CHAPTER 4: CHAPTER 4: HOLDING HER SLIM WAIST

In the dim bedroom, only a wisp of incense slowly rises.

It was unclear how long had passed before Vera Sheridan came back to her senses and called her brother, Owen Sheridan.

"Owen, is your brother-in-law with you?"

Owen closed the door to the private room, blocking out the noise of the social gathering inside, "Sis, I’m with him for business."

Vera sighed slightly in relief, "Which hotel?"

"Bvlgari, your brother-in-law thinks the suburban hotels are too inferior, it would offend those officials." Owen walked to the trash can, flicking the ashes from his cigarette, his voice gentle, "Sis, are you checking up on him?"

"Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on him for you." As she spoke, a flash of pity crossed her eyes.

Owen knew that what happened in their childhood had a significant impact on his sister, making her sensitive and suspicious, lacking a sense of security.

Vera gave a small "mm" in response.

Ending the call, she thought to herself, maybe it’s just a coincidence.

Owen returned to the private room, with smoke swirling around, and Ian Kane’s cheeks had a slight flush of intoxication as he sat beside him.

Ian Kane leaned closer, asking in a low voice, "Did your sister call?"

A smile spread across Owen’s handsome face, "Mm, she reminded me to tell you not to drink too much."

Saying that, he took Ian’s wine glass, "Don’t drink anymore, I’ll drink for you."

Ian Kane bit his cigarette butt, half-smiling, nodding, and then introduced Owen to the guests present, "Everyone, this is my brother-in-law, an outstanding young architect who has won the Pritzker Prize, the Nobel Prize in Architecture. The five-star hotel being built by the Kane Group is his work."

"President Kane’s brother-in-law is indeed a remarkable man, just like President Kane’s wife!" The guests immediately started complimenting him.

Owen stood tall and straight, holding his glass, looking modest, "I’m just starting in this field, please guide me."

He always got along with Ian Kane like brothers and relied on his support in his career. Even before graduating from college, Ian gave him projects to practice on, for which Owen was very grateful.

That night, he blocked a lot of drinks for Ian Kane.

...

The messy hotel bed, dad was pressing down on a woman, white shirt creased by hands painted with red nail polish, lower body undressed. As mom shouted, he turned his face.

That face gradually transformed into Ian Kane’s...

Vera was startled awake, heart pounding wildly, with the strong scent of perfume and the smell of osmanthus still lingering in her nose.

After a while, hearing the "bang bang bang" knocking on the door, she gradually realized it was a dream.

Releasing her tightly clenched and slightly painful hands, calming down, she got up to wash and went downstairs.

Her mother-in-law was already waiting for her in the car outside.

As Vera was about to step out of the courtyard, she saw her mother-in-law sitting in the black sedan, windows half-lowered, showing her kind and gentle face as she talked to Third Aunt Kane outside the car.

"Vera is going with me to the temple today, young people have a lot of work stress, she just got up, I’m waiting for her."

Third Aunt Kane, "Second Sister-in-law, you really care for your daughter-in-law, in other families it’s usually the younger ones waiting for the elders."

Jean Crowe, "Well, as elders, we should be more tolerant of the younger ones."

Vera stepped out, greeted Third Aunt Kane with a smile, and then looked at her mother-in-law in the car, "Mom, you’re up so early, last night you said we were leaving at seven-thirty, I was planning to wait for you."

It’s only six-thirty now.

Upon saying this, her smiling eyes met those of Jean Crowe, her lashes trembling slightly, like a hint of chill wrapped in the warm wind of March.

The smile on Jean Crowe’s lips froze for a moment, secretly speeding up the twisting of her Buddha Beads with force, but still amiably said, "Seven-thirty? Oh my, Sister Hale’s hearing problem is getting worse!"

Vera just smiled without saying a word.

Understanding that she was blaming the servant, making excuses for herself in front of Third Aunt Kane.

Next to them, Third Aunt Kane had somewhat deciphered the undercurrents between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, her expression changing rapidly, thinking to herself, this Second Aunt is quite two-faced, and Vera is not a pushover either.

After bidding farewell to Third Aunt Kane politely, Vera walked around to the other side of the sedan, opened the door, and sat inside. The car soon drove out of the courtyard.

At the foot of the mountain, their car was stopped by special police for security checks. It was said that an important person had arrived at the temple today.

Jean Crowe was displeased, "What important person, the car of the Kane Family also needs to be checked?"

The driver: "Madam, it is said that Old Madam Grant has arrived."

The Grant Family.

Vera’s eyes lit up, that must be Grandma Grant, her dear friend across generations, and Professor Donovan’s mother-in-law, also Noah Grant’s grandmother.

Jean Crowe’s face changed abruptly, then she snorted softly, "So what about power?"

Vera detected the jealousy in her voice, found it boring, and turned her head to admire the blooming cherry blossoms outside the window. Just then, a tall and upright figure entered her view.

The man, dressed in a tailored suit with a black coat draped over his shoulders, had sharp and deep features. He walked with long strides to a special police officer, who saluted him.

He nodded slightly, saying something.

It was Noah Grant.

After not seeing him for a few years, he seemed more noble and mature, exuding a stable demeanor in every gesture.

He should be accompanying Grandma Grant to offer incense.

"Vera, who are you looking at?"

A stern and mocking female voice came, snapping Vera back to reality, meeting her mother-in-law’s obviously dissatisfied gaze.

Vera replied frankly, "Noah Grant, my senior in university."

Jean Crowe scoffed.

Thinking to herself, Vera still hasn’t given up on Noah Grant, just someone like her, only her son, blinded by love, would want her.

The Grant Family is noble, that threshold, even she couldn’t cross back in the day!

Otherwise, why would she settle for marrying a favored scoundrel?

The more Jean Crowe thought, the grimmer she felt.

...

The temple had three gates from the foot of the mountain to the top, with each gate having a treasure hall, requiring incense offerings and kneeling. Vera’s right ankle was injured, compounded by the overcast weather, she barely made it halfway up the mountain.

Jean Crowe glanced at the gloomy sky, threatening to rain at any moment, "Vera, your foot isn’t well, the Bodhisattva will understand, go back down the mountain and rest."

Vera nodded, exchanged some polite words, and walked towards the foot of the mountain.

She hadn’t gone far when the sky suddenly began to rain.

She didn’t have an umbrella, turned back to look at her mother-in-law climbing towards the mountain top.

She remembered that the servant accompanying them had two folding umbrellas in the basket.

At the moment, the servant was holding an umbrella for her mother-in-law, both standing on high steps, seemingly looking in her direction.

Vera thought the servant would come down to give her an umbrella, but to her surprise, they turned and walked away...

The drizzling rain quickly soaked the stray hairs on her forehead, sticking to her skin. Vera stared blankly at her mother-in-law’s receding figure, a hint of a mocking smile playing at her lips.

The mother-in-law is punishing her, showing her authority.

The rain grew heavier, and the temperature on the mountain was quite low. The icy raindrops struck Vera’s face, sending chills deep into her bones. Her lips turned purple from the cold, and her right ankle ached even more.

Just as she took a step to turn around, her thin, wet body swayed unsteadily.

Vera’s pupils dilated, as she desperately tried to find her balance.

The next moment, she fell into a warm, dry embrace. A scent of ebony incense enveloped her, shielding her from the wind and rain.

At the same time, a deep-set, chiseled face came into view.

It was Noah Grant.

The man held her slender waist tightly with his iron arms, his right hand supporting a black umbrella, the Rolls-Royce logo on the handle reflecting cold light.

"Senior Grant," Vera hurriedly tried to break free, raindrops rolling off her flushed cheeks.

Noah Grant released her and glanced down at her ankle, "Does it hurt?"

Vera steadied her nerves and smiled, "I’m okay. Are you here to burn incense with Grandma Grant?"

Noah Grant nodded and took out a navy pocket square, handing it to her, "Wipe your face."

Vera hesitated and didn’t take it, "Thanks, I have tissues in my bag."

For praying, makeup was not allowed. She hadn’t worn any today. Her pure, exquisite face was dotted with raindrops, which didn’t make her look disheveled; instead, it added a touch of cool beauty.

Noah Grant retracted the handkerchief, diverting his gaze from her face, examining her ankle, "Can you walk on it?"

Vera retrieved The Healer of the Southern Clouds spray from her bag, "Once it doesn’t hurt, I can walk."

Just as she bent down, Noah Grant took the medicine bottle from her hand and offered her the umbrella, "Let me do it."

Vera didn’t take it, looking at him, thinking it wasn’t appropriate.

Noah Grant raised an eyebrow, "Bending can worsen your injury. Shall I call an ambulance to get you down?"

"...Well, then, if it’s not too much trouble." Vera hesitated, took the umbrella from him.

The umbrella handle was warm with his body heat.

The man crouched before her, his tanned hands gently supporting her cold, pale ankle, spraying the swollen scar with the medicine.

A sharp, stinging sensation hit her, and Vera gasped in pain.

Noah Grant looked up, noticing her reddened eyes, his Adam’s apple moving slightly.

"Does it hurt?"

Vera quickly shook her head and lightly pulled her foot away, "I’m fine, it’s alright."

Meanwhile, at the mountain’s summit, Jean Crowe looked down the mountain—

Her limping daughter-in-law was sharing a black umbrella with a man!

"Madam, it looks like, it’s the second son of the Grant Family, the most doted-upon grandson of Old Madam Grant," a servant beside her chimed in.

It was Noah Grant.

He came from a better family background than her son, and even the old gentleman of the house had to court favor with him—a much sought-after prince in the business law field, unattainable to debutantes from noble families.

How did he get involved with Vera?

Jean Crowe stomped her foot in anger and immediately pulled out her phone to call her son.

...

The spray took effect, and Vera and Noah Grant started descending the mountain together.

She was in front, he was behind.

After walking for a while, the rain became heavier, splashing up from the steps in waves. Vera didn’t get wet at all.

She turned around to find that Noah Grant’s umbrella entirely covered her, while he barely had his head covered.

The heavy rain soaked more than half of his body, the color of his coat’s shoulders darkening by a few shades.

Vera stood there for a moment before speaking, "Senior Grant, come closer."

Noah Grant looked at her with his deep eyes, stepping down to her side.

But his tall frame and a single umbrella couldn’t cover them both, and if Vera moved aside a bit, she would be drenched.

Noah Grant pulled her back, but Vera tried to dodge. The man said in a deep voice, "Don’t move."

He took another step outside, allowing half of his body to be soaked by the rain.

...

Approaching the first gate at the foot of the mountain, from a distance, Vera noticed a familiar figure.

It was Ian Kane.

Ian Kane also saw them. The moment he recognized the man beside Vera as Noah Grant, the corners of his eyes turned slightly red. His thumb vigorously rubbed the wedding ring on his ring finger.

He quickly reached them with big strides.

"Husband."

Vera stepped out from under Noah Grant’s umbrella, smiling as she called out to him.

The next second, she was pulled into Ian Kane’s arms, tightly embraced under his umbrella.

Noah Grant watched the scene, his eyes narrowing.

"Where’s our family’s servant? How come you bothered Second Master Grant to hold your umbrella?" Ian Kane said, a casual smile tugging at his lips, his tone seemingly joking.

Vera detected the jealousy in Ian Kane’s words, upset that she and Noah Grant were getting close.

She was about to reply when Noah Grant spoke first:

"I’m puzzled too, how could the dignified Kane Family let their young madam walk down the mountain in the rain alone." The man stood on a higher step, looking at Ian Kane, his tone mocking, but his expression was serious.

Vera was taken aback, realizing he seemed to be standing up for her.

Ian Kane turned to look at Vera, his brow slightly furrowed, his voice rather serious, "Where are the servants?"

Vera kept a faint smile on her lips, "Mom only brought an aunt along today, who followed her up the mountain."

Ian Kane’s gaze darkened as he let go of Vera, pulling out a cigarette from his pocket, shaking one out, and handed it to Noah Grant, smiling, "Thank you, Second Master Grant, for escorting my wife down the mountain. We’ll treat you to dinner someday as a couple!"

Vera knew he was being sincere this time.

In terms of social dealings, Ian Kane was always very adept.

Noah Grant didn’t accept it, "I watched Vera grow up. My relationship with her is deeper than with you. Escorting her down has nothing to do with you."

Ian Kane was startled, his smile stiffening.

Vera was also taken aback.

Did their relationship... run that deep?