The Night I Left, He Turned Grey

"And aren’t you using me as well, President Cole?" Leila Jennings tilted her head, meeting the man’s deep, dark eyes.

Nathaniel Cole gazed into her pupils, their color a captivating, tranquil amber.

"Lantech and Stellaxis have always been mortal enemies. You’re using my status as Sean Sinclair’s wife to provoke him. You have a twisted sense of humor," Leila said, pulling her gaze away. "But you’ve miscalculated. He doesn’t care."

...

When Sean Sinclair returned, he discovered Sarah Lynch was gone. After asking for directions, he followed where he was told and saw Cecilia Sinclair handing Sarah a tissue.

"Cecilia? Sarah?"

Cecilia Sinclair looked up, her anger flaring at the sight of her brother. "Brother, look what you’ve done! You made Sarah cry. What is wrong with you?"

"Cecilia, you misunderstood. It’s just that my foot hurts."

"I don’t believe you! I just saw everything, and Leila Jennings was there too!" Cecilia said angrily. "Brother, why did you bring Leila Jennings here? And you even bought her such a beautiful dress. I heard people saying it’s a vintage piece, priceless and not for sale. Even the pearls she’s wearing aren’t ordinary pearls."

"It’s not just Sarah; I’m angry too. Brother, can’t you be a little kinder to your own family? Why do you keep spending money on Leila Jennings!"

Sean Sinclair frowned. He hated hearing Cecilia constantly exclude Leila.

"Leila is your sister-in-law. She’s family too."

The moment he said it, Sean Sinclair realized he shouldn’t have said that in front of Sarah Lynch. He looked up sharply just as large tears began to fall from the corners of Sarah’s eyes.

"Sarah, that’s not what I meant..." He reached out, but Sarah Lynch raised a hand to block him.

"I’m sorry. I’ve been overthinking things all along. I understand now. I... I’ll be leaving." Sarah Lynch wiped away her tears, forcing a smile as she turned to go.

Cecilia scolded him, "Brother, how could you bully Sarah? She loves you so much!"

Sarah Lynch was already walking away.

"Brother, what are you waiting for? Go after her!" Cecilia pushed him. "What are you hesitating for? Didn’t you used to love Sarah so much?"

Sean Sinclair finally moved, chasing after her.

’I don’t know what I was just hesitating about. The person I’ve loved from the very beginning has always been Sarah Lynch.’

But just now, an image of Leila Jennings’s face and figure had flashed through his mind, along with the look in Nathaniel Cole’s eyes as he watched her—a look full of ill intentions.

Sean Sinclair quickly caught up to Sarah Lynch and swept her up into his arms.

Sarah Lynch struggled. "Sean, put me down! Put me down! What if Leila sees? How will you explain this to her? She’s your wife!"

Sean Sinclair’s steps faltered, and he actually put her down.

Sarah Lynch grew even more furious.

She was so angry she could barely breathe.

"Your foot is injured. Why were you running so fast?" Sean Sinclair knelt and checked her ankle again. It didn’t seem serious.

Sarah Lynch pulled her foot back. "Whether my foot is injured or not has nothing to do with you."

"Sarah." Sean Sinclair looked up at her angry face. He wanted to explain but didn’t know how. His mind felt like a mess, which ultimately coalesced into a helpless sigh.

Sarah Lynch’s heart sank. In a tearful voice, she said, "Sean, have you forgotten what you used to say?"

"You said you would only love me for your entire life."

"You said you would only have children with me."

"You said you would give me anything I wanted."

Sean Sinclair lowered his eyes. "I haven’t forgotten."

"But you reprimanded Cecilia for Leila’s sake," Sarah Lynch said, feeling deeply wronged. "You said Leila is family. Does that make me an outsider?"

"No." Sean Sinclair immediately denied it. He stood up and gently caressed Sarah Lynch’s face, recalling all the little moments from their university days.

Back then, he had truly loved her.

He had worked so hard, drinking glass after glass over the years until he developed stomach ulcers, all to climb to his current position. It was all so she could focus on her research without having to worry about money or be at the mercy of funders.

He wanted her to be free to be herself, to shine in the field she loved and excelled in.

He had long ago resigned himself to a lifetime of silently supporting her.

But then she had turned around and said she loved him.

And she’d done it when he already had a wife.

Sarah Lynch saw the light in Sean Sinclair’s eyes gradually dim, and a flicker of panic shot through her.

"Sean, I’m sorry. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have lost my temper with you."

She immediately threw herself into his arms.

’If I lose Sean, where else will I find a personal ATM that I actually like?’

’Sean has loved me for so many years. He can’t just stop loving me now.’

’I won’t accept it.’

"I won’t make things difficult for you anymore." Sarah Lynch nuzzled against his chest. "Sean, I really, really love you."

After a long moment, Sean Sinclair said softly, "Me too."

After comforting Sarah Lynch, the two returned to the reception.

Sean Sinclair scanned the room but didn’t see Leila Jennings. He did, however, see Cecilia Sinclair chatting happily with a group of young men. He frowned slightly and walked over.

He was surprised to see a familiar face.

"Mr. Shepherd?"

The young man addressed as Mr. Shepherd smiled at him. "President Sinclair, we meet again. My grandfather knows you, so please just call me by my name, Brian Shepherd."

Brian Shepherd extended his hand.

Sean Sinclair reached out his own.

As they shook hands, Brian Shepherd looked at the radiant woman beside Sean Sinclair. "And this is President Sinclair’s...?"

Sean Sinclair was about to speak.

But Cecilia cut in, linking her arm with Sarah Lynch’s. "Sarah is my brother’s girlfriend! She’s brilliant, you know. She just came back from overseas and is an external expert on a classified national project."

Brian Shepherd smiled. "Is that so? A pleasure to meet you."

Sarah Lynch smiled faintly. "My maternal grandfather’s surname is Jacobs. He and Mr. Shepherd’s grandfather are old acquaintances."

Brian Shepherd searched his memory and immediately knew which "Jacobs" she was referring to.

"So you’re Mr. Jacobs’s granddaughter. The two of you make a perfect match."

"Right? I think so too!" Cecilia said happily. "I’m just waiting for them to get married so I can finally call Sarah my sister-in-law."

’I will never, ever acknowledge Leila Jennings as my sister-in-law.’ 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Cecilia, don’t talk nonsense," Sarah Lynch said, a blush rising on her cheeks.

Sean Sinclair also shot his sister a look, warning her not to speak carelessly.

Cecilia Sinclair pouted.

Brian Shepherd looked at Sarah Lynch and suddenly asked, "Ms. Lynch, since you’re Mr. Jacobs’s granddaughter and work in a related field, I was wondering if you’ve ever met Dr. Jennings?"

"You’re looking for Dr. Jennings, Mr. Shepherd?" Sarah Lynch nodded. "We’re currently on the same project."

"Really?" Brian Shepherd’s eyes lit up, and he grinned sheepishly. "It’s a bit embarrassing, but there are some things in the papers Dr. Jennings has published over the last four years that I was hoping to ask her about. My grandfather said she might be here, and that’s the only reason I came."

Sarah Lynch smiled sweetly. "She’s not here."

Just as Brian Shepherd was feeling disappointed, Cecilia Sinclair caught sight of Miss Cole approaching with Leila Jennings on her arm.

She muttered under her breath, "So impressive, being Miss Cole’s little lackey."

Her voice wasn’t particularly quiet, and everyone nearby heard her.

Sean Sinclair was the first to turn his head, and Sarah Lynch followed his gaze.

Brian Shepherd, somewhat curious, also looked over.

The moment he saw Leila Jennings’s profile, he froze. Then, his eyes lit up, and he stammered excitedly, "Dr. J-J-J-J-Jennings...!"