CHAPTER 60: CHAPTER 60: CAUGHT IN THE ACT (PART 2)

Jason Hawthorne lowered his voice, "Once you find Laura Quincy, have her return first. She’s not in a good state tonight, keep an eye on Mr. Wells."

Mason Cross nodded knowingly, "Understood, sir."

This made him even more convinced that his suspicions were correct.

So it seems the boss did force himself on Miss Quincy in that half-hour when he disappeared. Otherwise, why would she be in a bad state?

And now he wants her to leave...

By the time Stella Jennings came over with champagne, Mason Cross had already left. She smiled and said, "Are you almost done with things tonight?"

Jason Hawthorne shook his head, "There are still many uncertainties."

Stella quickly asked, "Is there anything I can help with?"

Although she’s the deputy leader of the third team in the translation department at Aegis Group, she also holds shares and a position at the Jennings Group. She pushes herself so hard to be able to help Jason Hawthorne, wanting to be a good partner to him.

Jason Hawthorne’s expression was indifferent; he never needed a woman’s help. He was still maintaining his relationship with Stella because the timing wasn’t right yet.

His father wanted him to marry Stella Jennings and form an alliance with the Jennings Family to solidify his position.

Both his elder and second brothers’ families were eyeing his position covetously, so he couldn’t relax for a moment, but he didn’t need Stella’s help.

He once considered marrying Stella because she was quite suitable.

But his son, Twinkle, wouldn’t agree no matter what, so the matter was delayed.

Now, the appearance of Laura Quincy had stirred a stagnant pool in his heart that had been dormant for years. He, who thought he would never experience love in this lifetime, felt a spark after Laura’s arrival.

From the initial misunderstandings to the eventual revelations, he found that this woman was deeply imprinted in his mind, impossible to erase...

Moreover, each time he kissed her, it became addictive...

The scene shifts back to Laura Quincy:

After coming out of the fitting room, she went to the restroom, turned on the tap, and washed her face with cold water twice until her cheeks were icy.

Looking up at her reflection in the mirror, she felt an illusion: this wasn’t her, and everything just now wasn’t real...

After leaving the restroom, her mind was in chaos, not knowing where to go.

Mason Cross saw the dazed Laura Quincy from afar and hurried over, "Miss Quincy, let me have the driver take you home first!"

Laura waved her hand, "No! My task tonight is to be Mr. Wells’s translator, how can I leave now?"

Mason could only say, "Miss Quincy, this is BOSS’s instruction, I’ll make other arrangements for Mr. Wells."

Laura’s lips curved into a mocking smile, "He’s quite good at planning! If I had known, why call me back from Port Sovereign? Just to watch this great show?"

Her words stunned Mason for a few seconds before he reacted; maybe he misunderstood?

The BOSS didn’t force himself on Miss Quincy, but she witnessed her boyfriend getting cozy with another woman, hence the shock?

Before getting a clear understanding of the truth, Mason decided it’s better to say less.

The more said, the more mistakes; the less said, the fewer mistakes.

"Miss Quincy, the driver, Wood, is already waiting outside. I’ll escort you to the car."

Saying this, without allowing any refusals, he forcibly escorted Laura Quincy out. The BOSS’s orders couldn’t be defied! Moreover, letting Miss Quincy return to the banquet hall like this might cause unnecessary chaos.

Although Laura didn’t want to, she could only be led away by Mason.

The driver, Wood, had already received instructions; he was now revving up to send Miss Quincy away rapidly. Laura, however, didn’t want to go home at all and made a call to her friend Nina Pierce.

Nina Pierce had just finished some overtime work and was about to head home when she suddenly received a call from her friend, "Laura, you’re not back from your business trip, are you?"

Laura’s voice carried a sob, "Nina, I got dumped."

Nina’s heart skipped a beat, "Laura, what’s going on?"

Laura sniffled, "Let’s meet at the usual place and talk."

Nina understood that it wasn’t something easily explained over the phone, so she agreed.

After arranging to meet with her best friend, Laura asked Wood to take her to the food street. Wood hesitated, feeling unwilling; his task was to deliver Miss Quincy safely home...

Laura understood his concerns and threatened, "Even if you take me home, I can still come out. Don’t I have arms and legs of my own?"

Driver Wood: "..."

Helplessly, he had to take her to the food street, thinking he should call Assistant Cross.

Fifteen minutes later.

Laura Quincy and Nina Pierce met at the barbecue place they often frequented, and the owner, who was familiar with them, quickly took their order.

"Still two bottles of beer?"

"No, bring a case of beer!"

Laura said boldly, wanting to not return sober tonight. She had never drunk to inebriation before, and tonight she wanted to try it.

Nina looked at her, sensing something was off, and told the owner, "Just bring six bottles first!"

Laura Quincy wanted to say something but was stopped by Nina Pierce, "Add more if it’s not enough."

Laura finally calmed down. She twisted open the bottle cap, poured herself a glass first, then filled up her friend’s, "Nina, don’t stop me tonight, I’ll drink up, you do as you please, we can’t both get drunk."

Nina’s curiosity was almost overflowing. What exactly did that scumbag Jasper Hawthorne do to bully Laura? Made her so upset?

The fortunate thing is, no matter how heartbroken Laura is, she still remembers not to get herself drunk.

Sigh...

Love, it’s the thing that hurts most!

"Nina, do you know? Jasper Hawthorne is from the Hawthorne Family!"

"Jasper Hawthorne has the last name Hawthorne, of course he’s from the Hawthorne Family!"

Nina naturally responded, then realized something was off. The only family referred to as the Hawthorne Family in the whole of Aethelburg was that one; the others were insignificant and not worth mentioning...

"Yeah! How did I not think of that sooner! He’s actually The Demon King’s nephew, haha! It’s ridiculous! I was the only one kept in the dark the whole time."

"Damn! Jasper Hawthorne is Jason Hawthorne’s nephew? This relationship is so messed up! If that’s true, did Jasper know about his third uncle’s misunderstanding of you and not clear it up? He should know you well!"

Laura smiled bitterly and drank down her glass of wine, "Yeah! I’m just as puzzled..."

Nina also picked up her wine glass and took a sip, "Laura, did you just find out tonight?"

Laura nodded, "Today was Aegis Group’s 60th Anniversary Gala. I was originally on a business trip in Port Sovereign but was suddenly called back to act as a translator. Shortly after entering the venue, I saw Jasper Hawthorne intimately arm in arm with a girl, and moreover..."

The scene she overheard with Jason Hawthorne while hiding in the closet was too embarrassing to speak of; Jasper had changed, he was completely not the sunny boy Jasper she knew.

Nina was also shocked, "Damn! Such shameless and indecent things can be done? Actually starting in the fitting room? I’m speechless!"

She paused, "Laura, why didn’t you rush out and slap that scumbag and bitch?"

Laura shook her head.

Nina took another sip, "Did Jason Hawthorne stop you?"

Laura nodded, "Actually thinking about it, rushing out at that moment would have surely been unwise. People often do irrational things when driven by impulsive emotions. If I had really rushed out and slapped them, how would it have ended? Jasper and I weren’t married; if he wanted to cheat, I couldn’t stop him..."

Nina sighed, "That’s true, but to cheat with another woman before breaking up with you, isn’t that kind of man too scummy? Not worthy of forgiveness for a lifetime!"

Laura’s lips curled into a bitter smile, "Of course! From the moment he cheated, he disappeared from my life forever, and I will never forgive him!"

Saying this, she raised her glass to toast with Nina, and they both drank it all in one go.

The previously clear sky outside suddenly started to drizzle, resonating with Laura’s current mood.

Drizzling endlessly!

Nina laughed, "This rain is really fitting, even the heavens sensed it."

Laura, propping her cheeks, gazed at the drizzling rain outside, unsure of what she felt in her heart.

And at this moment.

In the banquet hall, Jason Hawthorne had already learned from Assistant Cross that Laura and her friend went to the snack street. He understood that tonight was a hurdle Laura had to get over, and confiding in a friend was indeed the best choice and means of catharsis.

"Understood, Jasper Hawthorne doesn’t know yet, does he?"

"Hmm, he’s too caught up with Miss Serena Jennings from the Jennings Family, probably doesn’t have the time..."

Jason Hawthorne didn’t continue talking. Actually, when he saw Jasper Hawthorne dating Serena Jennings, he foresaw that the love between Jasper and Laura wouldn’t last long.

Now, the outcome was within his expectations.

Only the little woman held a grudge against him because of it!

Speaking of which, he actually helped her. Without his push, how would she have seen Jasper’s true colors so quickly?

After all, she would have found out eventually; finding out sooner is better than later, isn’t it?

Jasper Hawthorne was indeed smug tonight. The scene in the fitting room was risky yet thrilling! A hundred times more exciting than at home!

He always thought daughters of noble families were rigid and gentle, abiding by the rules, but Serena went against that stereotype, probably due to her studies abroad.

Less restraint, more wildness and charm.

She and Laura were completely different types of women; if they could be combined, that would be great.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but feel at a loss about how to tell Laura he wanted a breakup, since they had been together for nearly two years. If it weren’t for his father forcing him to blind date...

He thought, he would strive to marry Laura...

Now, he could only apologize to her.

At a roadside barbecue stall.

Laura had drunk five bottles of beer tonight; no matter how much Nina tried to stop her, she couldn’t, so she just let her be. A woman lovesick always needs to vent, otherwise, keeping it inside is even more painful.

"Laura, every woman in her life will more or less meet one or two scummy men; don’t take it too seriously. Discovering a scumbag early is good for us women! Better than finding out after getting married!"