CHAPTER 16: CHAPTER 16: PRESSING ONE’S LUCK

Sienna Thornton actually just wanted to deceive Simon Forrester this time.

The mental distress part can’t really be counted against Simon Forrester. Even more so, even if her injury were taken to court, Simon Forrester might not necessarily need to be held responsible.

She didn’t intend to deceive him at first, but he offered to take responsibility, so Sienna Thornton assumed he was legally naive. That’s why she took the opportunity to push further, betting that he wouldn’t abandon her injured leg, and she could make more demands.

Perhaps he understood that all she wanted was the design plans, but he played dumb. So she cooperated in the act, knowing that with time, he’d eventually get annoyed and might just throw a design plan her way to settle it.

"If you really can’t figure things out..." Simon Forrester chuckled lightly, then picked up the notepad on the coffee table, scribbling down a string of numbers.

"This is the phone number of the head of psychology at the hospital where you got your cast. Whenever you’re stuck, feel free to call her. I’ve already spoken to her, she’ll take care of counseling you."

Sienna Thornton didn’t reach out to take it, her tone remaining lazy: "What if counseling doesn’t work? If psychologists were effective, there wouldn’t be millions dying from depression each year worldwide."

"If mental support fails, there’s medication. If that’s no good, maybe we could send you to the Fourth Hospital, hmm?"

"The Fourth Hospital?"

While Sienna Thornton was trying to recall what the Fourth Hospital in Brimfield was known for, Simon Forrester had already smiled and opened the door to leave.

Auntie King, who had been hiding in the guest room, heard the door close, came out with a face not pleased, and reminded Sienna Thornton: "Lawyer Thornton, the Fourth Hospital is a psychiatric hospital..."

"Psychiatric hospital?? That sharp-tongued man!"

Realizing Simon Forrester was sarcastically implying she was mentally ill, Sienna Thornton was so angry she swung her cane to chase after him, fortunately Auntie King stopped her just in time.

She was so infuriated she didn’t sleep well all night, waking up the next day at noon.

Auntie King came in to help her change clothes, busying herself while saying: "Assistant Rhodes came by this morning."

"Oh," Sienna Thornton mumbled sleepily, "What did he say?"

"He said Director Forrester will be working until eleven or twelve at night these days, so he hopes Lawyer Thornton won’t make Director Forrester come here every day after work, as it would interfere with Director Forrester’s rest."

Sienna Thornton scoffed disdainfully, muttering: "If he’d just be straightforward and give me what I want, I wouldn’t want to see that icy face of his every day."

...

Because Simon Forrester put her in a tough spot the night before, Sienna Thornton wasn’t in the mood to tangle with him today.

When Auntie King asked if she wanted to call Assistant Rhodes as usual, she waved her hand and said "no need," thinking she’d wait a few days until a good idea came to her to summon Simon Forrester again.

Once the battle status was paused, she became lazy, groggy. After dinner, lying in bed watching dramas, she fell asleep again by around nine.

To be fair, she used to be quite the night owl. Thanks to Simon Forrester, she could now completely rest for a month or two, something she hadn’t done since she could remember...

Downstairs, a discreet imported Volvo S90 cut its engine at the stairway.

In the driver’s seat, Harrison Rowe glanced through the rearview mirror at the fatigued man in the back seat, softly asking: "Director Forrester, it’s quite late, are you still planning to go up to Lawyer Thornton’s place?"

"Call the caregiver and see if she’s asleep." The man rubbed his brow, speaking gently.

Harrison Rowe nodded in response, quickly making a call to Auntie King. Upon hearing that Sienna Thornton had gone to bed early, Harrison Rowe immediately ended the call and requested: "Director Forrester, Lawyer Thornton’s asleep, should I take you home now?"