At the auction before, she noticed that whenever he spotted Claudia, he couldn't take his eyes off her.

And now, upon seeing Claudia again, he expressed a desire to greet her.

So, it was no surprise that when Anthony returned, Darlene wore a displeased expression.

Anthony, sensing her mood, quickly clarified, "Darlene, you're misunderstanding. I just wanted to talk with Cece about her father."

Darlene snorted, "Only you truly know if you're concerned for Mr. Marshall or Mrs. Dreskin. If you don't wish to be with me, just be honest about it. You don't need to act so insincerely."

Though Darlene wasn't keen on ending things with Anthony, she couldn't keep her feelings bottled up.

“Every time you encounter Mrs. Dreskin, you can't look away. Mrs. Dreskin might not mind it, but have you considered the consequences for her if Mr. Dreskin witnesses your actions? What's more, she has been married. Do you think it's still appropriate for you to call her Cece?"

Darlene's words made perfect sense, and Anthony couldn't argue with her at all.

His feelings for Claudia persisted, but he recognized that she was now Bennett's wife. His lingering regret couldn't change that reality.

While Darlene wasn't his first love, he didn't dislike her. In many ways, her qualities made her a fitting partner for him.

After pausing to gather his thoughts, he said, “You have a point, Darlene. I'll be more mindful about how I address her. As for your impression that I can't keep my eyes off her, I believe there's been a misunderstanding."

He then offered her some sliced steak and continued, "There's a matter I need to discuss with her, but as you've noticed, she's been distant. I can't find any other opportunity, so I can only try to talk to her when I see her."

As Darlene looked at the steak before her, she gently probed, “What's so urgent that you need to talk with her? It's understandable that

Mrs. Dreskin avoids talking to you after what happened before."

“It concerns her father and involves sensitive matters. It's not for sharing, Darlene."

Understanding the boundaries, Darlene simply said, “Just remember to respect our relationship and know that I am your girlfriend."

"Yes, I'm well aware."

As she tasted the steak, Darlene remarked, "Let this be the last time."

She knew that in those few moments of silence earlier, Anthony had weighed his priorities. But this wouldn't strain their relationship.

She was rich, and so was Anthony. She liked his face very much. Even if she had a rival in love, it didn't matter.

Claudia was now Bennett's. If Anthony could've won her over, he wouldn't be with Darlene now.

In many ways, they complemented each other. Darlene too had weighed the advantages and drawbacks.

So she wasn't overly bothered by the situation.

When Claudia was on her way back to her seat, she spotted Anthony and his girlfriend.