The Night I Left, He Turned Grey

Miss Moss packed up a meal and brought it over to No. 1 Norsen.

Nathaniel Cole was already home from work.

"Sir, your dinner," Miss Moss said. "I did my best, sir. I made enough for two and even hinted that Miss Jennings should find someone to share it with, but she just told me to bring it to you."

That was very Leila Jennings.

Nathaniel Cole wasn’t surprised.

Miss Moss plated the food and set it on the dining table, reporting as she did, "Sir, Miss Jennings is planning to move soon. She also plans to sue her ex-husband to recover the money he spent on his mistress over the years."

"Move?" Nathaniel Cole’s hand, holding his chopsticks, paused. "Where is she moving?"

Miss Moss replied, "She didn’t say. But don’t worry, sir. Miss Jennings will be taking me with her, so I’ll find out if the next-door neighbors are looking to sell or rent."

Nathaniel Cole’s thin lips pressed together.

"Has she found a lawyer?"

"She has! It’s Counselor Bell!"

Nathaniel Cole took out his phone and found his chat with Preston Bell.

Preston Bell’s name was a complete contradiction of his character. He was neither indifferent to fame and fortune nor a humble gentleman. He had made his name three years ago in a high-profile divorce case, and after pocketing the enormous legal fees, he’d gone down the path of handling divorces for the wealthy, never looking back. He reeked of money.

’He’s set his sights on Sean Sinclair’s fortune.’

The voice call connected.

Preston Bell answered with a laugh. "President Cole, what can I do for you?"

"You’re handling Leila Jennings’s case?"

"I am," Preston Bell said with a sigh of emotion. "President Sinclair is a man of tens of millions. What’s wrong with him sharing a little of that with me in legal fees?"

Nathaniel Cole hadn’t known him for long, but the two had one thing in common: they both loved making money off the rich.

The Cole Group’s real estate division only bought land in prime locations, only built high-end residential communities and villas, and only developed large-scale commercial districts.

Not only did their interests align, but they were also around the same age.

"Are there any difficulties with this case?" Nathaniel Cole asked.

Preston Bell didn’t think for a second that the great President Cole was concerned about his career prospects. It was one hundred percent about lending Leila Jennings a hand.

"There are," Preston Bell said. "Based on the available information, it won’t be hard to prove it’s communal property acquired during the marriage. The difficulty lies in proving Sean Sinclair’s infidelity with Sarah Lynch. That requires a complete chain of evidence. A single piece of evidence is weak and easily overturned by a judge."

"A written confession of infidelity, complete chat logs—and I mean screen recordings with both parties’ info, not just screenshots—intimate photos or videos taken in public or on legal private property, money transfers of symbolic amounts like 520 and 1314, abnormal spending records on adult products, hotel check-in records, testimony from friends or relatives, etcetera."

Nathaniel Cole said, "I have a video. The footage isn’t clear, but the audio is."

’He had deleted it in front of Sean Sinclair back then, only to have someone recover it later.’

’Once he had leverage on someone, it never truly disappeared.’

Preston Bell: "That’s also weak, but it’s better than nothing. From what I’ve gathered, the relationship between Sean Sinclair and Sarah Lynch is very delicate, with blurred boundaries. Evidence from the first three-plus years might have to be sourced from abroad, but finding evidence from after Sarah Lynch returned to the country would be relatively easier and more effective."

"President Cole, keep in mind that the marriage is legally considered ongoing during the divorce cooling-off period."

He deliberately emphasized that last sentence.

Nathaniel Cole was lost in thought. "I understand," he replied.

After hanging up, he looked at Miss Moss. "What’s Leila Jennings’s plan?"

Miss Moss recounted in detail the story of Mrs. Sinclair’s visit to Miss Jennings.

"Miss Jennings’s vicious ex-mother-in-law is extremely possessive of her son’s assets. Miss Jennings plans to egg on the vicious ex-mother-in-law to get evidence like chat logs. She gave her contact information, but the vicious ex-mother-in-law hasn’t contacted Miss Jennings yet."

Hearing Miss Moss repeatedly use the phrase "vicious ex-mother-in-law" put Nathaniel Cole in a pleasant mood.

"Miss Moss, go back and have dinner with her."

"Yes, sir!"

When Miss Moss returned, she found Miss Jennings was indeed still waiting for her.

Her heart softened.

’I must take good care of Miss Jennings’s health and well-being!’

...

Mr. Jacobs was hosting a dinner for Julian Grant at Sunhaven.

Sarah Lynch was there as well.

But she was somewhat distracted, her mind consumed with the thought that Sean Sinclair’s home now had a walk-in closet and a parking space for Leila Jennings.

’It meant Leila Jennings had already secured a place in Sean Sinclair’s heart.’

’Sean Sinclair had never admitted it, but his actions proved it.’

’And now, Sean Sinclair was gradually drawing a line between them again.’

Mr. Jacobs noticed his granddaughter was spacing out and reminded her in a deep voice, "Julian Grant will be here soon."

Sarah Lynch snapped back to reality.

A waiter led in a dapperly dressed Julian Grant.

"Mr. Jacobs, Sarah, my apologies. I was held up with something and arrived late." Julian Grant had also brought a gift for Mr. Jacobs. "A small token. I hope you like it, Mr. Jacobs."

"Not at all, we were just early," Mr. Jacobs said, his face wreathed in smiles. More than the gift, he admired Julian Grant as a member of the younger generation.

’In contrast, his opinion of Sean Sinclair, a married man, grew even more unfavorable. Sean Sinclair had never once paid him a proper visit.’

’Then again, Sean Sinclair was certainly generous with Sarah.’

’But what good was being generous? He still let Sarah become the other woman.’

’He couldn’t think about it. The more he thought, the more he seethed.’

Mr. Jacobs: "Counselor Grant, thank you for all your hard work these past few days."

Julian Grant wore a humble expression. "Mr. Jacobs, please, just call me by my name like Sarah does. It’s a shame I wasn’t able to truly help you in the end, Mr. Jacobs."

Although Mr. Jacobs had kept his honorary position, he still received a public reprimand and was barred from applying for or participating in foundation project applications for three years.

But for Mr. Jacobs, who was in his sixties or seventies and already at retirement age, it was of little consequence.

The most important thing for him now was to groom a successor.

"I’m old now. As long as the young people are alright, that’s what matters." Mr. Jacobs looked at his granddaughter. "Sarah, aren’t you going to propose a toast to Julian?"

Sarah Lynch moved to raise her glass for the toast, but Julian Grant reached out and gently pressed her hand down.

"There’s no need for such formalities between us. Besides, you’re not much of a drinker."

Sarah Lynch sat back down and smiled gently. "Thank you, Julian."

Julian Grant gave her a small smile, then poured tea for Mr. Jacobs and himself, toasting the elder with tea instead of wine.

The more Mr. Jacobs looked at Julian Grant, the more pleased he became.

While Sarah Lynch was away on a trip to the restroom, he asked Julian Grant, "You’re thirty this year, aren’t you?" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Julian Grant nodded. "Just turned thirty."

Mr. Jacobs: "Not engaged or married yet?"

Julian Grant immediately understood the intent behind Mr. Jacobs’s question and chuckled. "I’m ashamed to say, no."

"Is it that you don’t want to, or is there someone you like?" Mr. Jacobs knew Julian Grant had caught his drift, so he waited to see how he would respond.

Julian Grant took a sip of tea and confessed frankly, "Mr. Jacobs, I do indeed like Sarah."

Mr. Jacobs was instantly delighted. ’That child, Sarah, needs someone by her side who can manage her,’ he thought, ’and also someone who can help her.’

’Sean Sinclair and Julian Grant were comparable in looks and ability, but the Sinclair Family was no match for the Grant Family.’

Julian Grant: "Sarah already has someone she likes."

"You mean Sean Sinclair?" Mr. Jacobs said dismissively. "That child, Sarah, is disobedient. I’ll teach her a good lesson. Sean Sinclair has a family. Sarah and he can only ever be friends."

’So Mr. Jacobs doesn’t know about Sean Sinclair and Leila Jennings’s divorce.’

’This is very advantageous for me.’

Sarah Lynch returned and sat down, asking curiously, "Grandpa, what were you and Julian talking about? You look so happy."

"We were talking about you, of course." Mr. Jacobs looked at Julian Grant. "I’m just a bag of old bones. In the future, I’ll have to rely on you to take good care of Sarah."

Julian Grant gave Sarah Lynch a deep, affectionate look. "I will, Mr. Jacobs."

Sarah Lynch’s eyes shifted slightly.

Julian Grant then asked, "An old friend has invited me to a get-together tomorrow evening. Would Sarah be available?"

’Sarah had been planning to use the weekend, when Sean Sinclair was free, to go see him.’

’She hadn’t seen him in days.’

’She missed him terribly.’

’And she was terribly worried.’

Mr. Jacobs quickly accepted on her behalf. "She’s available."

Julian Grant looked at Sarah Lynch. "Are you free to accompany me to see my friend, Sarah?"

Mr. Jacobs shot his granddaughter a look, urging her to agree quickly.

Sarah Lynch nodded. "I’m free."

Julian Grant smiled. "I’ll pick you up from the Jacobs’ residence tomorrow afternoon."

Sarah Lynch: "Okay."

’In that case, she could go see Sean Sinclair in the morning, and then spend the afternoon and evening with Julian Grant. There was no harm in getting a little closer to Julian Grant.’