Chapter 33: Quietly Watching You Perform

Seeing Amanda Vance, Shawn Ford looked as if he’d just spotted his savior. He quickly pulled Samuel Ford over. "Amanda Vance!"

Hearing someone call her name, Amanda Vance looked up and raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Ford?"

"It really is you." Shawn Ford moved closer, sitting down beside her. "Wow, I haven’t seen you in a day and you’ve gotten even more beautiful, Miss Vance. Just look at your skin, this outfit... Gorgeous! Stunning!"

Surprised that he was laying on the compliments so thick, Amanda Vance gave him a curious look and asked coolly, "Do you need something, Mr. Ford?"

"Yes, yes, of course! You’re so clever, Miss Vance, you saw right through me." He flattered her again, then his eyes darted to his brother and an idea formed. He said with a grin, "Let me introduce you. This is my brother, Samuel Ford. The car you won from me the other day is actually his. The ownership transfer paperwork hasn’t been done yet, so you two should chat and set a time to get it handled. Then the car will officially belong to you, Miss Vance."

’As if! With my brother’s domineering personality, there’s no way he’d just hand over his beloved car. And this Amanda Vance doesn’t look like a pushover, either. Perfect. I’ll just let the two of them hash it out.’

’Besides, he’s the one who wants the car back anyway.’

Shaking off the burden, he felt a wave of relief. He practically bolted, saying, "I’ve got to run. You two talk."

He took off as if he had rocket-powered wheels on his feet, vanishing from sight in two seconds flat.

Amanda Vance blinked, resting her chin on her hand as she watched him leave. ’So his personality is just as Hayden Grant described,’ she mused. ’A little flighty and unreliable.’

She turned her gaze to the other man. He was tall, and from her seat, she had to look up at him.

Samuel Ford was also looking down at her. As she moved, he got a clear view of her face. It was fair and flawless, exceptionally beautiful. But it was the unruly indifference in her eyes, just like Jean Vance’s, that stood out to him.

The thought of him gave Samuel Ford another headache. Unwilling to deal with the other guests, he simply took the seat opposite her.

Seeing that he had no intention of speaking, Amanda realized the whole story about the transfer was just something Shawn Ford made up. She didn’t let it bother her, simply looking away and going back to flipping through her magazine.

Samuel Ford glanced at her before looking away as well, picking up a book and starting to read.

Not a single word was exchanged between them, yet they somehow looked inexplicably harmonious.

Shawn Ford had snuck back and was watching the scene with curiosity. This was the first time he’d ever seen his brother so tolerant of a woman’s presence. In the past, the closest any woman could get was three meters away. Now, she was barely a meter from him. They could see each other just by looking up, and even if they didn’t, they could sense the other’s presence.

Five minutes passed. Then ten. ’My brother still hasn’t moved?!’

Biting his lip, Shawn Ford couldn’t help but wonder, ’Don’t tell me my brother’s into her type. But I heard Amanda Vance already has a son... though apparently, the kid doesn’t have a dad.’

’Colt has a dad but no mom.’

’Come to think of it, they’re actually a pretty good match.’

"What are you staring at?" Hayden Grant asked, giving him a kick after noticing him skulking around.

Just as he was about to look, Shawn Ford suddenly pulled him away, forgetting that this guy also seemed to have a thing for Amanda Vance.

"Shawn Ford, what the hell is wrong with you?" Hayden Grant snapped, yanking his hand away after being dragged outside.

Shawn Ford wasn’t about to let him go back in. He snorted, "Mr. Grant, let’s have a match. You win, you name the terms."

"Get lost." ’Who would want to race him? He’s insane.’

Shawn Ford didn’t try to stop him, just said nonchalantly, "If you’re scared, just admit it. And don’t bother competing with me for the ’number two’ spot anymore. Coward."

At those words, Hayden spun around, got into his car with a cold expression, and seeing Shawn still standing there, snapped, "Well? Let’s go."

’Who’s a coward? He’s the coward. Today, I’m going to monopolize the title of ’number two’ and see if he ever dares to act so smug in front of me again.’

"Let’s go. It’s not like I’m afraid of you." Shawn Ford’s lips curved into a smile. ’Knew he couldn’t resist a challenge. Tsk.’

Seeing the two of them speed off for a race, the gawkers in the crowd immediately followed suit.

’What’s the point of a boring banquet? A street race is way more fun!’

In an instant, the number of cars outside dwindled significantly. The butler noticed this and quietly approached Samuel Ford to inform him.

Samuel Ford gave a slight nod, then raised his eyes to the woman across from him and suddenly spoke. "I hear your driving skills are excellent, Miss Vance?"

"They’re decent." Amanda Vance turned the last page of her magazine, closed it, and placed it back on the table. She then asked, "And I hear the car’s actual owner is President Ford?"

"Mm."

Amanda Vance wasn’t surprised; Shawn Ford had already told her as much. She rested her chin on her hand. "So, what do you plan to do now, President Ford? Do you want it back? After all, the bet wasn’t with you. It doesn’t seem right for you to bear the loss."

Samuel Ford watched her, noting the faint smile on her lips that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Clearly, she wasn’t as easygoing as she was letting on.

"No need. The Ford Family doesn’t have a habit of taking back what it gives away."

’Telling Shawn to get it back was just to teach him a lesson.’

"Alright. When are you free, President Ford? We can go take care of the paperwork."

"I’ll contact you."

"Okay."

After that, they fell silent again. Amanda Vance’s gaze slowly drifted past him, landing on the hateful stare of Shirley Vance.

Shirley Vance looked ready to explode. She clutched her handbag, her eyes fixed on the man talking with Amanda Vance. ’It’s President Ford!’

’Why would President Ford be sitting with Amanda Vance?’

’His back was to her, so she couldn’t see his expression, only the smile on Amanda’s face as she spoke. That bitch, seducing men again.’

When Amanda looked over and actually raised an eyebrow at her, Shirley grew even more furious, taking it as a direct provocation.

Noticing her expression, Sarah Sullivan followed her line of sight and saw the two of them sitting together. Her heart skipped a beat, and her thoughts mirrored Shirley’s.

’This Amanda Vance... just like her mother, she loves to steal other people’s men.’

’They’re both bitches.’

Her hand tightened. Sarah Sullivan squeezed Shirley Vance’s wrist, and the two exchanged a look before walking over, their faces plastered with the same fake smiles Amanda was so used to seeing.

She gently swirled the wine in her stemmed glass, the liquid sloshing with the movement. Samuel Ford glanced over and noticed the casual smile playing on her lips.

It was even colder than before.

Amanda Vance didn’t notice him looking, her attention focused with great interest on the approaching mother-daughter duo.

"Megan," Sarah Sullivan said, speaking first. Her tone was laced with a faint reprimand, and her expression was one of pure anxiety. "Where have you been? After you argued with your father and stormed out of the house the other day, he became sick with worry! I can’t believe we ran into you here. This is wonderful. You have to come home with me later. Your father was just worried about you, so don’t hold it against him."

In just a few sentences, she had successfully painted Amanda as a disobedient and ungrateful daughter.

Amanda Vance said nothing. She took a sip of her wine, then turned her gaze to Shirley Vance, her chin tilted up slightly. "Your turn."

Shirley Vance was taken aback by those two words.

Seeing this, a flicker of amusement flashed in Samuel Ford’s eyes.

’Just as I thought,’ he mused. ’I wasn’t mistaken. She’s not someone to be trifled with.’