Chapter 44

• Sam's question left Simon speechless. He gave him a meaningful look, but he didn't respond. Narda's expression became even more unpleasant than before, indicating her displeasure. Simon could see that Dexie had influenced Luke Huxley's behavior, which was becoming increasingly obvious to him.
• Narda had never witnessed Luke Huxley so upset before. Dexie showed concern, triggering a sense of crisis in Narda, causing her to clench her fists involuntarily. The veins on the back of her hand bulged, reflecting her intense anger. Observing her closely, Simon frowned and decided to distance himself from her, using an excuse to leave the situation. He suggested that the others continue drinking while he checked on Luke Huxley. Despite his dislike for Narda, he felt it would be too embarrassing to continue embarrassing her. As expected, Dexie had a strong impact on Luke Huxley, occupying his thoughts since they first met at the bar. Luke was so preoccupied with Dexie that he didn't even notice his burning cigarette until the pain in his fingers brought him back to reality. The spark's burn left his fingers red and stinging.
• "You've never smoked before," Simon said as he approached him, looking at him with a slight smile on his face. There were already several cigarette butts in the ashtray.