Chapter 763 - 759: An Opportunity for Proof

The moment she got home, the old woman called Jasmine Sterling.

She wouldn’t have worried so much if her younger son hadn’t mentioned it, but now that he’d brought up going to Lorcain, it weighed heavily on her mind. She was terrified he would actually go.

Jasmine and her sister had just finished their work and were eating at a noodle shop across from the company. When Jasmine saw the call was from their mother, she quickly motioned for her sister to be quiet.

Yvonne Sterling nodded. She knew it had to be their mother. The fact that she was also in Lorcain had to be kept a secret; their mother couldn’t find out.

"What is it, Mom?"

Jasmine asked as soon as she picked up the phone.

"Jasmine, has your brother been in touch with you recently?" their mother asked tentatively.

Jasmine’s brow furrowed. "Connor? Why would he contact me?"

"He hasn’t? All right, I see." Their mother sighed in relief.

But Jasmine grew tense. "Mom, did he lose all the money I lent him a while ago? I’ve said it before—he’s too impulsive and reckless to ever accomplish anything. It’s useless for him to contact me. I don’t have any more money to lend him."

"Goodness, what are you talking about!" Their mother’s attitude shifted as she rushed to her son’s defense. "He hasn’t even touched that money."

"Then besides money, what other reason would he have to contact me?" Jasmine asked.

Their mother hesitated for a long moment before finally mumbling, "He said he wants to go to Lorcain to find Mindy and bring her back..."

In an instant, Jasmine’s nerves went taut.

"Huh?"

Yvonne shot her sister a surprised look, wondering what was said on the phone.

Their mother said, "I told him not to go. I’m afraid he’ll go straight to you. If he contacts you, you have to stop him. Don’t let him go to Lorcain."

’As if you need to tell me,’ Jasmine thought. ’Of course I won’t let him come.’

’She knew her brother’s personality better than anyone!’

"I know, Mom. I won’t let him come."

Just as she was about to hang up, she heard her mother add, "Oh, and Jasmine, try to get in touch with Mindy. See if she’s really in Lorcain. It would be best if you could find her and tell her to come back right away."

Jasmine gave a noncommittal reply, "Okay, I got it."

After hanging up, Jasmine told her sister what their mother had said before she even had a chance to ask.

Yvonne snorted after hearing the story. "Hmph. I bet he’s just using ’finding Mindy’ as an excuse to come after you."

"Lily is so famous now, and everyone back home knows you raised a celebrity. They must think Lily has earned a ton of money for you. It’s hard for him to ask for it when he’s so far away, but if he comes to Lorcain, he can ask you face-to-face. He’s betting you’ll give in."

Clearly, both sisters knew their brother Connor’s personality all too well.

"That’s what I was thinking, too."

Yvonne added, "He’s always been a smooth-talker and shamelessly thick-skinned. If he really shows up, who knows how he’ll pester and wheedle you. And if he finds out about our situation here in Lorcain, we’re in for some real drama."

"It’s fine. I won’t let him come, and Mom doesn’t want him to, either. She’s probably just afraid that if he comes, he won’t want to go back. Even if he does manage to sneak over, I won’t see him."

’This was about protecting herself and her children. She couldn’t afford to go soft, not even for her own brother. Jasmine knew the life they had now hadn’t come easily. She had no responsibility, no obligation, to sacrifice anything more for her family back home.’

After finishing their meal, the sisters crossed the street to head back to the company. Suddenly, a car pulled up slowly beside them.

The car door opened, and Finn Vance stepped out, dressed in a black, knee-length cashmere coat. Jasmine recognized him at once. "What are you doing here?"

Yvonne had never met Finn Vance, but she instinctively connected the man before her with the rich boss pursuing her sister. Glancing at Jasmine’s reaction, she saw a flicker of avoidance and resistance in her eyes and understood the situation.

"Jasmine, there’s something I want to talk to you about."

Finn Vance spoke softly, his calm tone devoid of any pressure.

’That was just how he was. Despite his wealth and status, he never made her feel pressured. That was why she’d never found him tiresome.’

’Finn Vance was a good man; Jasmine had always believed that.’

"Jasmine, should I head inside first?" Yvonne felt like she should probably give them some space, so she asked tentatively.

But Jasmine stopped her. Turning to Finn Vance, she said, "You’re right, we do need to talk."

’If for no other reason than the flowers he sent her every day, she knew she had to make things clear.’ "But I have a ton of work this afternoon," she said. "How about we meet at the teahouse on the corner tonight?"

"Okay, I’ll wait for you." Finn Vance didn’t press further. The fact that Jasmine was willing to meet him was enough.

"So, that’s him, right?"

The moment they were inside the office, Yvonne couldn’t help but ask, "The boss who sends you flowers every day?"

"That’s him." Jasmine sighed. "I’ve had so much on my plate recently. I’ve actually been meaning to have a serious talk with him, so it’s good that he showed up today."

"He seems very persistent... He must really like you."

"I know, but we’re just not right for each other. He’s not the type to be unreasonable. Once I make things clear tonight, I’m sure he’ll understand."

Seeing it was almost time, Jasmine composed herself. "The meeting is about to start," she said. "It doesn’t really concern you, so you don’t have to attend if you don’t want to."

Yvonne nodded. After Jasmine left, she pulled out her phone and told Cecilia what had just happened.

’There wasn’t any particular reason for it; she just had a gut feeling that Cecilia would be very interested in her mother’s love life.’

Cecilia was a bit surprised to get the message from her aunt. She hadn’t realized that Mr. Vance was still so persistent and devoted to her mother after all this time.

’It was a shame he had such an insensible son; otherwise, she would have fully supported him.’

’But now, there was another potential candidate: Mr. Jennings.’

’Truthfully, Cecilia wasn’t sure if Mr. Jennings actually had feelings for her mother as she suspected. It was all just speculation based on her observations.’

’But there was no denying that the dynamic and chemistry between them were completely different now. To find out the truth, she needed the right opportunity to test her theory.’

’And today presented the perfect opportunity.’

Cecilia opened her chat with Mr. Jennings. After a moment’s hesitation, she typed a message: "Mr. Jennings, are you free tonight? I’d like to treat you to some tea. I’ll send you the address."

Randall Jennings was a bit confused by the sudden invitation, but he had no plans for the evening, and it had been a while since he’d seen Cecilia. He readily agreed.