Fated love: the unwanted bride
Chapter 1401: Dignity Is Out of the Question

Chapter 1401: Chapter 1401: Dignity Is Out of the Question

Jesse Rowan looked at her with anticipation, thinking she was about to speak to him.

However, Joan Harry’s chopsticks merely paused for a moment, and without uttering a word, she lowered her head and continued eating.

Mr. Rowan choked back a response.

From childhood to adulthood, he had never been subjected to the cold shoulder from a woman, and somehow, he had been patiently coaxing Joan for several days.

The light from the lanterns shone on Joan’s face, and Jesse stared at her visage for a long time.

The woman had an oval face, fair and gentle. As she bowed her head to eat, her long eyelashes fluttered slightly.

She didn’t eat much, only picking up some beef and a few vegetables from the bowl in front of her.

"Eat more, you’re so thin," Jesse Rowan said as he reached out to pinch her arm.

Like she was electrocuted, Joan’s chopsticks dropped onto the table with a "clank."

"Don’t touch me," she said indifferently.

"I’m just concerned about you," Jesse chuckled, a mischievous yet tender smile on his face, "You’re too skinny."

Joan picked up her chopsticks and continued eating.

"Joan, I spent all afternoon arranging these lanterns for you, don’t you plan to even glance at them? Or are they not pretty enough?"

"You can take them down to charm some other girl. Your tricks won’t work on me, Jesse Rowan. I don’t know how you see me, but in my eyes, you’re nothing but a rapist, you get that?" Joan spoke very bluntly, without a concern for face or dignity.

In front of Jesse, she had no dignity to speak of.

In the eyes of outsiders, she was Miss Harry, but in front of Jesse, she was just one of his playmates.

Jesse Rowan was taken aback.

He hadn’t expected such a straightforward girl like Joan to speak so candidly.

"I’m sorry," Jesse rubbed his forehead, "That night, I drank too much, and there was something in the drink. If it were a normal day, I would at most steal a glance at you, admire you from afar, I would never have been so bold."

"No need to say more," Joan stopped him with a cold voice.

That night’s event was like a wound, bleeding afresh every time it was torn open.

Jesse Rowan felt a blow, and obediently shut up, taking up his chopsticks to eat silently.

He offered Joan some codfish: "Try this, it’s the chef’s specialty."

"I don’t like it, take it away."

"Oh." Jesse obediently took it away.

Throughout the meal, Joan didn’t even look at Jesse once.

On the contrary, Jesse felt uneasy, stealing glances at Joan from time to time, feeling as if she was ignoring him.

Joan ate only half of her bowl of white rice.

Standing up, she said, "I’ve had enough, Mr. Rowan. Enjoy your meal."

With those words, she turned and left, not giving him a second glance.

As for the lanterns in the garden, she didn’t take another look, just feeling that their brightness dazzled her eyes.

She looked down at the path, walking through the corridor toward the guest room.

She didn’t recognize the place.

Judging from its location, it was very remote; if she wanted to leave, there was absolutely no way to catch a ride from here.

Jesse Rowan stared at Joan’s frail silhouette, dumbfounded once again.

Was she really so disdainful of him?

He had spent half a day considering that the Lantern Festival had just passed; she would surely love to see the lanterns, but now...

And there was this table full of dishes, all wasted, sigh!

She barely ate a few bites, did she expect him to eat it all by himself?

Jesse had always been adept at courting women, but with Joan, he had stumbled badly.

Bored, he listlessly ate a few bites of food, resting his cheek on his hand as he looked at the bright sea of lanterns.

Beautiful lamps, picturesque scenery.

Yet, there was no one to share it with.

What a waste of a beautiful and perfect moment.