Chapter 137: He Has a Sweet Tooth

Amanda slowly released her grip. Watching Shirley crumple to the floor like a boneless heap, she let out a soft laugh. "Relax. Murder is illegal. Why would I ever kill you? In fact, not only will I not kill you, I want you to live well. The Vance Family will be bankrupt soon, and Holly Vance will lose everything. Tell me, what will you and Sarah Sullivan do then?"

’I’m almost looking forward to it.’

Freed from the chokehold, Shirley Vance gasped for breath. When she heard Amanda’s words, she jerked her head up to look at her.

A single sentence echoed in her mind: The Vance Family would go bankrupt.

’She isn’t going to spare the Vance Family.’

And Shirley didn’t doubt her words for a second.

’Amanda has always hated them.’

A memory suddenly surfaced. She had only been five at the time, and so had Amanda. It was the first day their father brought them to the Vance home, and also the first time she had officially come face-to-face with Amanda.

The little girl wore a beautiful, frilly dress and held an adorable Barbie doll, yet her eyes were filled with hatred as she looked at them. She was like a wolf cub, seemingly ready to pounce and tear them to shreds at any moment.

Shirley had screamed in terror and suffered nightmares for days. It took a long time for her mother to comfort her. She had nearly forgotten that memory, but now it came rushing back.

Amanda had always hated them.

’She won’t spare the Vance Family, and she won’t spare me.’

The suffocating feeling of being choked, of having her breath stolen away just moments before, suddenly washed over her again. She screamed, yanked the door open, and bolted.

The bloodshot haze in Amanda’s eyes slowly receded. Lowering her gaze to the hand gripping her wrist, she moved it slightly. "President Ford, how long do you plan on holding on?"

Seeing that clarity had returned to her eyes, Samuel Ford finally loosened his grip and took a step back. "My apologies."

Amanda gave a dismissive wave, tilting her head to look at him with an amused expression. "Don’t tell me you thought I actually lost control, President Ford."

Samuel Ford didn’t reply. He pressed his lips together, his gaze fixed on her.

’So he really did think that.’

Amanda smiled. "You’re reading too much into it, President Ford. I was just scaring her."

’When the image of her mother jumping to her death had flashed through her mind, she had lost control for an instant. But she’d quickly reined it in. She was just going to make sure Shirley would never have a peaceful day or night again.’

’Starting today, they probably won’t be sleeping well.’

Samuel Ford looked at her and asked, "Are you going to make your move against the Vance Family?"

"Yes. I’ve let them run free for far too long."

Samuel didn’t say anything, but the look in his eyes was complex. Amanda couldn’t decipher it. Just as she was about to ask, he spoke. "They certainly have been allowed to run rampant for too long."

Amanda raised an eyebrow slightly. ’Why do I get the feeling there’s more to what he’s saying?’

’In any case, he agrees with me. Not that his approval matters much—this is my business, and I don’t need his permission. Still, it’s a relief that he isn’t blindly telling me to make peace or accusing me of being an ungrateful daughter like everyone else.’

"Did you need something, President Ford? If you don’t mind waiting a moment, I’d like to see my remaining patients first."

’There were still a few patients left. If she didn’t see them now, they’d have to wait until the afternoon session, which was two hours away.’

Samuel Ford glanced at the wall clock. It was already twelve.

He said nothing, simply nodding. Seeing a chair in the office, he sat down.

’The more he got to know her, the more he liked her. He knew she only appeared cold on the surface. Or, to be more precise, her warmth was reserved for certain people.’

’She was warm to Jean, and to her patients.’

Amanda froze for a second when she saw where he sat. That was the chair Jean used when he came to the hospital with her. Sometimes Mr. Lynch would visit later, so she’d just left it out.

’Was it just her imagination? Watching him sit there, the images of the man and the boy suddenly overlapped in her mind. He looked surprisingly... well-behaved.’

’Come to think of it, he and Jean really did look a little alike.’

’But then her eyes met his stern, cold face, and any words like ’well-behaved’ evaporated from her mind. It didn’t fit him at all.’

Shaking her head, she called the next patient in. She pushed aside all the random thoughts and focused on the diagnosis.

By the time she had seen the last few patients, it was nearly twelve-forty. Massaging her aching shoulder, Amanda turned to Samuel Ford. "Have you had lunch, President Ford? If not, it’s my treat."

Samuel Ford put down the book he was holding and stood up. "Alright."

Ten minutes later, Amanda was sitting in the hospital cafeteria. She picked up the container of chili oil on the table, added a large spoonful to her bowl, and stirred until every noodle was coated in a fiery red sheen.

She looked at the man opposite her, her eyes crinkling into a smile. "It’s a little late, so I can’t treat you to a fancy meal, President Ford. You don’t mind, do you?"

Samuel Ford looked down at the incredibly plain bowl of noodles in front of him and slowly shook his head. "I don’t mind."

"That’s good." Amanda nodded, pushing the chili oil toward him. "The hospital food can be a bit bland. If you find it too plain, President Ford, feel free to add some."

Just as she said it, she remembered something and pulled the container back. "Oh, I forgot you don’t eat spicy food, President Ford. These noodles are still pretty good, though. The broth is simmered from bones, so it’s very fragrant. It’s delicious on its own. They have little cakes over there, too. You could get one for dessert after you finish."

Samuel Ford’s expression visibly stiffened.

He composed himself quickly, but Amanda had already noticed.

’She couldn’t help but watch him, amused. Who would have thought? The notoriously aloof President Ford actually had a sweet tooth. She’d discovered it the other day during that meal with Mrs. Ford. He had eaten half the plate of sweet and sour pork all by himself.’

’He had the same tastes as Jean.’

’He loves sweets, too.’

’But she’d never called him out on it. If she did, Jean would probably be too embarrassed and might never touch sweets again. Then she’d miss out on watching her son eat dessert with that serious little deadpan expression of his.’

’That adorable contrast made her want to just scoop him up and squeeze him.’

’Of course, Samuel Ford was a grown man, so she wasn’t about to scoop him into her arms. But that didn’t stop her from being secretly amused, especially after seeing his expression just now. It was hilarious.’

At the thought, she couldn’t help but smile again. She didn’t make a sound, but the crinkles at the corners of her eyes and the mirth dancing within them gave her away.

Samuel watched her, surprised that he didn’t feel angry at all. Instead, he felt a faint sense of delight.

’Was it because she had discovered the little secret he’d always hidden, one that even his own parents had never noticed?’

A warmth spread through his chest, and he found himself smiling along with her. Deciding there was no point in hiding it, he said, "Alright, I’ll have to try one later then."

’He was much more open about it than she’d expected.’

Amanda looked at him and smiled again. Without another word, she lowered her head and went back to eating her meal.

The warm noodles filled her stomach, leaving her feeling comfortable and content.

Amanda ate with relish. As Samuel sat opposite her, watching, he suddenly realized she was right. These noodles really were delicious—more satisfying than meals he’d had in high-end restaurants.

Before he knew it, his bowl was empty.

"Are you full, President Ford? Would you like another bowl?"

"No, thank you. I have to save room for dessert."

He said it so matter-of-factly, without a hint of embarrassment.

Amanda slowly blew aside the cilantro floating on her soup, a smile welling up in her eyes. ’Has he completely dropped the whole overbearing CEO act?’