Chapter 972: Chapter 972: A Completely Estranged Person

That afternoon, Miles Sterling watched on the door camera as Vanessa Sterling and Richard Sheffied chatted and laughed while carrying things into the house.

Vanessa Sterling’s answer was obvious.

Staring at the image of the two of them together, at the smile on Vanessa Sterling’s face, Miles Sterling really wanted to be happy for her, but he just couldn’t smile.

Feeling stifled, he left home and buried himself in work, hoping to use it to ease the frustration in his chest.

"Knock, knock—"

Quentin Sterling pushed the door open and came in, standing by the office door as he asked, "You’re still here?"

Miles Sterling lifted his head and glanced out the window, only then realizing that night had fallen.

Neon lights decorated the ink-dark sky; cars flowed endlessly along the street, the city’s prosperity on full display.

"Just a bit more work. I’ll leave when I’m done." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

It was rare to see Miles Sterling working this diligently. Quentin Sterling smiled in satisfaction, nodded, and said, "Alright, don’t stay too late. You still need to rest."

"Mm. You too, Uncle Quentin."

Quentin Sterling pressed his lips together, then said hesitantly, "This afternoon, Gwen came by the company looking for you."

Miles Sterling froze for a moment and asked, "What did she come for?"

Quentin Sterling said, "She just asked me about how you’ve been. She seemed really concerned about you."

Miles Sterling was silent for a moment before saying, "I’ve already brought up divorce with her. She knows very well what she’s done. Uncle Quentin, you don’t need to speak up for her anymore."

Quentin Sterling let out a breath and said, "This is between the two of you. I know you have your own judgment. Whatever you decide to do is up to you. I’ll head back first; you should get some rest early too."

Miles Sterling lit a cigarette to ease the stuffiness in his chest. By the time he finished the work at hand, it was already close to eleven.

He was somewhat avoiding going back to that place, yet he couldn’t help wanting to see how Vanessa Sterling was doing.

After getting out of the taxi, Miles Sterling leaned on his cane and walked into the complex. Standing in front of the elevator, he watched as it came up from the basement level.

He had thought that at this hour he definitely wouldn’t run into Vanessa Sterling, but to his surprise, when the elevator doors opened, the ones inside were precisely Vanessa Sterling and Richard Sheffied.

As soon as she saw Miles Sterling, panic flashed across Vanessa Sterling’s expression.

Richard Sheffied didn’t notice. He simply and naturally drew Vanessa Sterling a little closer to his side, then asked Miles Sterling, who was standing by the door and not moving, "Going up?"

Miles Sterling withdrew his gaze and, without a word, hobbled into the elevator on his cane, standing alone in the corner by the doors, not greeting Vanessa Sterling at all, playing the part of a complete stranger.

The elevator doors slowly closed. In the quiet, he could hear Richard Sheffied quietly asking Vanessa Sterling, "Are you tired? I think I might have packed a bit too much into today’s schedule. It’s already this late."

Because of Miles Sterling’s presence, Vanessa Sterling was a little unnatural, merely answering softly, "I’m fine."

She still remembered that Miles Sterling couldn’t stand seeing her with other men. Every time she had any contact with another man, Miles Sterling would lash out at her.

So when she saw Miles Sterling standing outside the elevator, Vanessa Sterling instinctively felt afraid.

But from the moment he stepped into the elevator until they walked out, Miles Sterling never reacted at all.

Only then did Vanessa Sterling realize that the person who had moved in next door to her was actually Miles Sterling.

She didn’t know how much of his memories Miles Sterling had recovered, nor did she know why he had moved there.

There was still unease in her heart, a fear that Miles Sterling would once again disrupt the life she had now.