The Night I Left, He Turned Grey

By the time the cocktail party ended, Sarah Lynch was on Sean Sinclair’s arm, bidding farewell to the other guests with a beaming smile.

Tonight had been a great success for her.

Not only was she sought after for being Mr. Jacobs’s granddaughter and a specialist on a confidential project, but she had also let everyone in their circle know she was Sean Sinclair’s girlfriend.

Sean Sinclair’s reputation had skyrocketed in recent years, attracting a great deal of attention. Now, with a scientist girlfriend by his side, he was even more in the spotlight.

Many people made a point of coming over to say goodbye to them before leaving.

Once the crowd thinned, Cecilia Sinclair came over with a grin and said, "Sean, Sarah really is the best match for you. That Leila Jennings..."

Sean Sinclair shot her a sharp look.

Cecilia stuck out her tongue, fuming internally. ’Why does he always protect Leila Jennings? So what if she looked good for once tonight, all thanks to President Cole? It’s not like the famous President Cole would actually be interested in her. Keeping her as a secret mistress, maybe. Wait! If that’s the case, isn’t Leila cheating? If she’s cheating, he can finally divorce her!’

"What crazy idea are you cooking up now?" Sean Sinclair knew his sister well. A spark in her eyes usually meant she was about to stir up trouble. He warned her, "Stop bullying Leila Jennings all the time."

"Who’s bullying who? Have you forgotten she slapped me last time?" Cecilia ducked behind Sarah Lynch as if she had found a protector.

Sarah Lynch was in a good mood tonight, so she wasn’t upset by Sean’s simple defense of Leila Jennings. She smiled at Sean and said, "Sean, Cecilia is your only sister. Don’t be so harsh with her all the time."

"Exactly," Cecilia huffed softly, then saw Mr. Shepherd emerging with an elderly man.

The man was accompanied by Professor Cheney and Chloe, as well as Zachary, Caine, and Gwen.

Zachary said, "Elder Shepherd, my sincerest apologies. Our President Cole had an urgent matter to attend to, so we will have to be the ones to see you off."

"No need for such a big fuss. I’m in good health, and besides, Brian is here." Elder Shepherd spoke with a resonant voice, and his steps were steady as he walked. However, his expression was rather stern, making him seem difficult to get along with.

Cecilia Sinclair didn’t know any Elder Shepherd, only Mr. Shepherd. Although the Shepherd family wasn’t one of the top-tier families, they were well-off, and it never hurt to curry favor.

She went up to him with a smile. "Mr. Shepherd, are you leaving?"

Brian Shepherd offered a polite smile. "Yes, Miss Sinclair."

Sean Sinclair and Sarah Lynch walked over as well. Both respectfully greeted him, "Elder Shepherd."

Professor Cheney’s gaze fell on their linked arms, and his expression darkened.

Chloe watched silently. ’Why hasn’t Professor Cheney smiled once since we got here? Especially when he looks at Ms. Lynch and President Sinclair.’ She was a little confused, but she knew to keep her mouth shut.

Elder Shepherd nodded at the pair and looked at Sarah Lynch, asking, "And this is?"

Sarah Lynch froze for a second before quickly replying, "Elder Shepherd, I’m Sarah Lynch."

Brian Shepherd explained, "Mr. Jacobs’s granddaughter."

As soon as he said it, he saw his grandfather’s expression darken slightly.

His grandfather then asked President Sinclair and Sarah Lynch, "And what is your relationship?"

Cecilia Sinclair jumped in to answer again, "This is my brother, and this is my future sister-in-law!"

"I wasn’t asking you. Stop butting in." Elder Shepherd was an exceedingly stern old man. He disliked people who chattered incessantly and never seemed to act with any propriety.

Cecilia was mortified to be reprimanded in front of so many people, and her face went pale. Brian Shepherd offered her an apologetic smile.

Cecilia silently retreated to the side.

Sean Sinclair had intended to say that Sarah Lynch was his date for the evening. But then he saw Nathaniel Cole’s special assistant and secretaries. Afraid they would stir up trouble with Leila Jennings, he simply said, "Sarah and I are friends."

Sarah Lynch’s smile stiffened.

But Zachary’s eyes crinkled in a smile. "I believe Miss Sinclair just referred to Ms. Lynch as her future sister-in-law. And before the party even ended, plenty of people were saying President Sinclair and Ms. Lynch make a perfect couple."

"President Sinclair and Jacobs’s granddaughter are a couple?" Elder Shepherd frowned, then spoke again. "Then... what about—"

"Elder Shepherd," Professor Cheney cut in at the right moment. "It’s getting late. You’ve had a busy evening, you should get some rest."

Elder Shepherd nodded. "Let’s go."

Sean Sinclair and Sarah Lynch stepped aside to let them pass.

The group escorted Elder Shepherd out and saw him off into his car.

As soon as Brian Shepherd got in the car, he asked, "Grandpa, why do you get angry whenever Mr. Jacobs is mentioned? You even gave his granddaughter the cold shoulder. A lot of people were trying to curry favor with Ms. Lynch tonight."

"You’d do well to stay away from them. Jacobs has his strengths, but he’s mediocre at cultivating talent. Most of the people under him are half-assed, but they’re obsessed with saving face, so they love to take what belongs to others and give their own people a piece of the pie."

"Back then, he tried his hardest but failed to turn his own son and daughter into anything great. Now that he finally has a granddaughter with a bit of promise, he’s pulling out all the stops to pave the way for her. His granddaughter, a ’specialist’? She’s only fooling you youngsters."

Brian Shepherd knew that the academic world had its share of ugly secrets. Especially in recent years, there were constant scandals about professors making students write papers for their own children, and plenty of disputes between teachers and students over first-author credits.

In any circle, it was difficult to make a name for yourself on talent alone, without any connections.

"So, Grandpa, that’s why you hold Dr. Jennings in such high regard, right? But I didn’t see her today." Brian Shepherd looked regretful.

Elder Shepherd shot him a sideways glance. "Well, I saw her. That girl just now, Chloe, is her assistant. And her junior from the same university."

"Huh?" Brian Shepherd was shocked. "Don’t tell me it was the one I saw at the beginning? But she didn’t admit it."

Elder Shepherd sneered. "And how was she supposed to admit it? By parading around like Jacobs’s granddaughter, afraid that people *wouldn’t* know who she is?"

"So it really was her." Brian Shepherd was filled with regret.

Elder Shepherd reminded him, "Now that you know, don’t say anything if you see her again. When the time is right, everyone will find out."

"Also, about that patent of mine that Stellaxis Technologies has been trying to acquire..."

"So you’re going to work with Stellaxis, Grandpa?"

"Don’t even think about it." Elder Shepherd’s face was grim.

It was Leila Jennings who had introduced Sean Sinclair to him, and now that same Sean Sinclair had turned around and gotten involved with Jacobs’s granddaughter. The man was unprincipled and disloyal.

To work with someone who had such a messy private life and was so faithless to his own wife would be an insult to his life’s work.

...

Sean Sinclair first drove his sister home, then dropped Sarah Lynch off at the entrance to her apartment complex. He didn’t even get out of the car, only bidding her a simple "good night."

Sarah Lynch was surprised. "Sean, where are you going?!"

The car had already pulled away.

’He must be going to find Leila Jennings.’

Sarah Lynch was so angry she stomped her foot hard.

In the car, Sean Sinclair started dialing Leila Jennings’s number.

The call wouldn’t go through.

’She probably just didn’t hear it.’

He hurried back home, but there was no sign of Leila Jennings. He kept calling, but she still didn’t pick up.

Sean Sinclair left again, telling his driver to head to The Thorne Residence in the suburbs.

At the ring of the doorbell, a light turned on in the silent residence. Butler Duncan emerged, throwing on a robe, and was surprised to see Sean Sinclair.

"President Sinclair?"

"Butler Duncan, is Leila Jennings asleep? She isn’t answering my calls." Sean Sinclair was being cautious; instead of asking directly if Leila had returned, he asked if she was asleep.

He watched Butler Duncan’s expression intently.