Mr. CEO, You Look Strangely Familiar-Chapter 44: Hot and Cold

She lay there, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

She immediately shot up at the sound of a car.

Looking through her window, she saw Sharon Ainsworth walk in through the main gate, cheerful and humming a song, looking very happy.

An image flashed through her mind unbidden: Quentin Grant and Sharon Ainsworth together. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Nora Ainsworth’s expression fell. This uncontrollable emotion was a deep wound to her heart, the pain so intense it felt foreign, almost unbearable.

Nora Ainsworth turned and lay back down.

BEEP BEEP. The sound made her jump.

She gripped her phone tightly. After her heart settled a bit, she finally unlocked it.

The text message on the screen stirred up an indescribable mix of emotions.

The few terse words on the screen read: "Nothing happened with her."

’Why is he explaining this to me?’ Nora Ainsworth scoffed, looking at the far-from-reassuring words. ’Must be a guilty conscience.’

After that, she put her phone on the table and slept peacefully.

In fact, she wasn’t the only one feeling conflicted. Quentin Grant regretted sending the text the moment he hit send. ’Why am I explaining anything to her?!’ he thought. ’It’s not like I did anything wrong.’

He looked down at his phone, casually tossed it onto the passenger seat, and drove away.

「The next morning」

At breakfast, Sharon Ainsworth had a constant smile on her face.

Mr. Ainsworth put down his newspaper and asked, "Sharon, was it Quentin who brought you home last night?"

"Yes, Dad. He brought me home last night. We were at the Grant Family home and talked for a long time upstairs. He said he likes me a lot."

’Can you even believe a word he says?’ Nora Ainsworth thought wryly.

"Mrs. Ainsworth, you don’t look well," Sharon Ainsworth asked. "What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well? Are you sick?"

Mrs. Ainsworth shook her head. "It’s nothing, just a common cold. I’m just so happy to see Young Master Grant treating you so well. If you and Nora both get married soon, you’ll be set for the rest of your lives."

Sharon Ainsworth smiled shyly. "Nora and Leon are a sure thing, too. After Quentin and I get married, it’ll be their turn."

Nora Ainsworth remained silent, just lowering her head to eat.

Mrs. Ainsworth glanced at her and offered a faint smile.

On the afternoon winter break began, Nora Ainsworth sat alone in a vast, empty classroom.

She had her earbuds in and a book in her hands, lost in a world of her own, free from disturbance.

The Grant Family had finally issued a formal announcement about the wedding of Quentin Grant and Sharon Ainsworth. They would be officially married on the sixth day of the first lunar month.

It was released this morning.

When Nora Ainsworth heard the news, her first thought was, ’Didn’t he say he wasn’t going to get married?’

Her second thought was, ’Now that he’s really getting married, he won’t be coming around to threaten and cajole me anymore, will he?’

’Even if he does, I’ll resist him to the bitter end.’

Getting married changes things.

In reality, Nora Ainsworth had indeed overthought it.

She couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

His attitude toward her had made her position perfectly clear.

What she didn’t expect was that an even bigger surprise was in store.

For many days into the vacation, he didn’t call her to run errands for him.

She was perfectly happy with the peace and quiet. ’Maybe he secretly found some new woman to keep him company.’

’I really hope that’s the case.’

Nora Ainsworth spent her days as a shut-in, never leaving the house.

Even Leon Lynch, who came by repeatedly, couldn’t get her to go out.

「Until the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month.」

This year, the thirtieth was New Year’s Eve, and then it would be New Year’s Day.