Chapter 13: Encountering the Oddball Again

Shawn Ford was left speechless by his retort. He wasn’t angry, just a little curious. "Colt, do you know this Amanda Vance? Why so protective of her?"

"I don’t," Jean Vance said, looking away. "I just can’t stand mediocre men with overinflated egos. Looking down on a woman without knowing anything? It’s idiotic."

’Me? A mediocre man with an overinflated ego?’

Shawn Ford’s eyes widened in disbelief. How could such a cringey term ever be used to describe him!

But even as Shawn stared, his eyes practically bulging out of his head, Jean Vance didn’t spare him another glance and went back to typing on his laptop.

"What are you up to?" Seeing how focused the boy was, Shawn leaned over. A Plants vs. Zombies game filled the screen, and he couldn’t help but chuckle. "You’re just a kid. Ah, so naive."

Jean Vance couldn’t be bothered with him and switched back to the task interface on his screen. ’This mission is interesting,’ he thought. ’I’ll need a bit of time.’

Samuel Ford glanced at Jean, then looked at Shawn. "So what are you going to do now?" he asked. "I recall you saying there were only two of those cars in the entire world. The first was bought five years ago, and now this one is gone too. Want to look at other models?"

"I don’t want to." His beloved car had been stolen from him, and Shawn Ford was in no mood to look for a replacement. He hung his head, dejected. "Nothing compares to my Little Red. Five years ago, I couldn’t get it because I was short on cash, and some person named Y snatched it up. This time, I thought I’d just wait one more day, and it got bought right out from under me again. My life is so hard."

’Y?’ Jean Vance shot him a sideways glance.

He remembered his mom had a red sports car in her garage back in Aridia.

And coincidentally, his mother’s codename was Y.

’So, the person who’d snatched it from him both times... was his mom.’

A small smile played on Jean Vance’s lips. The anger he’d felt over Shawn’s disparaging remarks about his mother completely dissipated.

’Serves him right.’

"Do whatever you want." Samuel Ford couldn’t be bothered with him either and went back to his documents.

Shawn Ford’s eyes darted around. He sidled up to his brother with an ingratiating smile. "Hey, big bro, can I ask you for a favor?"

Samuel Ford didn’t look up. "Speak."

"Can I borrow one of the sports cars from your garage? There’s a race next week I want to compete in, but I don’t have a car."

If he didn’t agree, Shawn would just pester him endlessly. Not wanting to deal with it, Samuel Ford simply nodded. "Pick one and get the keys from Secretary Hale."

"Alright!" Shawn Ford’s face lit up instantly. "Thanks, bro! Don’t worry, I won’t bring shame to your prized car. I’ll definitely come back with a first-place trophy."

He wasn’t passionate about much, but racing was his one and only hobby.

Samuel Ford grunted noncommittally, barely paying attention. "Just be careful," he said dismissively.

"Yep, yep." His mission accomplished, Shawn didn’t linger. He waved a quick goodbye to Jean and took off.

Jean ignored him, his gaze fixed on the laptop. After a pause, he searched for car races in Aethelburg next week. Only one came up. The participants were all notorious rich playboys from the city, none with any connection to the Vance family. ’Mom probably wouldn’t go there.’

**

Her son’s backpack was dirty and his storybook was creased and worn, so Amanda Vance took him to the shopping mall first thing in the morning.

She never expected to run into the same man she’d seen with Shirley Vance the day before.

"Miss Vance, it really is you!" Simon Sheffield spotted her from a distance but could hardly believe his eyes. When he got closer and confirmed it was her, his face broke into a wide grin. He smoothed his hair back in what he clearly thought was a dashing gesture. "What a coincidence. It must be fate for us to meet here."

Amanda Vance gave him a single glance and ignored him.

Simon Sheffield wasn’t discouraged. He’d already figured out yesterday she was even more difficult than Shirley Vance, but that didn’t matter. With his charm, he was confident that, given enough time, she would be falling at his feet.

Felix Ford watched the preening peacock practically radiating mating signals. He wrinkled his nose in disgust. ’So obnoxious. He has the gall to come talk to Mom? He should go find a puddle and take a good look at himself.’

But Simon Sheffield was brimming with confidence. In his eyes, Amanda’s cold shoulder was just a classic case of playing hard to get. He smirked. "I was wondering if you’re interested in that race I mentioned yesterday, Miss Vance."

He gave her a meaningful look. "A lot of big names are going to be there."

He listed a few names, all of whom were prominent figures in Aethelburg.

Amanda Vance finally looked up at him. Simon Sheffield’s heart leaped, thinking she was finally interested. However, when he heard her next words, the smile froze on his face.

She said, "This is a library. Please be quiet." Then she pointed to a sign on the wall and raised an eyebrow. "Can’t you read?"

Of course, he could read. He had broken the rule knowingly, which, by any measure, was uncouth.

He noticed people looking over, their gazes tinged with subtle disapproval. A few even rolled their eyes at him. His face flushed red with a mixture of embarrassment, anger, and irritation. He stared at her, speechless for a long moment, before finally snorting coldly and storming off.

’What’s the big deal? Putting on such a high and mighty act. Does she really think she’s all that? I’ve already done my homework on her. She was fooling around with some guy in her sophomore year of college, got herself knocked up, and had to run off abroad to have the baby. The university even expelled her.’

’Having a child out of wedlock is a major taboo for people in our high-society circles. A woman like that is only good for a fling, and yet she really thinks she’s something special.’

’Pah.’

Sensing his attitude, Felix Ford’s eyes instantly darkened.

Amanda Vance reached out and scratched him under the chin, instantly smoothing his ruffled feathers. She said lightly, "Don’t pay any mind to people like that."

’A self-righteous, arrogant man like him will never amount to anything.’

Stroking her son’s soft little face, she suppressed the emotions churning within her. She hadn’t missed the look Simon gave Jean before he left.

Contempt, disdain, and scorn.

’She didn’t care what they thought of her. But her son? That was a different story.’

’A car race, is it? I’d like to see just how capable he really is.’

Closing the book, she gathered up the ones she had just picked out and headed for the cashier.

Felix Ford hurried to keep up on his short legs, looking up at her face. ’Mom seems angry.’

’Is it because of that man just now?’

His little eyebrows furrowed into a small hill. ’If I were still the young master of the Ford Family, I could have people come and get revenge for Mom.’

’But I can’t reveal my identity right now. I want to spend more time with Mom; I don’t want to be separated from her.’

’So what can I do? I want to help Mom teach that guy a good lesson.’

His eyes lit up as he remembered something. ’Right, the car race! Second Uncle loves to race. I remember they have a race every month, and it’s next week.’

’The timing is perfect.’

’Could it be the same one?’

’If it is, that would be great. I can get Second Uncle to teach that guy a lesson for us.’

’Perfect.’

Putting his plan into action, the moment they got home, he ran upstairs and pulled a small cell phone from his bag. He glanced cautiously in Amanda Vance’s direction, and seeing she was busy, he quickly stuffed the phone in his pocket, called out, "Mom, I’m going to take a shower," and dashed for the bathroom.

He turned on the shower, pressed his ear to the door, and only relaxed when he couldn’t hear any noise from outside. He put the toilet lid down, sat on it, and dialed a number.

"Hello, Second Uncle? It’s me."