CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 38: NO ONE LOVES YOU MORE THAN I DO

Inside the car, it was extremely quiet, you could hear a pin drop.

Ian Kane studied Vera Sheridan’s face carefully through the light from the overhead lamp, not missing any subtle changes in her expression.

She was always cold and intellectual, calm and rational, but her eyes seemed to reveal the innocence of a young girl, her pink lips slightly parted, unable to speak.

"What, are you moved?"

Vera Sheridan snapped back to reality, clenching her hands tightly, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Noah Grant couldn’t possibly have a crush on her.

Ian’s lips twitched slightly, a faintly bitter smile flickering in his eyes, "Are you saying he never had a crush on you, or that you’re not moved, hmm?"

His tone was mocking, full of pressure.

Vera’s nerves were taut, and she replied calmly, "Both. This topic is quite boring."

Ian’s voice was faint, "Really?"

Sarcastic.

Vera frowned and turned to look out the car window, not wanting to engage with him.

Ian leaned over, took a pack of cigarettes from the glove compartment, pulled one out, but didn’t light it, tapping the end on his palm occasionally. The outside light shone on his face, shifting between light and shadow.

"He had a crush on you, so why didn’t he confess his feelings to you? Why did he leave without saying a word?"

Upon hearing this, Vera turned her head to look at him.

Ian’s jaw tightened.

She really cares!

Veins popped out on the man’s forehead, and those past memories flooded his mind. He couldn’t help but bite the cigarette and took out a lighter.

Vera frowned, watching him frown in the dim light as he slid his thumb repeatedly over the lighter’s wheel without igniting a flame.

"Don’t smoke."

Ian put away the lighter, bit the cigarette hard, and pulled it out, "You really want to know, fine, I’ll tell you."

Vera was about to retort that she didn’t want to know.

Otherwise, this jealous man doesn’t know how long he’ll argue with her tonight.

Ian spoke up first, "Because of your mother, my mother-in-law."

Vera was stunned.

It was like hitting her Achilles’ heel.

Ian watched her, speaking slowly, "Noah liked you back then, and you know his family background. That year, during the transition, his father was running for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. If he was with a girl whose mother had a criminal record, it would definitely affect his father’s career and his own personal development."

The Grant Family has been a legal and political family for generations.

His implication was that Noah had, for the sake of family interests, stifled his feelings for Vera in the cradle.

It felt like Vera’s heart was pierced with a thousand needles, a dense and intense pain.

Back then, her mom had stabbed her dad’s lover in a fit of passion and was sentenced to three years in prison, where she became depressed and committed suicide.

Her tragedy was not only the pain of losing a loved one for her and her brother Owen Sheridan but also the shadow of being the children of a convict. Young Owen always dreamed of becoming a police officer but couldn’t even qualify for public exams when he grew up.

When she was 20, after winning the Lorraine International Ballet Gold Award, her mother’s murder was exposed, and she was cyberbullied for a long time. It was Ian who helped her suppress it from behind the scenes.

Vera’s eyes welled up with tears.

Ian saw the tears in her eyes and roughly crushed the cigarette.

The bitter taste of tobacco spread throughout the car.

He turned Vera’s face, his eyes filled with gloom, "Heartbroken because he gave up on you?"

Vera was startled for a moment and then shook her head slowly, "No."

"I’ve never had fantasies about the opposite sex before, you know that. Getting close to Noah was just admiration for his good grades and excellent chess skills, nothing more."

"I’m upset because I thought of my mom and the past I’ve been through."

Ian slowly exhaled a breath of air, pulling her into his embrace, "Sorry for bringing up your sad memories."

Vera knew he was jealous, "Ian, ever since I decided to marry you, I’ve always been devoted to you. Don’t overthink. I remember all the good you’ve done for me, and I am grateful."

Ian held her tightly, "I admit, I’m petty. Noah used to have a crush on you and even got close to you... you’re my wife now, don’t you know how to avoid making it awkward?"

"He usually stays away from women and has a sense of propriety, can I not overthink it?"

Vera thought silently, then gave him peace of mind, "I won’t play chess or meet with him in the future."

Ian’s lips curled into a smile, reaching his eyes, as he looked at her, "Wife, you’ve always been perfect in my heart, and you still are. I don’t care about what others mind."

Listening to his words, memories flooded Vera’s mind, a wave of emotion washing over her.

There used to be many rich young men pursuing her, some just for her beauty, others out of a desire to conquer. Ian was the only one who persistently pursued her for six years, using half his life to win her over.

Not caring about her unfortunate background and going against his family’s opposition, he resolutely married her; after marriage, he tolerated her illness; after her brother Owen graduated, he arranged for him to join the Kane Group for project experience.

Vera leaned her head against his shoulder, gently rubbing it, speaking from her heart, "Husband, thank you."

Ian smiled, "Why say thank you between us. Believing that only I truly love you and no one loves you more than I do, I’m satisfied with that."

Vera blurted out, "If I didn’t believe you, I wouldn’t have married you back then."

The man gazed at her quietly, saying nothing.

Vera understood, he was recalling unhappy memories from the past, "It’s my problem... influenced by my mom, being overly suspicious."

Ian’s large hand rubbed the back of her head, "I know. I’ve been busy contending with the old man these days and couldn’t come home. It’s not that I’m angry at you."

"Is Grandpa still pressuring you to have kids?" Vera furrowed her brows again.

Earlier, she had heard that her sister-in-law from the main house had a miscarriage due to infidelity, thinking the pressure on Ian might lighten a bit, and she could have some time to continue her treatments.

He hadn’t spoken for a long time.

Vera looked at him.

The man’s eyes were downcast, staring absently at a point, with deep lines of worry etched between his brows.

It was very serious.

Vera called out gently, "Husband?"

The car had also reached home.

Ian snapped back, smiling at her as he hooked his lips, "No one can force me, and you shouldn’t feel any pressure either."

Vera could tell he was trying to comfort her, bearing the pressure of having children alone.

And the pressure was enormous.

She was worried too.