Chapter 145: Cannot Refuse

Crisp and fragrant, with a long, lingering finish.

Amanda Vance took a light sip of her wine and looked up at the man across from her. "This really is a good wine. You shouldn’t have, President Ford."

Samuel Ford shook his head. "As long as you enjoy it, Dr. Vance."

’A shame I’m going to be wasting this fine wine today.’

Glass after glass went down, and a hint of intoxication gradually colored Amanda Vance’s eyes. Swirling her glass, she lowered her head to take a shallow sniff and asked, "Aren’t you going to ask why I’m unhappy, President Ford?"

Instead of answering, Samuel Ford countered, "Do you want me to?"

"Not really." She never had a habit of tearing open her wounds for others to see, not since she was a child. Any so-called vulnerability was reserved for someone who would cherish her, and she had no one like that. If she fell and it hurt, she could only pick herself back up. She had no mother to run to, and as for her father...

She let out a cold laugh and drained her glass.

As she tilted her head back, her neck formed a beautiful arc, as coolly detached as she was, adding to her unapproachable aura.

Samuel Ford watched her, silently refilling her glass.

Amanda Vance said nothing, just kept drinking glass after glass. Just as she was about to pour another, Samuel Ford suddenly moved the bottle away. She looked up at him, a smile playing on her lips. "Regretting it now, President Ford?"

"Yes, I am."

’It felt just like when he said he felt sorry for me earlier.’

Amanda Vance rested her chin on her hand. "The last time I asked if you liked me, you never answered."

’It wasn’t that he hadn’t answered; it was that she hadn’t given him the chance.’

Samuel Ford didn’t say this out loud. Instead, he asked, "If I say I do, are you planning on rejecting me again, Dr. Vance?"

"No, no, no." Amanda Vance wagged her index finger. "I’d follow up by asking *what* you like about me."

In high school, her classmates couldn’t avoid her fast enough, especially the boys. It was as if they were afraid that a single glance would make her latch onto them and refuse to let go. She never had a deskmate.

When she got to college, the rumors still didn’t disappear. But even with everyone knowing about the gossip, some guys didn’t care. It wasn’t that they genuinely liked her; they just didn’t mind. In their own words, they were just looking for a hookup. They didn’t care what kind of person she was—if she was open, all the better, it made her an easier target.

The malice of adults was even more humiliating than what she had faced before.

She had never been a likable person. She knew that.

’So what about him? Why would he like her?’

’This face? Or this body?’

"I don’t know either." After a long silence, Samuel Ford suddenly spoke.

Amanda Vance tilted her head and looked at him, confused. "What?"

"I said, I don’t know what I like about you." As if he had finally built up the courage, he spoke his mind, frankly admitting his own shortcoming. "All I know is that I want to see you, and I want to protect you."

’Protect me...’

Amanda Vance repeated those two words over and over under her breath, then suddenly laughed. "Did you know? You’re the second person to tell me they want to protect me."

Samuel Ford’s expression tightened. "Who was the first?"

’A strange fixation. He didn’t even know why he cared about the answer.’

Amanda Vance studied his expression with theatrical seriousness. Once she’d had her fill, she finally said, "Jean."

Samuel Ford froze, then let out a breath of relief. He then saw the mischievous glint in her eyes and, feeling a little flustered, gave an embarrassed cough before saying seriously, "Jean is a good kid."

’Of course.’

"Yes. So since Jean doesn’t want a father, I don’t plan on finding one either."

The smile that had just appeared on Samuel Ford’s face faded again. Looking at the drunkenness in her eyes, he even began to wonder if she was faking it.

’Otherwise, how could she have delivered such a clear, precise jab?’

"I don’t like playing games. I’m not saying this just to mess with you, President Ford. You’re a great man, and you deserve better. You don’t need to waste your time on me."

Samuel Ford remained noncommittal, taking the glass from her hand. "Get some sleep. And if you’re ever unhappy, just look at Jean."

’He knew that was the only person she truly cared about.’

Amanda Vance watched him, suddenly finding herself unable to understand his reaction.

’It seemed like his reactions were never what she expected.’

While she was still dazed, Samuel Ford had already washed the glass. "I’m leaving now. Take care of yourself. You can call me if you need anything." He pursed his lips, thought for a moment, and then corrected himself, "You can also call Colt."

’She was more natural around children, after all.’

Amanda Vance blinked, watching him leave. Her gaze wavered, revealing a hint of internal conflict and struggle.

**

「The next day.」

Amanda Vance woke up to an empty house. Only then did she remember that her child was at Hayden Grant’s place.

With her child gone, she couldn’t be bothered to cook for herself, so she drove straight to the hospital. She had barely taken a few steps inside when Nurse King called out to her, smiling as she handed over a bag. "Dr. Vance, your breakfast."

Amanda Vance was taken aback. "But I didn’t order any breakfast."

"Huh?" Nurse King froze. "Then whose is this?"

Amanda Vance’s gaze swept over the area, and she noticed a huge pile of breakfast on a table, with all sorts of varieties.

She looked down at the bag Nurse King had handed her. It had been set aside separately, and inside was a cup of honey water.

’Honey water... I think I know who sent this.’

Her gaze softened slightly as she reached out and took it. "Thank you."

"Then all this..." Nurse King asked hesitantly.

"It’s fine. Go ahead and eat."

"Alrighty!" Nurse King replied cheerfully. This was from The Five Spices Kitchen! Just a few dishes from there could cost over a thousand. She would never splurge on it herself. To think someone had ordered so much at once—she was going to eat her fill.

’But who on earth sent all this? Could it be one of Dr. Vance’s admirers?’

Carrying the honey water and breakfast back to her office, Amanda Vance hadn’t even had a chance to call Samuel Ford before he called her.

「Ford Tower, President’s Office.」

Samuel Ford stood by the window, the entire cityscape of Aethelburg sprawling before him. He looked in the direction of Central Hospital and said, "You’ve arrived at the hospital, Dr. Vance."

"Mhm," Amanda Vance acknowledged.

’Then she must have seen the breakfast.’

"It’s just a thank you for treating my father, Dr. Vance. Please don’t refuse. You all need to eat well to be able to work well."

’He had even prepared an excuse. There was no way for her to refuse.’

Pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation, Amanda Vance said, "President Ford, I made myself very clear yesterday."

"Yes, and I heard you clearly. You said that since Jean doesn’t want a father, you don’t plan on looking for one. That means it isn’t your own wish, you’re just being influenced by Jean. You’re an open-minded and insightful person, Dr. Vance; you should understand that people live for themselves. So, that reason is invalid."

"Furthermore, you said I deserve better. But in my heart, you, Dr. Vance, are the best. I’m a perfectionist, and I’m not willing to settle for second best."

’So, in his heart, she was the best?’

Her fingers, holding the phone, tightened slightly. Amanda Vance looked down and gave a wry smile. "You’re especially talkative today, President Ford."

’It really wasn’t like him.’

Samuel Ford paused as well, then said, "Life is short, and I don’t want to miss out on you, Dr. Vance. So I want to try. If you feel I’m disturbing you, you can tell me."

’How was she supposed to respond to that? Blame him for sending her food? She hadn’t eaten, and she’d been drinking last night; the honey water was exactly what she needed. Everything he sent was what she needed most.’

’She wasn’t shameless enough to take advantage of his kindness and then turn around and criticize him for it.’

"President Ford, you really are..." After a moment’s thought, she used a single word: "Perceptive."

’He reads people too well, and he understands her too well.’

’Truly the king of the business world. Even knowing his objective, she simply couldn’t find a reason to refuse.’

’For the first time, she felt a little defeated.’

Hearing her words, Samuel Ford let out a soft chuckle. The man’s magnetic, smiling voice traveled through the phone. "As long as you like it, Dr. Vance."