CHAPTER 28: CHAPTER 28: MOONLIGHT NEVER FALLS

The scene of Ian Kane imposing and questioning Nina Sullivan in the hotel last time is still vivid, so why are they so close and intimate now?

Vera Sheridan lifted the quilt, got out of bed, slipped on slippers, and limped out of the room to knock on Ian Kane’s door.

The door opened quickly.

Seeing her, Ian Kane’s eyes softened, and he slightly raised the corner of his lips, "Honey, you’re still up? I was just about to find you. It’s my fault tonight, I shouldn’t have been upset with you."

His tone was gentle, and he stepped forward to hug her. Vera Sheridan stepped back to avoid him, raising her phone, "What’s with this photo?"

Ian Kane glanced at the screen, his face turned somber, losing its warmth, and his tone was indifferent, "What about it?"

He showed no guilt, seeming quite justified.

Vera Sheridan squeezed her hand, "Why were you with her? Weren’t you very opposed to her before?"

Ian Kane pressed his thin lips tight, took out his phone from his robe pocket, and sent a voice message to Jonah Langdon, "Send me all the photos you took tonight!"

Vera Sheridan was stunned for a moment.

She heard several message notification sounds from his phone.

Ian Kane opened one of the photos Jonah Langdon sent, handed it to Vera Sheridan without saying a word.

Vera Sheridan looked closely, it was still tonight’s gathering in The Sovereign’s luxury box, but from a different angle.

This photo clearly showed that Nina was sitting next to Quentin Hawthorne on the other side, with one hand resting on his thigh, her long acrylic nails reflecting scattered light.

Ian Kane, "Did you see clearly?"

"I have many more, want to check again?"

Facing his cold face, Vera Sheridan said, "I..."

The man interrupted her, his tone a bit cold, "Quentin Hawthorne and I are old family friends, we also have business dealings, Nina Sullivan is his date, should I have chased her away?"

Seeing his cold demeanor, Vera Sheridan felt a sourness in her heart and braced herself to explain.

"From the angle of the other photo, it’s hard not to misunderstand."

Ian Kane snorted lightly, his eyes cold, "Misunderstand? Vera Sheridan, you just don’t trust me. Instinctively suspecting I’m like your dad, cheating!"

"I remain faithful to you—" He stopped halfway, turning into the room.

The heavy sound of the door closing hit Vera Sheridan’s heart hard, words like "your dad" and "faithful" pierced her like sharp thorns.

He accused her of being influenced by childhood shadows, having psychological issues, hence not trusting him.

Vera Sheridan felt choked.

The door tightly shut, inside Ian Kane turned off the lights, even the faint light seeping through the door crack disappeared.

Only the cold moonlight spilled in through the floor-to-ceiling windows on the balcony.

Vera Sheridan looked at the moonlight on the ground, recalling Ian Kane’s first deep confession, "Vera, you are the white moonlight on the tip of my heart, never falling."

Back then, she pointed to the moonlight on the ground and retorted, "Look, what’s on the ground? One day, the white moonlight will become a grain of rice stuck on clothes."

But he persisted for six years, proving for six years that she would not fall.

With red eyes, Vera Sheridan knocked on his door again, wanting to communicate and explain.

Inside, the man’s weary voice came, "Vera, I’m tired."

It was the second time he said this tonight.

Vera Sheridan regretted questioning about the photo. Before asking, he was clearly about to reconcile voluntarily.

That night, she relied on melatonin to fall asleep.

The next morning, Ian Kane had already left, without waiting for her to have breakfast or go to work together.

In the following days, she didn’t see him once, not a single message, seemingly giving her the cold shoulder intentionally.

Whenever she texted to ask if he was coming home for dinner, he would reply in two hours: Socializing, not coming back.

Or: On a business trip outside the city.

Vera Sheridan commuted to work every day by the driver.

Now, there was almost nothing for her to do at the dance troupe.

Every day she trained alone in the dance studio, using her left leg to maintain her fitness and muscle, and after training, she returned to the office to choreograph new dances.

...

At the hospital, Vera Sheridan held flowers and a fruit basket at the door of Evelyn Rivers’ ward, about to knock when she heard a woman’s harsh reprimand inside.

"Dance, dance! Got yourself crippled from dancing, didn’t you? Told you to study well, but you wouldn’t, insisted on dancing this damn ballet! What will you do in the future? You don’t have a rich husband to support you, a cripple, and give you dignity!"

"Your dad consulted with a lawyer, the dance troupe can at most compensate ten thousand. We’ll have to deplete our family savings for your foot!"

"Mom, I must heal my foot, I still want to dance!" Evelyn Rivers’ crying voice came from inside.

Through the glass on the door, Evelyn Rivers lay on the bed, her face full of tears and stubbornness in her eyes.

Vera Sheridan recalled the expert saying that Evelyn Rivers’ foot injury was not severe and with proper treatment and rehabilitation, she had a good chance to recover and return to the stage.

Finding the hospital’s payment machine, she deposited half a million into Evelyn Rivers’ medical insurance card.

Regarding this accident, the dance troupe girls privately discussed that the one who benefited most from Evelyn Rivers’ injury was Nina Sullivan, and everyone suspected her.

However, the police allocated maximum manpower to scrutinize all recent surveillance from the troupe’s performance hall and found no suspects.

This matter was left unresolved.

In the changing room, the girls were gossiping again.

"Do you guys think it was done by Nina Sullivan’s boyfriend?"

"No matter how powerful his background is, can it be stronger than President Kane? Even Ms. Sheridan was implicated and can’t be a guide now."

"True."

"But Nina Sullivan’s boyfriend is really perverted, I saw burns on her thigh, like from a cigarette!"

Last time it was torn skin, this time it’s cigarette burns, the girls showed terrified expressions.

Yvonne Ziegler crossed her arms, sneered, "Serves her right, who told her to be a mistress."

"Yvonne, is Nina Sullivan really a mistress? Do you know who she’s with?"

Vera Sheridan just came out of the shower, having heard the girls’ discussions clearly inside, was about to tell them not to gossip, when she met Yvonne Ziegler’s evasive eyes...

Yvonne quickly said, "Stop chatting, go take a shower!"

The girls scattered in a flurry.

Vera shook off the image of Yvonne’s evasive gaze from her mind and persuaded herself not to overthink.

If she continued to be suspicious, her marriage with Ian Kane would soon come to an end.

He had been out of sight for more than a week.

In nearly seven years of knowing him, it was his first time neglecting her for this long.

The way he used to be so passionate and tolerant towards her...the stark contrast was torturous.

As she lay in bed late at night, she would reflect on herself.

Was it really a psychological issue of her own causing this mistrust in him?

Time after time, he was genuinely tired, annoyed, and no longer wanted to tolerate her.

Feeling gloomy, Vera was relieved when Maeve Holloway returned to the country and invited her to sing.

Singing could also release negative emotions.

Unable to sing, Vera listened to Maeve while silently sipping low-alcohol sake.

Maeve didn’t stop her, thinking it’s good to drown sorrows in intoxication.

After a few songs, Maeve received a call from a visitor seeking counsel.

Vera mouthed the words that she was going to the restroom.

Maeve nodded and reminded her to stay safe.

...

Nina Sullivan attended a social gathering of internet celebrity debutantes tonight and didn’t expect to see Vera here.

In the dim light, she stood behind a green plant in the hallway of K Hall, watching Vera head to the restroom, her fingertips subconsciously brushed the burn scar on her thigh, eyes gradually widening, filled with sharp hatred...

Vera dried her hands and walked out of the restroom, hesitating just at the corner.

In the corridor ahead, a dark silhouette was approaching, the overhead spotlight illuminating a young man’s covetous gaze, fixed on her... chest.

The room was hot, and she was wearing a thin blue turtleneck top, form-fitting, accentuating her curves.

Vera felt like facing a formidable enemy and instinctively hugged her chest, backing away.

Her right foot stumbled on the carpet, she staggered, and managed to steady herself by holding onto the wall in time.

"Miss, are you okay?" The young man quickly approached her, his lascivious hand reaching for her slim waist.

"Don’t touch me!" Vera shouted in disgust, stepping back to evade.

"Miss, don’t misunderstand, I’m trying to help you."

The man’s lascivious hand reached for her again, a childhood image flashed through Vera’s mind, she trembled all over, forgetting to fight back.

"Don’t touch her!"

A young male voice coldly commanded, pushing the man’s shoulder away.

The tall, lean figure of a young man stood protectively in front of Vera.

She recognized, it was Milo Hale.

"Kid, mind your own business..." The thug spat, warmed up his wrists, and swung at Milo.

Milo, with an arrogant look, snorted coldly and also raised his fist.

A fight broke out between them.

Vera remembered that Milo had a tour the day after tomorrow and had to leave for his first stop at Veridia tomorrow — he couldn’t afford any injury, and she shouted to stop him.

The young man, however, became more and more resilient in the fight with fierce, swift punches.

In stark contrast to his usual elegant prince image on stage.

...

The KTV security team arrived in time, pulling the two apart and also called the police.

Vera and Maeve followed the police car to the nearest precinct to make a statement and bail out Milo.

After finishing her statement, Vera came out, and Maeve approached her, handing her a bottle of water.

"Milo hasn’t come out yet?" Vera asked worriedly.

Maeve shook her head, "He acted in defense of justice, he should be fine."

Vera was anxious; the legal definition of acting in defense of justice is complex, she feared Milo might be charged with mutual assault, leaving a criminal record and affecting his future.

The key was, if detained, what would happen to his tour?

Vera couldn’t help but dial Ian Kane’s number, seeking his help to find a lawyer.

However, his phone was off.

Just then, there was a commotion at the stairs leading to the second floor of the lobby.

A man in a suit, holding a briefcase, his face stern yet handsome, walked with a dignified aura.

Accompanying him was a middle-aged officer in a police uniform, indicating his high rank as the police chief.

The chief wore a smiling face, followed by several officers.

It was Noah Grant.

Both Vera and Maeve were momentarily taken aback.

After saying something to the chief, he walked towards them alone.

His black Oxford shoes making crisp sounds on the marble floor.

Maeve called out loudly, "Senior Grant."

The three of them were all from Veridia University.

Vera said, "Senior."

Noah Grant gave Vera a brief look, "I came to handle a file, why are you here?"