The Billionaire Stands Up for Me Chapter 96: My Archenemy Is Back!

The school anniversary is approaching, so I delivered the outfits for the fashion show to the school a day in advance.

After that, I drove to the airport to pick up my college roommate, Grace Chandler.

To my utmost surprise, I unexpectedly ran into Daniel Carter at the airport!

Seeing him walking out of the gate gracefully, several young girls nearby cast admiring glances his way, and I couldn’t help but swoon too.

I even blinked, doubting my eyes.

Daniel Carter was also surprised to see . His originally stern and upright deanor suddenly softened as if bathed in the spring breeze.

Secretary Harris, following beside Daniel Carter, pushing the luggage, approached and first expressed his surprise: "Miss Miller, what brings you to the airport? Did you know that Chairman Carter was returning from a business trip, and specifically ca to pick him up?"

I opened my mouth and pondered several tis, unable to decide how to respond.

This misunderstanding was huge!

But denying it would put Daniel Carter in an awkward spot.

Yet I couldn’t abandon my college roommate to maintain Daniel’s face and say—yes, I’m here to pick you up—and then just leave with them, could I?

Daniel, tall and upright, wore a long, deep-black trench coat, exuding an aura of nobility.

He looked down at , seeing my stunned expression, and took the initiative to help out: "What a coincidence, coming to the airport to pick soone up?"

"Yes, yes..." I smiled awkwardly, my face reddening to my ears, "What a coincidence, my college roommate is back for the school anniversary, and I ca to pick her up. I didn’t expect to run into you."

Secretary Harris, tactful as always, pushed the luggage and silently turned away.

Daniel chuckled, "I went on a business trip the night before last and rushed back today, also because of the school anniversary tomorrow."

"Oh, that must be tiring, all the traveling."

"Yes, I hardly slept last night. I finally got everything sorted out to catch today’s flight." As he said this, his tone and deanor both revealed fatigue.

I glanced at him, noticing the redness in his eyes and the dark circles around them, and couldn’t help but feel a little sympathetic.

Before I could say anything to comfort him, he smiled again, with a hint of fondness in his tone: "But it was an unexpected joy to see you right after getting off the plane; all that fatigue just vanished."

I couldn’t help but smile with him, "Yes, I was surprised too. I thought I was seeing things just now."

Daniel continued to gaze at my face, sighing with a subtle smile, "For a mont, I really thought you ca here just to pick up, thinking you had a change of heart."

The last sentence alluded to sothing more, making my heart pound uncontrollably.

Avoiding his gaze, my cheeks kept heating up; though silent, my inner world was abloom with joy.

I was lost in this pleasant mont until the broadcast broke our silence. I snapped back to reality and quickly said, "Well... you look really tired; you should head back and rest. See you tomorrow."

"Alright, I’ll co to get you tomorrow."

"Okay," I was about to nod when I suddenly rembered sothing, "Oh right, I’m picking up my friend later, and she’s staying at my place tonight, so there’s no need for the trouble tomorrow. I’ll go with her."

Daniel naturally replied, "Bringing your friend along wouldn’t be a problem, right?"

Ah?

"Uh... there’s no issue, I’m just worried about you being uncomfortable with soone unfamiliar..." After all, with his status, having a bit of pride is normal.

"I don’t mind. Let’s get in touch tomorrow."

"Okay."

Since he said so, I could only agree.

After we parted, he took a couple of steps before suddenly turning back.

I happened to look back at him too, caught in the act but reacted quickly to ask, "What’s up?"

"How much longer until your friend arrives?" Daniel asked.

I checked the ti on my phone: "About half an hour."

Upon hearing that, he promptly took off his black coat draped over his shoulder and put it over .

"It’s below freezing today, and you’re wearing so little. You girls endure a lot for looking good."

"No, no," I was flattered and repeatedly declined, "I’m not cold. If you give your coat, you’ll catch a chill when you go out later."

"The car is right outside. Once I step out, I’ll be in the car. But you have to wait here for half an hour; don’t catch a cold."

Daniel gave no chance to refuse, forcibly draping his coat over and even tying the sleeves tightly in front to ensure I wouldn’t take it off.

: "..."

"There, that’s warr now." Seeing bundled up, he comnted satisfactorily.

I was absolutely speechless, caught between laughter and tears, "This looks like binding a prisoner."

He chuckled and patted my head fondly, "But there aren’t prisoners this pretty."

My cheeks flushed even redder, feeling like they were on fire, my joy overflowing to the fullest.

"I’m leaving now. Let’s talk tomorrow."

"Okay, bye."

I watched as his elegant, slender figure walked away, standing still as my heart continued to race.

The pickup area was technically semi-outdoor, and although there was heating, the constant flow of people in and out left the doors open, allowing gusts of cold wind to seep in, really making people shiver.

Yet at this mont, warmth and happiness enveloped every corner of my body.

I could clearly feel my heart slowly falling.

After waiting for half an hour, Grace Chandler finally appeared.

We greeted each other from afar and excitedly jumped up and down.

"Lily Miller! Long ti no see!" My roommate rushed forward, giving a big hug; we were both very excited.

"Welco, welco! Finally got Editor Chandler." I laughed, teasingly.

"What editor? Should I be calling you President Miller then?"

We poked fun at each other.

After hugging, Grace released and looked at my face with curiosity: "What perfu are you wearing? It has a unique scent."

The next second, she noticed sothing peculiar about , her curiosity growing, "This coat... is not yours, is it? It’s a n’s coat!"

I looked down to inspect myself.

Daniel Carter is six feet three, and his clothes are custom-tailored.

So even though I’m five feet seven, this coat almost reaches my ankles on , and it’s obviously styled for a man.

"Yeah, it’s soone else’s. I’m just wearing it for the ti being." I explained uneasily.

Grace wrinkled her brows with a mischievous gleam, "I was wondering why the perfu sll is so unique; it’s from this coat. Adrian Gordon has good taste!"

Evidently, my roommate misunderstood, thinking this coat belonged to Adrian Gordon.

I picked up her luggage and turned towards the parking lot, casually saying, "This isn’t Adrian Gordon’s coat."

"Ah? Then you..." Grace looked surprised, as if catching cheating.

I continued to explain, "I got divorced from Adrian Gordon. It was settled through a lawsuit. I should receive the court’s decision in a few days."

"What?" Grace was even more shocked, "How long have we not talked? Didn’t you two just get married a few months ago? How did you end up divorced?"

Grace Chandler asked this way, showing that she wasn’t interested in gossip and hadn’t been in touch with classmates much.

The wedding scandal between Adrian Gordon and I caused a minor stir online at the ti; many classmates from out of town saw it, and so even ca to ask about it.

"It’s a long story, I’ll tell you slowly on the way."

Once we got in the car, Grace Chandler suddenly said she wouldn’t be staying at my place that night. She could only have a al with , then needed to rush to another district to et a headhunter, who would be out of town for a business trip early the next morning and was only available tonight.

I curiously asked, "You’re changing jobs?"

"Yeah, I feel like I’ve reached the end of the road at my current job and want to switch to a different platform and environnt."

"I understand. It’s rare to stay at one company for several years."

I drove Grace Chandler to Holburne for dinner.

During the al, we talked about what I’ve been through these past few months.

Grace Chandler listened with frequent frowns, her expressions were extrely vivid.

"Is Adrian Gordon actually like that? I rember in college, you two were such a great couple, a well-known pair of attractive and talented students."

As Grace Chandler ntioned these, I couldn’t help but reminisce about the past.

"So, after you two divorced, what are your plans? Surely there’s another guy pursuing you? That coat of yours is solid evidence." Grace Chandler nodded at the n’s coat draped over the seat beside .

The parking spot was a bit far from Holburne, and it was cold on the way, so I wrapped myself in it after getting out of the car.

"I suppose, but I’m not in the mood for now. I’ll focus on my company first." I gave her my usual response.

Grace Chandler pondered and said, "It’s a sha you two didn’t have kids, if you had a child, you wouldn’t need to marry again in this lifeti, just live freely with a child!"

I chuckled, "Why do I have to have kids? I can live freely and happily on my own right now too."

Grace Chandler was sipping tea, and upon hearing this, she set down her teacup and said excitedly, "What are you thinking! With your family’s complicated situation, if you don’t have a few heirs, your stepmother, brother, and all kinds of aunts and cousins would find ways to divide your assets. No matter how well you do in your career, you’d just end up working for them in the end!"

I was montarily stunned, never considering this angle.

After all, I’m still young; who thinks about things that are decades away?

"Are you scared now? I have this sense of crisis because the sa thing happened among my relatives, so my mom says I could stay unmarried, but I should have at least one child, preferably several, since money isn’t an issue."

I remained silent but took it to heart.

To have a child...

Accompanying this thought was the image of Daniel Carter in my mind.

If I had to choose a man to have a child with, subconsciously, I hoped it would be Daniel Carter.

But how could that be!

The Carter Family would never let that noble lineage spread outside.

And between him and —

There’s an infinite chasm that can never be bridged into a successful outco.

I couldn’t help but think, shouldn’t I learn from those domineering CEO dramas and use so ans to secretly obtain his sperm and then quietly disappear with the baby...

"Lily, Lily?" Grace Chandler nudged and muttered, "What’s wrong with you? Are you terrified? It’s still not too late to act, you can secretly... get with Adrian Gordon, have a baby, and raise it on your own since you’re already divorced."

My face flushed and my heart raced, I glanced at her and whispered, "How could it be possible! We never even had that before, and now, after the divorce, it’s even more impossible!"

Besides, the Gordon Family couldn’t wait to sever ties with ; otherwise, Amanda wouldn’t have done such a lowly thing. How could I walk into a trap?

"What?" Grace Chandler was shocked, "You guys were together for so many years and never..."

She used two fingers to mi sothing.

I quickly pressed down her hand, "Keep your voice down!"

"Oh my... you guys were actually platonic?"

"Not really... He was ill for a few years, rember? It wasn’t possible then... After he recovered, it had only been a little over a year, so I thought we might as well wait until our wedding night. Who knew—"

Grace Chandler sighed heavily, "You! You seed so smart, yet in love, you... Haven’t you heard that a man only behaves properly when hung on the wall? He still has needs even when he’s sick, no wonder he cheated on your sister, they must have slept together! Otherwise, how confused would he have to be to treat you that way? You really believe he did it out of duty? Out of sympathy?"

I said nothing, thinking maybe so.

I also thought that what was between him and Sophie couldn’t be just a simple sibling-like relationship.

But it doesn’t matter; I haven’t cared in a long ti.

"Let’s eat, the food’s getting cold." I didn’t want to bring up Adrian Gordon again and switched the topic.

Grace Chandler also picked up her chopsticks, but before we could eat much, two people passed by. A voice exaggeratedly exclaid, "Hey! Isn’t this Eldest Miss Miller? Oh, Grace Chandler? You’re back in Fallhaven too? I guess it’s for the alumni celebration."

Grace Chandler and I simultaneously turned to look, and saw a young woman dressed to the nines, wearing exquisite makeup. Both of us were montarily stunned.

A mont later, I recognized her and asked with so doubt, "Jessica Sawyer?"

Unexpectedly, Grace Chandler smoothly chid in, "Did you have plastic surgery to look like this? I almost didn’t recognize you!"

I: "..."

Jessica Sawyer’s expression imdiately collapsed, "Grace Chandler, do you even know how to speak?"

Grace Chandler pursed her lips, "Just being honest."

Thinking about how this is a restaurant owned by a friend, I didn’t want a conflict affecting their business, so I quickly changed the topic, "Did Eldest Miss Sawyer co back specifically for the alumni celebration?"

Jessica Sawyer crossed her arms and turned her head arrogantly. "Not entirely. I got promoted, returned to take office, and attended the celebration to catch up with old classmates."

"Oh, that’s truly congratulatory." I smiled and congratulated her.

This person is also a college classmate of mine, but we were arch-rivals.

The reason was during our school days, our family backgrounds were similar, our grades in professional courses were similar, and even our heights and appearances were not that different.

As the saying goes, two tigers cannot coexist on the sa mountain, especially when they are both tigresses—leading to constant competition between us.

But most of the ti, I had a slight edge and earned slightly more honors.

Over ti, she saw as a thorn in her side.

After graduation, she went abroad, and we never saw each other again.

I didn’t expect to run into her at this alumni celebration, and she still treated like an enemy, speaking with hidden arrows right from the start.

Looking at her face, obviously touched by surgery, she looked like a Barbie doll, and my heart was filled with regret.

Her original face was prettier and more morable.

Now, she has the thick feel of an internet celebrity, blending in with the crowd.

"You’re welco." Hearing my complints, she imdiately smiled, but still maintained that superior tone, "Upon returning, I heard your family went bankrupt, your father ended up in jail, thanks to you—Lily Miller, you’re indeed more ruthless than !"

"Thanks for the praise." I kept a faint smile on my face, responding perfunctorily.

Jessica Sawyer continued to provoke, "With all your debts, coming to a place like this to eat, can you even pay the bill?"

I deliberately asked, "What, is Eldest Miss Sawyer going to cover my bill?"

"Tut, you’re so adaptable now. It’s just a al, right? Alright, consider it my treat for an old classmate." Jessica Sawyer said, raising her hand and calling over a server.

"Hey! Jessica Sawyer, you—" Grace Chandler was startled and tried to stop her, but I stopped her.

I gave Grace Chandler a look, and she understood, sat back down with ease.