Chapter 513 - 509: Disappointment and Anticipation

Cecilia Sterling hoped her mother could find a true soulmate for the rest of her life, but she didn’t want her to marry into a wealthy family and get involved in their drama.

Fortunately, Jasmine Sterling was cautious enough to keep her relationship with Finn Vance at a very safe distance.

After all this time, she hadn’t even changed how she addressed him. The most intimate thing that had passed between them was him sending her flowers.

"I understand. I’ll handle it," Jasmine Sterling said with a decisive nod.

’It wasn’t like she couldn’t live without him. Since they weren’t a good match, there was no need to drag it out.’

Especially after starting her own business, Jasmine Sterling felt her perspective had matured significantly. She understood that the right thing to do was to stop investing resources into something with no future.

"Do you need me to step in and help?"

At this moment, Randall Jennings suddenly looked at Jasmine Sterling and spoke up.

Jasmine Sterling was taken aback and instinctively refused. "That’s not necessary, Mr. Jennings. I can handle it myself. Mr. Vance isn’t an unreasonable person; we can communicate quite easily."

Randall Jennings nodded lightly. "That’s true. But if you do run into any trouble, please don’t hesitate to ask. Director Vance and I are on very good terms, and I’d be happy to help."

"Thank you."

Jasmine Sterling hesitated for a moment. Thinking of the look on Megan Nash’s face the day before, she felt a pang of sympathy and deliberately brought her up. "By the way, Mr. Jennings, Miss Nash came by my company yesterday. She gave me a qipao she made herself. I love it."

"Oh, really? She did promise you that. I’m glad you like it." Randall Jennings’s response was perfectly natural, showing no hint of anything unusual.

Jasmine Sterling said no more. ’There wasn’t much she could do. Mentioning Megan Nash to Randall to give her a bit more presence in his mind was the best she could manage.’

Randall Jennings seemed exceptionally happy during the meal. He certainly didn’t stand on ceremony, finishing nearly every dish.

As the meal wound down, he added, still savoring the taste, "Director Vance is missing out. Whoever gets to eat food this delicious every day will be a truly happy person."

"Oh, Mr. Jennings, you’re flattering me," Jasmine Sterling said with an embarrassed laugh.

Seeing that it was getting late and the driver was already waiting outside, Randall Jennings stood up to leave.

Jasmine Sterling, holding Yoda, saw him to the door.

The courtyard’s night lights cast a clear glow on the surroundings. Jasmine Sterling suddenly spoke up. "Eating takeout all the time isn’t good for you. You’re so busy, Mr. Jennings, you should pay more attention to your health."

Faced with Jasmine Sterling’s concern, Randall Jennings’s heart warmed.

"But sometimes that’s just how it is. Something that might seem simple for others to solve requires great sacrifice and compromise on my part."

’His lifestyle and personality had always been this way. For a man of his status, his home was even considered small—just a 300-square-meter high-end apartment, not even a villa.’

’He was usually home alone, and he liked it that way. He enjoyed the feeling of having the place to himself.’

’That was why he had no housekeeper, let alone a chef. He never even threw the sort of private parties at his home that were common in his circle.’

’And very few people knew any of this.’

"Doesn’t Miss Nash have some free time lately? You could ask her to cook for you sometimes. I’m sure she’d be very willing."

If her earlier mention of Megan Nash had been subtle enough not to arouse Randall Jennings’s suspicion, this latest comment was clearly intentional.

Randall Jennings looked at Jasmine Sterling, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Why do you ask? Did Megan complain to you about something?"

Jasmine Sterling pursed her lips, a little embarrassed. "She didn’t complain. She just wants to see you more often. Besides, shouldn’t a couple have something that connects them?"

"But she doesn’t know how to cook," Randall Jennings said with a smile.

Jasmine Sterling’s expression turned awkward. She was completely taken aback by this revelation.

"I was being nosy. Please don’t mind me, Mr. Jennings." Realizing she had overstepped her bounds, Jasmine Sterling quickly apologized.

But Randall Jennings didn’t mind. He even kind of liked the feeling of someone worrying about him.

Not the nagging, mother-hen sort of fussing, but genuine concern that came from careful thought.

Especially the reminder not to always eat takeout and to pay more attention to his health. No one had ever said such a thing to him.

’Perhaps in everyone else’s eyes, a man of his status would never eat takeout in the first place.’

"I will take it to heart," Randall Jennings said.

"Huh?" Jasmine Sterling faltered.

Then she heard Randall Jennings say with a laugh, "I’ll try to eat less takeout from now on."

Jasmine Sterling looked at him, letting out a relieved breath and smiling as well. "That’s good."

Once in the car, Randall Jennings rolled down the window. "I hope I’ll be invited for dinner again sometime."

He said it with utmost sincerity, because he truly had.

"Of course," Jasmine Sterling agreed readily.

The car pulled away slowly. Randall Jennings leaned back against the comfortable seat and closed his eyes. As they drove out of the neighborhood, a strange sense of loss washed over him.

’But that feeling was quickly followed by anticipation for his next visit.’

At one o’clock in the morning, the doorbell rang in a frantic staccato. Cecilia Sterling, who had just finished her nightly routine and was applying skincare in her dressing room while wearing a bathrobe, shot to her feet.

’Because of the neighborhood’s exclusivity, anyone who could ring their doorbell this late at night had to be a resident.’

’And the only residents they knew well were Mr. Goodman’s family and Zelda!’

’The first person who popped into Cecilia’s head was Zelda Warner, who was very pregnant and close to her due date.’

Sure enough, the video doorbell showed Mrs. Lynn’s anxious face. Still in her bathrobe, Cecilia scrambled to the front door.

"Miss Sterling! Mrs. Warner is going into labor!"

A chill ran down Cecilia’s spine. She quickly asked, "Did you call 911?"

"Yes, yes, I called! But she insisted I come and get you. She probably won’t feel calm unless you’re there."

Just then, Jasmine Sterling, having heard the commotion, came downstairs. The moment she heard Zelda was in labor, she grew tense as well.

"I’ll go with you."

’After all, she’d given birth before. She had experience and could provide support.’

Without even changing, Cecilia Sterling dashed out, still in her bathrobe, and ran toward Zelda Warner’s villa next door.

The wail of a siren grew closer, signaling the ambulance had already reached the neighborhood.

"Zelda!"

As soon as she burst through the door, she saw Zelda Warner half-reclined on the living room’s sunken sofa. Beside her, a terrified Alex was bawling his eyes out.

Zelda’s hair was damp with a sheen of sweat, and her face was pale. A dark, wet patch had soaked through her nightgown—her water had broken.

Cecilia had no experience with childbirth, but she put on a calm front as she approached to comfort her. "It’s okay, Zelda. The ambulance is here, the hospital isn’t far. I’ll go with you."

Zelda couldn’t speak, tears streaming from the corners of her eyes. She could only look at Cecilia and give a weak nod.