Moira Sloan finished speaking, her tone uncharacteristically gentle and coaxing.
They t each other’s eyes, and Moira was sure Connor Quinn would agree.
But to her surprise, he pulled back without a word, pushed open the door, and got out of the car.
Moira Sloan, "???"
When she got ho that evening, Moira Sloan ntioned the incident in passing during a video call with Flora Rhodes.
Flora Rhodes was shocked but couldn’t resist teasing her. "I have to say, the guy’s surprisingly principled."
Moira Sloan scoffed.
’We’ve already slept together. We’re friends with benefits. What principles are there to even talk about?’
’If you ask , he’s just being stubborn and old-fashioned.’
Flora Rhodes was applying a mung bean mud mask, which looked alarmingly green under the light.
Moira Sloan couldn’t help but frown. "Can you please use a normal-looking mask?"
Flora Rhodes replied, "What’s not normal about this? Mung bean mud gets rid of acne scars."
Moira Sloan asked, "Do you even have acne scars?"
’They’d known each other for years, and she’d never noticed any acne scars on her friend.’
Faced with the question, Flora Rhodes clamd up and acted coy. "Hey, why are you asking such a personal question?"
Moira Sloan shuddered, her expression like she’d just seen a ghost.
After they finished teasing each other, Flora Rhodes shared a piece of news with Moira. "Oh, by the way, I heard sothing today."
Moira Sloan said, "Go on."
Flora Rhodes said, "That forr second senior brother of yours, Finn Fuller, has been eting with Rachel Yates a lot in private these last couple of days."
Moira Sloan frowned. "Hm?"
Flora Rhodes continued, "Do you think Master Alden’s death could be...?"
Moira Sloan’s breath caught in her throat, and she said nothing.
The ntion of Kain Alden’s death felt like a heavy stone weighing on Moira’s heart.
Back when Finn Fuller was expelled from their master’s tutelage, he had been deeply resentful.
He’d even threatened on several occasions that he would make Kain Alden regret it.
But...
Moira Sloan composed herself. "Don’t spread this around for now."
Flora Rhodes agreed. "Don’t worry, I get it. We don’t have any proof. Spreading it around now would just tip him off."
「Elsewhere」
Connor Quinn was smoking in the building’s stairwell when he received a ssage from Miles Murray.
Miles Murray: You left yesterday in the middle of tattooing that na on . When are you going to finish it?
Connor Quinn: I’m already back in Everwood County.
Miles Murray: ?
Connor Quinn: I’ll do it at the sa ti as your Lord Grant tattoo.
Miles Murray: ??
Connor glanced at Miles’s question marks but didn’t reply.
Miles Murray: Quinn, are you even human???
Miles Murray: I had to move heaven and earth for that na! I practically bet my life on it and even agreed to get the damn Lord Grant tattoo, and this is how you treat ??
Connor Quinn still hadn’t replied to Miles Murray by the ti he finished his cigarette.
A mont later, he stubbed out the cigarette and started walking back, but the phone in his other pocket suddenly vibrated.
He stopped in his tracks, pulled out the phone, and glanced at the screen. His brow furrowed at the ssage that appeared.
A ssage from the "One Big Happy Family" group chat.
Moira Sloan: Quick question: are labels in a relationship really that important to you guys?
This ti, Rowan Churchill and Caleb Lockwood appeared instantly, no red packet from Moira Sloan needed.
Caleb Lockwood: Go on, elaborate.
Rowan Churchill: Give us the details.
Moira Sloan: Why are you two so eager all of a sudden?
’Sothing’s fishy here.’
Rowan Churchill: I don’t want to put a price on our sacred bond as fellow apprentices.
Caleb Lockwood: It is our duty, as fellow apprentices, to watch over and help one another.
Moira Sloan: Okay, so I have this friend. GET! IT! STRAIGHT! I have a friend. IT’S! NOT! !!
Rowan Churchill: Got it.
Caleb Lockwood: Right.
Moira Sloan: So, this friend of mine... she’s in one of those relationships with a guy. You know, the kind where two adults are intimate but without any strings attached. She recently suggested taking things to the next level, but still without any commitnt, and he refused. What’s the play here?
Rowan Churchill: Junior Sister...
Moira Sloan: Yeah?
Caleb Lockwood finished the thought: You’re kind of a player, aren’t you?
Moira Sloan: ??
Seeing the three of them getting more and more into the conversation, Connor leaned his back against the wall. His well-defined fingers tapped out a ssage and hit send: It’s late. Aren’t you three asleep yet?
The group chat fell dead silent.
Seeing that the group chat had gone quiet, Connor Quinn exited the group interface and sent a private ssage to Moira Sloan: If you don’t want to commit, why do you want to take things to the next level?
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