CHAPTER 28: CHAPTER 28: ETHAN GRANT CAN’T SIT STILL ANYMORE

Talia glanced at Selina Hughes, then turned to look at Adrian Jennings, her eyes devoid of emotion, "If I say Selina Hughes is lying, would you believe me?"

Adrian Jennings paused for a moment and didn’t answer immediately.

Talia curled her lips self-mockingly.

How could she have been foolish enough to ask such a question just now?

One was a sister who grew up with him, the other was someone he hadn’t seen in three years, a marriage partner without any emotional foundation.

Even a fool knows whom Adrian Jennings would choose.

However, Adrian Jennings only paused for a moment before resolutely replied, "I believe you."

Talia was stunned.

She could hardly believe her ears.

Adrian Jennings really chose to believe her?

Then Selina Hughes...

Talia saw Selina Hughes’ face instantly turn pale.

"Brother, she’s talking nonsense! How can you believe her and not me?"

"Enough." Adrian Jennings swept a cold look over, "Since the first time you met Talia, you’ve had a strange hostility towards her. Earlier when you said she kicked the horse while you weren’t looking, I already felt you were lying."

Adrian Jennings’ face was covered in frost, "Talia isn’t that kind of person, I’m well aware of that, and you said it yourself, there’s no animosity between you and her, why would she harm you?"

Talia quietly looked at Adrian Jennings.

Her heart was mixed with various emotions.

Why does Adrian Jennings choose her so firmly, why does he believe her unconditionally?

She had thought that between her and Selina Hughes, Adrian Jennings would choose Selina Hughes without hesitation.

Talia’s nose felt sour, her eyes turning astringent.

At this moment, the emotion in her heart was indescribable.

Adrian Jennings looked at Selina Hughes with eyes cold as ice and snow, "Selina Hughes, don’t forget your last name is Hughes."

The implication being, you’re not a member of The Jennings Family, don’t act recklessly by relying on your status as the adopted daughter.

Once these words were spoken, Selina Hughes’ already pale face became even more bloodless.

Her lips moved, tears flowing uncontrollably.

She opened her mouth but couldn’t make a sound.

"Rest well, I’m leaving." Adrian Jennings left these words and turned to leave.

Talia stood at the bedside, coldly glancing at the inconsolable Selina Hughes, sighed, and said, "What’s the point of all this?"

Outside the hospital, in the open-air parking lot.

Adrian Jennings walked beside Talia, his eyes filled with apology, "Talia, I’m sorry."

Talia turned to look at him, "What are you apologizing to me for?"

"It’s our family who didn’t teach Selina well." Adrian Jennings sighed, "I don’t know why she would slander you like that, don’t worry, I’ll look into this matter thoroughly."

Talia chuckled lightly, "No need to ask, I know why."

"Oh?" Adrian Jennings looked puzzled.

Talia’s red lips parted slightly, "Adrian Jennings, can you really not see Selina Hughes’ intentions?"

Adrian Jennings: "What do you mean?"

Talia slowly said, "She’s targeting me because of you."

Adrian Jennings frowned and remained silent.

Talia stared into his eyes, speaking each word clearly, "Selina Hughes likes you, so she sees me as a rival. She’s doing this to create a rift between us."

Adrian Jennings furrowed his brows, silent, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Talia continued forward.

Adrian Jennings caught up, "Talia, wait for me."

Talia opened the car door and got into the driver’s seat.

Adrian Jennings sat in the passenger seat.

As he buckled his seatbelt, he said, "I understand now. From now on, I’ll keep my distance from her."

Talia’s action paused, "Why?"

Adrian Jennings: "Didn’t you say she likes me? Before, I didn’t know her feelings, I only saw her as a sister, but now that I know, of course, I need to keep my distance."

He said solemnly, "Talia, I want to give you a sense of security."

Talia said, "I’m asking, why would you believe me unconditionally? Selina Hughes grew up with you. Shouldn’t you believe her more? Why do you believe me?"

Adrian Jennings looked at her, his eyes filled with tenderness, "I already said in the hospital room, you’re not that kind of person."

"Is it just because of that?"

Is it just because he trusts her character?

The street lamps were dim, the warm yellow light shining into the car through the windshield.

Adrian Jennings’ love was evident in his eyes.

He spoke each word clearly, "And because I love you, love means trusting unconditionally."

Talia’s heart throbbed fiercely for a moment.

She turned her head hurriedly, her face turning red, unable to speak.

Is this... a confession?

Seeing the girl’s blushing ears, Adrian Jennings’ lips curled into a smile.

His Talia was shy.

...

The next day, Snowball’s test results were out.

All indicators were normal.

However, a scar was found on the back of the horse’s neck, preliminarily determined to be caused by a needle scratch.

The location of the wound could only be accessed by someone on horseback.

Upon learning of this result, Adrian Jennings stopped visiting Selina Hughes at the hospital.

The Jennings Family arranged specialized care for Selina Hughes, with the nanny delivering meals three times a day.

Every day, Adrian Jennings stayed by Talia Rhodes’s side, accompanying her to try on engagement dresses, select jewelry, and discuss the engagement banquet details.

No matter how much Selina Hughes acted out, he never returned to that hospital.

The moment Selina Hughes fell from the horse, Talia thought the marriage between her and Adrian Jennings might be postponed.

Talia did not expect that despite Selina Hughes’s scheming, it backfired spectacularly, becoming a divine assist, not only failing to make Adrian Jennings resent her but even accelerating his confession.

After that night, Talia also developed some fondness for Adrian Jennings.

Though it couldn’t be said to be deep affection, let alone love.

After the failed relationship with Ethan Grant, Talia couldn’t quickly fall in love with another person.

However, being unconditionally trusted and favored, it’s impossible not to be moved by that.

...

The engagement banquet was finalized.

It’s scheduled for the 15th of next month.

It’s early October now, with more than a month to go.

...

That day, Adrian Jennings accompanied Talia Rhodes to a luxury brand store to shop for clothes.

VIP room.

Talia Rhodes and Adrian Jennings sat on the sofa, watching models with similar builds to Talia showcase the season’s new designs in front of them.

"That light blue dress is nice," Adrian Jennings whispered close to Talia’s ear.

"I quite like that one too," Talia nodded, "and that off-white coat is quite pretty."

Just as they were talking, Talia’s phone beeped twice.

She took out her phone and opened it.

Adrian Jennings turned away, not looking at her phone, showing great respect for her privacy.

The text message contained several photos.

Talia looked through them one by one.

They were photos of Vivian Coleman and Ethan Grant together.

The background seemed to be in Zheria.

The next moment, Vivian Coleman sent another text message.

"He wasn’t willing to accompany you, so I came in his place. Zheria is beautiful, such a pity you can’t see it."

Talia rolled her eyes.

She wasn’t dead, so why wouldn’t she be able to see it?

During the three years she was with Ethan Grant, she worked nine to six and looked forward to traveling during the holidays.

She was afraid of traveling alone for safety reasons, so she wanted Ethan Grant to accompany her.

She wanted to go to Zheria because her previous travels were abroad, and she hadn’t visited the major domestic attractions that had become popular in recent years, inspiring her interest.

Now, going wherever she wanted was just a matter of saying the word.

Talia did not reply.

She initially considered blocking Vivian Coleman but changed her mind after contemplating.

Vivian Coleman’s antics were quite amusing.

She wanted to see what more tricks Vivian would pull.

Keep her as an electronic pet, perhaps.

Thinking this, she put her phone away.

...

Vivian Coleman snuggled up to Ethan Grant, sending those meticulously selected and edited photographs.

Ethan Grant held her, watching her send them to Talia Rhodes.

He anticipated Talia’s reaction upon seeing the photos.

Would she be furious?

Would she be jealous?

Would she find it hard to resist contacting him, arguing with him?

He hadn’t been in touch with Talia Rhodes for many days.

So when Vivian Coleman sent those photos right in front of him, he did not stop her.

He also wanted to see Talia jealous, hoping she would reach out to reconcile.

However, after Vivian sent the message, a long time passed without any reply from Talia Rhodes.

"Did she block me?" Vivian whispered while snuggling against Ethan Grant, "No, if she had blocked me, the message would not have gone through."

Ethan Grant made excuses for Talia Rhodes, "Maybe she hasn’t seen them yet."

Yes, she must not have seen them yet.

If she saw them, she couldn’t possibly remain indifferent.

By the next evening, Talia Rhodes still hadn’t replied.

Ethan Grant couldn’t sit still any longer.

He used a moment when Vivian Coleman wasn’t around to take out his phone and gloomily called his assistant.

"Check the address of Talia Rhodes’s old home."