Chapter 138: We’re Better as Friends

After dinner, Samuel Ford did indeed go buy some cake. He bought four slices and handed two of them to Amanda Vance.

"For me?" Amanda Vance asked, glancing sideways at him.

"Mm. A little something sweet will lift your spirits."

’So he saw through me after all.’ The smile on Amanda Vance’s face slowly faded. She pinched the bridge of her nose and said helplessly, "President Ford, your powers of observation are a little too good."

She thought she had hidden it well.

Samuel Ford pressed his lips together and didn’t say anything.

Perhaps her mother was truly her weak spot. After everything that had just happened, no matter how hard she tried to act strong, some of her true feelings still leaked out.

Seeing that he had seen through her, Amanda Vance decided not to hide it anymore. A hint of cold severity appeared in her indifferent eyes.

Seeing her like this, Samuel Ford’s brows furrowed as well. ’The Vance Family... they’re more disgusting than I could have imagined.’ He couldn’t even fathom how she had survived all those years.

Her own father’s neglect, her stepmother’s instigation, her stepsister’s slander and isolation... she had never received an ounce of warmth in that home. After growing up, just when she was about to escape that hell with a limitless future ahead of her, they showed up again to ruin her academic career. If it weren’t for them, she wouldn’t have to endure so much criticism now.

Amanda Vance met his gaze, and her fingertips twitched. The next moment, she turned her head slightly to avoid his eyes. Hooking her finger around the bag of cake, she asked, "President Ford, what brings you to the hospital today? Are you here to see Mr. Ford?"

She assumed that was the case, but to her surprise, he shook his head and said, "No. I came to see you."

The last trace of her feigned smile vanished. Amanda Vance looked up at him, then suddenly smiled and asked directly, "President Ford, are you trying to pursue me?"

Her directness made Samuel Ford’s heart sink.

He could tell there wasn’t the slightest ripple of emotion in her eyes, as if she were merely asking what he had for lunch.

Before he could answer, Amanda Vance’s lips curved into another smile, polite and distant. "You’re a good person, President Ford. I think I’d be happier if we were just friends."

Samuel Ford stared at her fixedly for a long moment. Just as Amanda Vance thought he was about to say something, he instead took the bag from her hand. "Let’s go. You still have twenty minutes before your afternoon shift. You can go back and rest for a bit."

’That’s it?’

Amanda Vance watched the man’s tall, straight back, feeling a bit dazed. She even wondered if he had heard what she just said.

’He must have heard me. But he had no reaction, and there was no sign of frustration or dejection on his face. Now I’m the one who can’t figure him out. For someone as powerful as him, shouldn’t being rejected be unbearable?’

’How could he seem so unaffected?’

’Did he already know?’

Indeed, Samuel Ford had been mentally prepared. He just hadn’t expected her to say it so soon and so directly, rejecting him before he even had a chance to respond.

’This woman... she really doesn’t leave a person any openings.’

’Hard on others, and even harder on herself.’

After seeing her to her office and discussing Mr. Ford’s condition for a bit, Samuel Ford left. He didn’t go to the company but drove straight home. As he was about to get out of the car, he saw the file folder on the passenger seat, and his brow furrowed even more deeply.

After a long while, his slender hand finally picked up the folder. He gripped it tightly, trying to suppress his emotions. Upstairs, when he saw the contents again, he still couldn’t contain his rage.

’What they owed her could never be repaid simply by the Vance Group going bankrupt!’

’They deserve to die!’

As he was lost in thought, the door was suddenly pushed open. A small figure walked in, saw him, and paused.

Samuel Ford looked up as well and said in a low voice, "Shouldn’t you be at school right now?"

Jean Vance hadn’t expected to see him here. Instead of answering, he retorted, "Shouldn’t you be at the office right now?"

The exact same tone and manner.

Rocco peeked inside, pursed his lips, and thought, ’Well now. One skipped class, the other skipped work. Six of one, half a dozen of the other. Neither of them has room to talk.’

The father and son stared at each other for a moment before Samuel Ford was the first to look away. He unhurriedly tucked the papers back into the folder, placed it on the desk, and tapped his fingers lightly on it. "What did you come back for?"

"Nothing much. School was boring." Jean Vance glanced at his hand. For some reason, it seemed like the folder was very important to him. ’Probably an important company document,’ he mused. He had no habit of prying into others’ privacy, so he quickly looked away. Imitating Felix Ford’s boneless posture, he flopped onto the sofa and asked, feigning nonchalance, "Is Miss Lynch not here today?"

He had installed a tracking system on her phone and discovered she had left the Ford residence and gone to another location, one near Central Hospital where his mom worked. He had felt uneasy, so he’d gone to check it out but hadn’t seen her. He thought she might have come back home.

He hadn’t expected that she wouldn’t be back, but Samuel Ford would be here instead.

"No. She said she had a family matter and took the day off. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, no reason. I’m just a little hungry and wanted something to eat."

Rubbing his stomach, Jean Vance thoughtfully stroked his chin, his little brows knitting together unconsciously.

’Miss Lynch’s home definitely isn’t in that direction. It would be understandable if she went to visit Mr. Ford, but she took the day off, so it’s impossible that she was there for work.’

’So who could she have been meeting?’

’I have a feeling that person might be the mastermind. Even if they’re not, for the two of them to meet so secretly and furtively, it looks suspicious no matter how you slice it.’

’It’s just a shame I haven’t had a chance to get my hands on Miss Lynch’s phone. Otherwise, I could have dismantled her anti-surveillance system.’

Just as his brow was furrowed in thought, Samuel Ford’s phone rang.

Not wanting to be bothered with his work matters, Jean Vance left on his own without being asked.

Glancing at him, Samuel Ford answered the call. Listening to the person on the other end, his eyelids twitched. "My second uncle and Miss Lynch met?"

’So, did he come back because he sensed something was off?’

’With such a coincidence, it’s hard for me not to connect the two things.’

’If that’s really the case, then he’s even more capable than I imagined.’

’Second Uncle?’

’So it really was him.’

In the afternoon, just before her shift ended, Amanda Vance went to check on Mr. Ford as usual, but unexpectedly saw someone else there.

Samuel’s second uncle was stunned for a moment, then broke into an eager smile. "You must be Dr. Vance. Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Samuel’s second uncle. I’m always hearing my older brother and sister-in-law mention you, praising your excellent medical skills. It’s really incredible—so young and so accomplished."

Amanda Vance gave a polite smile. As they shook hands, she felt the pad of his thumb quickly stroke the back of her hand. Her eyes darkened slightly, and she calmly pulled her hand away, saying coolly, "Hello."

With that, she ignored him and walked directly over to Mr. Ford. Her expression softened considerably as she asked in a gentle voice, "How are you feeling today, sir?"

"Much better. I feel like I could be discharged even without any more acupuncture."

Amanda Vance smiled. "We still need to do one more acupuncture session. It’ll be over soon, and then you can be discharged."

"Alright, alright. I’ll listen to Megan."

Samuel’s second uncle listened to the two of them talk. Their tone was so familiar and warm that anyone who didn’t know better would have thought they were father and daughter.

At this thought, a dark glint flashed across his eyes.