Chapter 5

“Why thank me? It’s only what I ought to do.” Case Hathaway glanced at Brent Haines’ flushed cheeks and quickly changed the subject, his tone carrying an almost imperceptible tenderness. “By the way, after we last parted, did you take the time to paint?”

Whenever painting came up, the sparkle in Brent Haines’ eyes dimmed instantly. He gently ran his fingertips along the rim of his coffee cup and shook his head. “No, I don’t know why. Ever since I met you, I’ve been unable to find inspiration. Occasionally, a thought flashes through my mind, but it’s too quick to capture. I can’t bring to life the images I want to paint.”

Casey Hathaway’s heart skipped a beat, and she couldn’t suppress a smile. So, he meant so much to her after all. Yet, beneath this joy, there was uncertainty—was her affection for him really the same as his feelings for her?

“Have you been under too much stress lately?” He leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on her slightly disappointed expression. His tone was filled with concern.

Brent Haines paused for a moment, reflecting on his state of mind over the past few days. He nodded gently. “Maybe so. I’ve felt restless lately.”

Just as Case Hathaway was about to speak to comfort her, a slightly forced voice interrupted him: “Excuse me, sir. Here’s your coffee and cake. Would you like anything else?”

It was the same waitress from before. Ever since Case Hathaway entered, her gaze remained fixed on him. Thinking she was attractive enough, she tried to catch his attention. But Case Hathaway gave her only a brief glance before turning his attention back to Brent Haines, without so much as a second look in her direction.

The waiter’s expression darkened. His gaze fell on Brent Haines. When he saw her lifeless right eye, disdain nearly overflowed from his eyes, and a mocking smirk appeared on his lips.

Interrupted, Case Hathaway’s displeasure was evident on his face. His brows were furrowed, and his voice was as cold as ice: “No need. Go away.”

The waitress curled her lips in disdain, glared at Brent Haines resentfully, and muttered in a low voice, “Hmph, ugly people always cause trouble. How dare he show his face around when he’s so ugly.”

The café was very quiet. Her murmurs weren’t loud, but they were clearly heard by Case Hathaway and Brent Haines.

Brent Haines’s body stiffened suddenly. His fingertips clenched tightly, and his face turned pale. Over the years, because of this eye, she had heard too many harsh words. She thought she had gotten used to it by now. But now, being humiliated in public like this, her heart felt as though it had been struck by a blunt object—painful and throbbing.

Case Hathaway’s anger flared up instantly. The air around him became eerily tense. He stood up abruptly, staring down at the waiter with a menacing look in his eyes. “What did you just say? Say it again if you dare.”

The waitress was startled by his aggressive demeanor. Her legs trembled slightly, but her competitive nature wouldn’t allow her to back down. She retorted stubbornly, “What I said is the truth! She’s already blind, yet she still comes out and embarrasses herself. So what if she gets in my way?”

“You’re seeking death.” Case Hathaway’s voice wasn’t raised, yet it carried an undeniable authority. He reached out to call for the manager. “What has she done to you? Why do you need to resort to personal attacks like that? How does someone as uncivilized as you deserve to work as a waiter here? Bring your manager here!”

The manager arrived quickly. At first glance, he could tell that Case Hathaway was no ordinary person. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead as he rushed forward to apologize. “Sir, I’m truly sorry. I have no idea what she might have done to upset you. I’ll handle this right away!”

“Make her go away, before I lose my temper.” Case Hathaway’s gaze remained fixed on Brent Haines. Seeing her pale face, he felt extremely heartbroken.

Brent Haines quickly grabbed the hem of his shirt, speaking softly, “Casey, forget it. She was just confused for a moment. Work isn’t easy either. Let’s not make a big deal out of it.”

“No.” Case Hathaway took her hand in his. The warmth of his palm spread to hers. “I can’t let you be treated badly. If she insulted you, she must apologize.”

Brent Haines looked at his resolute profile, feeling a warmth surge in his heart. His eyes grew slightly moist, but he didn’t try to stop him anymore.

Case Hathaway turned to the manager, his tone icy: “Make her apologize to my friend. Otherwise, I won’t mind seeing this café disappear from this city forever.”

The manager turned pale with fear and immediately turned to scold the waiter, “What are you standing around for? Apologize to this young lady right now!”

Seeing that Case Hathaway was serious, the waiter finally panicked, but still stonewalled: “I won’t apologize! If you want, I can quit. What I said is the truth anyway!”

Case Hathaway sneered, took out his phone, and quickly dialed a number. As soon as the call connected, his tone became calm, yet firm and commanding: “Hello, Attorney Chen. Help me find out everything about a woman named Yu Yun. I want her to pay for what she’s said.”

“No!” The waiter completely collapsed. He rushed over, snatched Case Hathaway’s phone from him, and hung up the call. Tears streamed down his face. “I’m sorry, I’m truly sorry! Sir, madam, I’m wrong. I shouldn’t have spoken like that. Please, don’t sue me. I beg you!”

Brent Haines looked at her embarrassed state and felt sorry for her. He took Kace Hathaway’s hand again and said, “Kace, forget it. She realizes her mistake.”

Case Hathaway glanced at the pleading look in Brent Haines’ eyes, then at the crying waitress before him. In the end, he relented. His phone rang again. He answered it, his tone more gentle now. “Attorney Chen, it’s all taken care of. I’ll contact you if there’s anything else needed.”

After hanging up the phone, he tilted his chin, signaling the waiter to apologize immediately. Unbeknownst to him, in a corner of the café, someone secretly filmed the scene. Quickly typing a message, they sent it to Ilona Finch. A conspiracy against Brent Haines was in the works.