Renee Winslow wasn’t soone who liked dwelling on the sorrows of life; more importantly, the hardships life had given her left her with neither the ti nor energy for such lancholy indulgence.
If she let herself be consud by these troubles and stayed subrged in her pain, she wouldn’t have survived this long.
But she wanted to live, and she wanted a better life.
Wiping away her tears, Renee sat up and called Jack Yates.
Jack had just gone downstairs when his phone rang.
He thought it was another call from his family and frowned impatiently. But when he saw it was Renee, his deeply furrowed brow instantly relaxed, the corners of his mouth even lifting. Even his voice subconsciously softened and lowered.
"Hello, Renee, what’s up?"
Renee replied gently, "Starting tomorrow, can I go back to English class? I have nothing much to do at ho anyway, so I’d like to resu lessons."
Jack had expected another round of tears or complaints from Renee. He was already ntally preparing to go back and comfort her if she cried, but to his surprise, the girl had already composed herself, even calr than he’d imagined.
"Okay." He agreed readily, then asked, "Anything else you want?"
Renee replied softly, "No, just being able to get back to English class is enough."
She’d already made up her mind; after the term started, she would quietly enroll in an IELTS prep course and aim to pass her IELTS exam before graduating college.
Even though she hadn’t decided if she’d study abroad, it never hurt to prepare a backup path in advance.
She’d graduate in a year and a half—more precisely, one year and four months—it actually sounded quite soon.
Whatever happened, she’d finish her studies first.
When the ti ca to decide whether to leave or stay, she wanted to be the one to make that call—no more chains, no more restrictions!
-
On the second day of the new year, The Yates Family was hosting guests. In addition to inviting relatives and friends, The Thorne Family was also invited.
Originally, The Yates Family and The Thorne Family weren’t close at all, had no interaction. Russell Yates and Terrence Thorne had never tead up for anything. They rely "worked in the sa governnt," saw each other in conference halls on occasion, but had no private communication and never visited each other during the holidays.
But early last year, after Terrence Thorne was transferred back to Northcity, his wife lody Locke had played cards a few tis with Chloe Bell and also shared a few als. Suddenly, the two families beca closer.
At first, Chloe Bell hadn’t thought about a marriage alliance with The Thorne Family.
Back then, she was still hoping Jack Yates would marry Wren Hawthorne, mainly because Hector Hawthorne was the head of the Energy Bureau at the ti, which would benefit Jack’s career.
But Jack absolutely refused to marry Wren, didn’t even want to et her once.
Eventually, Jack’s actions offended Hector Hawthorne, who deliberately blocked his projects. Chloe had no choice but to shift her sights to The Thorne Family.
After Terrence Thorne’s return, he took the number two spot in the Personnel Departnt, in charge of appointnts and transfers.
Hector Hawthorne’s days as Energy Bureau chief were clearly numbered. Terrence Thorne had the power to decide his successor, so the next director would most likely be one of Terrence’s trusted n.
Chloe Bell knew that Terrence Thorne’s only daughter, Sydney Thorne, was still unmarried, so she arranged to et lody Locke more often for massages, beauty treatnts, and afternoon tea.
The Thornes were well aware of Chloe’s intentions, but as the family with a daughter, they weren’t going to make the first move about marriage.
And while Chloe desperately wanted Jack Yates to marry Sydney Thorne, Jack’s rumors about his "adopted student" were already circulating everywhere. She felt awkward bringing it up herself.
So the two families both held their cards, neither breaking the silence first.
That was until Jack fell into a trap set by Matthew Shaw and Hector Hawthorne working together. Wren and Michael Shaw got engaged with great fanfare, and only then did Chloe panic.
Right after the New Year, Chloe invited lody Locke for another ga of cards, along with Frederick Yates’s mother Wendy Heston and Simon Forrester’s mother, Lana Sheridan.
During the ga, Wendy Heston deliberately helped lody Locke win hands.
Lana Sheridan joked, smiling, "Secretary Heston, are you trying to beco in-laws with Professor Locke?"
Wendy Heston was a departnt secretary in the Arts Federation before retirent last year. Even now, people continued to address her as "Secretary Heston."
lody Locke had been an economics professor at Riverbend University, retiring just the year before last.
Wendy was not embarrassed when exposed, she laughed candidly, "I’d love to, but I’m afraid Miss Locke would never pick our Frederick."
Lana Sheridan feigned surprise: "Oh? Why Frederick? Shouldn’t a mother worry about her own son, Fourth Master, before worrying about her nephew?"
Wendy Heston laughed, "Frederick still isn’t married. How can a younger brother get married before his older brother? It just wouldn’t be right."
Chloe Bell chuckled as she played a tile—the very one lody Locke needed.
Setting the tile on the table, Chloe said with a laugh, "You two are really going at it! As for Frederick, with his soldier-boy attitude, I doubt Sydney would see him that way."
lody Locke picked up Chloe’s tile and pushed it onto the table with a smile, "Mahjong!"
And thus, the matter of Jack Yates and Sydney Thorne was tacitly agreed upon by the elders of both families—now it was up to the young people themselves.
When Jack returned to the Yates’s old house, The Thornes hadn’t arrived yet.
Chloe Bell reminded him repeatedly: when Sydney arrived, he needed to be proactive and enthusiastic—give Sydney a tour of the garden, take a walk, and after lunch, take her downtown, see a romantic film, and buy so gifts for Sydney and her parents.
Jack listened expressionlessly, not saying a word.
Frederick Yates was standing behind the wind corridor pillar, overheard Chloe’s instructions to Jack, and couldn’t hold back a laugh.
Chloe’s face darkened. "Fourth Master! Co out here!"
Frederick strolled out from behind the lacquered pillar, hand in pocket, wearing a lazy, nonchalant smile, "Don’t be mad, Auntie. I just think Jack’s already thirty, not three—you don’t have to spell out every little detail for him."
Chloe retorted with irritation, "If I don’t explain, how would he know?"
Frederick shot a glance at Jack’s icy, severe expression and snickered, "Honestly, with his ’King of Hell’ face, it’s hard to imagine Jack being enthusiastic about anything."
Once Chloe left, Frederick went over to Jack, teasing with a grin,
"I bet you’ve never been enthusiastic in bed, either."
Jack’s gaze was cold and dangerous, "You that bored?"
Frederick bit a cigarette between his lips and smirked roguishly, "It’s the holidays, what else is there to do?"
Jack turned and headed back to his room in The West Wing. Frederick followed.
Entering The West Wing Courtyard, Jack’s phone rang—it was Aiden Grant calling. Jack sat down on the bench under the veranda to take the call.
Aiden Grant: "Jack, I found out. Yesterday, Renee and Sydney Thorne both went to the third floor of The Hers Store. With Sydney was a woman, an actress her company just signed."
Jack: "Make that actress talk."
Aiden Grant: "We questioned her. She’s just one of those who can’t see past money—easily scared, confessed everything right away."
"She said Sydney investigated Renee in advance and knew what she looked like. Yesterday’s encounter was pure coincidence: Sydney was shopping at your group’s mall, saw Renee, and they decided to follow her. When Renee went into the store, they followed, then deliberately said those things aloud."
Aiden recounted Sydney and her friend’s conversation from the day before, concise and to the point.
"Jack, that actress said Sydney doesn’t mind your relationship with Renee because she’s got her own stable of male college students—actually, several at once. And Sydney is genuinely interested in marrying you—publicly maintaining a marriage while privately both sides do their thing."
Jack’s tone was even: "Mm, I know."
Aiden, shocked: "You know? Then you still... still agreed to her terms?"
Jack’s lips curled coldly. "Let her think she’s got the upper hand."
Aiden sounded genuinely delighted with the juicy gossip, nearly giddy with excitent.
"Jack, you an you really plan to marry her, keep up the façade while openly keeping your..."
Jack’s face darkened. "Did you eat so much pork fat at New Year you went stupid?"
Aiden: "..."
Jack: "There’s no way I’ll marry her."
Aiden probed, "You just want to use her as a shield?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)