"She really does look a lot like Jocelyn."
But it wasn't exactly impossible to tell them apart.
At the very least, Claire could spot the differences at a single glance.
When they weren't speaking, their resting features were remarkably similar.
"Are you sure you guys weren't following me?" Owen asked suspiciously.
He wasn't surprised that someone as sharp as Claire could figure out Seraphina's identity.
But wasn't it a bit too coincidental to bump into these three little menaces?
Claire rolled her eyes. "Why would we follow you, Owen? Do you think you're that interesting?"
"Yeah, Owen. We literally couldn't care less about your romantic history,"
Seb chimed in.
Yolande was the only one still fixated on the gossip. "Was she really your first love? She doesn't look like what I expected."
"What did you expect?" Owen completely forgot to keep denying it.
"Well, how do I put this? She's pretty, but not *that* pretty."
She still seemed a bit lacking compared to someone like Owen.
She just gave off a cute, girl-next-door vibe.
Every single girlfriend Owen had dated after her had been drop-dead gorgeous.
Compared to those stunning women, Seraphina felt worlds apart.
Having forgotten her purse, Seraphina had returned to the restaurant just in time to catch Yolande's brutal assessment.
All the color drained from her face.
She didn't know Owen's family, so she naturally assumed this pretty girl was just a friend of his.
Or quite possibly, a future girlfriend.
Her evaluation was honestly quite fair.
But who wanted to hear someone say they weren't good enough for their ex?
Even if she privately agreed that she didn't deserve him.
"Owen, your friend is back," Claire pointed out.
Owen glanced over his shoulder. It really was Seraphina.
Why did she come back?
Was she actually planning to finish her dinner?
Seraphina felt mortified under his gaze. "I forgot my purse."
Owen looked at the opposite chair. Sure enough, her bag was resting on the seat.
"Right." He paused for a moment before speaking. "Since you're already back, you might as well finish eating before you leave."
The food was already ordered; it would be a shame to waste it.
Seraphina absolutely wanted to finish the meal with Owen, but she hesitated, glancing at the booth next to them.
"I won't be interrupting you guys, will I?"
The three cousins immediately shook their heads in unison. "We aren't with him.
You guys go ahead, pretend we aren't even here."
Seraphina didn't buy it. She looked at Owen. "Owen, why don't you ask your friends to join us?"
"No need. They can eat on their own."
Owen didn't bother correcting her assumption about them being friends, merely shutting down the idea of a shar meal.
"Yeah, don't mind us. We aren't in
è circle," Claire said with aet
the samen
dismissive wave wave
clear they wereaking it perfectly
y were staying out of it.
"I feel bad just leaving you out," Seraphina tried to offer politely.
Owen's patience snapped. "I told you to ignore them. They're just my younger cousins. They just happened to be eating here."
Seraphina was taken aback. "Your family really does have incredible genes."
All three of his cousins were outstanding.
The girl who had said she wasn't pretty enough was stunningly radiant the other girl was strikingly beautiful, and the boy while not quite as ruggedly handsome as Owen-was undeniably charming.
They certainly had the right to critique her looks.
"Yeah," Owen replied, clearly done with the conversation.
The rest of their meal was eaten in stifling silence.
Seraphina deeply regretted deciding to stay.
She should have just grabbed her bag and bolted.
Whatever lingering affection they once shared had evaporated the second she chose her parents over him.
Any tiny shred of hope she had clung to was nothing more than pure delusion.
While the atmosphere at their table was suffocating, the trio next door was having the time of their lives.
Being so close in age and bursting with youthful energy, the three cousins had plenty to talk about.
Perhaps their lively chatter only
made the silence at her table feel that much more agonizing, because Seraphina excused herself the
moment she finished her food.