Chapter 142: You Are Investigating Her?

Amanda Vance had come to the banquet to discuss a partnership. Now that she had chosen her partner, she couldn’t be bothered to do anything else.

Knowing her personality, Cecilia Reed found her a more secluded spot to sit, which was nice and quiet. Amanda was very pleased with this.

She sat lazily in the corner, a table of desserts and fruit before her, feeling as content as could be.

Shirley Vance’s mouth was dry from talking. She was about to get something to drink when she turned her head and saw Amanda’s pathetic display. A flicker of contempt flashed in her eyes; she was utterly disdainful.

’So many influential people here, and sucking up to any one of them would bring endless benefits. Only a fool like her would treat this like a dinner party and just focus on eating. How stupid.’

She scoffed. Just then, a waiter passed by with a champagne cart. She grabbed a glass and walked toward Amanda.

Amanda Vance was looking down, eating a piece of cake. ’The cake here is actually really good. I should bring Jean next time; he’d definitely love it.’ Just as she was thinking this, a familiar voice came from above her. Annoyance flashed in her eyes. ’I thought she’d finally given up, but it’s only been a minute and she’s starting again.’

There was no one else nearby, so no one could overhear their conversation. Shirley Vance couldn’t be bothered to keep up the act, her sharp-tongued nature on full display. She sneered, "Amanda Vance, you really are pathetic. You’d better pray that nothing happens to the person who got you into Central Hospital, and that they’ll keep protecting you. Otherwise, what will you do? You don’t even know how to suck up to people."

After speaking, as if imagining such a scenario, she cackled.

Amanda cleaned out her ear. "You’ve started cackling like a hen. Is that what happens when you lower yourself?"

The cackling stopped abruptly, as if a hand had suddenly clamped around her throat. Shirley’s expression changed, and she glared at Amanda. "What did you say?!"

Amanda propped her chin on her hand and finally deigned to look her in the eye. "What did I say? You don’t understand?"

She slowly stood up, her gaze calm as she watched Shirley’s face grow uglier by the second. It was almost funny. ’So she does have a sense of shame. I thought people like her had abandoned that long ago.’

"When you’re with Penny Palmer, don’t you feel guilty? When you’re in bed with Bob Rhodes, can you sleep soundly?"

This time, Shirley’s face completely darkened. "Amanda Vance!"

"What is it?" In contrast to Shirley, Amanda’s tone remained placid. "It’s true what they say: dragons sire dragons, phoenixes birth phoenixes, and a rat’s child is born knowing how to steal."

As if remembering something, her gaze flickered to Shirley’s stomach. "Don’t use a child as a bargaining chip. It’s disgusting."

"Have you forgotten how you yourself came into this world? Do you want him to live the same kind of life you did?"

Before Shirley could react, Amanda laughed. "Then again, you’d probably be proud of it. If people like you knew it was wrong, you wouldn’t be doing it in the first place."

’It’s hilarious, really. If someone like her had any sense of shame, she wouldn’t be Shirley Vance.’

Even after doing something like stealing her best friend’s man, Shirley Vance still felt she had her pride. At the very least, she couldn’t stand to hear Amanda talk about her like this.

"What right do you have to talk to me like that! If it weren’t for you, would I have needed to become a mistress?"

"So you finally admit it." Amanda chuckled softly, glancing at her with derision. "Is this how you find your peace of mind? By doing something wrong and then blaming me for it?"

’How absolutely ridiculous.’

’I forced her to become a mistress? Did I strip her naked and hold a knife to her throat to make her get with Bob Rhodes?’

Amanda realized it was impossible to reason with people like this. In their twisted logic, they were the most innocent ones. They might even believe that she was the one who had wronged them.

It was just like Sarah Sullivan, who had interfered in her mother’s marriage, yet blamed her mother—the actual wife—for preventing her from being with Holly Vance openly.

But she’d forgotten that she was the one who broke up with Holly Vance in the first place, thinking he was a good-for-nothing.

She’d also forgotten that Holly Vance’s money all came from her mother.

If Holly Vance hadn’t gotten together with her mother and gained access to the Vance family’s fortune, he would have never been wealthy, and Sarah Sullivan would have absolutely never gotten back with him.

Shifting the blame, being utterly shameless... she had seen right through them. Her patience worn thin, she shot Shirley Vance a sideways glance. "Get lost. Don’t provoke me again. Otherwise, you’ll have to bear the consequences yourself."

With that, she turned and left, not bothering to spare her another thought.

She sent a message to Cecilia Reed and then left the venue.

Back at the banquet, Cecilia Reed received the message with a sense of helplessness.

"Is that from Ms. Vance?" Mrs. Young guessed, seeing her expression.

"Yes." There was nothing to hide, so Cecilia Reed answered directly. "She left again. Sigh, she’s such a hands-off boss. She really trusts us, doesn’t she?"

Hearing more admiration and awe than complaint in her voice, Mrs. Young smiled. Her impression of Amanda Vance improved even more.

’It’s just a shame she’s already married. Otherwise, she and Samuel could have given it a try. A talented man and a beautiful woman, both so capable... they would have been a match made in heaven.’

「The Ford Residence.」

Jean Vance stared at the document in his hands in disbelief.

"Did you find the book?" Samuel Ford suddenly pushed the door open and walked in. He glanced at what Jean was holding, furrowed his brow, and quickly strode over. He took the file, placed it back in its folder, and put it on the highest shelf. "Why are you looking at this?" he asked in a low voice.

Jean’s eyes flickered. He looked up at him. "It fell on the floor by accident. I saw it when I went to pick it up."

He pressed his lips together and asked, "I saw a picture of Miss Vance on it. Are you investigating her?"

’No, he wasn’t investigating Amanda, just the Vance Family, which naturally included some information about her.’

’Good thing the boy can’t read. Otherwise, given how much he adores Amanda, he would have definitely lost it.’

"No, it was just a coincidence." Samuel didn’t explain further. He looked down at the boy. "Take your book and go read. I have to work."

"Okay." Jean nodded and walked out, his expression perfectly normal.

Once the door was closed, hiding him from view, the fierce look immediately returned to his eyes, and his small fists clenched tightly.

Just then, Seven, which he had brought out with him, started ringing again. It was Felix Ford.

He reached out and silenced it, then walked back to his room and used his phone to call him back.

"Hey, it’s me. Keep a close eye on my mom for the next few days. Call me immediately if anything seems unusual."

On the other end, Felix Ford barely had a chance to speak before Jean rattled off his instructions. He blinked, processing his words, and asked in confusion, "What’s wrong? Did something happen? You said before that there was a problem with Miss Lynch. Did you figure it out?"

"No, I’m still looking into that."

"Huh? It’s not that?" Felix was even more puzzled. "Then what is it? Why did you specifically say ’the next few days’? Is there something special about them?"

’Of course there is.’

’Mom’s birthday is coming up.’

’And that same day is also the anniversary of Grandma’s death.’

’Mom’s mood always plummets on that day, and this year will likely be no exception.’

’And if the contents of that file are true... Mom will lose her mind.’

At this thought, his brow furrowed even more deeply.