CHAPTER 169: CHAPTER 169: JULIAN POOLE’S THOUGHTS

How to answer this?

Zion Monroe instinctively looked at his brother Pierce’s expression.

Actually, Declan Pierce had never deliberately mentioned Tanya Sinclair.

But after being around him for a long time, anyone who wasn’t blind would know that the unpredictable Second Young Master Pierce, who could be smiling one moment and raising a knife the next, had someone in his heart.

While abroad, during those reckless years with Pierce, Zion knew there was one unchanging rule: Declan would periodically return to the country, always making a detour to Aris, regardless of where his final destination was.

To see someone.

After returning home, Zion heard Tanya Sinclair’s name, met Tanya herself, and gradually realized Pierce’s calculated strategies.

Everyone, including the crafty members of The Pierce Family, wondered why Pierce’s grand return to the country started with the acquisition of Westgard Pharmaceuticals.

They speculated that behind this was Pierce’s grand scheme.

Zion also thought so for a while.

But now he understood, Pierce was fishing directly, using wealth as bait, and the goal was Tanya Sinclair.

His focus on Tanya was terrifyingly intense...

"Of course, aren’t you the newly hired project expert for Westgard Pharmaceuticals?" Zion glanced at Pierce’s face and casually made up a reason, "I’m also a shareholder of Westgard Pharmaceuticals, I own two percent of the shares! And those two percent, I bought with my own earned money!"

Zion spoke more and more proudly, with a hint of smugness.

Tanya was silent on the other end of the phone for two seconds, then let out a couple of dry laughs as a polite gesture: "Mr. Monroe, you’re truly young and accomplished."

Listening to this, Declan couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

He could almost picture Tanya’s awkward attempt to force a compliment.

A trace of a smile flashed in his eyes.

He unceremoniously poked Zion with the billiard cue.

Zion understood the hint and got to the point: "Ms. Sinclair, what can I do for you?"

Tanya: "Mr. Monroe, Vanguard Entertainment is your company, right? I have a scoop for you tomorrow night, about The Hawthorne Family. I just don’t know if you dare to broadcast it."

The Hawthorne Family?

Declan casually picked up the wine glass next to him, the blood-red liquid swaying slightly against the glass walls, his eyes deep and pensive.

After a moment, he gave Zion a nod of approval.

Zion: "Of course I dare! In the entire Aris, there’s nothing I wouldn’t dare to broadcast!"

Tanya got the answer she wanted and smiled: "Alright, I’ll provide you with the specific time and place tomorrow."

"Okay."

As Zion waited for Tanya to hang up, he scratched his head and looked at Declan sitting on the chair next to him.

"Brother Pierce, Tanya wants to spill dirt on The Hawthorne Family... Isn’t she going through a divorce with Vincent Hawthorne? Revealing such info at this time seems like the divorce terms haven’t been settled yet. I guess it’s going to get messy."

Zion leaned closer to Declan with a cheeky grin, "Brother, this is your golden opportunity! Strike while the iron’s hot!"

Declan’s gaze was chilly and sharp, carrying a hint of menace.

Zion immediately corrected himself: "I mean, you should be the hero to save the damsel in distress!"

"..." Declan couldn’t be bothered to exchange words, stood up, grabbed his coat, and just left with one remark, "Whatever Tanya communicates to you, let me know immediately."

"Got it, brother!"

Declan stepped into the elevator, took out his phone, and opened Tanya’s profile picture.

The last message in the chat was still from the last time she sent him that emoji.

Declan’s eyes dimmed slightly.

She would rather reach out to Zion than ask him for help...

Her trust in him, still limited.

Declan closed his eyes, suppressing his irritation.

He knew he couldn’t rush it, Tanya had just gone through Vincent, and was on edge.

He had let go once.

This time, what he wanted was Tanya Sinclair for the rest of her life.

Returning to his room, Declan picked up another phone on the bedside table and opened WeChat.

Because it had been so long since he collected it, the car rental fee transfer from Tanya had expired...

Elsewhere.

The black business car was cruising steadily on the road.

Daisy Bell took out a small mirror and gazed at herself for a good while.

"Still absolutely stunning! Irresistible charm!" Daisy couldn’t understand, "How did Zion Monroe, that privileged heir, hang up on my call immediately?!"

Tanya comforted her: "Maybe it’s because he didn’t have your number saved and thought it was a spam call."

Daisy pouted, muttering: "Just as I thought, those two brothers from The Monroe Family are both annoying!"

At this point, Tanya recalled something.

Zion Monroe’s brother is Jasper Monroe...

"Daisy, is it just Jasper Monroe’s debt you haven’t paid off yet?"

"Yeah, once I finish Director Langdon’s movie, and with the five-year renewals with several major brands, and their upfront endorsement fees... it will all add up to just enough!" Daisy stretched and reclined in her chair, sighing, "Finally, I’m breaking free and earning for myself!"

Tanya was genuinely happy for Daisy. She’s resilient, having fallen from grace, yet climbed back up on her own, gritting her teeth and persevering for so many years. Now she finally sees the light and can live for herself.

Across the ocean.

Due to the time difference, it was early morning as dawn broke.

A classic medieval-style castle stood beautifully picturesque in the morning light.

In a resplendent dining room, Jasper Monroe was savoring breakfast while listening to current affairs reports.

’Ding—’

The phone chimed. He glanced at it, seeing that an idle personal account of his had received another scheduled transfer.

Jasper Monroe took a sip of the coffee beside him, casually scrolling through, finding a series of transaction records dating back ten years.

The smallest amount was only three thousand.

Later, it became thirty thousand, and later still, three million... The money being transferred increased.

And the person was quite polite, sending him flattering holiday greetings to him, the debtor, during holidays.

Although Jasper Monroe never responded, she still sent them tirelessly.

The news broadcast ended, and Jasper Monroe was about to hang up but accidentally pressed the wrong button, changing the channel.

Entertainment channel.

The host was reporting: "Newly crowned international actress Daisy Bell has confirmed her attendance at this year’s Solaris Film Festival..."

On the screen, Daisy Bell, dressed in a grand outfit, appeared, greeting various media cameras with a bright smile and blowing kisses generously in all directions.

Jasper Monroe watched for two seconds and then turned off the television.

...

Daisy Bell followed Tanya back to her place, only to realize that she had left her toiletry bag in the car.

Tanya found a set of her own pajamas for Daisy Bell and told her to take a shower first while she took the opportunity to go downstairs to a nearby convenience store to buy disposable toiletries for her.

On the way, Tanya checked her phone several times, and there were still no messages from Joy.

Tanya couldn’t help but send a message herself.

[Sweetheart, what are you up to? Getting ready to sleep? Did you have anything good to eat tonight?]

Tanya pressed send, but a red exclamation mark popped up!

She froze in place, feeling like she had been hit with a heavy blow.

"Watch out!"

A tense voice suddenly sounded in her ear, and before Tanya could react, Julian Poole pulled her into his arms as a delivery motorcycle sped past where she had just been standing.

"Are you okay?" Julian Poole asked, nervously examining her.

"I’m fine, thank you so much." Tanya looked at Julian Poole gratefully, still shaken.

Julian Poole frowned slightly and couldn’t help but ask, "What were you looking at that had you so lost? You didn’t even hear the car horn."

He noticed Tanya’s expression dimming, as if she didn’t really want to talk about it.

Julian Poole felt awkward, thinking he had misspoke, and hurriedly explained, "I didn’t mean to blame you, I just..."

"I understand." Tanya forced a smile, feeling bitter, "I just discovered that my daughter blocked me again, even though everything seemed fine before."

She thought their mother-daughter relationship was improving...

But any time Joy met Cindy Lynn, she would be relegated to the sidelines again as her biological mother.

Tanya suddenly felt exhausted, a strong sense of fatigue and helplessness overwhelming her.

She softly mocked herself, "No matter how hard I try, it seems like I can never move forward in my relationship with Joy..."

Julian Poole looked at Tanya’s forlorn face, feeling a pang of sympathy.

"Tanya..."

"I’m okay." Tanya smiled at Julian Poole, "Sorry for dumping such negativity on you after a tiring day at work."

But Julian Poole earnestly replied, "No matter when, you can talk to me about anything you want to share."

Tanya hesitated slightly, seeing Julian Poole gazing intently at her, his eyes burning with an intense emotion that seemed ready to burst forth at any moment.

Tanya wasn’t a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl anymore.

Such a passionate and straightforward gaze from a man...

She vaguely sensed something and almost instinctively averted her gaze quickly.

"You’re too kind, Julian. I need to go buy something. Daisy is still at home." With that, Tanya hurriedly dashed into the convenience store as if escaping.

Julian Poole wanted to follow her, but seeing her flustered back, he hesitated and finally retracted his steps.

Julian Poole smiled wryly.

He seemed too impatient and ended up scaring her...

Having gone through such a dreadful marriage and now a difficult divorce, Tanya was likely keeping her distance from men at the moment.

He needed to take things slowly.

Julian Poole regretfully pinched the bridge of his nose.

In the convenience store, Tanya circled around twice before daring to look outside.

There was no sign of Julian Poole; fortunately, he hadn’t followed her inside.

Thinking of Julian Poole’s previous gaze and expression, Tanya rubbed her face, desperately trying not to overthink, perhaps he was just being kind...

Suddenly, her peripheral vision caught sight of a familiar packaged bread on the shelf.

Wasn’t this the one that was so tasty it went out of stock, and Julian Poole had specially gone to buy it across the street?

"Miss, this bread sells very well," the convenience store employee noticed Tanya and warmly introduced her, "It’s really delicious, you should buy two to try."

Tanya asked, "Excuse me, was this bread out of stock a couple of days ago?"

"Nope," the employee replied, "We received a new shipment of this bread at the beginning of the month; there’s still two boxes in stock!"

"..."

Looking at the bread in her hand, Tanya recalled her ’coincidental’ meeting with Julian Poole buying bread outside the company building and suddenly felt the bread was a bit hot to touch.

Returning home, Daisy Bell had already showered and was on the balcony talking to her agent about work.

Tanya didn’t disturb her, placing the toiletries on the coffee table and entering the study herself.

She opened a drawer and took out a small box with a combination lock, opening it to reveal several blue and white porcelain bottles.

Inside each bottle was a dangerous medicinal powder.

Traditionally, Chinese medicine is profoundly complex; it can be a cure but also a poison. The key lies in how it’s combined and used.

Tanya picked out one of the bottles, carefully wrapped it, and placed it in her everyday bag.

That night at the banquet, it will have a major role to play...