The Night I Left, He Turned Grey

Leila Jennings stood still. ’The term "ex-husband" is rather fitting,’ she thought. It felt like a small celebration of her smooth divorce.

She tilted her head slightly and said, "It’s exactly what you think."

Just then, Cecilia Sinclair passed by, arm in arm with Sean Sinclair.

Cecilia’s eyes sparkled with anticipation for the evening, while Sean, the very picture of a refined gentleman, wore a gentle smile.

Sean seemed about to look their way. Leila immediately turned her head. Professor Cheney, also worried her identity might be exposed, stepped up onto a higher stair, completely shielding Leila from view.

Sean glanced over, seeing only a middle-aged man and a tall, slender woman standing together. Recognizing neither, he finished climbing the steps and led his sister into the banquet hall.

The attendant at the entrance saw his invitation and said with a smile, "President Sinclair, right this way."

Only after watching Sean’s retreating back disappear inside did Leila slowly lift the hem of her gown and continue up the stairs.

Chloe, who had been looking puzzled, leaned in. "Professor Cheney, Leila... do you two know that President Sinclair?"

Leila nodded. "Yes." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Chloe pressed on, "Is President Sinclair Ms. Lynch’s boyfriend?"

Professor Cheney was about to stop Chloe, but Leila, standing beside him, simply nodded again. "He is."

"President Sinclair is very handsome. He and Ms. Lynch make a good-looking couple," Chloe remarked objectively.

Professor Cheney’s expression hardened. "Don’t talk nonsense."

The three of them stepped inside. The banquet was a scene of dazzling opulence. The men were all either sharp elites or commanding bosses, while the women were exquisitely dressed in a stunning variety of gowns and elegant high heels.

Leila had attended a similar gala once before with her professor and his wife, but she never felt comfortable at them. Her habit was to find a quiet spot to sit, and she would remain there for the entire evening.

Thankfully, she was usually left alone. Otherwise, she truly wouldn’t know how to mingle.

She planned to do the same tonight. Scanning the room, she found a quiet, secluded corner. After letting Professor Cheney and Chloe know, she went and sat down.

Her bottom had barely touched the chair when a familiar voice sounded beside her.

"Leila?"

Cherry Cole walked up to her, beaming. "It really is you! I saw you from behind and thought you looked so familiar. It’s really you!"

Leila hadn’t expected to be recognized so quickly. ’Isn’t makeup supposed to be some kind of Asian sorcery?’ she mused.

Sean had walked right past her without a second glance, yet Cherry Cole had recognized her from her back alone.

Cherry was clearly uncomfortable in her high heels, so Leila reached over, pulled up a spare chair, and gestured for her to sit.

Cherry Cole stared at her, utterly mesmerized, and sat down in a daze, her eyes fixed on Leila’s profile.

She’d always said it: Leila was a true beauty!

An elegant, aloof kind of beauty!

Just sitting there, she exuded a unique, elegant, and cool aura. Even from a short distance, a faint, pleasant fragrance wafted from her.

Leila noticed her constant staring. "What is it? Not used to seeing me like this?"

"No, no!" Cherry Cole shook her head, then immediately nodded again and again. "I could get used to this! You look so beautiful, Leila."

Leila replied, "You’re just being sweet."

Cherry Cole insisted, "You’re gorgeous! Let me give you a hug! Let me give you a hug!"

She stood up, leaned over, and wrapped Leila in a hug.

Leila rarely hugged her friends, so her body was a bit stiff. Cherry, however, was thrilled to be hugging her beautiful, fragrant, and soft ’big sister.’

Not far away, Nathaniel Cole spotted his sister bending over to hug someone, and his gaze lingered for a moment.

"What a character," he muttered. He was about to walk away when he caught sight of a familiar face out of the corner of his eye.

Cherry had already let go and was sitting obediently beside her, revealing Leila’s full face.

Nathaniel stopped in his tracks and turned his head to get a better look.

Dressed in an embroidered lace gown, Leila had her hair pinned up, revealing a delicate face. Pearls adorned her small earlobes and slender neck, making her look as beautiful as a painting.

"Jennings?" Zachary, his special assistant, wondered if his eyes were deceiving him.

But Nathaniel Cole was certain. "Mm-hmm," he affirmed.

His feet shifted slightly, clearly intending to change direction and head toward Leila.

Zachary reminded him, "President Cole, we have an important meeting. It’s about Lantech’s new project. This might be our only chance to see him; it’s very difficult to get a meeting otherwise."

Nathaniel had no choice but to pull back and continue in his original direction.

...

Sarah Lynch stepped out of her car, dressed in a wine-red, strapless, mermaid-style gown that made her every step seem to blossom with grace.

Her red lips and wavy curls made her look both glamorous and enchanting. Dazzling rubies adorned her neck and wrist, and her smile was perfectly composed.

She was a head-turner.

People were asking who she was.

Most didn’t know.

Sarah Lynch didn’t see Sean at the entrance and immediately sent him a message.

The reply came back: [Someone is introducing me to an important contact. You go on in, and I’ll find you later.]

Sarah Lynch pouted and went up the stairs, lifting her gown herself.

When she presented a black and gold invitation, it drew another round of curious glances. This type of invitation wasn’t for the typical socialites, but for veterans and leaders in the tech industry.

The person at the door asked about her relationship to Mr. Jacobs.

Sarah Lynch gave a captivating smile. "He is my grandfather. My name is Sarah Lynch."

"Ms. Lynch, please, come in."

On the strength of being Mr. Jacobs’s granddaughter, she was immediately approached by several people as soon as she entered the hall.

"Ms. Lynch, how has Mr. Jacobs’s health been lately?"

Despite knowing they were just trying to curry favor and fish for information, Sarah Lynch answered each one patiently.

"He’s doing very well, thank you for asking."

"Are you also in the research and development field, Ms. Lynch?"

"Yes. It was my grandfather’s wish, but I also love the work. I’ve been doing research abroad for the past few years and just returned for a new project."

At the mention of a project, those who had heard rumors immediately grew more interested.

"You’re so accomplished, Ms. Lynch! What kind of project was it that brought you back?"

This was exactly the kind of attention Sarah Lynch craved. She reached for a glass of champagne and said with an air of mystique, "It’s classified."

Some people understood instantly.

’So it’s a confidential project,’ they thought.

As others began probing for details about the project’s field, she spotted Professor Cheney and Chloe. She immediately clammed up, not daring to say more.

"I see Professor Cheney. I must go say hello. If you’ll excuse me, everyone."

She made her way toward Professor Cheney’s group.

When Professor Cheney saw her approaching, his first instinct was to frown, but he masked it with a smile a second later. "Ms. Lynch, you’ve arrived."

Chloe, who was in the middle of eating something, heard the greeting and quickly turned with a polite smile. "Hello, Ms. Lynch."

Sarah Lynch gave Chloe a small smile before turning to the professor. "Professor Cheney, please, call me Sarah. Using my title feels so formal."

Professor Cheney simply smiled without replying.

"Oh, by the way, is Dr. Jennings here today?" Sarah Lynch asked, looking around.

’Since Professor Cheney and Chloe are both here,’ she thought, ’that Dr. Jennings who always refuses to show her face and looks down on me must have come as well.’

’Today, I’m going to see for myself just who this person is that dares to stand above me.’

Chloe opened her mouth to speak.