CHAPTER 174: CHAPTER 174: HE CAN’T DO IT

I sighed softly; Henry Preston’s possessiveness is too strong. As long as he believes something belongs to him, he’ll definitely find a way to take it back.

If he had initiated the divorce two years ago, this wouldn’t be happening now.

I tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep, like a biographical movie was playing nonstop in my head.

Finally, unable to bear my own chaotic thoughts, I got up to get some air by the window.

My hospital room was on the third floor, a relatively low floor, so I could clearly see the small garden below. A few streetlamps stood by the pebble path, and Henry sat on a bench, the light casting on his hair and shoulders, enveloping his body.

The hospital was very quiet late at night, and there was no one else downstairs, making Henry appear a bit lonely.

I didn’t know what he was thinking, but I hoped he’d seriously consider what I had just said.

I saw him make a phone call, and the next second my phone rang.

After a moment’s hesitation, I answered the call.

"We can’t just be ordinary friends, Zoe Hathaway. I’ve thought it through, I can’t do it." Henry’s voice came through the phone, very clearly.

I didn’t say anything, just sighed and hung up.

Maybe I really should find a man to marry, then he couldn’t keep bothering a married woman, and surely his parents wouldn’t allow it.

But where would I find a man to marry?

Ivan Underwood’s face popped into my mind, and I quickly shook off the thought; I didn’t want to use him as a pawn.

Finding the right person to marry became my most troublesome issue, and I hadn’t figured out a solution by the day I was discharged from the hospital. When I told Crystal Dawson and the others, they all gave the same answer: Ivan Underwood.

Especially Crystal. "Oh, Zoe, where else can you find such a good man? You must know that Ivan Underwood is the only man in our circle who has been pure and upright about such matters since he became aware of them!"

Her words nearly had me in stitches, tracing it back to when sexual awareness first began?

But Ivan Underwood has always been an exception. I knew this in my past life; he was too honorable in matters of the heart for me to tarnish him like that.

Since I couldn’t think of a solution to this problem for the time being, I decided to first take care of something I had promised others. I called Joel Sutton to arrange a meet-up with the boss of Yao Heng Real Estate.

I drove to pick up Joel Sutton, who seemed a bit nervous on the way. I reassured him, "Don’t worry. If this deal can be made, great. If not, I’ll arrange something else for you; there’s nothing to be anxious about."

Joel nodded obediently, "I understand, Miss Hathaway."

The boss of Yao Heng is Leonard Lane. We arranged to meet at The Windchime Teahouse. When we reached the entrance, I made a call.

Leonard laughed heartily, "Sure, sure, just come by. I happened to run into a business friend who is also here for tea. We can all chat together."

"Alright." I hung up the phone and said to Joel Sutton, "Let’s go, they’re waiting for us."

We arrived at the door of the reserved tea room, and as I pushed the door open, a fragrant aroma of tea wafted through, mixed with a faint scent of sandalwood in the air, which was quite refreshing.

Leonard Lane was seated facing the entrance, with two other men across from him. Upon hearing the door open, they turned to look.

"Zoe Hathaway?" Jason Forrest exclaimed in surprise.

Henry Preston frowned at Joel Sutton, his gaze unfriendly.

"Mr. Forrest, you know each other?" Leonard, who appeared to be in his fifties with somewhat dark skin, was full of surprise, as if he truly didn’t know the relationship between Henry and me.

I wasn’t introduced to Leonard Lane through my parents’ connections, but through Crystal Dawson’s mediation, given my father’s job nature, it wasn’t convenient to use his name.

So Leonard only knew my last name was Hathaway and wasn’t aware of my relationship with Henry, otherwise, he might offend both Henry and me simultaneously.

"Yes, we know each other, we’re all friends." Jason glanced awkwardly at Henry.

Upon seeing Henry, Joel’s expression turned sour and he said to me, "Miss Hathaway, let’s go."

I stopped him, "Let’s go sit with Mr. Lane."

Understanding my intention, Joel walked over and sat next to Leonard Lane, albeit uneasily.

The tea room had seating for four, and Leonard called over a server to add a chair, perfectly positioned between Henry and Joel Sutton. Without hesitation, I sat down with grace.

Henry glanced at me, but I pretended not to notice. At the art exhibition, I chose to leave with Ivan, which was likely humiliating for him. He wouldn’t let go of it easily and probably had grievances now.

Not long after, Leonard unexpectedly suggested, "Drinking tea is so boring, come on, let’s have some drinks, eat a meal, and toast a few glasses! That’s where the excitement is!"

"Alright." Henry quickly agreed. Social drinking was routine for him.

I was there seeking favors, so naturally, I had no objections.

We soon moved from the teahouse to a hotel, and after ordering a table full of dishes, the drinks began to take center stage. Fortunately, Joel had worked part-time at various bars and had thus developed a good drinking tolerance, making Leonard very entertained with the drinks.

"Mr. Preston, come, let me toast to you!" Leonard, his face flushed from drinking, wanted to toast Henry.

Throughout the meal and drinks, I observed that Leonard was very courteous to Henry and Jason, whereas he paid me little attention since he probably saw me as merely someone who used connections to have her brother find a backdoor into his company.

If I actually had any real influence, why would I need someone to make the introduction?

"Miss Hathaway, you should drink some too. You’re barely drinking at all. You’re not giving me any face at all!" After toasting Henry, Leonard turned his attention to my glass.

I indeed hadn’t drunk much because my period had arrived, and I needed to take it easy.

"Come on, Mr. Lane, let me toast to you!" I raised my glass and smiled warmly at Leonard.

"I just love women like Miss Hathaway—so bold!" Leonard, perhaps a bit tipsy, suddenly grabbed my hand in an oily manner.

I immediately pulled my hand away, my smile faltering a bit. Joel, sitting beside me, was visibly upset and stood up abruptly, seeming ready to lash out.

Fortunately, I quickly shot him a warning look.

This was the first time I encountered such a situation, but I wasn’t too flustered because I had heard O’Connell share many similar stories.

"Mr. Lane seems to have drunk too much," Henry suddenly spoke, his gaze sharp and intimidating.

"Not at all, I handle my liquor well!" Leonard hiccuped, "Mr. Preston, look how close Miss Hathaway is with her brother, she asked me to help her brother into my company. I agreed out of courtesy. But I didn’t expect Miss Hathaway to be so beautiful! So charming and graceful!"

If Leonard isn’t drunk, I’ll write my name backward.

He had entirely missed the growing darkness on Henry’s face.

I frowned, watching Leonard, was this what he was like drunk?