Dexter whipped up dinner for Carl in no time.
Even though Carl had already snacked on some fruit to take the edge off, the moment he saw the hot food and smelled the aroma, he started wolfing it down again. His table manners were... well, nonexistent.
"Slow down. Hang out here for a bit after you're done, and we'll drive you back," Dexter said with a smile as he watched the kid eat.
"Okay," Carl mumbled, nodding while stuffing his face.
Dexter didn't say anything else. He had a few more orders to cook, so he headed back into the kitchen.
Having finished her own meal and with nothing else to do, Bianca got up and followed him. "Boss, mind if I take a tour of your kitchen?"
"Haha, be my guest," Dexter laughed.
"I can't cook at all," Bianca said, looking around with a playful tone.
"Is that a hint?" Dexter asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Heh, nope," Bianca grinned mischievously.
Dexter teased her, "I thought you were going to ask me to teach you."
Bianca pretended to think about it. "I mean, I wouldn't say no."
They joked around for a bit before Bianca stepped out. Seeing that Veronica wasn't busy at the moment, she hesitated, then walked over. "Hi, Veronica. Congratulations on the wedding."
Veronica, quick on her feet as always, beamed. "Thanks! So, Dexter told you we want you two as best man and maid of honor?"
Bianca nodded. "I just... we don't really know each other, so I was worried it might be inappropriate..."
Veronica waved it off. "Don't worry about it. Come hang out a few times and we'll be friends. Besides, you're our future boss lady. We're destined to be close."
Bianca blushed. "Uh... don't say that."
"Haha, the boss has good taste. You're fun," Veronica said genuinely.
Bianca felt a little awkward but flattered.
Just then, Carl chimed in, looking surprised. "Veronica, you're getting married?"
Veronica hesitated for a split second before nodding with a smile. They would find out eventually anyway; there was no point in hiding it. "Yeah, the first of next month. You guys should all come."
"Okay," Carl agreed instantly. "Will there be lobster?"
"Yes."
"Steak?"
"Both."
"Awesome!" Carl cheered.
With Carl interrupting, the flustered Bianca took the chance to slip away. She sat down on the sofa next to Dopey.
Dopey opened one eye to look at her, then shifted his head to rest it on her lap.
Bianca found it adorable and started petting the dog's head.
Dopey started snoring.
---
Time ticked by.
At 7:30 PM, Dexter finished up. He rounded up Bianca, Carl, and Dopey, and they headed out.
The three humans and one dog piled into the car and drove toward North Wallace Street.
When they arrived at the Gallagher house, Dexter parked, and everyone got out.
"See ya tomorrow," Carl said his goodbyes and ran toward his house with his backpack.
Dexter led Bianca toward the house next door to the Gallaghers. "Let me give you a tour of my place."
Bianca hadn't known about this beforehand. Looking at the dilapidated house in front of her, with its boarded-up windows and peeling paint, she was genuinely baffled. "This is the house you bought?"
It wasn't that she was snobbish, she just didn't get it. "I'm really curious—why would you choose this place?"
"I don't like apartments. Neighbors upstairs and downstairs can be annoying. A standalone house like this is quieter," Dexter replied.
The words had barely left his mouth when the shouting from the Gallagher house erupted, as if on cue.
"Carl, where the hell have you been? Why didn't you come straight home after school? We've been waiting for you forever!" Fiona yelled, her voice carrying clearly.
"I was at Dexter's place. I already ate," Carl shouted back.
Hearing the exchange, Bianca couldn't help but shake her head, smiling at Dexter. "Quieter, huh?"
"Haha, minor details. The neighbors are definitely loud, but I'll just have the contractors put in some serious soundproofing," Dexter chuckled.
Some people like apartments; some don't. It varies from person to person.
Satisfied with the explanation, Bianca didn't press further. They walked toward the house.
---
The Gallagher House
The yelling about Carl's late return was winding down.
"Don't do that again. It's dark out. What if something happened to you?" Fiona scolded, still worried.
Carl gave a cocky grin. "Dexter and his girlfriend drove me back. Besides, what's gonna happen to me? I'm not a girl."
Fiona froze. "Dexter and his girlfriend?"
"Yeah, that pretty doctor from the hospital last time," Carl said, oblivious to Fiona's reaction.
Fiona instinctively looked out the window, even though she couldn't see anything through the blinds.
She pulled her gaze back, suddenly feeling a complicated mix of emotions.
Don't ask why. Women are complicated creatures.
Fiona didn't even understand it herself, just like she didn't understand why she felt the urge to go out and see this Bianca woman with her own eyes.
It was just... messy.
"You ate dinner at Dexter's again? Did he pay for it?" Fiona asked.
Carl nodded. "He insisted. I didn't have money, I was gonna come home to eat."
"Don't eat there next time. We're poor, but we don't need to be moochers. People look down on that," Fiona lectured earnestly.
Carl didn't feel like Dexter looked down on him at all and was getting annoyed. "Fine, I won't eat there. I'll make money and then go eat."
"Good." Fiona stood up. "I'm going to go thank him."
Fiona walked out of the house. She stood on the porch, glancing first at the brand-new Mercedes G63 parked on the curb, then turning her head to look at the lights on in the house next door.
After a moment of thought, Fiona decided not to go over just yet. She sat down on the bench on the porch and waited quietly.
---
The run-down house didn't take long to tour.
Dexter and Bianca did a quick lap and walked back out.
Fiona saw them immediately. She scrutinized Bianca from head to toe.
Then, she felt a sense of relief.
The reason was simple: She felt she was prettier than Bianca.
With her confidence boosted, Fiona smiled and called out, "Dexter! Thanks for feeding Carl."
Dexter hadn't noticed Fiona sitting there in the dark. He turned toward her. "No problem."
"But don't feed him next time. If he gets used to your cooking, he won't be able to stomach the food I make at home," Fiona said, her tone carrying a hint of a joke but also a boundary.
"Sure, no problem," Dexter replied effortlessly. Carl was a Gallagher, after all; Dexter wasn't in a rush.
"Thanks," Fiona smiled. Then, feigning casualness, she added, "Brought your girlfriend to see your house?"
Dexter smiled. "Just swinging by to take a look."
"Cool," Fiona didn't say anything else. She turned and went back inside.
The truth was, Fiona was a lot like Lip.
Even though their lives were a mess and they were dirt poor, both Fiona and Lip were incredibly arrogant.
Lip's arrogance came from his intelligence. Fiona's arrogance came from her looks and her sense of martyrdom—the achievement of raising five kids in a hellhole.
Fiona looked down on a lot of people in the neighborhood, especially other women. She told herself she was only here because she had no choice, that she was actually better than this place.
Because of this pride... toward a woman like Bianca who lived a carefree life, or anyone who showed even a hint of pity or condescension, Fiona would immediately turn up her nose.
It was an interesting psychological defense mechanism. Of course, Fiona had zero self-awareness about it.
Back in the living room, Fiona flopped onto the couch, feeling much better.
But that good mood didn't last long.
"Veronica is getting married, did you know?" Carl remembered the news and told Fiona.
Fiona didn't care much about Veronica these days. "I know."
"She said it's the first of next month. She invited all of us. She said there's gonna be lobster and steak..."
Carl couldn't finish his sentence. Fiona's expression darkened instantly, snapping her out of her relaxed state. She cut him off. " The first of next month?"
Carl didn't notice the shift. "Yeah. First of the month."
Fiona's eyes went wide.
The date was set, and she didn't know a thing about it.
Heh.
Got some money and now they're too good for me...
"She told you that tonight?" Fiona asked, her irritation rising again.
"Yeah. She invited Dexter and his girlfriend to be the best man and maid of honor. I heard it," Carl said.
Fiona: "..."
Her annoyance instantly doubled.
Fiona's brow furrowed tight. "Carl, Veronica and I aren't friends anymore. We aren't going to her wedding."
Carl panicked. "Huh? Why? There's lobster and steak! Why wouldn't we eat it?"
"She's rich now. She's different from us. We can't afford lobster and steak. If you want some, I'll earn money and buy it for you..." Fiona was genuinely pissed off now.
Ian, sitting nearby, couldn't listen to this anymore. He suddenly spoke up, cutting Fiona off. "Fiona, stop. If Carl wants to go, he can go."
Fiona, already agitated, didn't want to hear that. "What does that mean?"
Ian frowned slightly.
Over the past few months, the change in Fiona had been obvious. Ian didn't understand why she had become like this, but he really didn't like this version of her. "If you and V have beef, that's between you and V. Don't drag Carl into it."
Fiona glared at him, looking incredulous. "Ian, you think this is my fault?"
Ian didn't want to get dragged into the drama. "Not my business."
Just then, Debbie couldn't hold back either. She asked in confusion, "Fiona, what happened between you and Veronica? You guys used to be best friends."
Lip chimed in, choosing to side with Fiona. "Debbie, nothing happened. Like Fiona said, V and Kev got money and now they look down on us."
"They're rich now, and we're poor. Rich people don't make friends with poor people."
"Get it?"
Debbie didn't get it. "Veronica and Kev aren't like that. They're good people..."
"People change," Fiona said with a heavy sigh of emotion.
Debbie wanted to argue.
Lip cut her off. "Debbie, forget about them. Let's just focus on our own lives. Watch TV."
Debbie really didn't understand.
Why did it turn out like this?
During those three months, Veronica and Kevin came over to help all the time. How could things change so drastically in just the few days since Fiona and the others got back?
Debbie's head was full of questions.
Ian sighed silently. He wanted to say something, but he held back and stayed quiet.
Carl didn't care about the drama; he just focused on the TV.
---
The Alibi Room
Dexter and Bianca walked in with Dopey.
At this time of night, the bar wasn't crowded. It was mostly just the hardcore drunks like Frank.
Kevin wasn't busy, so he spotted them immediately.
His eyes landed on Bianca, and he grinned, calling out to Dexter, "So, this must be the legendary Dr. Bianca."
It was a funny phrasing.
Dexter laughed and nodded, turning to Bianca. "You've become a legend."
Bianca rolled her eyes playfully and whispered to Dexter, "How did you introduce me before?"
"Let me think... pretty sure I just said you were hot or something," Dexter teased.
Bianca looked exasperated. "...Be serious."
They sat down at the bar.
Kevin immediately introduced himself to Bianca warmly. "Hi, I'm Kevin Ball."
Bianca nodded politely, a bit reserved. "Hi, Bianca Green."
Kevin grinned. "Dexter wasn't exaggerating. You really are beautiful."
Bianca: "...Thanks."
"What can I get you?" Kevin asked.
"Just a soda, please," Bianca replied.
Kevin was slightly surprised, given the setting, but didn't comment. He quickly poured her a soda. "Wait until you have some free time, we should all hang out. Have a barbecue or something."
"Sure," Bianca responded, reaching for her wallet to pay.
Kevin saw this and waved his hands. "Whoa, whoa, what are you doing?"
Bianca was confused. "Uh, paying..."
Kevin laughed and looked at Dexter. "Dexter, what's going on? You didn't tell her?"
"Forgot," Dexter laughed.
"Tell me what?" Bianca asked, puzzled.
"Dexter owns half this bar," Kevin grinned. "Put your money away."
Bianca genuinely didn't know. She frowned slightly and gave Dexter a playful look. "Mr. Dexter, you have so many businesses I don't know about."
Dexter chuckled. "You never asked."
The three of them chatted for a bit.
Nearby, Frank, who had had a bit too much to drink, suddenly piped up. "Dexter! Got a new girlfriend so fast? Does that mean you and Fiona are really over?"
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Kevin frowned and immediately tried to shut him down. "Frank, you're drunk. Shut up."
"????" Bianca, having just seen Fiona, raised an eyebrow. She looked at Dexter without saying a word, just watching.
Dexter wasn't sure which wire in Frank's brain had short-circuited or why he wanted to stir up trouble, but it didn't matter.
After all, nothing had ever happened between him and Fiona. He hadn't slept with her.
"Frank, you're overthinking it. There was never anything between me and Fiona to begin with," Dexter replied with a calm smile.
It was the truth.
Even before, he never planned to have a relationship with Fiona. At most, he'd entertained the idea of sleeping with her.
Relationship? With Fiona?
That would just be actively looking for a green hat to wear (actively looking to get cheated on).
He wasn't insane.
Frank wasn't stirring the pot for no reason. He had his own logic.
Dexter had come to the neighborhood, opened a bistro, attracted rich people, changed the Alibi, changed the South Side...
Frank hated change. He especially hated this change because he could see that if it continued, there would be no place left for people like him in the South Side.
Frank was annoyed with Dexter. He grinned, revealing his teeth. "Dexter, you're so cold-hearted. Slept with Fiona, pulled up your pants, and pretended it never happened. Very good."
Kevin: "!!!! Frank!! Stop spouting bullshit!"
Bianca's eyes widened as she looked at Dexter, but she still stayed silent.
Dexter found it amusing.
Frank had a sharp tongue.
He wondered if it would still be that sharp if he cut it out.
"Frank, you can't just make things up. I never slept with Fiona," Dexter maintained his smile.
Frank shook his head, smiling as if he didn't believe a word. "Yeah, yeah. Never slept with her. Sure. I get it."
With that, Frank turned around and signaled Kevin for another drink.
His body language declared the conversation over.
You had to hand it to him; Frank was skilled. He had successfully planted a seed of doubt.
Dexter didn't waste breath arguing with a drunk. He turned to Bianca and smiled softly. "Ms. Green, stop glaring at me."
Bianca blinked, recalling Fiona's appearance.
Nice body, pretty face.
Bianca felt a pang of jealousy and spoke with a hint of sarcasm. "Fine. I won't look at you."
Hearing this, Tommy, sitting down the bar, cracked up. "Haha! Dexter, you're in for a rough night when you get home."
"Not at all. Ms. Green isn't that petty. I'm not worried," Dexter laughed back.
Tommy gave Dexter a thumbs up. "Bold!"
Bianca obviously understood the reverse psychology Dexter was using. She got annoyed, ignored him, and sipped her soda.
---
They chatted and laughed for about half an hour.
Since Bianca had work the next day, Dexter, Bianca, and Dopey left the Alibi and drove back to the hotel.
In the car, Bianca refused to look at Dexter, staring silently out the window.
Seeing this, Dexter was actually quite happy.
It was good news. It meant Bianca had caught feelings.
The drive was short. They arrived at the hotel parking lot almost immediately.
The car stopped.
Bianca didn't move. She teased, "Mr. Dexter, aren't you going to explain?"
Dexter laughed. "There is nothing between me and Fiona. I'll tell you one thing, and you'll believe me."
Bianca turned to look at him, waiting.
Dexter didn't beat around the bush. "Fiona is very... casual when it comes to men. Cheating is basically a daily routine for her. I don't have a habit of looking for drama."
Bianca's eyebrows twitched. She was surprised, but then realized something. "So, you did think about it. That's why you bought the house next to hers."
Haha.
Dexter knew the house issue would come up. He couldn't help but laugh. "Actually, I'm in the process of buying other houses. The more the better. I plan to acquire as much real estate around here as I can."
Bianca was distracted by this. "Why?"
"I think this area has potential. In a few years, there's a high probability it will look completely different. Just making some early investments," Dexter answered truthfully.
Bianca looked at him for two seconds. She believed him, but she wanted to confirm one last time. "You really have no interest in that Fiona girl?"
Dexter shook his head. "Her list of ex-boyfriends is nearing triple digits. Do I look like the kind of guy who'd be into that?"
Triple digits?
Bianca was shocked. "That exaggerated?"
Dexter nodded. He didn't want to say more, lest he sound like he was gossiping maliciously. "So, Ms. Green, ready to get out of the car?"
"Barely," Bianca said haughtily, then opened the door.
---
Hotel Room
Once inside, Bianca pulled a small, gift-wrapped box out of her purse and handed it to Dexter. "I thought about it, and I decided to give it to you anyway."
Dexter took it and opened it.
Inside was a brand-new Breguet watch.
It wasn't their most expensive model, but it certainly wasn't cheap. For someone with Bianca's current income, it was a luxury.
Dexter paused for a moment, then smiled brightly. "Are you planning to starve for the next few months?"
Bianca lifted her chin. "I have savings. Plus, I plan on eating for free at your restaurant from now on."
"Deal. You're welcome anytime. But right now, let me eat you," Dexter said, scooping her up by the waist.
"Hey! Put me down, put me down..." Bianca squealed, caught off guard.
---
2119 North Wallace Street
Some things are truly addictive.
Fiona stared at the Facebook profile of Craig Heisner, the guy she had crushed on in high school but never could get.
Gritting her teeth, Fiona's fingers moved quickly across the keyboard. She sent a message.
Hi, remember me? Fiona Gallagher.