After Betrayal - I Married a Handsome Tycoon-Chapter 10: Sensual Allure

The way Moira Sloan carried herself right then was undeniably captivating.

She spoke provocative words in an impossibly flirtatious tone. You could call her pretentious or accuse her of flaunting her beauty, but frankly, it wasn’t the least bit off-putting. In fact, it only added to her seductive charm.

It was a vivid, tantalizing kind of allure.

She wasn’t aloof. She seemed just within reach, yet... you simply couldn’t have her.

Connor Quinn was so flustered his entire body tensed. Already built with lean muscle, he now felt as hard as a rock.

As Moira Sloan finished speaking, she took advantage of Connor Quinn’s momentary frown to pull her wrist from his grasp, then turned and walked away.

With Moira Sloan’s departure, the cloying, sweet tension in the air vanished.

Connor Quinn’s expression reverted to one of indifference, as if that fleeting moment of intimacy had been nothing but an illusion.

Meanwhile, when Moira Sloan came out of the restroom, Jean Hale was waiting with a wide grin. She winked and asked, "So?"

Moira Sloan played dumb. Before Connor Quinn even returned to the table, she used her slender, elegant fingers to pluck a peanut from a dish and pop it into her mouth. "So what?"

Seeing Moira’s lazy, nonchalant act, Jean Hale grew anxious. "I’m talking about that boy, Quinn, of course."

Moira Sloan said, "Oh."

Jean Hale asked, "What’s that ’oh’ supposed to mean?"

Moira Sloan looked up, her eyes twinkling. "Grandma, what do you think of him?"

The two had relied on each other for thirty years. Seeing Moira’s expression, Jean Hale knew exactly what she was thinking. Still, she refused to indulge her, putting on a stern face. "I think that boy Quinn is wonderful."

Moira Sloan said with a grin, "What’s so wonderful about him?"

Jean Hale listed, "He’s handsome, he has his own shop, being a Tattoo Artist counts as a real trade, and he’s even bought two properties all by himself..."

Moira Sloan’s eyes curved into a smile. "And that’s what you call wonderful?"

Jean Hale retorted, "And that’s not?"

Moira said, "But I have my own shop, I have a skilled trade, and I have the means to buy two properties myself..."

Moira Sloan was telling the truth. After years of hard work, she had reached the level of a master artisan and saved a considerable amount of money.

In a major city, that money might not be considered a fortune.

But in a small county like Everwood, it was more than enough to live comfortably for the rest of her life.

Hearing this, Jean Hale abruptly changed the subject. "You’re not still hung up on Shane Jennings, are you?"

She knew just where to strike.

Shane Jennings was Moira Sloan’s Achilles’ heel.

Moira Sloan’s brow furrowed. Suddenly, the peanut in her mouth lost its flavor.

The two women faced off in silence. The stalemate was only broken when Connor Quinn returned from washing his hands.

At the dinner table, Jean Hale peppered Connor Quinn with more questions, covering everything from his work and daily life to his social circle and personal habits. She left no stone unturned, and her complete and utter satisfaction was glaringly obvious.

Noticing Moira’s silence, Jean Hale kicked her under the table. "Moira, introduce yourself to Quinn."

Moira Sloan looked up. She knew her grandmother was trying to force a match between her and Connor Quinn. She wasn’t happy about it, but she couldn’t embarrass the old woman in front of a guest. She tilted her head slightly toward Connor, her eyes curving into crescents. A faint, almost imperceptible smile played in their depths. "I’m thirty. I make Lacquerware. My specialty is Pyralia’s polished lacquerware, but I occasionally do Kaelus carved lacquer too. I know a bit about painted lacquer, but it’s not really my strong suit..." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

At first blush, it sounded like Moira Sloan was genuinely introducing herself.

But whether she was being sincere or just putting on an act was anyone’s guess.

The moment Moira Sloan finished, Connor Quinn picked up the serving chopsticks and placed a spare rib in her bowl. He stared directly at her, his gaze unflinching and edged with aggression. His eyes were deep, dark, and unreadable. "And what about your love life?" he asked. "Care to share?"