The Night I Left, He Turned Grey

"Of course," Ms. Neville stroked her daughter’s face. "You like her that much?"

"Mom, you have no idea. She’s amazing."

"Because she pointed out the problems in your thesis?" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"When I went back after making the revisions, the old professor was floored. He said he thought I’d have to struggle for ages and even redo my experiments."

The mother and daughter were sitting in the car as Cherry Cole explained, "But it’s not just that. I just think... she worked so hard to get out of the orphanage and come to a huge place like City A all by herself. No friends, no family, only her teachers. She must have suffered so much. Even though she’s not working in a job related to her major and was forced into being a secretary by that brother of mine, I still think she’s incredible."

"Mom, I’ve lived my whole life without ever leaving you, Dad, or my brother. The only times I’m not in City A are for vacations."

"For Leila Jennings to live so diligently all by herself... that’s amazing." Cherry Cole smiled. "Of course, anyone who works hard to get by is amazing."

Ms. Neville looked on with a gratified expression.

"I actually want her to be my sister-in-law, but my brother’s mouth... he either says nothing, or when he does, his words are like thorns. It’s so annoying. He’ll have a hard time finding a wife."

Ms. Neville laughed. "Then you should try to coax Leila. See if she’ll take your brother off our hands as a favor to you."

The mother and daughter burst out laughing.

They picked up a surprised-looking Leila Jennings at the entrance to The Cole Group building.

"Auntie." Leila Jennings had thought it would only be Cherry Cole. She had only agreed because Cherry had been wheedling her over the phone.

"Get in the car, Leila," Ms. Neville said with a gentle smile.

Leila Jennings looked a little flustered. "Okay, Auntie."

Ms. Neville’s car was understated, but the license plate was anything but. The security guard at the entrance to Cole Tower saw it and immediately reported it to Zachary.

Zachary: "President Cole, Ms. Neville and Miss Cole are here."

Nathaniel Cole froze for a second. ’Why would his mother suddenly come over?’

He started to get up, his rear already lifting from the chair.

Zachary: "Ms. Neville and Miss Cole picked up Secretary Jennings and left..."

Nathaniel Cole: "..."

He was stuck, not knowing whether to sit or stand.

...

「Eden Restaurant.」

Located on the top floor of Kymell Tower, it featured a leafy green dome, a garden balcony, and the melodious sound of a violin. Walking inside felt like becoming one with nature.

Leila Jennings was wearing her green coat again today, which matched the surroundings perfectly.

The restaurant’s owner, Ellie, saw them and personally came forward to greet them, her gaze landing on the unfamiliar face.

"And this is?"

"A friend of my daughter and son’s," Ms. Neville introduced. "Leila, this is Ellie. You can call her Miss Ellie, just like Nathaniel and Cherry do."

Leila Jennings: "Miss Ellie."

"Such a quiet, beautiful girl," Ellie said warmly. "This way. I saved a spot for you that’s a bit quieter. Not many people come over here. I originally didn’t want to book the table next to you, but it’s hard to offend President Sinclair of Stellaxis Technologies."

Leila Jennings froze at the mention of Sean Sinclair’s name.

Cherry Cole immediately asked, "Sean Sinclair?"

"Yes, his whole family is coming. Five people in total."

The Sinclair family had four members. Leila Jennings could guess who the fifth person was with her eyes closed.

Her lashes fluttered, but she said nothing.

It was Cherry Cole who couldn’t sit still. "His dad, his mom, his sister, and him... who’s the other person?"

"President Sinclair’s wife," Miss Ellie said, sitting down next to Ms. Neville. "I asked her how I should address her, and she told me to just call her Mrs. Sinclair."

Leila Jennings took a sip of warm water.

Ms. Neville asked her daughter, "Is she the one who was standing next to President Sinclair at the gala?"

Just as she finished speaking, the Sinclair family arrived.

They sat down at a table diagonally behind Leila’s to her left. Cecilia Sinclair’s surprised voice soon followed, "Wow, Sarah, how did you know about this place?"

Eden didn’t have a grand opening sale or any advertising. It primarily catered to the wealthy, and the wealthy don’t look at ads or need big promotions.

Anyone who could find Eden had some degree of status.

Sarah Lynch smiled. "If you make a few more friends, you’ll find out about places like this too."

"Sarah, you’re the best." Cecilia wanted to cling to Sarah Lynch, but she quickly sat back down in her own seat. "The seat next to Sarah is for my brother. I won’t fight him for it."

Mrs. Sinclair said with a smile, "Good girl."

"I’m the *most* considerate one, okay?" Cecilia pouted. "Is my brother here yet?"

Sarah Lynch: "He just messaged me. He’s in the elevator."

"Ooh, how come my brother only messages Sarah and not the rest of us?" Cecilia teased.

Sarah Lynch’s cheeks flushed slightly. "Cecilia, stop it."

Just then, a waiter’s voice came from behind them, "President Sinclair, this way, please."

"Alright." Sean Sinclair took off his jacket, draping it over his arm, and loosened his tie. Only as he got closer did he realize that it wasn’t just Sarah Lynch—his parents and sister were there too.

He faltered for a moment.

’This whole scene feels a bit strange.’

’His whole family was here, but Leila Jennings was not.’

"Sean, over here." Sarah Lynch looked at him and raised a hand.

Sean Sinclair started walking again. As he reached the table, his gaze was involuntarily drawn to a figure seated to his front right.

Long, dark brown hair cascaded down her back, and he could vaguely make out a hint of her profile.

He didn’t recognize her.

But his gaze lingered.

Noticing this, Sarah Lynch turned to look.

Ellie said, "So that’s President Sinclair of Stellaxis? Why does he keep looking over here?"

Leila Jennings’s back stiffened slightly. ’Is he looking at me? But when I showed up at his company before, he didn’t seem to recognize me.’

’He’s probably not looking at me.’

Sean Sinclair noticed Ms. Neville. He put down his jacket and said to his family, "I’m going over to say hello. That’s Ms. Neville, the wife of The Cole Group’s chairman."

Mr. Sinclair nodded. "Go on."

Sarah Lynch stood up. "Sean, I’ll go with you."

Sean Sinclair opened his mouth, about to say she didn’t have to, but Sarah Lynch’s hand was already looped around his arm.

He had no choice but to let her accompany him.

Mrs. Sinclair asked, "The wife of The Cole Group’s chairman? Which of the two is she?"

Mr. Sinclair replied, "The gentle and dignified one, of course. To be the wife of a wealthy family, she couldn’t possibly be the other one."

Mrs. Sinclair nodded. "That’s right. It’s the same for our Sinclair family. The woman who marries into our family must also come from a scholarly family like Sarah Lynch."

Their voices weren’t loud, but Sarah Lynch and Sean Sinclair, still on their way over, heard every word.

A small smile played on Sarah Lynch’s lips.

The two of them reached the innermost table and happened to be standing right next to Leila Jennings.

"Ms. Neville, hello. I’m from Stellaxis Technologies..." Sean Sinclair’s voice faltered as his peripheral vision caught sight of the seated Leila Jennings.

In an instant, he pulled his arm from Sarah Lynch’s grasp, completely forgetting that he hadn’t even finished introducing himself.

"Leila?" he called out in surprise.

Ms. Neville and Ellie looked over. Leila Jennings looked up. "Mm. What a coincidence."

Just those three words, and nothing more.

An inexplicable panic seized Sean Sinclair’s heart.

Sarah Lynch looked completely stunned. "Leila, what are you doing here?"

’She couldn’t believe it. Miss Cole actually brought Leila Jennings to meet her mother?’

’Or... was it President Cole who brought her?’

’Did President Cole really fall for a country bumpkin?’

Their minds raced with different thoughts.