After Betrayal - I Married a Handsome Tycoon-Chapter 130: A Simp, Such a Simp

Moira Sloan tilted her head back slightly, her smile bright and captivating.

Connor Quinn’s hand, holding the spatula, tightened, but his face remained perfectly composed. "We’re having fish for lunch."

Moira said, "Half and half."

Connor grunted in agreement. "Mm."

Moira didn’t stay in the kitchen for long.

For one, the smoke was irritating. For another, it wasn’t a good idea to be too conspicuous in a place like this.

She hadn’t been lying earlier. Sooner or later, she would be leaving Everwood County. But Connor Quinn was different. His future, his whole life, was here.

Flirting and fooling around in private was one thing, no matter how wild it got.

But if real rumors started to spread, a guy in his position would probably have a hard time finding a wife.

At the thought of Connor marrying someone else someday, Moira ran her tongue over her teeth.

Tsk.

An inexplicable tightness formed in her chest.

The lunch—enjoyed by Moira, Shauna Duane, and the six men from the tattoo parlor led by Connor—was a resounding success.

After the meal, Connor went into the kitchen and came out with a packaged slice of cake, which he handed to Moira.

Moira glanced up, accepted it graciously, and flashed a sudden smile. "Thank you, Boss Quinn."

Connor’s expression was blank. "Don’t mention it."

Moira said, "I’ll transfer you the money for lunch and the cake in a bit."

Connor’s voice was stern and cold. "Mm."

Holding the cake box by her fingertips, Moira said, "Boss Quinn, I have a bit of an audacious request, if you don’t mind."

Connor’s voice was flat. "Go on."

Moira smiled slyly. "Shauna and I will chip in for food. Could we come here to eat lunch every day?"

Connor lowered his gaze to stare at her. He could see right through her little scheme of asking in front of so many people. "You can."

Moira said, "Thank you."

A little while later, Moira and Shauna left the tattoo parlor, cake in hand, and returned to the lacquerware shop.

Shauna, stuffed to the gills, pulled a chair over to the floor-to-ceiling window to bask in the sun. As she soaked up the rays, she remarked, "I’ve known Connor Quinn for a long time, and honestly, I have never seen him simp for someone like he did at lunch today. He was simping so hard."

Moira, lounging in a nearby recliner and taking small bites of cake, asked, "Was he?"

Shauna said through gritted teeth, "He was trying to be subtle about it, but I could still tell."

Moira giggled. "Oh."

Having vented, Shauna’s eyelids drooped again. "But I also kind of feel sorry for him."

Moira hummed quizzically. "Hm?"

Shauna turned her head to look at Moira. "Connor Quinn is so handsome, and he’s so good to you. Are you really not moved at all?"

A smear of cream dotted the corner of Moira’s lips. "Just because a man is handsome and treats me well, I’m obligated to fall for him?"

Caught off guard by the question, Shauna was at a loss for words for a moment.

Moira was beautiful and had her own successful business. It was obvious that she wouldn’t be short on handsome men who treated her well.

Shauna sighed and said no more.

Meanwhile, in the tattoo parlor next door, Zachary Curran stood in Connor’s studio, hesitating, wanting to speak but holding back several times.

Connor, flipping through the designs on his desk, said coldly, "Spit it out."

Zachary said in a low voice, "Connor, you still haven’t broken things off with the boss lady next door."

Connor asked, "What are you trying to say?"

Zachary pressed his lips together, not quite daring to speak. But he bit the bullet and forced himself to continue. "Connor, this isn’t good for you. I know the boss lady next door is gorgeous—any man would be interested—but she’s not from our world. You don’t know this, but a guy in a Mercedes S-Class came looking for her this morning. A woman like that..."

Zachary paused. Seeing no change in Connor’s expression, he steeled himself, took a deep breath, and said, "A woman like that is never going to stay in Everwood. She’s just playing with you, treating you like a way to kill time when she’s bored..."

Connor said, "Get out."

Zachary was stunned. "!!"

Connor looked up, his gaze sharp. "Don’t make me say it again."

Zachary had always been afraid of Connor. That single look sent a shiver down his spine, and he turned and vanished out the door in a flash.

After Zachary left, Connor’s expression darkened. Leaning against his desk, he pulled out his phone and opened the security camera feed for the front of the tattoo parlor.

He rewound the footage and saw a timid, furtive Finn Fuller in the video.

At the sight of Finn Fuller, Connor’s long eyes narrowed, filled with a chilling frost.

After a moment, Connor exited the video and made a call.

The call connected, and Finn Fuller’s voice came through from the other end.

This time, Finn’s tone held none of its previous timid fear. It was robust and laced with a hint of mockery. "Mr. Quinn, what a rare honor. To what do I owe the pleasure of your call today?"

Hearing Finn putting on airs, Connor guessed what was going on. He lit a cigarette with a cold sneer. "Finn Fuller, where are you right now?"