Chapter 40: Good Daughter

Hayden Grant was about to lose his mind.

Compared to him, Amanda Vance seemed exceptionally calm, even able to comfort him in return. "I’m not an idiot. I’m not going to fall into the same trap twice. Besides, I’m not the same person I was back then."

’She would no longer hold out any hope for Holly Vance, nor would she ever again believe in this cheap excuse for family affection, tainted as it was by filthy schemes.’

On the other end, Hayden Grant was silent for a moment. He finally took a deep breath and said, "Stay put. I’m heading over there right now. Don’t eat, drink, or touch anything he gives you. Got it?"

’He was truly going crazy with worry. Even though he knew in his heart she wouldn’t be fooled this time, what if? What if she let her guard down for a second and fell for it, just like five years ago?’

’At that thought, he wished he could fly to her side that very instant.’

The light turned green. Amanda Vance kept driving and said leisurely, "What’s the rush? I’m looking forward to having some fun. Oh, right, it just occurred to me that I might have lost my Jade Pendant at The Flores Hotel. You should go check it out first."

She had left in a hurry back then and only realized her Jade Pendant was missing later. She couldn’t remember where exactly she’d lost it. All she recalled was a hazy memory of someone trying to snatch it from her. She had protected it with all her might, but she had no idea what happened after that. She wasn’t sure if it had been stolen or just dropped somewhere.

’If it wasn’t at the Vance estate, then it was definitely possible it was here.’

The thought of how she had ended up at the hotel made Hayden Grant’s breath catch. He clenched his fists tightly, his eyes turning bloodshot.

"Hayden?" When she didn’t get a response for a long time, Amanda Vance called his name.

"Yeah." Composing himself, Hayden Grant said, "Then you be careful. The second anything feels wrong, call me immediately. I’ll come find you as soon as I’m done checking."

"Okay."

She didn’t say much more, just drove toward the hotel.

Hayden Grant sat in his car, pressed his lips together, and floored the accelerator.

After more than an hour on the road, Amanda Vance finally arrived at The Flores Hotel. A valet at the entrance led her toward the restaurant.

As soon as she walked in, she saw Holly Vance. He was talking to the person across from him, unable to hide the sycophantic, fawning nature that was ingrained in his very bones.

’She had to admit, he was the very definition of someone who could bend and scrape. When it came to being shameless, no one could beat him.’

Sensing her gaze, Holly Vance looked over. His face stiffened when he saw the mockery in her expression. Remembering the purpose of today’s meeting, he managed to suppress his anger. He put on a benevolent smile and waved her over affectionately. "Megan, come here."

Amused, Amanda Vance looked at him without a word and walked over. As she did, she got a clear look at the man sitting across from him.

He was a man in his forties with a receding hairline, a beer belly, and a thick gold chain around his neck that screamed ’nouveau riche’.

The man’s eyes lit up when he saw her. His gaze roamed up and down her body. Seeing how modestly she was dressed, he looked slightly disappointed. Finally, his eyes landed on her face, a flash of undisguised lust in them. Thinking he had hidden it well, he feigned a refined demeanor, extended his hand, and smiled. "You must be Miss Vance. A pleasure."

Amanda Vance didn’t take his hand. She leaned back lazily in her chair, ignored him, and asked Holly Vance directly, "Didn’t you say you had something to discuss with me?"

"No manners," Holly Vance chided softly. Fearing she would remain uncooperative, and to avoid a more awkward scene later, he decided to skip the pleasantries. "This is President Quinn, a friend of your father’s. We just happened to run into each other today and decided to chat for a bit. You should keep Mr. Quinn company."

As he spoke, he pushed a glass of wine toward her.

Amanda Vance glanced at it but didn’t move.

Seeing this, Holly Vance’s face fell. "So undisciplined." He turned to the man across from him. "President Quinn, my sincerest apologies. My parenting has been lax. I haven’t taught my child well."

"Not at all. Your niece has a lot of personality." As he said this, his gaze lingered meaningfully on her face before he licked his lips. ’This woman doesn’t look like a pushover,’ he thought. ’Perfect. I like them wild. It makes things more exciting.’

Amanda Vance looked at him and suddenly broke into a smile. The sight of it left Franklin Quinn completely stunned.

’Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.’

’Worth it.’

Seeing her reaction, Holly Vance also thought she was finally giving in, and his expression softened.

Amanda Vance picked up the wine glass and smiled. "What’s the fun in me drinking alone? Why don’t we all drink together?"

"Alright, together it is." Franklin Quinn gulped and raised his glass.

Amanda Vance glanced at Holly Vance. Franklin Quinn took the hint and quickly said, "Holly, you drink with us."

Holly Vance’s eyelid twitched. It felt out of character for her to give in so easily. Then again, he reminded himself, she was penniless and jobless. She probably couldn’t survive much longer out there on her own. ’No wonder she agreed to come today.’

Convinced he had her right where he wanted her, he cast his doubts aside, picked up his glass, and said, "Come, cheers."

Amanda Vance extended her hand as well and clinked glasses with them.

Both men watched her, and when they saw her drain the glass in one go, they finally broke into smiles.

Amanda Vance smiled. "I’m going to the restroom. You two carry on."

With that, she got up and walked out.

Franklin Quinn and Holly Vance exchanged a look. Once she was a safe distance away, Franklin Quinn said, "Holly, I’m very pleased with your daughter."

Holly Vance’s smile grew wider. He rubbed his hands together and asked tentatively, "So, about the money..."

"Don’t worry. It’s just ten million, right? Simple. I’ll transfer it to you after we’re done."

"Done" with what? The two men exchanged a look of tacit understanding and both began to laugh.

Holly Vance raised his glass. "In that case, President Quinn, I hope you have a wonderful time."

"Haha, I’m sure I will."

After finishing his drink, he loosened his tie. His face was flushed, perhaps from the excitement of what was to come. "Well, I’ll head up first then."

"Of course. I guarantee she’ll be delivered to you in Room 602 shortly."

Engrossed in their conversation, neither of them noticed two other people sitting behind the partition right behind them.

Assistant Young looked at the man across from him and called out softly, "President Ford?"

Samuel Ford glanced at him and circled a section on the proposal. "Redo this part."

"Yes, sir." Assistant Young took it. Seeing him get up, he was taken aback for a second. "President Ford, where are you going?"

"The restroom."

"Oh, right."

’But that doesn’t look like the way to the restroom,’ Assistant Young thought. ’Why is he heading upstairs?’

Though Assistant Young was confused, he was smart enough not to ask.

He just needed to do what President Ford told him to do.

「The hotel, sixth floor.」

Samuel Ford’s gaze swept the area, and he saw someone standing at the door of Room 602. After a moment’s thought, he walked over. "Get out of here. Your father is..."

Before he could finish, he suddenly heard sounds coming from inside the room.

His gaze drifted down, slowly settling on the room key card pinched between her fingers.

Seeing him, Amanda Vance was also a little surprised. "President Ford? What are you doing here? What were you about to say just now? What’s wrong with my father?"

Samuel Ford looked at her. Her eyes were full of innocence. If the voices from inside the room weren’t the same two he had just overheard, he might have actually believed her.

More sounds came from inside—pained groans that also seemed to be mixed with a kind of pleasure.

Samuel Ford’s brow furrowed slightly. Looking at the smirk on her face, he coolly averted his gaze. "It’s nothing. Your father raised a fine daughter."

’The father schemed to sell his daughter, and the daughter tossed him right inside instead.’

’One is more ruthless than the other.’

Hearing this, the smile on Amanda Vance’s face grew even wider. "Yes, I think so too."