CHAPTER 13: CHAPTER 13: PITIFUL AND CHARMING

"So soon?"

Sienna glanced at the clock on the bedside table, lifted the quilt, and laboriously swung her plastered leg off the bed. Then she grabbed the powder from the dressing table and applied it heavily onto her rosy lips, "It takes at least an hour from the airport to here. Did he fly here?"

After tidying up, she did appear quite pitiful.

Sienna satisfactorily closed the powder box, looked once more in the mirror to ascertain her paleness, then pulled the crutch to her armpit, bent her injured leg, and hobbled out of the bedroom.

Two bedrooms and one living room, a simple layout. The master bedroom opens to the living room, so Sienna quickly switched to a mournful expression before opening the bedroom door.

She opened the door, coordinating with a frail demeanor, even her voice softened several degrees, "Director Forrester..."

The man stood on the balcony outside with his hands behind his back, hearing her voice, he turned around unhurriedly and walked into the living room.

Today, he was wearing a classic dark blue suit, paired with a white French shirt and a silver-black tie, his face eternally icy.

Truly dressed in a very cold and aloof style.

Sienna felt a mischievous urge, wanting to tear through his facade to see if he was truly abstinent or fake cold.

But that was a matter for later. Right now, she needed to get the design plans.

Sienna feigned weakness and smiled, moving forward.

The man’s deep eyes relentlessly fixed on her, making her uncomfortable. She was about to ask Auntie King to help her sit down but realized Auntie King had been called out by Harrison, leaving the two of them alone in the living room.

Simon walked over to a single sofa and sat down, adjusting the expensive cufflinks on his sleeve, before casually glancing over, "Come sit."

"Alright." Sienna compliantly sat across from him, wearing a pitiable expression.

Simon seemed slightly impatient, but his tone remained calm, "Why did you call me over?"

"Oh, nothing really, I just always feel dull."

"..." Simon slightly furrowed his brows, looking at Sienna with a puzzled expression.

"I’ve completely stopped working now, can’t go outside, cooped up at home every day, I can’t even get downstairs, how can I feel lively?"

"... I will pay for the lost time."

"Is it about the money? There’s always something more meaningful than money, like a job, like a career... If it weren’t for that vase in your house, Director Forrester, would I be in this situation?"

Sienna felt that she had spoken enough for Simon to understand, and if he continued pretending not to understand, she would have to come up with a tougher method against him.

The situation indeed deviated from expectations.

Simon listened to her grievances but only nodded expressionlessly, "If any losses occur in your career due to this accident when you return to work, I can consider reimbursing you to some extent."

"Reimburse?" Sienna’s voice had a hint of sobbing, "How would you reimburse mental losses?"

"Lawyer Thornton," Simon suddenly chuckled softly, "Are you sure you want to continue?"

Sienna abruptly snapped back to reality, sheepishly smiled, and promptly ended the topic.

Indeed, mental losses could not be attributed to Simon.

Sienna did not expect him to be so clever, so well-prepared, defending himself from every angle she tried to attack.

Seeing her speechless, Simon raised his eyebrows, smiled, and calmly stood up, a small wooden coffee table separating them.

At nearly six feet three inches tall, when Simon stood in front of Sienna, who was five foot seven, he blocked most of the light in the living room, making Sienna tilt her head up but still have difficulty seeing him clearly.

Sienna felt indignant inside but knew she needed his help, so breaking ties wouldn’t be wise. Thus, she turned her thoughts around, put on a very pitiful smile once more, and courteously escorted Simon out the door.

Already at the entrance, Simon suddenly stopped, his gaze sweeping around the modest two-bedroom apartment, and asked, "Where’s the child?"

"The child?" Sienna was taken aback, only recalling after a moment the last visit to SY Architectural Design Firm coinciding with Laura’s gastroenteritis, which forced her to leave early and request Simon’s understanding, claiming her daughter was ill.

Never expected Simon to remember that.

Mentioning Laura, Sienna brightened up, her tone more lively than usual, "Laura was just discharged from the hospital for gastroenteritis some time ago. Since my leg is like this, I can’t take care of her, so I temporarily placed her with a friend."

"Laura?" Simon suddenly displayed a meaningful smile and said nothing more, decisively and swiftly pushing the door open to leave.

Not long after, Auntie King came in, a conflicted expression on her face, "Lawyer Thornton, I just heard Mr. Forrester and Assistant Rhodes talking downstairs..."