Chris took a few people and left the back hall of the shop.
Donny politely got up and watched them leave through the door before he sat down again and looked at Erika.
Two best friends who always exchanged stories when they were young have met again after many years, but they don't know where to start.
Donny rolled up the fabric of his shirt around his wrist and pushed the cake on the table in front of Erika. "The cake you liked back then is still on sale today."
Erika smiled and nodded. She then tasted one slice. "All these years… I didn't think the old shop was still standing."
Donny rubbed his teacup and locked his eyes on Erika. "Yeah, there's a lot more that hasn't changed from 20 years ago. How have you been all this time?"
Hearing this, Erika put the cake back on the plate. "Not too bad, how about you?"
When old friends meet, there's always a moment of wanting to know each other's lives.
Donny watched Erika's soft brows, gradually overlapping with the shadows in his memory.
Twenty years had passed and she had barely changed, except for the change in life and the serenity in her eyes.
Donny curled his lips slightly, and took a sip from his teacup. "I'm not doing too bad either."
At this point, there was silence spreading in the tea room.
Having not seen each other for 20 years, they did not know each other's current situation. And they don't want to ask sensitive topics, especially since these two almost married each other.
In this small space, they have their own worries.
A few seconds later, the two of them raised their eyes inadvertently, and laughed again as they faced each other.
Donny said, "I know that you came back a few days ago. I originally wanted to visit your house, but..."
He hesitated for a few seconds and added insincerely. "I'm a bit busy, so I haven't had time to come."
Erika's heart was as smooth as dust. Even though she could see that Donny wasn't telling the truth, she still followed his words and said, "Your family business is now your responsibility. With so much effort, it must be very difficult to manage."
Hearing this, Donny choked and looked at Erika with stern eyes. "Are you going to stay this time?"
He couldn't stand the hope in his heart, so he asked bluntly. But actually, he regretted it as soon as the words fell.
He was worried that he would offend Erika. Even though this woman seemed gentle, she was actually very stubborn.
The way he asked about her privacy was still quite rude.
At this moment, compared to Donny's anxiety, Erika was calm. With her arms folded on the edge of the table, her eyes looked down. "I should."
Donny's eyes were full of stars.
He looked at Erika, and smiled with relief. "It's good that you're not leaving again."
Donny never asked her about marriage or other men she had met before.
This man is respectable and well-behaved, he never likes to push others.
But Erika came back to Jakarta, which made his silent heart beat fast again.
In the past few years, he had never met a woman as gentle as Erika, so now that he was thirty-eight, Donny was still single and unmarried.
Being busy with his career is a very good reason for him to run away.
Or maybe the embarrassing past after Erika ran away that year that made him not dare to accept other people's feelings easily.
Moreover, in the depths of his heart, he only remembered one thing ever since he was a child. He wanted his future wife to be named Erika Laibahas.
Now that the woman he loves is back, can he hold on to the tiny hope in his heart?
...
Outside the shop, Merry, Chris and the others had just stepped out of the doorway. When they raised their eyes, they met Samuel and Emma who were pacing back and forth.
The little girl snorted, taking advantage of the situation to pull Anna and wanting to walk in the opposite direction.
Emma hastily called out to her, "Merry, wait a minute!"
Samuel walked forward, winked at Chris, and the two of them left. They went to the smoking area in the corner of the shop to smoke.
At this moment, Merry stood next to Anna and narrowed her eyes at the figure of Emma who was walking towards her. "What do you want?"
She really didn't like Emma at all!
Emma stepped forward with a sigh and deliberately put on an affectionate expression. "Merry, I just came back from Parma and brought you a present. If you want, why don't you come back and take it with me?"
Merry looked at her blankly, then shook her head quickly. "I don't need anything. You don't need to bring me gifts, just stay away from me."
"Honey, don't be angry. I was in the wrong earlier and didn't consider your feelings. Don't worry, I won't force you to come back to Parma with me.
"Your father is right, even though I am your mother, I can't force you to do something you don't like. It's all my fault, but please don't be angry. In the future, I will not force you to do unpleasant things."
This is really weird!
Merry bowed her head slightly, and smiled sinisterly at Emma's sincere attitude. "That's good then. Now I want to eat ice cream, don't stop me!"
When the words fell, Merry took Anna and left.
But Emma looked at her back with an unexpected face, and the depths of her eyes became frozen.
She put aside her pride and spoke to her in a friendly manner, but she didn't expect that this child was still so rude towards her!!
That's right, she is a spoiled child, with no attitude or whatsoever!
In that case, don't blame her for her recklessness!
Emma's gaze drifted up and down, and then returned to normal in an instant.
As everyone knows, when she had just turned around to look for Samuel's figure, she suddenly met Clifford's eyes.
At this moment, Clifford was standing to her left, his deep and cold eyes fixed on her face.
Obviously, all the expressions that Emma had just made were seen in his eyes.
Facing Clifford's cold gaze, Emma calmly lowered her gaze, her eyes filled with disgust as she walked to the smoking area where Samuel was.
At this time, half of the cigarettes in Chris' hand had burned. His gaze turned slightly and he could see Emma approaching him.
He pulled the corners of his lips, tossed his cigarette butt in the trash, and cast his gaze down to warn Samuel. "I won't say anymore. But in order to avoid escalating misunderstandings, the two of you should avoid appearing in front of Erika again."
Samuel sighed heavily. "I know, it was an accident today!"
Chris saw Emma approaching and nodded before passing her.
By this time, Merry and Anna ran to the grocery store ahead for ice cream, and Clifford planned to follow.
The bodyguards of the Laibahas family are still entrenched outside the door of Donny's shop, their main task is to protect Erika's safety.
After Chris and Samuel separated, they raised their eyes and looked at the bustling streets in front of him.
He twisted his eyebrows and walked forward quickly.
Watching Clifford walk into the corner of the alley, Chris suddenly heard a shouting voice.
"Clifford, Merry is missing!"
That panicked voice came from Anna.
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