"Whoosh"
As the sound of the toilet flushing faded, Shannon Quinn pushed open the stall door and looked up to see June Yardley leaning against the opposite wall, smiling at her.
"What a coincidence." June’s smile was a bit eerie as she curled her crimson lips.
Shannon was taken aback, her heart suddenly filled with panic, but she pretended to be calm on the surface, said nothing, adjusted her hair, and turned to leave.
She didn’t know if June was getting suspicious. If she found out about the pregnancy, Shannon didn’t know what consequences might arise.
All she knew was the fewer people who knew she was pregnant, the better, especially those aware of her marriage to Vincent Rhodes.
Back at the exhibition hall, she found Erin Bishop sitting alone at a corner table, with a glass of red wine at her side.
"Where did you go? It’s been a while."
Shannon sat down opposite her and whispered, "I just ran into June."
"June? She didn’t bully you, did she?!"
Shannon shook her head, frowning, and said worriedly, "I just felt nauseous and threw up in the bathroom, and she caught . I don’t know if she’s suspicious."
"What does your pregnancy have to do with her? Even if she’s despicable, she wouldn’t harm the child you’re carrying, would she?"
"I don’t know, but I always feel uneasy."
"Don’t be afraid, I’ll move in with you for the ti being. I don’t believe she can get that brazen."
Midway through, Erin received a call from the company and had to leave early. She said she’d pack so things, and if ti permitted, she’d drive over to pick up Shannon and go to her place.
After Erin left, Shannon originally planned to wait here until the end of the exhibition to leave, not expecting to run into an old friend from their study days.
Lynn Kendall had also studied under Aidan Lockwood for a while before going abroad. Today, she was part of the designer team.
Though not particularly close friends, the reunion after a long ti still had Shannon chatting and strolling with Lynn.
"Shannon, it’s been a while. You’ve beco quite the celebrity."
"Not at all. I often see your work in magazines. There’s still a lot I have to learn from you."
"Oh, stop being so humble with . We all know Mr. Lockwood’s skills. A pupil trained by him can’t be bad, right?"
Shannon smiled, and Lynn asked, "By the way, didn’t Mr. Lockwood co today?"
"No, he had other matters and couldn’t free up the ti."
"Then next ti, if you can, help arrange a eting with Mr. Lockwood so we can grab a al together. I’m planning to return ho to develop my career, but I haven’t figured out where to work yet. I’d like to see if Mr. Lockwood’s studio is hiring."
When Shannon heard this, she had the authority over studio personnel matters, so she told Lynn, "If you’re coming, Aidan would be thrilled, and he’d surely agree without hesitation."
"Really? Then I’ll have to trouble you to put in a good word for with Mr. Lockwood. You’re his protégé, and your words carry much more weight than mine."
Shannon humbly smiled and said, "Mr. Lockwood cherishes talent. With your skills, there’s no way he wouldn’t want you."
"Alright, let’s set it up then. Let’s exchange contact info, and we can find so ti in the next few days to have a al and finalize things. I can start working here imdiately."
After exchanging WeChat information, Lynn appeared much busier and left with a foreign man after adding Shannon on WeChat.
The man seed to be one of the designers today, and apparently, a friend of Lynn’s.
Shannon didn’t dislike Lynn, but she wasn’t particularly fond of her either.
Lynn was especially skilled in socializing and knew exactly what she needed and whom to associate with for her own gain.
If it weren’t for wanting to join Aidan Lockwood’s studio, Lynn wouldn’t have reached out.
This wasn’t their first eting since their separation; they had attended fashion shows together, where Shannon recognized her. However, each ti, Lynn was chatting with her friends and never greeted Shannon.
Shannon figured their relationship wasn’t particularly close, so maybe Lynn had forgotten about her, and hence, she didn’t initiate a greeting whenever they t.
Lynn had talent, and as an established designer, she usually had a consistent client base. Her joining Aidan’s studio would obviously be beneficial.
However, Shannon feared that the work environnt might turn into sothing like a drama full of scheming and backbiting.
"Shannon, you’re here too?"
Upon hearing soone call her na, Shannon turned around, a smile imdiately breaking out as she saw the man behind her: "Mr. Rhodes."
"I didn’t know you were here. I didn’t co over to greet you."
"Did you co alone?"
"I ca with a friend, but she had to leave early."
Simon Rhodes then said, "Let give you a ride ho later. I have sothing to discuss with you."
"What is it?"
"Let’s talk later. I have a few things to handle right now. If you’re tired, find a place to sit and wait for . I won’t be long, and I’ll call you when I’m ready to leave."
"Okay, you go ahead."
With Simon, Shannon had no such reservations and always regarded him as a elder brother.
Since marrying into the Rhodes Family, Simon had been the most supportive of her.
Ever since her pregnancy, possibly due to psychological reasons, Shannon felt she lacked the stamina she once had. After a short walk, her legs felt sore, so she returned to her seat to wait until Simon was done so he could take her ho.
At the sa ti, she also ssaged Erin, letting her know not to detour to pick her up.
Sitting there, watching the comings and goings of people in the exhibition hall, Shannon knew many of them, be it designers she encountered at previous shows or clients she’d collaborated with, but there were few she could truly converse with.
She sotis admired people like Lynn, who could always be at ease and chat with anyone.
Shannon, however, found it difficult. In such settings, she was almost never the one to initiate conversations, and even when approached, she’d exchange only a few words before running out of things to say.
She felt that being alone and at peace was nice — no need to think about how to engage others or worry about saying the wrong thing. Why live so burdened by trying to please others?
After sitting for about ten minutes, she noticed she hadn’t seen Landon Sutton around anymore. She wondered if he had left or if soone of his stature was in a more secluded spot, eting only with select individuals.
Reflecting on what Landon said before leaving, Shannon couldn’t help but reconsider whether her attitude was too harsh.
She’s afraid of the dark, but how could he have known? Even afterwards, he apologized.
And what did he an by "it will soon be as you wish"?
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