Chapter 321 - 308: A Woman Had a Child (1)

"How thoughtful, Miss Thorne!"

"..." Georgia Thorne forced a smile.

’Rich men are all the same. They clearly have fiancées, but they still have their eyes on other women.’

Georgia Thorne returned to the office, and Seth Shields called her into his.

"Georgia Thorne, is your current design project on a tight schedule? I’d like to recommend you for a competition. We should take advantage of your current buzz in the industry to boost your profile even further."

The deadline Shirley Summers had given her was more than enough, so Georgia Thorne nodded. "I can do it!"

"Great. Take this application form. Fill it out and give it to me by the end of the day."

"Okay."

Vivian Sawyer was slumped over her desk. When she saw Georgia Thorne come out, she immediately zipped over to her side. "Miss Thorne, what did the team leader want?"

"It’s for a competition." Georgia Thorne placed the application on her desk, feeling utterly exhausted.

"A competition? You’ve already got more than enough on your plate. Where are you going to find the time for a competition?" Vivian Sawyer muttered, picking up the form to study it carefully.

"Time is like water in a sponge; you can always squeeze a little more out." ’Besides, I need to keep busy right now to force myself to let some things go.’

Georgia Thorne filled out the application and gave it to Seth Shields. He told her that only two people from the company would be participating in the competition.

One was her, and the other was Laura Chase.

After she handed in the form, Vivian Sawyer intercepted her at the office door. "Miss Thorne, did you know that Laura Chase also signed up for the same competition? I just heard her bragging about it to someone!"

"I know."

"How did you know?" Vivian Sawyer let out a "Huh?" Georgia Thorne glanced at her. "You just told me!"

Vivian Sawyer scratched her head. "Well, anyway, Miss Thorne, I’m on your side!"

Georgia Thorne had been staying at Justin Sullivan’s apartment for a whole week, and Selena Sheridan came by often to keep her company.

"Don’t you have to go back to Breccon for classes?" Georgia Thorne asked, turning her head curiously to look at Selena Sheridan, who was playing with Blue in the living room.

The latter was holding a cat teaser. "I’m about to graduate. All I have left is my thesis, so no more classes. I’m totally free!"

"So you’re staying in the country for a while?"

"No, I’m leaving in a couple of days!" Selena Sheridan listlessly teased the cat, her attention focused on Georgia Thorne in the kitchen.

’There were some things that had been weighing on her mind for a long time, and she didn’t know if she should bring them up with Georgia.’

"Go wash your hands. It’s time for dinner!"

Georgia Thorne came out carrying a tureen of soup. Selena Sheridan washed her hands and sat down at the table. "Georgia, have you been busy lately? I noticed you seem to work even after coming home."

"A little. I just signed up for a competition, so I plan to work on the design at night."

"Is that so!" Selena Sheridan took a bite of rice nonchalantly, then looked up at her. "Georgia, have you gotten your memory back yet?"

Georgia Thorne paused for a moment, her expression becoming strained. "Not yet," she replied.

"I really, really hope you remember everything soon. Then you can get back together with my second uncle. You have no idea how fierce he’s gotten again, just like before. Everyone has to steer clear of him. It was always best when you were around. No matter how angry he got, it would all disappear the moment he looked at you. Georgia, why don’t you try spending some time with my second uncle? Maybe that will help you remember...?"

Every time Selena Sheridan came over, she would inevitably bring up Elliot Sheridan, and once she started, she simply couldn’t stop.

Georgia Thorne put down her chopsticks and said to her seriously, "I understand what you mean, but getting my memory back isn’t something I can just decide to do. Let’s just let nature take its course."

"Georgia..."

"As for your second uncle and me... you’re not me. You can’t understand how I feel. If the man you loved had a child, would you be able to accept the child and accept him?"

"..."

Selena Sheridan opened her mouth but hesitated, unsure what to say.

’Few women in this world are that generous. She thought she could understand the feeling.’

"Blue, get off the table! I already fed you!" Georgia Thorne chided the fat cat that had just jumped onto the table.

Selena Sheridan stayed the night with Georgia Thorne. The two friends slept in the same bed, but because Georgia was missing eight years of memories, Selena suddenly didn’t know what to talk to her about.

She rolled over to face Georgia, recalling something from long ago. "Georgia, do you remember our first school trip?"

"I remember. We slept in the same bed back then, too, just like now."

"Yeah, and the ceiling was glass, so we could see the stars while lying down!"

Looking back now, she realized those were the best of times. They had no worries back then, completely carefree.

"Let’s get some sleep. You have work tomorrow."

The initial stages of the competition went very smoothly. She advanced through the rounds and successfully made it to the finals.

This competition was a short one, lasting only half a month.

During that half-month, Georgia Thorne was busy juggling two things: Shirley Summers’s gown and the competition.

Just as she’d hoped, she didn’t have a single moment of private time to let her mind wander.

She received the notification for the finals; the submission deadline was set for Saturday, five days later.

Vivian Sawyer was embroidering beads onto a skirt and asked curiously, "Miss Thorne, what are your ideas for the finals? Do you have any inspiration?"

"Inspiration?"

Georgia Thorne looked outside at the dazzling, brilliant sunlight and the clear, cloudless sky.

’It’s almost the beginning of April now. The cherry blossoms have probably all fallen.’

"I haven’t decided yet!"

"You haven’t decided yet? But the deadline is in five days! Will you have enough time?" Vivian Sawyer exclaimed in surprise.

Georgia Thorne put down the measuring tape in her hand. "I’m thinking about whether or not I should do something."

"What is it?"

"It’s nothing!" Georgia Thorne shook her head and went back to taking measurements.

The finals were set for Saturday, but the model Georgia Thorne had booked suddenly fell ill and was now hospitalized.

Every other model she contacted claimed they weren’t available.

With no other choice, Georgia Thorne had to call Chloe Gardner and explain her predicament. Chloe readily agreed to help.

Georgia Thorne still had Chloe Gardner’s measurements, so she altered the design again, staying up until the middle of the night before finally going to sleep.

On Wednesday afternoon, Georgia Thorne left work early specifically to pick up Chloe Gardner and her son at the station.

When Chloe Gardner came over, she brought her son along with her.

Hannah Gardner was a lively and cheerful boy. Seeing Georgia Thorne after so long, he happily rushed over. "Hi, Ms. Thorne!"

"What a good boy!" Georgia Thorne patted the little guy’s head. "Long time no see! You’ve gotten taller!"

"Of course! I’m in the middle of a growth spurt!" Hannah Gardner said proudly. "I’m the tallest boy in my class now!"

"Tch. You’re growing too early. You’ll stop later and be stuck at this height forever!" Chloe Gardner retorted dismissively.

"Chloe, are you even my real mom? How can you say something so cruel to your own son!"

"I’m not. I found you in a trash can."

After all, Hannah Gardner was just a child. He couldn’t match his mother’s sharp tongue, and halfway through trying to reason with her, he pulled Georgia Thorne in for backup.

Georgia was getting a headache just listening to them. "Chloe, I’m really starting to wonder if he’s your biological son. Who crushes their kid’s spirit like that?"

"Exactly! Chloe, you’ve been bullying my fragile little heart since I was young!"

"Pfft, as if your heart is fragile!" Chloe Gardner raised a disdainful eyebrow at her son. "Besides, I’m helping you by putting you down. How else are you going to develop mental fortitude!"

"Ms. Thorne, look at Chloe! She’s bullying me again! Wuwu... How did I end up with a mom like this?"

"And I don’t even want you as a son! I was going out, and you shamelessly tagged along, even lying to your teacher that I was sick! You little brat!" Chloe Gardner was so angry she was grinding her teeth, wishing she could just bite Hannah Gardner’s cheek.

Hannah Gardner stuck out his tongue. "Chloe, I learned that move from you!"

"Why don’t you learn my good qualities instead!"

"Chloe, do you have any good ones?" Hannah Gardner blinked his big, innocent eyes, putting on an act of pure sincerity.

"..."

The mother-son duo arrived at Justin Sullivan’s apartment, bickering the whole way. Chloe Gardner patted her son’s head. "I’m leaving my son with you for a few days. You have to be good and listen to Ms. Thorne, understand?"

"Chloe, you have to listen to your teachers at school. No making trouble with your classmates, got it?" Hannah Gardner put on a mature air, clasping his little hands behind his back and admonishing Chloe with a serious, solemn expression.

His mother smacked him hard on the head. "As long as *you* don’t cause any trouble!"

Chloe Gardner had to go to school that evening, so she left without even going inside the apartment.

She left her son in Georgia Thorne’s care without a shred of worry.

Hannah Gardner wasn’t shy at all. He followed Georgia Thorne inside. "Ms. Thorne, you have a cat!"

"Mhm, be careful it doesn’t scratch you."

Hannah Gardner loved small animals. While Blue was sleeping, he stealthily pounced, grabbing Blue by the head.

Trapped, Blue immediately meowed and struggled with its chubby body. Hannah Gardner held it tight. After failing to break free, Blue gave up completely and simply lay in Hannah’s arms.

Hannah Gardner stroked Blue’s fur, playing with the cat.

There was no food left in the refrigerator, so Georgia Thorne took Hannah Gardner to the supermarket.

Although Hannah Gardner was usually a whirlwind of energy in front of her, he became exceptionally well-behaved once they were outside.

He held Georgia Thorne’s hand and followed behind her. "Ms. Thorne, can I buy some snacks?"

Hannah Gardner had been staring at the snack aisle for a long time. He always wanted some, but his mom never let him buy much.

"Of course you can. Buy whatever you want!"

"Really?"

"Mhm-hmm!"

Hannah Gardner got visibly excited and pulled Georgia Thorne along. "Ms. Thorne, hurry up!"

On Thursday night, Chloe Gardner came over to try on Georgia Thorne’s competition piece.