CHAPTER 367: CHAPTER 367: TILL FATE BRINGS US TOGETHER AGAIN

Janelle Tollman raised her head to look at Arthur Sutton upon hearing his voice, and smiled somewhat surprisedly: "Mr. Sutton?"

Arthur Sutton smiled faintly and said: "The perfume I bought from your store last time is really good."

"I’m glad you like it, Mr. Sutton."

"I just saw you with your boyfriend. Are you here with him?"

Janelle Tollman hesitated, then explained with an awkward smile: "He’s not my boyfriend, just a very close friend who invited me as his plus one."

Arthur Sutton breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this answer.

She finished washing her hands and turned to the hand dryer nearby as Wayne Archer walked out from the men’s restroom.

Arthur Sutton turned off the faucet and walked to Janelle Tollman’s side, pulling a towel from the dispenser on the wall to dry his hands.

Thinking he was going to use the dryer, Janelle Tollman quickly stepped aside, and upon seeing Wayne Archer, she said to Arthur Sutton: "Well, Mr. Sutton, we’ll be going now. See you around."

"Okay."

Watching their departing backs, even though he knew they weren’t in a relationship, Arthur Sutton still felt a bit irked.

Especially recalling how Wayne Archer had tricked him before, he felt Wayne Archer was hiding things on purpose, surely he must know something.

Janelle Tollman returned to the card room, Wayne Archer continued playing cards, while she sat beside him and checked on her child’s situation on her phone.

Suddenly, a thought struck her mind.

Arthur Sutton knew she had a child, so why would he think Wayne Archer was her boyfriend and not her husband?

Could he possibly know she is a single mom?

But they’ve only interacted at the store where he bought a bottle of perfume, they never talked about these matters, how would he know?

Or does he think she is a flirtatious woman who abandoned her husband and child to meet a lover?

Janelle Tollman couldn’t figure it out and decided not to think deeper into it.

...

After filling up at the restaurant, Audrey Sutton pulled Vanessa Sterling to the lobby, scanned around but didn’t see Shane Warner, Clarissa Morgan, Lan Irving, or Nolan Hawke anywhere.

She only saw Quentin Sterling and some senior figures from the jade industry standing in a corner chatting.

Vanessa Sterling glanced towards Quentin Sterling’s direction, watching from a distance, as though just seeing him brought a bit of warmth to her heart.

The mountain night was a bit chilly, seeing Vanessa Sterling was lightly dressed, Audrey Sutton handed her a silk shawl from her bag, and they went to the garden behind the house.

Initially wanting some fresh air, unexpectedly they immediately saw a couple getting intimate on a bench.

Startled, Audrey Sutton hurriedly turned back with Vanessa Sterling, who glanced back twice and said: "...Looks like my brother?"

Audrey Sutton blinked in surprise: "Miles Sterling?"

Vanessa Sterling nodded, her eyes showing a hint of panic.

She didn’t expect Miles Sterling to be here, although she didn’t technically lie to him, still she worried he wouldn’t be pleased seeing her dressed like this in such a setting.

At that moment, her only thought was to leave quickly before he noticed her.

Audrey Sutton awkwardly chuckled and whispered to Vanessa Sterling: "He’s really carefree, enjoying himself wherever he goes, doesn’t his family care?"

Vanessa Sterling gave a resigned smile: "They can’t control him at all, he listens to no one. Back when his grandfather was around, at least he could talk some sense into him; after his grandfather passed, his temper just kept worsening."

Audrey Sutton remembered Shane Warner mentioning Miles Sterling’s violent tendencies and also recalled seeing Vanessa Sterling with injuries the last time.

She glanced at Vanessa Sterling twice, wanting to ask, but feared Vanessa Sterling might find her nosy, so she kept quiet.

She sensed Vanessa Sterling’s fear of Miles Sterling, noticeable by Vanessa Sterling’s hurried steps upon discovering him.

"...Audrey, I might have to leave first."

Audrey Sutton understood Vanessa Sterling’s sudden urge to leave might be due to Miles Sterling.

So she didn’t ask Vanessa Sterling why she was in such a rush, she simply offered: "You came with Clarissa Morgan, right? Better not take her ride. Wait here for a bit, I’ll go find my husband, and we’ll leave together."

Not wanting to trouble Clarissa Morgan or offend her by leaving early, Vanessa Sterling nodded at Audrey Sutton’s suggestion: "Thank you, Audrey."

Audrey Sutton smiled: "No trouble at all, there isn’t much interesting here anyway. Better to head home early and watch some TV. You wait over there, I’ll be back with him and we’ll leave."

"Alright."

Watching Audrey Sutton go upstairs, Vanessa Sterling glanced towards the hallway leading to the garden, then discreetly chose a somewhat concealed spot to sit, worried Miles Sterling might come and find her.

"Vanessa."

Hearing someone call her name, Vanessa Sterling was startled, turning around to see it was Quentin Sterling, she shifted from panic to tension: "...Uncle Quentin?"

Quentin Sterling smiled gently: "Why are you alone here? Where’s your aunt?"

Vanessa Sterling shook her head.

Quentin Sterling asked again: "Didn’t she say she was going to introduce you to a boyfriend? How do you feel about it?"

Vanessa Sterling pressed her lips, slightly afraid to meet Quentin Sterling’s gaze: "...Aunt has good intentions, but I’m not really thinking about marriage right now, so I didn’t..."

Quentin Sterling: "I just told her too that you’re still young and not in a rush. She thought the guy had good merit, suggesting you take a look. If it works out, great; if not, it’s fine. Your aunt means well."

Vanessa Sterling smiled and nodded, awkwardly not knowing what to say.

Her eyes occasionally glanced down the corridor leading to the garden, feeling like Miles Sterling could appear at any moment.

"How’s Miles been lately? He’s never around when I go to his place."

Vanessa Sterling: "...Same as always, he’s doing fine."

Quentin Sterling: "As he’s grown, he should have matured too. Has he stopped bothering you?"

Vanessa Sterling lowered her eyes, smiling and nodding, yet feeling a surge of grievance inside.

Because apart from Quentin Sterling, no one else would care about these things.

Yet, no one could become her savior, she could only cautiously live within the cage Miles Sterling had built for her, avoiding provoking him to make life just a little easier.

"This outfit today was picked by your aunt, right? Quite pretty, different from usual."

While hearing Quentin Sterling’s compliment, Vanessa Sterling couldn’t keep her heart calm, shyly smiling, unsure how to respond.

She just felt this outfit was slightly awkward to wear, and she tightened the shawl on her shoulders.

Quentin Sterling noticed the scratches on her fingers, asking: "What happened to your hand?"

Vanessa Sterling paused, looked down at her hand, then saw the long scratch on her ring finger, with dots of blood. The wound wasn’t deep, like a cat scratch, she hadn’t felt pain, didn’t even know how it happened. If not for Quentin Sterling’s reminder, she wouldn’t have noticed the injury.