CHAPTER 157: CHAPTER 157: THE CHILD BELONGS TO SIMON RHODES

Listening to Lynn Kendall’s analysis, Ryder Griffin increasingly felt that things between Sheila Yardley and Aidan Lockwood weren’t as simple as he had thought.

Indeed, why would Aidan pay special attention to Sheila when he had so many students?

"Ryder, there’s no such thing as pure love these days. You’re too kind, and you might have been used by that woman. She knows well who can benefit her. You’ve helped her so much, but now she’s latched onto Aidan, a successful and wealthy man. Imagine how painful it’ll be when she kicks you away!"

Ryder’s trust in Sheila began to waver, though he didn’t want to believe she was a scheming woman. Still, the fear lingered in his heart.

Because compared to Aidan, he indeed fell short.

Especially since Aidan could help Sheila a lot in her career. From any perspective, Aidan was more useful to Sheila, and Ryder really feared she might kick him to the curb.

He had learned firsthand from his experiences with Lynn and himself how little people could resist temptation.

He loved Sheila and felt guilty afterward, but when Lynn seductively enticed him, he found his brain completely driven by desire.

If he was like that, perhaps Sheila could be too.

"Ryder, women like that are just to have fun with, don’t get too serious."

...

The Military Hospital, the heavy rain added a veil of mystique to the place.

In the ward, Vincent Rhodes lay on the bed, his body connected to countless machines, his face pale, eyes shut tight.

"Doctor, when will he wake up?" Simon Rhodes stood by the bedside, asking the doctor next to him.

The doctor shook his head gravely, "It’s hard to say, the injuries are severe, it’s a miracle he’s even alive."

Simon looked at Vincent, who had been lying there for three days and nights, uncertain whether he should inform Shannon Quinn of the situation.

She called again this morning, asking if Vincent had given any response to what they discussed last time. Simon merely said he hadn’t been able to reach Vincent.

Once Vincent wakes up, and he tells him Shannon’s decision, Simon wonders what Vincent will choose...

Staring at Vincent lying motionless on the bed, Simon sighed softly and stepped out of the ward.

In the afternoon, Shannon received a call from someone who claimed to be an old client, mentioning a name she vaguely remembered, arranging to meet at a café near her home.

Changing clothes, she grabbed an umbrella and headed out.

The café wasn’t far from home, so Shannon didn’t drive. The rain was drizzling, and the ground was a bit waterlogged; such weather made Shannon dislike going out.

Reaching the café’s entrance as arranged, Shannon placed her umbrella in the rack and looked for the agreed seat.

Finding the spot, she was surprised by who was waiting there.

"You’re here? Sit." June Yardley looked at her, nodding to the seat opposite.

Shannon became alert but didn’t show it, calmly sitting down and looking at June, "If Miss Yardley has something to say, just say it, there’s no need to pretend to be my client."

June smiled as she took the menu from the waiter, glancing through it as she spoke to Shannon, "I was afraid you wouldn’t dare to come."

With that, June looked up at the waiter beside her, "Two signature coffees, please. Oh right, Shannon, in your condition, coffee’s probably not a good idea? How about some fresh orange juice? One signature coffee and one orange juice, then."

Shannon maintained a faint smile, unsure of what June’s game was.

After ordering, June sent a text while holding her phone, then turned to Shannon, "Is the baby almost due? With everything that happened, I’m surprised the Rhodes Family still keeps you and that illegitimate child around."

"Disappointed?"

"Absolutely, I was hoping they’d toss you out and you’d wish you were dead!"

"And what about now? You’ve ended up sabotaging yourself and your whole family. Was it worth it?"

The mention of the Yardley Family made June’s face darken, "Whether it was worth it isn’t up to you. The Yardleys are like this now, I have nothing to lose, it only makes handling you easier. What do you think?"

Shannon instinctively rested her hand on her slightly rounded belly, her face remaining composed, "I never quite understood why Miss Yardley was targeting me. Was it simply because I managed to marry into the Rhodes Family easily while you struggled for years only to be thwarted? If that’s the case, has Miss Yardley been directing her anger at the wrong person?"

"You think you’re innocent? Don’t you know what kind of person you are? Because of you, that bastard Vincent seemed fit to lock eyes with Simon! If not for you, do you think he would refuse to marry me?"

"Miss Yardley’s words flatter me; you are more excellent in every way. If I were competing with you for a man, how could I ever win?"

"Hmph, who knows what spell you cast on Simon! But it doesn’t matter now. At this point, play all you want between the brothers, but don’t play to your death."

The waiter approached, placing drinks from the tray onto the table, then leaving.

Shannon glanced at the orange juice before her, not touching it, only looking at June, "Is sister here to give me a warning today?"

June stirred her coffee with a spoon, her smile sinister, "I just wanted a simple tea chat with you."

"I wouldn’t dare drink tea offered by sister."

June smiled silently, sipping her coffee slowly in a measured manner.

"If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back first." Shannon stood up, grabbing her bag from the seat, intending to leave.

June remained silent, appearing not to hear, continuing to drink her coffee with a spoon.

However, Shannon’s path was blocked by two men.

She took a step back, looking at the burly men in front, then at June behind her, "What does sister mean by this?"

June smiled slightly, her gaze falling on Shannon’s belly, "That child is Simon’s, isn’t it?"

"Despite the recent uproar, the Rhodes still haven’t thrown you out, leaving me with only one possibility. The child must be Simon’s; he pleaded for you, and Shane Royale remembered this was a Rhodes bloodline, quietly allowing you to stay."

June stood up, getting closer to Shannon, her smile menacing, "If the child truly is Simon’s, don’t think you’ll have it."