CHAPTER 29: CHAPTER 29: IDENTITY

"I’ll go hide in the room. Don’t tell him I’m here, alright!" Sienna Thornton hurriedly propped herself on her crutches and dashed into the room.

Simon Forrester looked speechlessly at her flustered back and opened the door.

"What brings you here so late?" He leaned against the doorframe, his expression indifferent and tone casual, showing no intention of inviting Thomas Reed in.

Thomas Reed gazed at him with a deep expression and countered, "Where’s Sienna?"

"Who’s Sienna?"

"...The night your sister-in-law went to Sienna’s house, weren’t you there too?" Thomas Reed said, his eyes glancing over Simon Forrester’s shoulder towards the inside of the door.

Simon Forrester knew Sienna Thornton had already hidden in the room, so he didn’t stop him, just reluctantly stretching out the end of his sentence, "Oh, you mean Lawyer Thornton..."

He chuckled sarcastically, "Your wife is so fierce, I got scared and left pretty soon."

"Is that so?" Thomas Reed withdrew his gaze suspiciously, "I’ll handle this matter."

Saying that, he was about to enter the apartment.

Simon Forrester slowly stood upright, immediately blocking most of the entryway space.

Thomas Reed squinted at him for a moment, his tone and gaze filled with suspicion, "Can I come in for a couple of drinks?"

"Suit yourself," Simon Forrester replied airily, turning on a cold face and walking inside.

Thomas Reed followed in, heading straight to the bar to pour two glasses of red wine, handing one to Simon Forrester, which he declined.

"I have to draw later. You can drink, but leave after this glass."

Simon Forrester clearly didn’t want to talk much, his demeanor quiet as he sat on the sofa, crossing his long legs, and unexpectedly turned on the TV, randomly selecting a noisy variety show.

Thomas Reed came over and set the two glasses of red wine on the coffee table, noticing a bottle of bright red nail polish lying on the table. He hesitated, as if recalling something, his face darkened but with a smile still hanging, "Have you fallen in love recently?"

He observed Simon Forrester discreetly.

Simon Forrester did not spare him a glance, chuckling sarcastically, "Is Senior Counselor Reed planning a career change to paparazzi?"

Thomas Reed awkwardly withdrew his smile, sighed deeply, and after sitting on the single sofa, gulped a mouthful of the expensive red wine, his voice as bitter as the wine slipping down his throat, "Did you hear what your sister-in-law said to Sienna that day?"

"I didn’t hear."

Thomas Reed was taken aback, then after a moment, forced a smile, "Anyway, I appreciate you protecting Sienna for me."

As soon as he heard these words, Simon Forrester immediately tossed the remote onto the table, making a sudden "pop" that was extremely jarring in the quiet night.

"In what capacity are you thanking me?" He raised an eyebrow and looked at Thomas Reed.

Thomas Reed didn’t answer, downing the crimson liquid in his glass.

Simon Forrester ignored him, got up with a cold face, and went to the bookshelves by the floor-to-ceiling windows to find a book to read.

Thomas Reed drank one cup after another rapidly, emptying a whole bottle of red wine soon.

His face flushed, he walked over to Simon Forrester, took a deep breath, and laughed heartily, "I hope, in the near future, I can thank you as Sienna’s partner."

"..."

His liquor-laden breath wafted all around, deepening the chill on Simon Forrester’s face; he didn’t want to read anymore, forcefully shoving the book back into the shelf.

His face showed uncontrollable disgust, glancing speechlessly at Thomas Reed before walking towards the hallway to open the door, coldly issuing the guest a dismissal, "If you’re drinking, go home to drink, don’t stink up my place."

"I’ve been drinking. I can’t drive. I’ll crash at your place for the night."

"Do you want me to call your wife to come over?" Simon Forrester’s tone was impatient.

Thomas Reed sheepishly got up from the sofa, his eyes dark and unclear, "Then call me a driver. I’ll use the restroom first."

He headed to the apartment’s only guest bathroom, entered for just a moment, and came out, quickly pulling out a phone to dial a number.

His face was bad, showing disbelief and suppressed anger. It wasn’t until Simon Forrester came over to ask him to leave that he hung up the phone. As he left, his gaze lingered on the nail polish bottle on the coffee table for a few seconds, leaving with a heart full of frustration and resentment.

"Click," as the door shut, Sienna Thornton poked her head out from the guest room.

She clumsily propped herself on her crutches and came out, seeing Simon Forrester sitting on the sofa with a dark face, walking over to ask, "Did Partner Reed say anything?"

Simon Forrester lifted his eyes to glance at her, his voice tinged with a bit of anger, "He came here—does it have to be for you?"