The Night I Left, He Turned Grey

Cecilia was about to start arguing with her brother again when their mother woke up.

Sean called out to his mother but received no response.

He was exasperated.

"Dad, I’ll head out. No sense in staying here and making Mom angrier," Sean said, wisely excusing himself.

Mrs. Sinclair lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as tears streamed endlessly down her face.

’She was sick over the money.’

’All of her son’s hard-earned money, wasted on that little hussy, Sarah Lynch.’

"Mom, what’s really wrong?" Cecilia had rarely seen her mother so distraught.

Mrs. Sinclair was so furious she was speechless, able only to keep wiping away her tears.

Cecilia looked toward her father.

Mr. Sinclair let out a heavy sigh and signaled to his daughter. "Go get your mom a glass of warm water."

"Oh." Cecilia reluctantly went to get the water. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Mr. Sinclair sat in a chair, pulling a tissue from the box for his wife. "It’s already happened. Getting angry now won’t do any good. You’ll just make yourself sick."

"How can I not be angry!" Mrs. Sinclair viciously dabbed the corner of her eye with the tissue. "Even if he didn’t spend that money on his family, it would have been better to start a business, to be his own boss—anything would be better than wasting it on a woman who offers nothing in return!"

Cecilia heard every word.

It only made her angrier.

’So Mom really couldn’t stand that my brother was spending money on that woman, Leila Jennings.’

’It’s true, Leila Jennings gave nothing in return. She never used her money to buy us gifts; instead, she made my brother buy gifts for her.’

’Ungrateful bitch!’

"Mom, you’re right. My brother really shouldn’t be spending money on—"

"Don’t add fuel to the fire," Mr. Sinclair said, taking the cup from his daughter and handing it to his wife.

At her father’s rebuke, Cecilia instantly fell silent.

Mrs. Sinclair slowly sat up, took a drink from the cup, and nearly scalded her tongue.

"TSSST!"

’Nothing is going right today!’ Mrs. Sinclair glared at her daughter. "Cecilia, are you trying to scald me to death?"

"No! I thought you’d let it cool for a bit," Cecilia pouted.

’If only Leila were here,’ Mrs. Sinclair thought with a pang of regret. ’She would never have let me get scalded. She always took such perfect care of me.’

’What a terrible mistake.’

With red-rimmed eyes, Mrs. Sinclair alternated between sighing in despair and glaring with fury.

Since she was awake and there were no serious issues, she had to be discharged to free up hospital resources.

Cecilia helped her mother into the car and then climbed in after her. Mr. Sinclair was in the driver’s seat.

"Mom, put on your coat."

A slip of paper fluttered out of the coat pocket.

"What’s this?" Cecilia picked it up and handed it to her mother.

Mrs. Sinclair didn’t remember putting a note in her pocket. Listlessly, she unfolded it.

’To get your son’s money back from Sarah Lynch, contact me at this number.’

’It’s from Leila Jennings.’

Mrs. Sinclair’s eyes flew open. Seeing her mother’s shocked expression, Cecilia leaned over to get a look.

But her mother had already stuffed the note back into her pocket.

A gleam appeared in Mrs. Sinclair’s dark eyes. ’Of course she wanted her son’s money back!’

She glanced at her husband in the front seat. ’He can’t know about this.’

’Men are all the same. They’ll spend a fortune on another woman, and even after they’re caught, it never occurs to them to get the money back.’

’After all, the men get what they want. It’s always the wives who are left to suffer.’

Still, Mrs. Sinclair didn’t entirely trust Leila Jennings.

’There were only two ways for Leila to get the money back: a private negotiation or a lawsuit.’

’A lawsuit would destroy her son’s reputation. That’s out of the question.’

’Absolutely not.’

’But the thought of not getting her son’s money back was even more unbearable!’

...

On the way back to Norsen, Miss Moss asked, "Miss Jennings, will President Sinclair’s mother agree to cooperate? That’s her own son, after all."

’She had seen Miss Jennings leave the note with her own eyes.’

"That money belongs to her son, too," Leila Jennings replied. She had been wondering how to get solid evidence for Logan Bell, and now Sean’s mother had unexpectedly fallen right into her lap.

When she heard Mrs. Sinclair curse Sarah Lynch even as she was fainting, she knew the woman’s hatred for Sarah ran bone-deep. There was no way Mrs. Sinclair would side with her anymore.

Mrs. Sinclair wouldn’t be able to rest until she got Sean’s money back.

After four years in the Sinclair family, she knew that for Cecilia and her mother, everything always came down to money.

"Sean’s mother isn’t just doing this for the money, but for her son as well," Leila said, looking out the window. She wasn’t entirely sure, though. ’Mrs. Sinclair loves money, but she also loves her son dearly.’

To outsiders, it might look like Mrs. Sinclair doted on her daughter, but in reality, she always favored her son.

When Sean had wanted to buy his sister an apartment for her dowry, Mrs. Sinclair had argued that a large flat was a waste of money, since Cecilia would surely live with her husband after she married.

She thought it would be better for Sean to buy a place for himself instead.

It was only when Sean pointed out that Cecilia might be looked down on by her in-laws if she didn’t have a respectable dowry that Mrs. Sinclair was finally persuaded.

’If Mrs. Sinclair truly doted on her daughter more, her first thought wouldn’t have been about how hard her son worked for the money. She wouldn’t have failed to realize that a dowry gives a daughter security.’

Miss Moss noticed Leila’s slight unhappiness. Unpacking years of grievances should have been a relief, but as the truth came out, all the old pain and frustration came rushing back.

It was like unblocking a pipe; you had to let all the dirty water flow out first before it could run clean.

"Miss Jennings, it’s the weekend tomorrow. The Young Master is hosting a celebratory banquet, and the Young Miss said she’s coming to pick you up. You two can go and have some fun!" Miss Moss said, changing the subject.

Leila had almost forgotten about the banquet.

To the Cole Group, it was a victory party. To her, it was an opportunity for the two project teams to get to know each other, ensuring a smoother collaboration down the line.

Seeing the look in Leila’s eyes soften, Miss Moss continued, "The Young Miss is very fond of you. I think if she could, she’d move in here to keep you company."

Leila said, "I won’t be living here for too long."

"What?" Miss Moss exclaimed in surprise. "You’re moving out, Miss Jennings?"

Leila nodded. "That’s right."

’If you move, what about the Young Master?!’

’Ever since he took over the Cole Group, the Young Master has spent most of his time here at No. 1 Norsen.’

’If she moves, how is the Young Master supposed to use his proximity to his advantage?’

"Miss Jennings, where are you planning to move?" Miss Moss asked. ’I need to find out first, then I can tell the Young Master to buy an apartment there so he can keep being her neighbor!’

Leila looked at Miss Moss. "I’ll figure it out when the time comes."

Miss Moss pleaded, "You’ll take me with you, won’t you, Miss Jennings? I can’t be separated from you! Otherwise, the Young Master will have me pack my bags and clear out of the Cole household."

Leila: "..."

"I’ll take you."

"That’s wonderful! Thank you, Miss Jennings!" Miss Moss thought, relieved. ’That was a close one. I almost failed in my mission to help pave the way for the Young Master’s romantic pursuits.’

When they got back to Norsen, Leila saw piles of groceries by the door and asked Miss Moss, "Did you buy all this?"

Miss Moss nodded. "I’m going to start making nutritious meals for you. From now on, you’ll eat three meals a day according to my plan. We’re going to get you nice and healthy in no time!"

"You’re too thin, Miss Jennings. It’s not healthy." ’The Young Master is worried sick, and honestly, so am I.’

Leila watched Miss Moss carry bag after bag into the kitchen and moved to help, but her hand was swatted away before it could even touch a bag.

"Miss Jennings! You can’t take my job from me!"

Leila didn’t buy it and kept carrying things inside.

’What a good kid,’ Miss Moss thought with a fond sigh. She chuckled and followed her inside, still trying to take the bags from her.

It made the enormous villa feel a little livelier.

That evening, Miss Moss cooked a huge feast. She suddenly slapped her forehead. "Oh, I’m so used to cooking for more people, I forgot to cut back on the portions. Miss Jennings, so it doesn’t go to waste, should we find someone to share it with?"

’Like her Young Master, for instance.’

Leila nodded. "Miss Moss, why don’t you take a portion over to President Cole?"

After all, Miss Moss was originally hired to take care of Nathaniel Cole.

Miss Moss: "..."

’I’m doomed.’

’Miss Jennings has been hurt so badly she’s decided to swear off love completely.’

’Oh, Young Master... you have a long road ahead of you.’