Mr. CEO's Substitute Bride-Chapter 653 - 649, you are only allowed to tell me from now on.

Sitting in the car, Mia Foster was mesmerized by Felix Shaw smoking until Felix casually glanced at the cars parked by the restaurant, tossed his cigarette butt, and walked over. Only then did Mia come back to her senses and turned off the engine.

She opened the car door with an apologetic smile and said, "Why are you standing out here in the cold? You must have been waiting impatiently."

Felix replied with a smile, "It’s alright," and then gentlemanly extended his hand to form a canopy, helping her out of the car without actually touching her. He had just hung up from a call with Elizabeth White, planning to have a cigarette before going back in, but turned around to see Mia.

"Thank you," said Mia very politely, to which Felix raised an eyebrow playfully, "It’s my pleasure to serve a beauty like you."

Although Felix was flirtatious, he was absolutely gentlemanly and considerate towards women. He offered a pseudo-support to Mia’s waist—a contact that was both polite and suggestively intimate—as they walked together towards the restaurant.

Mia, carrying her bag, turned to him with a smile and said, "You have a way with words that surely pleases women," Before Felix could reply with "Thank you for the compliment," he heard Mia continue, "But from now on, these words are reserved for me alone, no more sweet-talking other women."

"So domineering?" Felix tried to suppress his amusement as he exaggerated a frown, to which Mia tilted her head in a matter-of-fact manner, "Of course, because I am your official girlfriend."

Mia used the words Felix had said the night before to seal his lips.

Felix nodded noncommittally, "Indeed." He suddenly realized that there were benefits to dating a woman with principles, such as this mutual respect, which was much preferable to those women who threw themselves at him.

Felix had reserved a table in advance, a couple’s seat in the corner of the restaurant. When it was time to order, Mia flipped through the menu and said, "I’ll pay for this meal."

Remembering last night’s scene, Felix nodded with a smile, "Alright."

This woman was truly interesting. When he instructed the waiter to bring the bill last night, while she was dabbing the corners of her lips, she told him, "Couples abroad are popular for going Dutch these days," Felix thought she wanted to split the bill with him, but then Mia’s following statement almost made him sulk, "But you are a man, and it’s only right for you to pay for a lady."

Although he didn’t say anything, Felix couldn’t help but scoff inwardly at the time, never having met a woman who could so brazenly expect a man to pay. Yet just when he was indignant, Mia added, "Next time, I’ll pick up the tab, which would seem more harmonious."

Faced with such a savvy and clear-cut woman, Felix couldn’t be bothered to argue. After all, neither was short on cash, and a meal’s cost was less than he’d spend on a single hand of cards. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Felix noted that Mia was very picky, like after ordering matsutake mushrooms, she made sure to instruct the waiter to tell the chef to pan-fry them in a flat pan with less oil, to specifically use olive oil, and to add only a pinch of fine salt without other seasonings...

While Mia was ordering, Felix covertly observed her. The woman dressed simply, but exuded an air of noble luxury.

For example, the only piece of jewelry she wore, a wristwatch, was a limited edition from an international brand, valued at over ten million, and her outfit, a dark floral blouse underneath, was Dior’s latest spring collection, likely also priced in the five figures...

Seeing Mia close the menu, Felix took a sip of water from a tall glass, then casually asked as he set it down, "How old were you when you started working?"

A twenty-six-year-old woman, even without a master’s degree, would have started working a bit past the age of twenty. Hence, her attire must have been provided by her family. Thinking of how his own expenditures were all earned by himself, Mia’s image in Felix’s mind was somewhat diminished.

He figured she must be another one used to having things handed to her on a silver platter.