
He breathed a sigh of relief when the car he was tailing pulled over onto the shoulder of the road, entering the parking area of a renowned restaurant in Beverly Hills.
Unfortunately, Chloe wasn't alone. As soon as Leonel stepped inside, he discovered Darren there. Leonel's fists clenched tightly.
"Are you following me?" Chloe asked disbelief in her eyes. When she looked back, she saw Leonel. She had been trying to avoid any encounter with her ex-husband.
"No. I was heading here," Leonel said with a forced smile, although his eyes were fixed on Darren, who was still near the cashier's counter.
"Outrageous!" Chloe hissed, displeased. She walked with a slightly heavy step, where Darren was already approaching. At least she was trying to be by Darren's side.
"Wait, Chloe," Leonel said in a rushed manner.
Seeing Leonel's behavior towards Chloe made Darren feel irritated. After all, he had been witnessing every action Leonel took toward Chloe. It seemed as if Leonel intentionally provoked Darren.
Since Leonel appeared behind Chloe, Darren knew her ex-husband exhibited highly suspicious behavior.
"Can't you be more polite to Chloe? You know she doesn't like your presence right now!" Darren said to Leonel, right in front of Chloe, as they were in a cafe where he intended to spend time with her. It happened after his practice hours, and Chloe wanted to meet him outside the restaurant.
However, Leonel continued to follow and monopolize all of Chloe's attention. But Chloe showed no interest in just staring at Leonel. She made her stance clear in front of Darren.
"I know you're tired now and need food to stabilize your stress," Leonel said to Chloe, who stared sharply at him, making her uncomfortable. Before Chloe could respond, Leonel had already walked towards the waiter to order a lot of food for her.
Seeing Leonel's behavior, Darren felt fed up, as if his presence here was no longer acknowledged. Chloe had come to meet him. Leonel was the one who wasn't needed here. Why did he come back?
It made Chloe feel guilty towards Darren, as he was the one who invited her to dine at this restaurant, but Leonel's presence only worsened the atmosphere.
"You don't have to bother ordering food for me because the waiter will bring it to this table. I'll order the food I want myself," Chloe said curtly. Her eyes also showed her displeasure towards Leonel. "It's a waste for you to order so much food if I don't eat it!" Chloe snapped at Leonel, who held his hand to his chest, not caring about Darren's presence. Her anger couldn't be contained any longer. It was ridiculous that Leonel continued to gaze at Chloe, a thin smile forming on his lips.
"I don't even care if you don't want to eat it, but at least I did my best for you. Remember, people change, don't they?" Leonel said to Chloe, then looked at Darren with a sarcastic tone.
"Say whatever you want, but I don't want to touch the ordered food. Please leave. I don't want to deal with you anymore!" Chloe indirectly expelled Leonel's presence, making him furrow his brows, not understanding what Chloe was saying.
"I will never leave, no matter what. I was hoping you could pay more attention to me than this guy. After all, I'm your ex-husband, Chloe! So, I know better than anyone else what you want," Leonel said confidently, then looked towards Darren, who remained silent. He was already tired of Leonel's behavior towards Chloe in his presence.
"It's up to you! The important thing is that I don't want to see you in front of me again!" Chloe said firmly, as the more she dealt with and spoke with Leonel, the more angry she became with him.
Meanwhile, Leonel remained the same, unwilling to back down and insist on whatever he wanted. Not only that, but Leonel also seemed to be trying hard to get Chloe back, even though Chloe had no interest whatsoever.
After that, the woman in front of Leonel glanced at Darren, and suddenly an uncomfortable feeling surged within her because she hadn't heard a word from Darren all this time. It wasn't just her, but Darren also seemed annoyed by Leonel's presence.
"Even though you've just met this man, I've known you for years, so you should at least trust me!" Leonel retorted again, but not long after that, the waiter arrived with the food that Leonel had ordered.
Meanwhile, Darren looked at him lazily; his face turned sour. A strange turmoil emerged something unusual that felt strange. Suddenly, Darren felt jealous when he saw Leonel doing all this just for Chloe.
He was genuinely jealous. He would do if punching Leonel here didn't cause trouble and lead to many consequences. At least a punch or two to that shameless man's face would feel satisfying in response to the uncomfortable turmoil he was experiencing.
"Then, do you think I can easily forget the pain you once inflicted?" Chloe retorted sharply with her curt tone. She didn't want to back down against Leonel at this moment because his actions had already profoundly wounded her, and the pain couldn't be healed until now.
"Thank you for providing Chloe and me with so much food like this. So we don't need to order anymore, and we don't need to pay either," Darren interjected after staying silent for a while. Then he flashed a sarcastic smile toward Leonel.
"Don't get too happy! Do you think I ordered this food for you? I suppose you might be wrong. This food is only for Chloe!" Leonel replied with an indifferent attitude, knowing well that Darren was jealous of his behavior towards Chloe.
"Oh yeah? But I was the one who invited Chloe to come here and dine together, but thanks to your wonderful presence, I don't have to bother paying for it!" Darren said firmly, then reached for his plate and other utensils, feeling unsatisfied after expressing his heartache towards Leonel.
"You two can eat; I have no interest in touching this food. I already said I can order for myself!" Chloe declared, frustrated. Afterward, she lifted one of her hands to assist the waiter, but Darren quickly intervened and lowered Chloe's hand.
"No need to call the waiter again, Chloe! This man has already served us plenty of food, so we need to enjoy it," Darren told Chloe. He intended to taunt Leonel because Chloe, his ex-wife, did not appreciate his presence.
Meanwhile, Chloe remained silent, glaring at Darren before shifting her gaze to Leonel.
"However long it takes, I don't want to eat the food this man ordered. Let him finish it himself because I didn't ask for any of it," Chloe asserted, silencing Darren, who couldn't say anything more.
Due to Chloe's strong personality, anything she said couldn't be easily disputed if it wasn't her who approved it. She honestly couldn't understand why Leonel and Darren suddenly created such an annoying situation.
"Can't you be more assertive with your ex-husband so he doesn't keep haunting us, Chloe?" Darren spoke, tracing his index finger in the air. His face and actions clearly showed his escalating anger.
Meanwhile, Chloe sighed in frustration.
"Did I hear you correctly when you said that to Chloe?" Leonel retorted at that moment.
"Of course, I didn't make a mistake. I'm sure I directed those words to you, Mr. Leonel! I don't think you're on the same level as me. That's why Chloe doesn't want to choose you anymore," Darren emphasized, engaging in a heated debate with Leonel. But Chloe could only remain silent, listening to their arguments, even though her mind was swirling and she wanted to unleash her emotions in front of both men.
"You should reflect on yourself! Chloe doesn't want to get back to you. So why did you come back to try and take over and get Chloe's attention when her heart belongs to someone else, not you anymore!" Darren expressed feeling frustrated with Leonel.
"Oh really? Did I hear it wrong? Chloe didn't even say that to me. Are you jealous, Mr. Darren?" Leonel snapped at Darren, who fell silent, and his eyes rolled. He couldn't possibly admit to it in front of everyone.
"You're truly insane, acting however you want and saying whatever you please! No wonder Chloe doesn't want to stay as your wife for long!" Darren replied in a mocking and curt tone.
Instantly, Leonel's face turned crimson. The words spoken by Darren made him reach the peak of his anger and annoyance. Leonel might have punched that man's face if this weren't a public place.
"Watch your words, Doctor!" Leonel said, pointing his finger towards Darren, while Darren just held his hand to his chest, observing what Leonel was doing.
"Was I wrong to say that? Leaving you was the best decision Chloe made," Darren said again, staring sharply at Leonel, whose jaw clenched.
"Stop this ridiculous argument! I don't want to be the center of attention in a crowded place like this. If you want to argue, do it later when you're alone! Not in front of me or front of so many people!" Chloe's words silenced both of them, making them turn their gaze toward her.
"How could I back down for someone as crazy as you, Chloe? I've noticed you've been uncomfortable with his presence all along, so why don't you just be honest?" Darren asked, throwing that question at Chloe.
"I don't understand what you two are thinking. You better finish this food!" Chloe retorted, pushing the plate away.
"Can you appreciate my presence here? Could you eat, Chloe? I ordered this food because I would be happy if you enjoyed it. That's all! I want to see you happier," Leonel said to Chloe, who responded with a sour smile.
Leonel continued to press Chloe to acknowledge his presence, but Chloe didn't want to do that. She wanted to enjoy her meal peacefully, but Leonel's presence made her highly agitated.
"You have to tell him that I'm your ex-husband, Chloe! I know much more about you than he does, even though he just met you!" Leonel insisted, trying to assert his status to Chloe, while Darren looked at him lazily.
"Chloe?" Darren raised an eyebrow, looking at her.
"Enough of this! I want to eat without hearing your stupid arguments! I want peace without this debate!" Chloe intervened, fed up with her ex-husband's behavior.
"Just eat this! I ordered it for you on purpose!" Leonel told Chloe, not caring if his actions resembled a child's. He would appease himself if Chloe directed her gaze toward him.
"Are you still stubborn? How many more words does Chloe need to say to clarify that she doesn't want to eat your order? Should I help Chloe refuse it?" Darren said, staring sharply at Leonel, who fell silent.
Leonel didn't want to back down because, in his opinion, the old one would always come out on top when the new one appeared.
"You don't need to interfere! I want Tis—"
"That's enough! Stop it! I have to leave now!" Chloe interjected, abruptly cutting off Darren and Leonel's conversation. Both men were making her head spin; all she wanted was peace and comfort. But instead, she got the opposite.
"Where are you going? I'm here! I want to accompany you for a meal, so why are you leaving?" Leonel asked while Darren held Chloe's hand to prevent her from being left alone with that annoying man.
"I'd rather go home than witness your ridiculous argument! And you, I will never acknowledge your presence ever again!" Chloe asserted, pointing directly at Leonel's face. Her eyes were red with anger, and her voice trembled.
"Never come back, Leonel. Never!"