CHAPTER 368: CHAPTER 368: HIS GENTLENESS

Just then, a waiter passed by, and Quentin Sterling called out to the passing waiter, asking, "Hello, do you have any disinfectant? Medical alcohol will do, and I also need some band-aids."

"Yes, sir, please wait a moment, I’ll get them for you."

The waiter walked away, and Vanessa Sterling glanced at the passage again, saying to Quentin Sterling, "... No need to bother, it’s nothing."

Quentin Sterling: "It will be reassuring to disinfect it."

Before long, the waiter returned, bringing small packets of alcohol swabs.

Quentin Sterling lowered his head, tore open the packaging, picked up Vanessa Sterling’s injured left hand, and said, "It might sting a bit, but bear with it."

At that moment, Vanessa Sterling felt a bit dazed, staring blankly at Quentin Sterling, feeling as if time had suddenly returned to the past.

He was the first person to ask about her wounds, the first to help her treat them, and of course, the only one.

Later, he went abroad to study, became busy with work after graduation, and now he’s married and settled down...

Time changed many things, but his gentleness remained the same.

His hands were warm, and when he held hers, that warmth seemed to spread from her fingers to her heart.

She didn’t dare to stare at him, not even making eye contact.

While Quentin Sterling wiped her wound with the alcohol swab, Vanessa Sterling’s gaze instinctively turned toward that passage again.

When she saw Miles Sterling standing at the passage entrance, looking straight at her, Vanessa Sterling’s whole body suddenly stiffened, as if drenched by a basin of icy cold water.

She instinctively wanted to withdraw her hand, and Quentin Sterling noticed her movement, paused in wrapping the band-aid, and looked up to ask her, "Does it hurt a lot?"

Vanessa Sterling hadn’t realized yet, Quentin Sterling continued wrapping the band-aid around her hand, "Be careful not to get it wet, the wound will heal faster."

Vanessa Sterling nodded blankly, a bit flustered, not daring to look in that direction anymore, but she could feel that Miles Sterling’s gaze was still on them. Regardless of whether she seemed out of order in front of Quentin Sterling, she picked up her bag and stood up, "... Thank you, I... I have to go."

Her voice was trembling as she spoke.

Quentin Sterling watched her slightly odd reaction, and looking in the direction she left, he saw Miles Sterling.

Miles Sterling glanced at him expressionlessly, then his gaze fell on the approaching Vanessa Sterling.

Though seemingly calm, Vanessa Sterling knew this was a sign of his impending anger.

Miles Sterling’s arm was still wrapped around the fair-skinned, beautiful young model who had been affectionate with him in the garden.

Seeing Miles Sterling’s gaze constantly on Vanessa Sterling, the model, unaware of Vanessa’s background and assuming she was competing for her patron, clung closer to Miles Sterling’s arm, looking down at Vanessa Sterling with an air of superiority.

As Vanessa Sterling approached, Miles Sterling said nothing, merely stared at her.

Even this much made Vanessa Sterling feel as if she were facing a ferocious beast ready to tear her apart at any moment, and she had no option to flee.

"Let’s go back," he suddenly said, coolly uttering these three words.

The model on his arm whined, "Going back already? I haven’t had enough fun yet."

Miles Sterling seemed in no mood for affection with her, silently turning and heading toward the parking lot outside the hall.

The model didn’t dare defy him and turned to ask, "Your place or mine?"

Without hearing an answer from Miles Sterling, Vanessa Sterling stiffly followed behind them, unsure of what punishment she might face afterward...

Audrey Sutton had just found Shane Warner when she received a message from Vanessa Sterling: Audrey, I’m going back in my brother’s car first.

Audrey Sutton looked at the message, feeling somewhat puzzled since Vanessa Sterling looked as if she’d seen a ghost when she spotted Miles Sterling earlier.

It was only after encountering Miles Sterling that she hastily mentioned wanting to leave, so why the sudden message that she’s leaving with Miles Sterling?

Audrey Sutton sensed something was amiss, quickly asking Vanessa Sterling: Are you alright, Vanessa?

Vanessa Sterling: I’m fine, thank you, Audrey. I’ll return the shawl to you another day.

Audrey Sutton: It doesn’t matter, keep it or not.

After replying, Audrey Sutton added: If anything happens, remember to call me.

Vanessa Sterling: Okay.

Looking at the message, Audrey Sutton still felt uneasy. But thinking that even if Miles Sterling had violent tendencies, he wouldn’t hit someone for no reason, would he?

Shane Warner saw her standing at the door responding to messages from outside the glass window. He got up and walked out, leaning over to ask her, "What are you doing outside?"

Audrey Sutton looked up to see him, explaining, "I was going to call you to leave."

Shane Warner checked the time on his watch. It was still early, but when he heard she wanted to leave, he nodded and said, "Let’s go then."

Audrey Sutton, seeing him chatting with everyone earlier, felt a bit embarrassed to just pull him away now that Vanessa was no longer in need of a ride. She said, "I originally came to give Vanessa a ride. Now that she’s left with her brother, we’re not in a hurry to leave."

"If you’re tired, we can go back."

"I’m not tired, let’s hang out a bit longer. It’s still early."

With that, Audrey Sutton took Shane Warner’s arm, preparing to go back inside. Shane Warner suggested, "It’s smoky inside, let’s go downstairs outside."

Saying this, Audrey Sutton sniffed him, looking up to ask, "Did you smoke?"

Shane Warner spread his arms, in a "frisk me all you want" manner, saying, "I didn’t even bring any cigarettes."

Audrey Sutton smiled with satisfaction, like praising a child, gently patting his head, "That’s a good boy."

Shane Warner shot her a glance, caught her mischievous hand in his palm, and led her downstairs.

"Audrey," a voice called out from behind.

It was Clarissa Morgan’s voice, and Audrey Sutton stopped, turning around to see Clarissa Morgan gracefully stepping out of the nearby card room in heels.

Though she called out "Audrey," when she reached them, her gaze was solely on Shane Warner, looking up at him, "Shane, are you guys leaving?"

Before Shane could answer, Audrey quickly interjected, asking, "Do you need something, Sister Morgan?"

Clarissa Morgan smiled, "I just thought since it’s rare for everyone to gather, why not have a drink downstairs together?"

Audrey Sutton, still smiling, politely declined, saying, "Thank you for the invitation, Sister Morgan, but he’s quit smoking and drinking. It’s hard enough keeping it up for over half a month; it wouldn’t do to tempt him again."

"A little red wine should be fine, right? Mainly, Quentin mentioned a project he wanted to discuss with Shane, couldn’t find him earlier, and since we met by chance, thought we could take the opportunity to chat. Shane is so busy these days, it’s not easy to find time to meet."