Chapter 134: She’s Looking for Something?

Amanda Vance hadn’t given the matter much thought, but she never expected to run into her again.

At a hotel, of all places.

The previous video recording was incomplete. She had tried everything but still couldn’t find what she was looking for. Though disappointed, she had been prepared for this outcome. She returned the USB drive and thanked the lobby manager.

"You’re too kind, Miss Vance." Taking the USB drive and noticing her placid expression, the lobby manager asked curiously, "Weren’t you able to find what you were looking for?"

"No." This footage had also been tampered with, and the date was the same. She furrowed her brow, a little puzzled. ’Am I overthinking this? The surveillance footage from inside and outside the hotel on that specific day was partially destroyed. Is it a coincidence? Or is there a connection between the two incidents?’

’But the only people I knew who were there that day were a few members of the Vance family. If it were one of my enemies, it’s not like I wouldn’t recognize them.’

’So what exactly is going on?’

She pinched the bridge of her nose, a headache coming on. Seeing this, the lobby manager offered some comfort, "Don’t worry, Miss Vance. It’s been a long time, so an investigation is bound to take some time and effort."

"Yes." Amanda Vance nodded. "Thank you again. Please pass on my thanks to that gentleman as well."

The footage had been provided by another guest.

"Of course." Knowing that Samuel Ford always kept a low profile, the lobby manager didn’t say much more. Just then, someone called for him, so he nodded to Amanda Vance and left.

Amanda Vance sighed internally. She had just turned to leave and hadn’t taken more than a few steps when she ran into Shirley Vance. Shirley was clinging to a man’s arm. Amanda vaguely heard her call him "Rhodes," her voice as cloyingly sweet as ever. The man, however, seemed to eat it up. The two of them were all over each other in public, completely unconcerned about nauseating anyone.

Amanda had no interest in Shirley Vance’s private life and was about to look away when Shirley’s gaze met hers. The moment she saw Amanda, Shirley’s face changed—she looked like she’d seen a ghost and immediately let go of the man’s arm.

Seeing her reaction, Amanda Vance suddenly took a second look. She raised an eyebrow in understanding, her gaze lingering meaningfully between the two of them.

Shirley Vance immediately understood the meaning behind her look. She was annoyed but, for some reason, also felt a sense of apprehension. She didn’t approach to cause trouble. Once the front desk staff finished their check-in, she grabbed the man and hurried away. Before leaving, she shot Amanda a warning glance, silently telling her not to say anything.

Amanda Vance watched her, amused. ’That woman has been shameless since we were kids. To have a guilty conscience and still dare to threaten me...’

’Hilarious.’

With a soft scoff, Amanda Vance walked away.

「The Ford Residence.」

Samuel Ford also received a call from the lobby manager. Only then did he recall giving him a USB drive. He just hadn’t expected the person asking for the surveillance footage to be Amanda Vance. It seemed she was also investigating something.

Remembering running into her at the hotel that day, Samuel Ford mulled it over for a moment before asking, "What is she investigating?"

"Huh?" The lobby manager had only called to inform him; he hadn’t expected this question. ’Judging by his tone, do they know each other?’

He didn’t dare lie to Samuel, but he honestly wasn’t sure what she was investigating.

"From what Miss Vance said, it seems she’s looking for a Jade Pendant. She asked our staff about it before, saying she might have lost it at our hotel." He then quickly added, "But if we ever find anything a guest has left behind, we always return it. We would never keep it. So I think Miss Vance’s item was most likely lost somewhere else."

The hotel staff were all well-trained. There were significant bonuses for returning found items and, conversely, harsh penalties for taking a guest’s belongings. To date, there had never been such a scandal.

Samuel Ford believed that. Still, whatever she was looking for had to be very important to her.

’A Jade Pendant? She likes jade?’

After hanging up, Samuel Ford was still thinking about it. He rubbed his fingertips together and made a call.

"Hello, Mom? It’s me. I remember you’re a fan of a certain brand of jade..."

After the call, he got up and headed out, happening to run into Jean Vance, who was just leaving his room.

Jean was holding a cup, probably on his way downstairs to get some water.

Jean Vance saw him too and paused, narrowing his eyes. ’I thought this man would do something after finding out my identity, but he’s shown no reaction at all.’

’The more he acts like this, the more I feel he’ll be difficult to deal with.’

’He’s even more composed than I imagined.’

The thought flashed through his mind. He quickly composed his expression and, just as before, glanced at him without a word before heading downstairs.

’A little bit of Felix Ford, a little bit of myself. A mix of true and false. That’s the only way he won’t realize that I know he knows.’

As Jean Vance filled his cup, the corners of his lips curved into a slight smile. ’What I didn’t tell Felix Ford is that I also chose to stay because I want to find out just how formidable this man really is.’

’It’s been a long time since I’ve met such a worthy opponent.’

He licked his lips, suppressing the fighting spirit boiling in his blood. Once his expression was back under control, he turned to the man who had followed him downstairs and asked, "Aren’t you going to bed? It’s late."

"You’re not asleep either, are you?"

Considering this was his other son, Samuel Ford’s feelings toward him were complicated. Remembering something, he tested the waters, "How about I find a mother for you?"

’Since he grew up with that woman, he should have a strong reaction to this.’

"Sure," Jean Vance agreed immediately. "Did you find a mother? When are you bringing her home? I want to see her too."

’I know he’s looking for Mom.’ He couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. ’He never would have guessed that the person he’s been searching for is right in front of him. He knocked her up without even knowing who she was. Hah. Who knows what kind of tricks this man pulled on Mom.’

At this thought, he could barely contain his rage. A little of it slipped out, and he didn’t bother to hide it, deciding to go with it. "You’re always talking about finding a mother for me, but you’ve been looking for so long and still haven’t found one. Are you just useless?"

A vein throbbed on Samuel Ford’s temple. He hadn’t expected the boy to say something like that. Even if he didn’t mean it in *that* sense, Samuel’s face still darkened.

He sneered, forcing the words through gritted teeth, "If you’re so capable, you find her."

And as a matter of fact, Felix Ford really had found her.

And Samuel still had no idea.

Shooting him a contemptuous look, Jean Vance snorted and went upstairs with his cup.

Samuel Ford watched his retreating back, a headache brewing. ’This child is even harder to handle than Colt. I wonder what kind of woman could raise a son like this.’

He massaged his temples. Thinking of the boy’s birth mother, his brow furrowed again.

After that night, he had also tried to find her, but he never had any luck.

They had both been wearing masks and had no idea what the other looked like. He naturally had no feelings for her; looking back, there was only annoyance. She was the only woman who had ever dared to pin him down.

Utterly audacious.

Unexpectedly, his dream from the other night came to mind. Samuel Ford couldn’t help but wonder, ’What if that woman... was her...?’

The moment the thought surfaced, he froze.