The Night I Left, He Turned Grey

There are many people in the world with similar facial features. Julian Grant wouldn’t suspect his own father just because Leila Jennings’s eyes and brows bore a slight resemblance to his.

He’d grown up hearing the famous story of his father leaving politics for business, all for the sake of his mother.

In all his thirty years, his father had been nothing but utterly devoted to his mother.

Julian Grant let the suspicion in his eyes fade. He said to Leila Jennings, "Miss Jennings, don’t you think you should rein in your friend?" 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Leila Jennings glanced at Cherry Cole. "What did she say that was wrong?"

Cherry Cole echoed, "What did I say that was wrong?"

Julian Grant started, "Miss Jennings and President Sinclair have already..."

With Sarah still present, he couldn’t spell it out.

Leila Jennings understood. Counselor Grant already knew she and Sean Sinclair had divorced.

"You were seeing Sean Sinclair while he and I were still married. That was true then, but it isn’t now?" Leila Jennings looked at Sarah Lynch. "I look forward to hearing the news of your wedding."

To Sarah Lynch, these words were a blatant provocation.

It was a taunt, implying that her relationship with Sean Sinclair had been illicit in the past and would never be legitimate in the future.

Sarah Lynch flushed red with anger.

Julian Grant frowned at Leila Jennings. "Where you can forgive, you should."

"Has Counselor Grant ever spared the opposing counsel in court?" Leila Jennings retorted with his own words. "Where you can forgive, you should, Counselor Grant."

Lawyers argue based on law and reason; there’s no room for "sparing" anyone.

For Leila Jennings to throw that phrase at him was tantamount to mocking his entire profession.

Julian Grant’s face instantly darkened.

Cherry Cole chimed in, "Mr. Grant, does your father know what kind of person you’re defending in City A? A homewrecker who pulls strings and leaks company secrets."

He could ignore the first two accusations, but Julian Grant couldn’t tolerate the last one. "You’d best not make accusations without proof, Miss Cole," he said. "On that note, does Miss Neville know you’re friends with an orphan?"

Most parents from elite families were wary of their children associating with orphans.

Whether in marriage or friendship, the parents of these elite families had a set of unwritten rules for their children.

Equal social standing was paramount.

Relationships between these prominent families are about consolidating resources. An orphan has no family backing, which means no complementary assets to offer. To the older generation of these families, it’s seen as a one-way street of taking.

Being an orphan also implied a lack of proper upbringing and family values. These parents worried that such a person would be a bad influence on the children they’ve so carefully cultivated.

While the Cole Family of City A and the Neville Family of City B were not connected by marriage alliances, when Cherry Cole’s parents married, everyone agreed they were a perfect match in both social standing and love—a match made in heaven.

This meant the Cole and Neville families placed the same high value on family background.

Julian Grant’s jab about her being an orphan ignited Cherry Cole’s fury. She planted her hands on her hips, ready to let him have it.

Leila Jennings grabbed her hand. She didn’t want Cherry Cole’s defense of her to damage the relationship between Ms. Neville and the Grant Family.

She launched her own attack on Julian Grant. "Those words don’t sound like they came from someone who was raised by parents, Counselor Grant."

Julian Grant scoffed, "Sharp tongue."

Leila Jennings shot back, "Better a sharp tongue than a dull mind."

’Sarah Lynch could see it clearly now,’ she thought. ’Ever since Leila Jennings’s true identity was revealed, she’d become arrogant and self-important. She looks down on everyone.’

"Leila Jennings, does Sean know you’ve become so ill-mannered?"

"Does Sean Sinclair know you’re out to dinner with another man?" Leila Jennings countered. "Given up on making it official?"

Sarah Lynch felt the sting of mockery once again.

Not wanting to appear ill-mannered in front of Julian Grant, she instead put on a pitiful, wronged expression.

A man’s protective instincts kicked in. Julian Grant said to Leila Jennings, "Miss Jennings, that’s enough."

"Hello, Mom." At some point, Cherry Cole had dialed her mother. With the call on speakerphone, she asked in front of everyone, "Do you know who I’m having dinner with tonight?"

The speaker was on.

Ms. Neville’s gentle voice came from the phone. "Leila, dear. You haven’t arrived yet?"

"We just got to the restaurant. Mom, would you mind if my friend was an orphan?"

"Cherry Cole." Ms. Neville’s voice turned grave. "Who taught you to say something so ill-bred?"

Cherry Cole arched an eyebrow at Julian Grant.

"Mom, I was wrong."

’Of course she wasn’t going to tell her mother those ill-bred words came from Julian Grant; her mother and his father were on friendly terms.’

Julian Grant was on the verge of losing face completely.

With an elder now involved in the argument, Sarah Lynch and Julian Grant lost their appetite for a fight and left.

Watching the elevator doors close, Cherry Cole cursed, "Unbelievable. Running into such garbage just trying to have a meal. Leila, are you okay?"

DING.

A message popped up on her phone.

Ms. Neville: [Cherry Cole, get home the minute you’re done with dinner.]

Leila Jennings pointed to the phone and asked with concern, "Are *you* okay?"

Cherry Cole pursed her lips. ’Mom used my full name; she must be pretty angry.’

"It’s fine, it’s fine. I’ve got another trick up my sleeve."

"Oh?"

Right in front of Leila, Cherry Cole typed out a long text message to her brother, explaining everything that had just happened, including the impending wrath from their unsuspecting mother.

She sent one final line.

[You’re my brother, you have to save me! Let’s go home together tonight!]

...

「Downstairs from the restaurant.」

Sarah Lynch consoled Julian Grant. "Don’t worry about it. Miss Cole has always been a spoiled brat in City A. And ever since Leila Jennings became her friend, she’s gotten more and more brazen."

Julian Grant cursed, "She’s just riding on her family’s coattails. Do you usually just take that without saying anything?"

Sarah Lynch gave a bitter smile. "It’s nothing."

Julian Grant asked again, "Sean Sinclair doesn’t help you?"

Sarah Lynch’s smile became even more bitter.

As she looked up, she saw a familiar license plate.

"Sean?" Her heart jumped. ’Is he here to bust me for cheating?’ she wondered.

"Julian, I’m sorry, Sean is here to pick me up. You should get back to the hotel and rest."

A flash of displeasure crossed Julian Grant’s eyes as he looked at the Bentley that had just pulled over.

"Go on."

"Bye, Julian. I’ll text you."

"Okay."

Sarah Lynch walked straight toward Sean Sinclair, her steps growing light and cheerful. ’I knew he’d come for me after he finished work,’ she thought.

Sean Sinclair had followed Cherry Cole there.

Last night, he had watched Cherry Cole enter Norsen. He couldn’t get in, so he had his driver keep watch.

Sure enough, the driver had called him that evening to report that Leila Jennings was in Cherry Cole’s car.

He immediately had his own car brought over, deciding to wait inside for Leila to come down after dinner.

If he went up to the restaurant to look for her, that foul-mouthed Miss Cole would just cause a scene.

"President Sinclair, it looks like Ms. Lynch is coming over."

"Sarah?" Sean Sinclair hadn’t noticed Sarah Lynch at all.

The next second, the driver opened the car door, and Sarah Lynch slid in as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Sean, you finally have time to come see me. It’s so cold, my hands are freezing. Warm them up for me." She shoved her hands into Sean Sinclair’s, knocking the wallet he was holding out of his grasp.

Sean Sinclair’s brow furrowed, and he bent down to pick it up.

Sarah Lynch was a step faster, snatching it from the floor. In the wallet’s transparent sleeve lay a plain ring.

The other one was on Sean Sinclair’s ring finger.

’This one is obviously Leila’s.’

’Was Sean just staring at Leila’s wedding ring?’

’Was he thinking of Leila?’

’He’d even put his own ring back on.’

’When I came back to the country, I never saw Sean wear a wedding ring. But now he’s actually wearing it!’

’What? Now that he knows Leila is more formidable than me, is he going to abandon me?!’