「Afternoon.」
Ethan Yardley arrived at the school right on ti to pick up Serena.
The mont she got in the car, a bouquet of sunflowers appeared before her. They were exceptionally vibrant and beautiful.
She took them and asked the man beside her with a smile, "For ?"
"Mm-hmm."
"You’re quite the romantic."
Serena sat beside him, hugging the flowers. She took a sniff; they slled wonderful.
Ethan naturally pulled her into his arms, kissing her on the forehead out of habit.
Serena didn’t object. She took out her phone to take pictures of the flowers, then snapped a selfie.
After she was done, she put her phone away and asked the man beside her, "Ethan, can I ask you sothing?"
"Yeah, go ahead."
Ethan’s eyes were fixed on her, unblinking.
To him, she was just like the bouquet in her arms—so beautiful he couldn’t bear to look away.
Or maybe he was afraid that if he did, she would disappear.
So he had to keep a close watch on her.
"Does Quinn Gardner have any younger sisters? Paternal or maternal cousins, either one."
Thinking of the scene she’d witnessed at the school gate, Serena felt conflicted. She didn’t know if she should tell Nina.
Ethan didn’t know why she was suddenly asking about this.
He frowned at her and said with certainty,
"He doesn’t have any sisters, paternal or maternal cousins included. He has a few younger male cousins on his mother’s side, though. Why do you ask?"
Serena was left speechless.
’So Cynthia yer isn’t Quinn’s sister.’
’Then what is her relationship with Quinn? And why would he be driving her to school?’
Since she didn’t know Cynthia yer, Serena didn’t dare to make wild guesses, afraid she might accidentally ruin Nina’s family life.
"Ahem, it’s nothing. I haven’t seen Nina in a while. When we get to her place, I’ll go see her. You can just head ho."
Ethan sighed. "That couple only just got together, and they moved in not too long ago. You shouldn’t go bother them."
Suspicious, Serena turned to look at Ethan.
"They only just got together? What do you an? Aren’t they already married with a child who’s several years old?"
Ethan raised a hand and gently stroked Serena’s head, his voice soft.
"You couldn’t get in touch with Nina Thorne for a while, right? Even I didn’t know where she was. Back then, she went abroad after getting pregnant.
She only ca back with their child recently. The kid is very bright and found Quinn Gardner on his own. That’s how Quinn found out Nina had given birth to his child.
Later, Quinn found Nina, and they decided to get married for the child’s sake, but they never had a wedding. Then they moved in next door to us."
Serena was speechless.
’So that’s what happened.’
A thought struck her, and she quickly asked, "So before Nina showed up, did Quinn Gardner have a girlfriend?"
"He dated soone for a few years, but she passed away."
Serena’s eyes flew open in shock. "How did that happen?"
"It’s a long story, but don’t ntion it to Nina. She doesn’t know."
"Oh..."
Ethan asked, "So, are you still going to see Nina?"
Serena pouted and insisted, "I’ll just hang out with her for a bit. I promise I’ll be ho before eight, okay?"
Unable to persuade her, Ethan had no choice but to agree.
When the car pulled up to the Grant family’s gate, he let her out.
Serena entered the Grant residence without any trouble. When the housekeeper told her Nina was in her room upstairs, she headed up.
Standing outside the bedroom door, Serena raised her hand and knocked.
A woman’s gentle voice ca from inside. "Co in."
Serena pushed the door open and saw the woman sitting on the edge of the bed, seemingly wiping away tears.
She approached quietly, calling out softly, "Nina."
Nina Thorne took a deep breath, trying to hide the pain on her face. She turned to Serena, forcing a smile.
"Serena, you’re here. Co, talk with for a bit."
Serena went over and sat down beside her.
Seeing that Nina’s eyes were bloodshot, she asked with concern, "Nina, are you all right?"
Nina smiled, but it couldn’t hide the pain in her eyes.
"What could be wrong with ? I’m fine."
"But you were crying."
’Don’t tell her husband is actually cheating on her?’
’No, that can’t be it.’
’Her husband always seed so dapper and refined. How could he do sothing so depraved?’
’I must be overthinking things.’
"I just... miss my child."
At this, Nina couldn’t stop tears from welling up in her eyes again.
She lowered her head, trying to hide her anguish, but it was no use.
Serena imdiately asked, "Where’s your child? Did sothing happen to him?"
Nina shook her head. "He’s with his grandparents."
"Then you should go see him! Bring him here to live with you."
"They won’t let ."
Thinking about how the elders had kept the child hidden from her ever since she entrusted him to them, she was suddenly struck by an ominous feeling.
’She had a feeling she’d been tricked by the Grants.’
’And her so-called husband wasn’t helping her get their son back, which only strengthened her suspicion that the Grants were plotting sothing.’
"Nina, don’t cry. The child is yours, but he’s also a Grant. They wouldn’t do anything to him.
Just talk to them calmly. Tell them you miss your son, and they’ll let you see him."
Serena wrapped her arms around Nina. Seeing her friend cry made her heart ache.
"Serena, I think I made a mistake. I never should have co back. I certainly shouldn’t have believed he could love . Maybe all he ever wanted was our child."
Nina hugged Serena back, unable to stop the tears from streaming down her face.
’But she didn’t understand. If all they wanted was the child, why did they marry her?’
’If Quinn Gardner didn’t bring their son back to her within three days, he shouldn’t bla her for causing a scene at the main residence.’
"Don’t cry, Nina. I think your husband does love you. Whatever it is, you two should talk it out properly."
Serena didn’t know how to comfort her, so she just patted her on the back, offering a shoulder to lean on.
Not wanting to make Serena worry, Nina nodded. "Mm, I’ll talk to that man again later."
...
「anwhile.」
Ethan had just walked through the door of his ho.
Vivian Lynch hurried over to greet him with a nod.
"Mr. Yardley, you have a guest. She’s in the living room."
Without changing his shoes, Ethan strode past the foyer and into the living room.
The mont he saw Sylvia Schuyler sitting in the living room, his expression turned grim, his gaze as cold as ice.
He strode over to stand before her, his voice frigid. "Sylvia, do you really want to get rough?"
Sylvia t his gaze, her eyes red-rimd as she put on a fragile act.
"Ethan, where else can I go? I’ll never be able to get married now. No man will have . I can only turn to you."
She forced a few tears from her eyes and said between sobs,
"I know you love Serena. I’m not expecting you to keep your promise and marry . Can’t I just stay by your side?"
Any woman’s tears, other than Serena’s, left Ethan completely unmoved.
Averting his gaze from Sylvia, Ethan pulled out his phone to make a call.
Sylvia knew he was calling soone to throw her out again.
Her resolve hardening, she suddenly snatched the fruit knife from the coffee table and pressed it to her neck.
Seeing her actions, Ethan lowered his phone. "Sylvia, what do you think you’re doing?"
"I just want you to give a way to survive. Can’t I work by your side? Can’t we just be friends and support each other?"
"Ethan, if you insist on driving away, then I’ll die right here in front of you. My life is aningless anyway."
She was making her final plea.
’If this man was still so cold and heartless, then he couldn’t bla her for what she was about to do.’
A violent look crossed Ethan’s face, his displeasure obvious. "You have plenty of other options. Why do you insist on staying with ?"
Sylvia cried, "Because I love you! And because other people will despise when they find out I can’t have children.
Ethan, if even you despise , then I might as well just die right now."
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