enjoyebooks Chapter 580 - 551: The Little Beast Has Returned
Chapter 580 - 551: The Little Beast Has Returned
Mr. Harding asked this way, but Simon Forrester didn’t say much for a while. He just picked up his wine glass, gently clinked it with him, took a sip, then brushed Sienna Thornton’s soft, black hair that hung behind her, and smiled, "Four years ago, my wife and I solidified our relationship in this villa of yours, so I thought about buying it as a memento."Upon hearing this, Mr. Harding immediately turned his gaze to the quiet girl sitting obediently beside Simon Forrester, who hadn’t spoken much all evening.
It seems it really hasn’t changed in four years.
Mr. Harding was a bit curious. Simon Forrester, being so difficult, what kind of girl could manage to hold on to him?
He discreetly withdrew his gaze, laughed heartily, and clinked glasses with Simon Forrester again: "So that’s it! This villa has indeed become a ’matchmaker’ for Chairman Forrester and Mrs. Forrester! I’ll say this, I didn’t give you anything good for your wedding, so I’ll give you this villa! I wish you and Mrs. Forrester a lifetime of happiness!"
Mr. Harding, having mixed in the business world for most of his life, knew well that a business magnate like Simon Forrester had the most solid cash flow and connections. Even if Simon Forrester wasn’t in construction anymore, there’s only so much of a domestic business circle, and perhaps he might need Simon Forrester’s help in the future, so gifting a villa worth a few million to earn some favor wasn’t a loss.
Simon Forrester naturally could see this too. He wasn’t used to owing favors, and besides, thinking he could buy his favor with a small villa was a bit too convenient.
"I appreciate your thought, Mr. Harding, but that’s not appropriate," he said, dabbing the corner of his mouth with a napkin, "you didn’t even attend our wedding banquet."
Mr. Harding was about to say something, but Simon Forrester, smiling, changed the subject: "Let’s follow the rules, I’ll have Harrison Rowe contact you later."
Mr. Harding realized that trying to earn a favor from Simon Forrester was hopeless, but he still attempted a few more persuasive jokes, essentially in a playful tone saying that if Simon Forrester didn’t accept the villa as a gift, he wouldn’t sell it! He didn’t dare to take Simon Forrester’s money!
Simon Forrester was straightforward, stating that if Mr. Harding couldn’t bear to part with it, then he and his wife wouldn’t force it. At that, Mr. Harding, still afraid of offending Simon Forrester, awkwardly agreed to the matter.
Afterward, the two of them chatted about the future of the domestic real estate market. Mr. Harding wasn’t optimistic about the future of the real estate industry and intended to clear out his lands and projects, securing a large sum to invest in industry. Likely, he wanted to establish some connections with the Forrester Group, but not being proficient in industry, eventually fell into idle chatter.
After all, having troubled someone this time, Simon Forrester still gave Mr. Harding enough face, patiently chatting, but Sienna Thornton, having finished eating, found their topics uninteresting, feeling somewhat bored.
Feeling bored, she could only scrutinize Mr. Harding’s female companion, as she couldn’t very well scrutinize Mr. Harding. Upon looking over, she discovered the other was also appraising her, with a candid gaze that went straight from her unmade-up face to the hand wearing only a promise ring.
Upon this appraisal, she found that the other was dressed lavishly, wearing a large diamond ring, a diamond bracelet, a diamond necklace around her neck, and diamond earrings, paired with a black long dress that, under the light of the restaurant, looked truly magnificent and dazzling.
Yet it was also a bit ostentatious, such an outfit resembling that of a nouveau riche from the last century.
Sienna Thornton gave a scornful smile, picking up the glass to sip her juice.
Simon Forrester continued to nonchalantly deal with Mr. Harding, sitting leisurely against his chair back, his left arm resting on Sienna Thornton’s chair back, and occasionally raising a wine glass with his right hand or holding a cigar offered by Mr. Harding, though the cigar wasn’t lit. He just toyed with it.
Most of the time, he was lightly frowning, occasionally smiling, seeming very impatient with the topic. Nevertheless, Mr. Harding ignored this and continued his enthusiastic discourse.
Just then, the chef brought in a dish of French baked snails. As Sienna Thornton inadvertently glanced at it, her stomach suddenly churned, and she covered her mouth, retching.
With this retch, Simon Forrester immediately reacted, grabbing napkins from the table, leaning over, and, with one hand around her, nervously said, "Feel like throwing up? I’ll take you upstairs." He didn’t bother to bid farewell to Mr. Harding and half-embraced Sienna upstairs.
Mr. Harding glanced at the juice in Sienna’s glass and then thought of her appearance just now, finally getting the idea.
Just as he was about to comment on Simon Forrester having a child later in life, the beauty beside him leaned into his arms, coquettishly saying, "Who is this Mr. Forrester exactly? Why are you giving him a villa? I wish I could have a villa too..."
Mr. Harding picked up his wine glass, gulped a drink with his companion, his eyes looking at the staircase not far away, speaking in a low voice: "A tycoon in the north, not only wealthy but with formidable social connections."
"So the one dressed so plainly was his wife?" The companion laughed disdainfully, "What era are we in, still taking his wife on vacations, what a masochist!"
"I’ve heard his wife has a strong background, so wouldn’t it be necessary to clarify her whereabouts?"
The companion giggled, her mouth almost glued to Mr. Harding’s ear: "You’re the smart one, living so carefree now..."
.
Meanwhile, Sienna Thornton didn’t make it to the bathroom inside their room and ended up vomiting everything she ate that evening at the third-floor staircase.
Simon Forrester held her, heart aching keenly, wanting to get a warm towel to wipe her face but afraid to leave her alone, so he stayed until she finished vomiting, then carried her to the bathroom in their room to rinse her mouth and wash her face.
Her jeans and cotton slippers had been splashed when she vomited, so Simon Forrester went to fetch clean pajamas for her, had her wash her hands and feet again, then made her change into them and put her to bed.
After tucking her into the quilt, he intended to leave but bent over, kissing her pale face. He was about to kiss her lips when she blocked with the back of her hand, turning her face aside, murmuring, "I just vomited, it’ll taste sour."
He took the opportunity to kiss her palm, stroke her forehead, and brushed away the stray hair on her forehead: "I’ll go downstairs to inform Mr. Harding, then come right back."
She turned her face to look at him. Under the dim night light, her wan little face appeared larger-eyed due to her weight loss, and just now, her eyes were still wet from vomiting. That poor little creature had reemerged.
He felt more heartache, subconsciously repeating, "I’ll be right back," and quickly went downstairs.
.
When Simon Forrester returned downstairs, Mr. Harding and his companion were being intimate. He stood at the top of the stairs, lightly coughing to express slight discomfort, only then did the two separate.
He restrained the disgust on his face and approached with a smile: "Mr. Harding, I apologize, my wife isn’t feeling well. Let’s find some other time to talk."
This definitive guest-dismissal couldn’t be ignored; Mr. Harding couldn’t linger any longer, so he took his companion and bid farewell.
Simon Forrester contacted the villa manager, instructing them to arrange a cleanup of the first-floor dining room and kitchen, as well as the mess on the third-floor staircase where Sienna had vomited.