Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 1740

He stood there, gripping the cigarette so tightly that his knuckles began to turn white. Watching his painful hesitation, Sylvia felt the urge to laugh at the sheer absurdity of it all. The promises of men were nothing but empty lies. If he could not even break a single habit, how could he claim he would do absolutely anything for her? Ignoring him completely, she walked over to the flowerbeds outside the main entrance and took a few deep breaths of the crisp, chilly spring air. Once her emotions had settled, she turned back, intending to return to the building and grab a quick bite to eat. But right as they brushed past each other, Steve suddenly reached out and seized her wrist.

"Okay!"

Sylvia whipped her head around in astonishment. "What?"

Steve's gaze burned into her, a powerful rush of emotion swirling in his eyes. "I accept your condition! But if I successfully quit, we start over as friends. Is that a deal?"

Completely unconvinced he could actually do it, Sylvia let out a dismissive, cold laugh. "Sure."

The moment she agreed, Steve grabbed her right hand and shoved his incredibly expensive pack of cigarettes and his custom, limited-edition metal lighter directly into her palm.

"Then from this moment on, you have to stay by my side and monitor my every move." Bending down slightly to look her dead in the eye, he added, "If I smoke even one more cigarette, I lose."

Sylvia did not even realize that she had just walked straight into his trap. Raising an eyebrow, she met his gaze without an ounce of retreat. "Deal. But if you lose, you stay out of my sight for good!" With that, she tightened her grip on the cigarettes and lighter and turned to leave.

They navigated their way up to the mall's top-floor dining area. When Steve finally stopped outside a Korean barbecue restaurant, Sylvia was stunned. This used to be one of her absolute favorite spots. Ever since she took over the company, her grueling work hours had left her with so little free time that she had not sat down for a proper barbecue meal in ages. More importantly, Steve was notoriously picky and intensely germaphobic. He absolutely despised places choked with heavy smoke and grease. He almost never set foot inside a restaurant that would leave him reeking of food afterward. She shot him an incredibly complex look, knowing full well that he was accommodating her. He was actively trying to please her. Her lips parted slightly, but in the end, she said nothing, silently following him inside.

A waiter led them to a booth. To Sylvia's utter shock, Steve actually reached for the grilling tongs himself. Rolling his crisp shirt sleeves up to his forearms, he used his long, elegant fingers to lay slices of premium Wagyu beef flat against the grill plate. Managing the heat perfectly, he carefully flipped the meat, cut it into bite-sized pieces, and then placed them directly onto Sylvia's plate. "Eat up. It is cooked to perfection right now. If it gets cold, it will turn tough."

Lowering her eyes to the beef on her plate, Sylvia felt a sudden, surreal wave of disorientation. She was actually sitting peacefully across from Steve, eating barbecue, and she was the one being so tenderly cared for.