CHAPTER 370: CHAPTER 370: FRUSTRATED IN LOVE

The man in the room seemed to realize only then that they were talking about him. He looked up and saw Simon Quinn’s furious face.

He smiled and slowly put down the puzzle piece in his hand.

"And who might this be?"

His words were like a slap, hitting Simon Quinn’s face hard. It turned out that this man didn’t even know Chloe had a biological father.

"I’m Chloe’s dad."

The man didn’t seem surprised, nodded lightly, and then smiled again.

"So Chloe has a dad. Sorry, I hadn’t heard about you before. I’m an old friend of Jane’s, known her for many years."

He deliberately emphasized "known her for many years," but his demeanor remained calm and unruffled.

Simon Quinn stood calmly, seeing Chloe’s fondness for the man, he suddenly felt like an outsider. They seemed to be the real family of three.

"Jane Shaw, let’s talk it through. We shouldn’t keep straining like this anymore."

He compromised. He originally thought that if he left her alone for a while longer, she would give in. But now it seemed she was clearly starting to find someone new.

He was trembling with anger, yet helpless.

Jane Shaw said nothing, her lips pressed tightly.

Although she and Simon Quinn had a child, she actually didn’t like the man much, and their only connection was the child.

This man never appeared when she most needed him, nor did he ever fulfill his responsibilities as a father.

"Mr. Quinn, let’s talk about this later. We’re about to have supper."

Her words were practically a polite way of telling him to leave, but Simon Quinn seemed not to understand, and hearing about supper, he naturally sat down.

"Great, I didn’t have dinner tonight either. Hope you don’t mind me joining you?"

Jane Shaw was about to say she minded, but Chloe spoke up at that moment.

"Dad doesn’t mind; I was just thinking why didn’t you come."

Chloe’s eyes sparkled, clearly showing she liked Simon Quinn very much.

Simon Quinn instantly felt comforted. At least the little girl still had some conscience, unlike Jane Shaw, who seemed to forget his existence so quickly.

However, because of his presence, the atmosphere became awkward.

Besides Chloe and him, the other two looked very uncomfortable, but Simon Quinn seemed oblivious, brazenly staying.

Serenford on New Year’s Eve was bustling. Many people would stay up for the night.

They say fireworks would be set off at the top of the tallest building. Every year at midnight, it attracts a lot of people.

Gloria Galloway held her cat, staring at the building. From time to time, she looked down at the time, it should be soon, almost midnight.

Samantha Sullivan also got out of bed, standing wearily in front of the floor-to-ceiling window.

The room rented by Gloria had a perfect view of the building. They didn’t need to be there in person to see the fireworks.

The unfinished supper sat on the table. Samantha quietly watched the building, her hand on her belly.

"Samantha, what do you plan to do with this child?"

Gloria saw her hand instinctively placed on her stomach and couldn’t help but ask.

The child wasn’t Evan Yancy’s. Would she choose to give birth? If she did have the child, there would be no possibility of her and Evan being together.

Samantha listened to her words, her hand gently rubbing her belly. Actually, she hadn’t decided yet.

She had thought about an abortion before, but regretted it as soon as she reached the hospital, as if such a move was a heinous act.

The child wasn’t at fault; she long felt unworthy of Evan Yancy.

"I’ll have it, and live with him. At least there’ll be someone with me in the future."

Gloria sighed. She didn’t recommend having the child; being a single mother was too hard.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The sound of fireworks suddenly resounded, and outside there was a cacophony, the sight was full of jubilation.

Gloria seemed to feel the atmosphere from that side. After a moment of hesitation, she took out her phone and called Julian Sterling.

Julian’s voice was a bit hoarse, with a sense of groggy awakening.

"Gloria, what’s up?"

The way he called her Gloria made her heart tremble.

He rarely called her that. Only when his mind was unclear did he use it, always keeping an indifferent and distant attitude when sober.

"Best Actor Sterling, Happy New Year. What are you doing? Have you seen the fireworks?"

Julian glanced outside, only to realize that the fireworks had started this year. His place had the best view, but he never watched them because the room was too desolate.

And what saddened him was that he once watched fireworks with a woman, and after she left, he never watched them again, only felt heartache.

"Yes."

He responded faintly, his interest evidently low.

Gloria’s heart slowly sank, his lukewarm attitude turning all her enthusiasm cold. Her call felt like a joke.

Perhaps he didn’t like fireworks, maybe only she was so passionately enthusiastic.

The phone fell silent for a while, she didn’t know what else to say.

Julian rubbed his eyes, took a bottle of wine from the cabinet, and quietly opened it.

His room’s doorbell rang, surprising him about who’d come at this time.

"I have to go, someone’s here."

He said to the phone blandly, then hung up.

Gloria listened to the "beep beep beep" from the phone, feeling indescribably lost.

Her initiatives always went unanswered, and Julian’s heart never skipped a beat for her.

Sometimes, she envied Eleanor Hollis and Samantha, at least they were loved by men. For her, all she ever received was cold indifference.

Julian opened the door, seeing Evan Yancy standing outside.

Evan held several bottles of good wine, his beard unshaven for a while, looking rather haggard.

"Let’s drink. I thought about it and seemed like I could only come to you."

He entered, placing his coat on the nearby rack, brushing off the snowflakes on his head.

It was snowing outside, colder than the day before.

Julian saw him comfortably sitting down, slightly amused, his lips curving.

"Indeed, not much to find on New Year’s either. Staying in and drinking is cozier."

The two opened about seven or eight bottles of wine, turned on the TV, and quietly watched and drank, without unnecessary words.

Both brothers had been hurt in love, silence was stronger than words.

Hugo Quinn showed some conscience, not forgetting the two of them, calling each of them a little past midnight.

"Don’t drink too much, I’ll ask Jude to join you."

The two drank without restraint, what if they got drunk? So after ending the call, he immediately rang Jude Shaw.

Jude was always the freest one among them, quickly getting up to join the pairs.