CHAPTER 14: CHAPTER 14: MARRIED WOMAN, NO CHANCE

Vera Sheridan looked at the girl in front of her, who appeared haughty like a peacock. Three years ago, she had just brought the girl to Ardendale; it was also at a Starbucks. The girl stood in front of the display window, eyeing the prices of the desserts inside, her back hunched, nervously twisting the hem of her hoodie.

"Nina, which one do you want?" she asked her.

The innocent girl mentioned the cheapest ham and cheese croissant, but Vera remembered that her first choice had clearly been the 45 yuan strawberry sweetheart cake.

To preserve the young girl’s dignity, Vera bought both.

When did Nina Sullivan begin to change?

Vera couldn’t quite figure it out.

Returning to her senses, she glanced at Nina Sullivan, her tone indifferent, "You’d better keep it for yourself."

Nina Sullivan let out a slight snort from her nostrils, tossed the paper bag towards the trash can, "Ms. Sheridan, I’m thinking of your well-being. Last time you tried a whip turn, it put you through days of trouble, why bother?"

"Going home and raising children would be so much better, you’re at the perfect age for childbirth now."

Vera opened the locker, noticing out of the corner of her eye that Nina Sullivan seemed to be eyeing her abdomen with a deliberate, provocative tone, as if to poke at her sore spot.

Vera looked at her, "Nina Sullivan, since you’re financially secure now, when will you pay back all the expenses I’ve covered for you over various competitions, costumes, travel, and such over the past few years?"

"I’ll send you the detailed list later."

"And the two medical expenses for your father and brother, a total of 840,000 yuan."

Since Nina Sullivan was ungrateful, she was no longer going to be polite with her.

Nina didn’t expect the usually dignified Vera to ask for her debts in front of everyone, biting down tightly on her straw.

Evelyn Rivers deliberately jabbed, "Nina Sullivan, didn’t you already buy a BMW? And you’re wearing an emerald green ring, why haven’t you paid Ms. Sheridan back?"

Other girls whispered among themselves, "Wow, Nina Sullivan still owes Ms. Sheridan money."

"Her family is so poor, these past few years Ms. Sheridan has been supporting her competitions... resulting in what she is today."

Nina shot a harsh glance at Evelyn, then turned to Vera, "Ms. Sheridan, I’ll pay you back another day!"

"My boyfriend isn’t short of money either..."

Vera, "If he’s not short, then why didn’t you pay me back without me asking for it?"

Nina was stumped.

Evelyn, "Ms. Sheridan, she just doesn’t intend to pay you back."

Others also pursed their lips disapprovingly.

Nina, resentful, quickly changed the topic to save face, "Where were we? Right, karaoke tonight, how about I treat everyone to The Sovereign’s VIP supreme room?"

Upon hearing about The Sovereign, the luxurious spot for Ardendale’s affluent, the girls’ vanity was instantly ignited, and they eagerly agreed, "Yes!"

"Nina, will your boyfriend join us tonight? Will he make an appearance?"

Nina glanced at Vera, who was hanging up clothes, "My boyfriend is there too, but as a busy CEO, going to The Sovereign is for entertaining distinguished guests, so he won’t have time for you all."

The girls looked a bit disappointed.

Evelyn, watching how fawning they were over Nina, got annoyed, "Has everyone changed into their outfits? Hurry to the training room!"

The girls, having changed their clothes, left the dressing room in an orderly fashion, leaving only Nina and Vera.

Nina, "Ms. Sheridan, joining us at The Sovereign tonight?"

Vera gave her a cold glance, not uttering a word.

She locked the locker, picked up her thermos, and was about to leave.

Nina watched her back, saying in a shadowy tone, "Ms. Sheridan, my boyfriend has a heart-shaped red birthmark below his right hip bone. What about your Mr. Kane...?"

Vera stopped, turned around to look at her.

Under the fluorescent light, the girl’s exquisite face wore a strange smile, batting her eyelids repeatedly at Vera.

Clearly a double entendre.

She replied calmly, "Why bring my husband into this? I’m even less interested in your boyfriend."

Shooting Nina a cold glance, Vera turned and left.

Nina snorted coldly after her, "Is that so."

Ian Kane had an engagement that evening; by dusk, he didn’t come to pick Vera up from work and sent a driver instead.

Vera didn’t go home; she arranged to have dinner with Maeve Holloway, and afterward, the two friends went to a vintage-styled café by the river, listening to folk music while chatting.

When Maeve went to the restroom, Vera received a WeChat message from her brother, Owen Sheridan, "Sis, why didn’t you come to The Sovereign with your brother-in-law? Haven’t seen you in a while."

The Sovereign.

Ian Kane was also at The Sovereign...

Vera’s eyebrows gradually furrowed, and she instinctively opened her Moments.

Upon refreshing, she saw Nina Sullivan’s update among the shared posts of the other girls: Waiting for my boyfriend to finish socializing to accompany me...

Attached was a selfie.

Vera’s thumb hovered over the screen, lightly tapping to open the photo.

Behind Nina Sullivan, the floor-to-ceiling glass reflected a tall, slender silhouette, a man loosening his tie, the wedding ring on his left ring finger glinting coldly.

Even though it was just a side profile, Vera instantly recognized Ian Kane.

Vera clenched her phone tightly, her face darkening.

The way Ian’s profile appeared in Nina’s selfie, along with the caption about waiting for her boyfriend, was hard not to incite speculation.

Especially for her, Ian’s wife.

However, the photo was taken in the lobby of The Sovereign, so perhaps Ian was just inadvertently caught in the frame.

Given the prior cufflink incident as a lesson, she didn’t want to wrongfully accuse Ian again, as such matters could greatly impact their marital relationship.

Vera drank a few sips of lemon water, calmed down, and replied to her brother’s WeChat: Didn’t know you were there too. Business meeting, right? It’s too late tonight, so I won’t come over. Let’s get together over the weekend!

Owen replied back: It’s a circle gathering with brother-in-law, then, another time for us!

Not business-related.

Vera lightly furrowed her brows. For such gatherings, Ian usually took her along.

However, it had been a while since he last took her to such circle gatherings.

These were minor issues.

She enjoyed peace and didn’t like noisy events anyway.

Maeve was about to fetch her car to give Vera a ride home when she received a distress call. One of her clients, suffering from deep depression due to her husband’s infidelity, was about to jump from a building. The family member on the phone was begging her to come and coax the client down.

The client usually relied heavily on Maeve.

Vera urged her to go save the woman immediately, deciding to take a cab home herself.

Maeve instructed her to message once she was home, then hurriedly left.

The region had heavy tourist activity, being a commercial and tourist area, making transportation difficult due to traffic control, with one-way streets allowing only exits.

To catch a cab, she would have to walk a couple of miles.

Vera surveyed her surroundings.

At this moment, a Rolls-Royce Cullinan emerged from a nearby underground parking, parked not far from her with warning lights flashing.

A man stepped out from the back seat—Noah Grant.

He walked toward her.

The man emanated an aura of ebony agarwood, a niche yet sophisticated scent mingled with a faint hint of tobacco, giving off a steady and mature sense of reliability.

Vera greeted with a soft smile, "Senior Grant."

Noah Grant’s dark eyes scanned the surroundings, looking down at her, "Getting a cab?"

Vera smiled, "Yes."

Noah Grant glanced around, "Not easy getting a cab here. Get in my car; it’s on the way."

Vera considered briefly, "Then I’ll trouble you, senior."

Noah Grant, "No trouble at all."

He led the way to the back seat, holding the car door open for her.

From the front seat, Old Man Crowe observed, a corner of his lips curling up into a smile.

He thought to himself that their second master, who usually avoided women, finally got the hint and personally opened the car door for a lady.

Another glance, and upon recognizing her as the daughter-in-law of The Kane Family, Old Man Crowe’s lips twitched.

She’s married, no chance.

In the dim car, the surrounding air was saturated with the dry, warm aura of male pheromones.

Vera lowered the car window, letting the river breeze blow in, and casually struck up a conversation, "Senior, do you spend most of your time in Ardendale now?"

The Grant family was originally a prestigious family in Ardendale, but in recent years, with Mr. Grant’s promotion, the entire family moved to Veridia, becoming part of The Capital Circle aristocracy.

Noah Grant unscrewed a bottle of mineral water, handing it to her, "Yes."

"I occasionally return to Veridia for company matters."

Vera accepted it, "Thank you, how is Grandma Grant’s health?"

Noah Grant casually fastened the seatbelt and leaned over to help her buckle it.

As he straightened up, her scalp tugged slightly, and she let out a soft hum.

Noah Grant froze momentarily, his nose nearly grazing her face, adding a touch of intimacy to the air.

Vera quickly tried to move aside.

In the dimness, Noah Grant pinched a strand of her hair, "Don’t move."