CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43: ANOTHER ARGUMENT

When I finally managed to calm down, Henry Preston was still staring at me quietly.

I waved my hand and asked Laura Lawson to leave first.

Once it was just Henry and me left in the restaurant, I calmly replied, "You’re overthinking it. The Preston Group is so big, if you can give me 3% of the shares, it would be more than enough for me to live comfortably for a lifetime."

"Really?" Henry merely asked in return, then withdrew his gaze and continued eating.

I stayed silent and lowered my head to eat, feeling that saying even one more word would reveal a flaw.

After dinner, I went alone to the music room to play the violin.

I wasn’t sure how far Henry had gotten with Azure Vaughn over the past half month. Now that the chemical plant project was about to start, it would soon be time for Azure to have to ask for his help, right?

Because I was distracted, I made several mistakes in a row and had to stop to calm my mind.

Fortunately, Henry went to the company after dinner, so when I went downstairs again, he was no longer around.

I let out a sigh of relief, collapsed into the soft sofa, and closed my eyes to rest, feeling somewhat exhausted. But my mind was filled with fragmented scenes, many of which were comparisons between my past life and this one.

Unknowingly, I fell asleep on the sofa. When Laura woke me up for dinner, it was already dark outside.

I felt a bit groggy and didn’t have much appetite. After a few bites, I was about to go upstairs to continue resting when a call from Joel Sutton brought me back to full alertness.

"Miss Hathaway, do you have time now? Can we meet?" Joel’s voice was a bit different from usual, seemingly holding back anger, trying to sound calm.

I replied, "Yes, where are you?"

"I’m just at the north gate of Maplewood Gardens." Joel’s answer surprised me.

I hurriedly changed my shoes and drove to the north gate of Maplewood Gardens. Sure enough, I saw Joel standing by the roadside, looking around but failing to recognize me because I had changed cars.

I stopped the car in front of him, rolled down the window, and said, "Sutton, get in the car. We can talk slowly about whatever’s going on."

Joel looked surprised, scanning my car with his eyes, showing no envy—only discomfort.

He nodded and got into the car. I asked, "What happened?"

Joel took out his phone and quickly said, "Miss Hathaway, Azure owes you those two thousand dollars. I’ve paid it back for her, thank you."

I asked in surprise, "How did you know?"

"She told me everything. Lately, she was working part-time at The Apex Hotel just to pay you back, but then her job was deliberately sabotaged." Joel said, lowering his head, looking a bit disheartened.

"Was she fired?" I asked intentionally.

"No..." Joel painfully ran a hand through his hair, his voice full of anger, "Miss Hathaway, it’s the man I mentioned to you before. Azure promised me she’d cut off contact with him, but it turns out they still keep in touch. That guy must be rich and resourceful. Azure says she can’t avoid him at all, yet she refuses to tell me who he is!"

My heart sank, "How did you find out?"

Joel replied, "I accidentally saw their messages, but unfortunately, I was so mad at the time, I forgot to check his phone number. Otherwise, I’d have found out who he is!"

Poor kid, even if he found out, what could he do? Henry Preston is not someone he can deal with.

It seems Joel and Azure had another fight. Out of anger, he came to pay back Azure’s debt, fearing she’d compromise with Henry for money.

"You need to trust Azure. She’s not that kind of girl. Since you said that man is wealthy and influential, he must be forcefully approaching her. What’s most important now is not to quarrel with Azure, but to trust and understand her. Otherwise, you’ll push her into the arms of another man, got it?" I gave him earnest advice.

Joel didn’t say anything, probably in no mood to hear my comfort right now. People are rational when they’re angry.

I drove to a bar, intending to drink away Joel’s sorrows with him.

Joel drank silently, one glass after another, while I said nothing, merely being more restrained than him, drinking less.

Suddenly, I noticed a familiar face in my line of sight, holding hands with a young woman. Together with two or three other men, they laughed and found a seat not far away.

My brows furrowed instantly, and I took out my phone to record a video.

A minute later, I tagged Leah Lane in our best friends’ group chat: Yara, out drinking with your Connor.

Five or six minutes later, Leah responded: I was just putting on a face mask. Connor’s working overtime. It’s just me meeting up for a drink with you. Are Crystal and Tiana coming?

Crystal Dawson immediately sent a video, filled with neon lights and festivities, saying: Hey gals, I’m already at work. The Nightingale Garden has two handsome guys tonight, I came to feast my eyes!

Tiana O’Connell shared a photo of her desk, piled high with documents, making me feel a bit distressed. She said: If this wasn’t my own company, I would’ve quit long ago!

I had no interest in their chatter and urged Leah: Then come over.

And sent a location.

Leah sent a yawning emoji: Nevermind, if I go drinking tonight, my face mask will be wasted again. Before the year-end wedding, I need to maintain my fair and radiant skin, hahaha...

I felt a pang in my heart. What is all this?

In my past life, Leah and Connor smoothly entered the bonds of matrimony without such drama happening. If I hadn’t known Joel, I wouldn’t have accompanied him for drinks, nor accidentally discovered Connor’s infidelity.

Leah and Connor were always one of the happiest couples in my mind. Although I thought they weren’t a well-matched pair socially, possibly leading to conflicts later, in my past life, by the time I passed, they were still doing well, breaking through the class barriers.

I hesitated, wondering if I should send the video to Leah.

While I hesitated, Connor’s interaction with that woman was frequent. She leaned on his shoulder, and they appeared as a sweet couple.

I frequently took photos, thinking that even if I didn’t send them to Leah now, I could tell her later.

"Ugh!" Joel had drunk too much and started dry heaving. Afraid he might throw up on me, I helped him to the restroom, but a drunk person is truly heavy. The moment I tried to stand up, I fell again, collapsing onto him, eliciting a pained groan from him.

I had a genuine headache, intending to call a server to help lift Joel, when another hand grabbed his arm.

When I saw Ivan Underwood, I felt a bit delusional.

How come whenever I’m with Joel, I run into him? It’s like how Azure is more likely to call Henry when he’s alone with me.

"Uh, he drank too much..." I said awkwardly.

"Yeah, we’ll talk in the car." Ivan responded calmly.