Chapter 192: It’s a Small World

Melodious guzheng music played in the restaurant. Amanda Vance took a sip of tea and smiled at the person across from her. "Long time no see."

Across from her, a faint smile crossed Joshua Sawyer’s otherwise cool expression. He smiled lightly and replied, "Long time no see."

Neither of them was particularly talkative, so after a few pleasantries, they got down to business. Joshua Sawyer handed her a file. "The case is going to trial soon. We have sufficient evidence, so don’t worry. Nothing will go wrong."

Amanda Vance merely glanced at it without a detailed look. "I have complete confidence in your abilities."

At her words, the smile on Joshua Sawyer’s lips deepened. He still walked her through the details of the case—information he had meticulously compiled recently to ensure it was airtight.

Amanda Vance listened intently, nodding from time to time, the look of satisfaction in her eyes deepening. "It’s been a few years," she praised, "and you’ve become even more impressive."

He recited the legal statutes with a calm and steady confidence, his words carrying the weight of a master strategist. She could almost picture him in the courtroom: self-assured and poised, his thinking crystal clear. He truly lived up to his reputation as Aethelburg’s top lawyer.

Who could have imagined that such a refined and gentle man had once gone through such a rebellious phase?

And it was always the good kids whose rebellions caused their families the biggest headaches.

Looking at her, Joshua Sawyer also found himself recalling that period and couldn’t help but laugh. "I really was quite rebellious back then."

Amanda Vance laughed at his words. "Everyone goes through a phase like that. It’s just adolescence. It makes life more colorful, isn’t it?"

’It does.’

Joshua Sawyer looked at her and nodded slowly. ’If it weren’t for that time, he never would have met her, let alone achieved what he has today.’

The moment Samuel Ford walked in, he saw her radiant smile. And the person across from her was smiling too. The typically cool and aloof Joshua Sawyer had lost all trace of his usual detachment and was even pouring her more tea. The two of them were laughing and talking, a comfortable familiarity evident in their expressions.

He found his mood souring even further.

Ever since she left the Ford residence that day, he’d had a feeling something was about to happen. Sure enough, the next day he received the key she had mailed back, and even her thank-you message was sent via WhatsApp.

It was as if she wanted absolutely nothing more to do with him.

Let alone see him in person.

So he had been holding back all this time, only to walk in and find her looking so happy, as if he meant nothing to her at all.

At this thought, a sour feeling welled up inside Samuel Ford. It was an unfamiliar sensation, yet it hit him with a ferocity that, for the first time, he found difficult to bear.

His eyes narrowed, and the hand at his side slowly clenched into a fist. After a moment, he strode toward them.

Amanda Vance was in the middle of her conversation with Joshua Sawyer when she suddenly sensed something. Looking up, she froze. "President Ford?"

Samuel Ford walked straight toward her, having already composed himself. Seeing that she’d noticed him, he gave a slight nod. His gaze flickered imperceptibly over Joshua Sawyer before landing back on Amanda Vance. "Dr. Vance, what a coincidence."

Amanda Vance watched him. ’Although he said it was a coincidence, for some reason, I have a gut feeling he didn’t just happen to be here. It’s more like...’

Pushing the speculation from her mind, she looked up and smiled at Samuel Ford. "What a coincidence."

The polite look on her face made Samuel Ford’s heart sink. "I’m by myself. Would you mind if I joined you?"

Amanda Vance didn’t answer right away, glancing at Joshua Sawyer before she nodded.

At this, Samuel Ford’s heart sank even further. He took a step forward and smoothly sat down beside Amanda Vance, shooting Joshua Sawyer a subtle yet sharp look.

Seeing this, Joshua Sawyer raised an eyebrow slightly. He turned to Amanda Vance and asked casually, "Megan, you know President Ford?"

’Megan?’

’Why is everyone calling her by such an intimate name!’

Samuel Ford’s eyes narrowed, and the atmosphere around him grew colder.

Joshua Sawyer’s hand, holding his teacup, paused for a fraction of a second before returning to normal. He calmly took a sip of tea, then said to Amanda Vance, "This tea is quite good. We should take some back for Mr. Sawyer when we leave. He’ll definitely like it."

At the mention of Mr. Sawyer, the smile on Amanda Vance’s face grew even wider. "Of course. Mr. Sawyer loves tea more than anything."

Watching their easy familiarity, Samuel Ford felt a fresh wave of bitterness.

His presence was too intense to ignore, so Amanda Vance quickly steered the conversation back to him. Answering Joshua Sawyer’s earlier question, she said, "President Ford’s father was once a patient of mine. President Ford, this is my friend, Joshua Sawyer."

At last, the two men’s gazes met.

"A pleasure," Samuel Ford said, extending his hand first. Joshua Sawyer took it. In that brief moment, a silent power struggle unfolded. It lasted no more than three seconds before they both released their grip and smiled—a smile full of professional courtesy that barely concealed a sharp, competitive edge.

"As it happens, my father is acquainted with Mr. Sawyer," Samuel Ford said slowly.

This was news to Amanda, who turned to Joshua Sawyer with a questioning look.

Joshua Sawyer nodded. "Yes, they both love antiques and art. They occasionally get together to view each other’s collections."

’It was less of an exchange and more of a chance to show off, really.’

’A subtle competition.’

The Sawyer family came from a long line of scholars, while the Ford family was in business. The two families weren’t particularly close. Their patriarchs had met over a collector’s piece, and the encounter had been anything but pleasant.

Although the Sawyer family had an excellent reputation, and the elder Mr. Sawyer was a respected scholar with students far and wide, their fortune was ultimately no match for a business magnate like the elder Mr. Ford. The outcome was predictable: they could only watch helplessly as Mr. Ford acquired the piece.

The elder Mr. Sawyer had few passions, but he adored antiques and art. To see a beloved treasure fall into another man’s hands was, for him, a pain comparable to having one’s wife stolen away.

As for the elder Mr. Ford, he had been rather brazen in his youth. Around that time, some scholar had remarked that all businessmen "reeked of money," which had put him in a foul mood. He ended up taking his frustration out on the elder Mr. Sawyer, who was also a man of letters. After winning the bid, Mr. Ford made a point of gloating in front of him, which thoroughly infuriated Mr. Sawyer.

After a few more encounters, however, he discovered that while the Sawyers were a family of noble scholars, they were also people of high character who didn’t look down on anyone. They were actually quite pleasant to be around. So, the elder Mr. Ford extended an olive branch and invited him over.

After several visits, the two families gradually became acquainted.

However, being from different worlds, it was really only the two patriarchs who became friendly; the younger generations of their families didn’t interact much. Of course, personality played a part. Samuel Ford had been a quiet, studious genius since childhood, while his brother, Shawn Ford, was a troublemaker. Neither of them would have gotten along with the well-behaved, bookish children of the Sawyer family.

Amanda hadn’t realized their families had such a history. "It really is a small world," she remarked with a sigh.

’Indeed.’

Joshua Sawyer couldn’t resist glancing at Samuel Ford. Sensing the other man’s hostility, he mulled it over for a moment before it dawned on him. A flicker of amusement appeared in his eyes.

’Who would have thought? Even Samuel Ford has days like this.’