Andrei and Neon enjoyed their lunch immensely, and seeing her brother so genuinely cheerful brought a wave of relief over Belle.
When the bill arrived, Eli reached for it immediately. Before he could place his card down, Belle caught him by the wrist, her grip firm. "Let me pay for half of this, and please, don't argue with me. Your family has taken such wonderful care of my brother. You guys have already done so much for us," she rushed out, desperate to cut off his impending refusal. "Please?"
"Alright. Let me split it," Eli conceded, though a different plan was already forming in his mind. Compared to him, Belle was raising Neon entirely on her own, whereas he had no immediate dependents solely relying on his income. When calculating the split, Eli subtly absorbed 70% of the total, handing Belle a slip that accounted for only the remaining 30%.
