CHAPTER 149: CHAPTER 149: STIFLED

Ethan Sinclair taught really well, but Hugh Irving felt their movements were truly hard to articulate.

It made one itch with tingling anticipation.

Reluctantly, Hugh Irving pushed him off the horse.

"Let me try on my own first," she said.

Ethan Sinclair squinted, not yet understanding her meaning, nodded, and let her try.

Hugh Irving left with a meaningful auntie smile, turned the horse around, and rode away.

Ethan Sinclair watched her, chuckling to himself and muttering: She learns pretty fast.

However, it didn’t take long for him to regret it.

Hugh Irving didn’t look back and rode straight to the manor.

Her heart was still in suspense; she shouldn’t have let Ethan Sinclair teach her horse riding. They had originally agreed on just a casual relationship, no emotions, no marriage.

But now the situation seemed to be veering off course.

She held her lower back; the hard texture and lingering warmth just now still present, making her blush.

She pursed her lips, frowning.

"Professor Irving! Well done!" Ethan Sinclair gritted his teeth, hands on his hips, watching her disappearing figure.

The three-kilometer journey wasn’t far, but it made Ethan Sinclair restless.

Maybe he moved too fast.

If she bolts tonight, it might not be easy to set another meeting.

Halfway through, Hugh Irving saw Sophia Lowell and Zane Sterling’s horses passing by.

They were racing, bodies leaning forward, galloping on the course.

Both had smiles brimming with joy and tacit understanding.

"Mrs. Sterling, your equestrian skills are impressive!" Zane Sterling smiled.

The woman beside him, having taken off her coat, wore a form-fitting outfit that showed off another side of her with loose cargo pants and tapered Martin boots.

Stylish.

"Mr. Sterling, it seems you still don’t quite understand your wife; you haven’t done enough homework." Sophia Lowell giggled.

Not far away, Beau Morgan, who had unknowingly changed into athletic wear, stood by a black pony, witnessing the scene.

They were indeed a match.

She used to think Sophia Lowell was just an ordinary designer, but after she participated in a competition and was recognized and praised by renowned designers, even headhunted, Beau Morgan paid attention.

Now she had resigned, was working under Professor Fumble, and could even make decisions on his behalf.

In many matters, she and Zane Sterling weren’t on the same wavelength, but she seemed to grasp it all, like planning and marketing...

Even now, with something as simple as horse riding...

Beau Morgan suddenly felt she wasn’t as good as her.

Sophia Lowell did have many remarkable aspects.

"Should have gotten up earlier, we’re still warming up, and they’ve already started," came Nathan Jennings’ voice.

Beau Morgan glanced at Colby Jennings and Nathan Jennings leading their horses over.

She didn’t know Nathan Jennings, but she knew Colby Jennings. They had coincidentally met when she had lunch with Professor Carter.

She didn’t want to greet them, but Colby Jennings saw her, "Miss Morgan."

Beau Morgan smiled and nodded, "Director Jennings."

Nathan Jennings, seeing their familiarity, nodded as a greeting.

"Alone?" Colby Jennings asked.

"No." Beau Morgan glanced at the two galloping in the distance, her gaze a bit dim.

Colby Jennings instantly understood, "Came with Mr. Sterling?"

She didn’t speak, which was as good as admitting. She didn’t want to interact with Colby Jennings.

Colby Jennings was thirty-two, seven years older than her, making her feel there would be a generational gap and probably no common topics.

Colby Jennings looked at the pony beside her and then at the coach nearby, saying nothing.

"Bro," Nathan Jennings urged when he saw the two weren’t speaking.

Colby Jennings responded with a "hmm," and the two of them nimbly mounted their horses.

Nathan Jennings took the lead to leave, and before Colby Jennings left, his gaze lingered on Beau Morgan for a moment, he smiled, then swiftly followed.

Beau Morgan glanced at him, then looked away.

Colby Jennings’ gaze had kindled a spark, making Beau Morgan’s cheeks unknowingly flush and her heart inexplicably race.

She faced such a look for the first time.

——

A black and a white horse lowered their heads, grazing. Zane Sterling handed the opened bottle of mineral water to Sophia Lowell.

Sophia Lowell smiled and drank from the bottle.

Zane Sterling looked at her elegantly swan-like neck as she tilted her head back to drink, with beads of sweat sliding down from her neck. Her fair skin exuded heat, and her outfit was entirely soaked, with her black tight long-sleeve T-shirt outlining her curvaceous figure.

He swallowed hard, holding a tissue to wipe the sweat off her forehead.

Sophia Lowell paused, halting her drinking motion.

Zane Sterling casually wiped the corners of her mouth and then took the half bottle of water from her hand and drank from it.

She looked at him, with his back against the light, his throat moving with each gulp.

She quickly averted her gaze.

Don’t look, her brain wouldn’t obey, always wandering to other thoughts.

After a short rest, the two of them led the horses, holding hands, walking along the mountain path.

The scenery here was beautiful, lush water cypresses on both sides, an artificial lake beside them, tranquil and picturesque.

If a wedding photoshoot were done here, wouldn’t it have a unique charm?

"Have you decided on the wedding photoshoot locations?" she suddenly asked.

"I’ve decided on a few places, haven’t had the time for you to choose," Zane Sterling squeezed her hand, "The horse track is nice."

"Yeah, I think so too."

The two exchanged a knowing smile.

Sophia Lowell lost interest in talking when she saw Beau Morgan, Colby Jennings, and Nathan Jennings leisurely riding over on horses not far away.

Seeing this scene, she suddenly thought of the two hundred thousand dollar dress.

She naturally withdrew her hand from Zane Sterling’s, smoothing out her hair that the wind had ruffled.

Zane Sterling didn’t notice anything unusual, instead, he put his arm around her shoulder, as if not wanting to part with her for a moment.

The two of them moved closer.

Sophia Lowell got even more annoyed.

But she couldn’t directly question him, as he was chatting on his alternate account with Professor Fumble; it was truly vexing.

A few people met on the narrow path and greeted each other; Sophia Lowell and Zane Sterling stopped, intending to step aside to let them pass, not expecting them to dismount.

"Sophia Lowell," Nathan Jennings smiled.

Their relationship had grown familiar after the Clay Gable incident, almost like sisters.

Sophia Lowell seized the chance to walk over, leaving Zane Sterling’s side.

Zane Sterling squinted, only now realizing her slight distance from himself.

"Careful," Colby Jennings reached out to help the dismounting Beau Morgan, who twisted her ankle.

He only supported her arm to steady her posture; her foot was fine, then he promptly retracted his hand.

"Thank you." Beau Morgan awkwardly frowned.

She had just learned to ride a bit, then changed horses. She felt the pony distanced her from others.

Luckily, later Colby Jennings suggested she join them, or she might still be wandering with the coach.

She wanted to blend in, but the wound on her foot had barely healed, still aching faintly.

Standing here now, she suddenly felt she had devalued herself.

"Get on the horse, I’ll lead it," Colby Jennings inconspicuously glanced at her foot, noticing her subtle limp, discerning she was injured yet putting on a brave front.

"No need..."

"If you walk back like this, by midnight you’ll be at the hospital," Colby Jennings didn’t let her finish, reminding her in a voice only they could hear.

Beau Morgan knew she couldn’t walk far, so she had to follow his arrangement.