CHAPTER 166: CHAPTER 166: JEALOUSY THAT SHOULDN’T EXIST

His eyes moved slightly, and in an instant, he caught sight of me, his originally calm eyes flashed with a hint of surprise.

I withdrew my gaze, pretending I hadn’t seen anything.

"Isn’t that Henry Preston, the president of The Preston Group? Your ex-husband?" Simon Sinclair asked.

He doesn’t care about the company, but he sure loves gossip!

I nodded, "Yes."

At this moment, the woman opposite Henry left in a huff. He stood up, pulled out a chair, took a napkin to wipe the wine off his face, and then walked towards us.

Simon glanced at me, then at Henry.

"Simon, what are you doing here?" Henry stopped beside our table, his gaze falling on Simon.

This circle may not be close, but we all know each other.

Simon replied politely, "On a blind date."

Henry’s eyes darkened, finally shifting his gaze to me, "Since when has Second Young Master Sinclair’s fortunes fallen so low, to the point where he needs to go on blind dates?"

"It’s mainly because my family is pushing me," Simon smiled slightly.

"Desperate times?" Henry sneered, casting a meaningful glance at me. I couldn’t help but frown—was he belittling me?

Simon didn’t explain that he wasn’t here on a blind date with me, and I remained silent. Henry, being domineering and overbearing by nature, was understandably upset seeing his ex-wife on a blind date with another man.

Seeing my lack of response, Henry’s demeanor turned colder instantly, emitting a chill as he left with a cold face.

Soon, Tiana O’Connell returned, sporting a glamorous and stunning makeover. Her femininity was overwhelming, and the moment Simon saw her, his eyes lit up noticeably. Knowing there was potential, I quickly found an excuse to slip away.

I took the elevator straight down to the building’s garage. As I approached my car, Henry’s figure emerged from the shadows of a corner.

I quickly opened the car door, intending to get in, but Henry blocked me, his expression displeased, "Was the blind date unsuccessful? You’re back this early?"

"Henry, you seem to enjoy meddling in my personal affairs. Do you think it’s necessary?" I gave up getting into the car and replied calmly.

"Of course, shouldn’t I care about my ex-wife’s life? Since we share the same circles, encounters are inevitable. After all, we once shared a bed, so asking is only normal," Henry’s tone was slightly mocking.

"Oh, so you know I’m your ex-wife? Please do me a favor and act like a proper ex-husband in the future, okay?" I replied.

The underground parking lot was dimly lit, and although Henry and I were close, I still couldn’t clearly see his expression, only sensing his growing coldness.

Not wanting to linger any longer, I continued, "Alright, stop blocking me from getting into the car."

Henry stood there like a wall, showing no intention of moving. I had no choice but to repeat, "Mr. Preston, please step aside."

My words, of course, had no effect. Instead of stepping aside, Henry shut my car door again.

I frowned, "Henry, didn’t I make it clear to you a few days ago? Everything is in the past. Our matters have long been concluded. Why are you still provoking me?"

"Did Crystal Dawson previously say you found a boyfriend, is it Simon?" Henry seemed to ignore my words and instead began questioning me.

I seriously doubted Henry’s mental state now—how else could he say such things?

Though Crystal Dawson certainly is a drama queen, skilled at fabricating stories, especially of her good sisters. When did I have a boyfriend? If only I could find someone so quickly!

"You have neither the status nor the position to ask me such questions, do you?" I laughed aloofly, intending to say more when Henry suddenly pulled me into his arms.

A pair of strong arms locked me firmly in his embrace, the familiar yet foreign scent of tobacco mixed with a light fragrance invaded my nose, leaving me momentarily dazed.

The next second, I regained my clarity, trying hard to push Henry away.

"Get in the car, someone is taking pictures." Henry’s low voice sounded in my ear, "You don’t want to be linked with your ex-husband now, do you?"

I released my resisting hands, instinctively wanting to look back at the person taking pictures, but Henry quickly pressed my head down, somewhat helplessly, "Are you afraid they won’t capture your face?"

I was speechless, "..."

Henry shielded me with one hand, opened the car door with the other, "Get in."

I quickly got in the car, rapidly putting on a baseball cap and sunglasses, then prepared to close the car door and drive away.

Henry held the car door tightly, "Move over, I’ll drive."

"I can drive," I replied coldly.

"If you don’t let me in the car, you’ll bear the consequences," Henry’s stubbornness hadn’t changed much, effortlessly threatening me, "Tomorrow morning you’ll see news of us rekindling our old flame in the garage. Your parents see that, and you’re done for."

At that moment, I wished I could kill him with a look because he was right; what I feared most was my parents finding out.

Especially now that Azure Vaughn has disappeared. Everyone knows what she used to do, so if the media claimed Henry realized after all that she’s the one truly suitable for him and we got back together, many would believe it!

After confronting each other for a while, I unwillingly moved to the passenger seat. Henry then got in smoothly and drove away.

After leaving the garage, the route the car took became more and more familiar. I felt a bit agitated, "Where are we going? Maplewood Gardens?"

"Yes," Henry replied, "I’ll go back to Maplewood Gardens first, and then you can drive home."

I turned my head to look at the scenery outside the window and said nothing more.

Upon reaching Maplewood Gardens, the villa wasn’t dark as I expected but brightly lit, and there was even a servant coming over to open the door.

I looked closely at the servant, who seemed very familiar—wasn’t she someone I hired before? Surprisingly, Henry hadn’t dismissed them, which caught me by surprise.

The servant, seeing that Henry had no intention of getting out of the car, tactfully left first.

"Aren’t you getting out?" I couldn’t help but urge.

I turned to look at him. He was staring at me, and the atmosphere in the car was a bit tense.

"You still haven’t answered my question. Did you find a boyfriend? So soon?" Henry finally spoke, with a hint of jealousy that shouldn’t be there in his words.

"Don’t fixate on that question. I’m single now. Even if I found one boyfriend or eighteen, it has nothing to do with you, right?" I was really speechless, but seeing how much he cared about this, I deliberately didn’t want to tell him the truth.

Henry’s face turned a few shades darker.

I continued, "Henry, City A isn’t too big or too small. My parents and I are rooted here. Relocating to avoid you is unrealistic. We’re bound to have occasional interactions. I just hope we don’t interfere with each other and manage our own affairs. Besides, weren’t you also on a blind date just now?"

"I’m not interested in those women," Henry unbuckled his seatbelt, his voice cold, "You don’t have to associate me with anyone."

"Oh, then I wish you find true love soon." Seeing he intended to get out, I also unbuckled my seatbelt, preparing to switch to the driver’s seat.

Without a word, Henry got out of the car, his back exuding a cold aura, seeming displeased with what I said. But that was my plan—to prevent further wasting time on this entanglement.

Through the car window, I took one last look at the villa where I had lived for five years, almost seeing the naive me waiting foolishly for my husband to return, the fool who believed time would reveal a person’s true self.

I inexplicably let out a chuckle, then drove away quickly without looking back.

I always feel that City A is livelier at night than during the day. At an intersection, staring at the red light, I couldn’t help recalling some things I shouldn’t, growing more irritable, glancing around to distract myself with the street scenes.

Suddenly, a familiar figure passed through the crowd on the roadside, and I frowned.

Wasn’t that Fern Tate?

Since Azure disappeared, Fern also vanished. Why was she still in City A?

I stared at the figure until honking from behind reminded me the light had turned green. I pressed the gas pedal and left, telling myself that whether Azure or Fern showed up now, it didn’t matter. Everything was over—the end.

I tried thinking that, but my heart wouldn’t listen, feeling uncomfortable.

Especially remembering the profile in the Lincoln car a few days ago, which looked so much like Azure, and the middle-aged woman who eyed me twice—her identity remains a mystery.

Upon returning home, I immediately started researching all notable entrepreneurs in City A, filtering out women surnamed "He" in their early fifties.

But came up empty-handed.