On the Day I Was Kicked Out of the Wealthy Family, I Had a Flash Marriage with a Tycoon-Chapter 119: Drink Until We Drop

"The Sterling children are quite decent, but the adults are another story," Director Sheffield remarked.

"Esther Sterling is her younger sister, right? She’s a good kid, too." Mrs. Sheffield had met Esther Sterling once and thought she was gentle and polite, the very model of a young lady from a good family.

Her older sister, Chloe Sterling, was a bit more aloof, but she had an air of integrity about her and also seemed like a good kid.

"Yes," said Director Sheffield. "Esther Sterling is certainly impressive—humble, polite, plays the piano well, and she’s even earned President Sinclair’s admiration. She’ll most likely take first place in the upcoming finals."

Just as Chloe Sterling and Maya Jacobs stepped out of the villa, Ruby Lynch emerged from another car and strode toward them in her high heels.

"Chloe Sterling, don’t think you can get a foothold in Crestfall just by seducing a few men with that face of yours. The rules for survival here aren’t as simple as you imagine. And don’t even think about using Director Sheffield to target Esther, or not even the person backing you will be able to save you!"

Now that Esther Sterling had President Sinclair’s admiration, Ruby Lynch felt much more emboldened. After all, the Sinclair Family was the second most powerful force in Crestfall, and Tristan Sinclair was good friends with Jasper Lockwood, the head of the preeminent Lockwood Family. Together, they practically owned the sky in Crestfall; crushing Chloe Sterling and her backer would be as easy as squashing two ants.

Before Chloe Sterling could say a word, Ruby Lynch let out a scornful laugh, turned, and got back in her car.

"What’s with her!" Maya Jacobs said, fuming.

But Chloe Sterling remained unruffled. "Let’s go."

Maya Jacobs looked at her apologetically. "Chloe, I’m so sorry. She wasn’t here when I called you. I had no idea she would suddenly show up."

Chloe Sterling smiled. "It’s fine. Let’s get in the car."

"Are you really okay?"

Chloe Sterling said coolly, "An irrelevant person can’t get to me."

Maya giggled. "Actually, the way you handled her just now was so satisfying to watch."

"Where are you headed? I’ll give you a ride," Chloe asked.

"You don’t have to go out of your way. Just drop me off downtown, I’m meeting a friend."

The two got in the car. After dropping Maya off downtown, Chloe headed to the martial arts dojo.

Chase Langdon had just gotten back from the airport, his face etched with disappointment.

Chloe walked over and sat beside him, offering comfort. "Don’t lose heart. We’ll definitely find him."

Chase Langdon said quietly, "I’d actually calmed down on the way back, but... then I suddenly started to worry that Master..."

"Don’t say that!" Chloe’s gaze was firm and resolute. "Master will be fine. We’re going to find him."

Chase Langdon glanced over at her and suddenly said, "It feels like we haven’t gone for drinks in forever. Want to cut loose? Drink until we can’t see straight?"

Chloe smiled. "If my senior brother is asking, then of course I have to oblige."

"Wait." Chase seemed to think of something. "You’re a married woman now. If you get dead drunk, won’t The Big Boss Lockwood get angry?"

Remembering Jasper Lockwood’s overbearing attitude from the day before, Chloe felt a flash of irritation and declared, "I can be married and still have my freedom!"

Seeing the look on her face, Chase raised an eyebrow. "Why do you seem so unhappy at the mention of Jasper Lockwood?"

Chloe: "Do I?"

Chase: "You do."

Chloe suddenly fell silent.

"What’s wrong? Did he bully you? Is he treating you badly?" Chase immediately sat up straight.

Thinking about everything Jasper Lockwood had done for her, about all the little things over the past few weeks, Chloe said, "No, he’s very good to me."

"Then what’s the matter?"

"I... it’s nothing. Don’t ask!" Chloe herself was a mess of confusion.

’If I’m being honest, I can’t really blame Jasper for being angry. I did do something wrong... but I don’t know how to deal with this kind of situation.’

Chase grew even more puzzled, watching her intently.

After a moment’s pause, Chloe said abruptly, "It’s Silas Coldwell. He’s been stirring up trouble lately. Maybe I should poison him and give him amnesia so he forgets I even exist?"

Chase: "..."

Silas Coldwell, who was inspecting a branch, suddenly sneezed twice. His eyes narrowed. ’Who’s cursing my name behind my back?’

"Boss, are you all right? You’re not catching a cold, are you?" Zane Stratton asked immediately.

Silas Coldwell cleared his throat. "I’m fine. Continue. By the way, what’s the progress with the Pharmacist? Can they crack the Enchanting Fragrance?"

"Er... there hasn’t been any progress yet."

Silas Coldwell’s face fell. "Hmph. A bunch of useless trash!"

「Lockwood Group.」

Jasper Lockwood sat at his desk and looked up at the newly entered Henry Chamberlain. "Well? Did you find anything?"

"We did." Henry Chamberlain looked awkward. "Sir, about that... incident... it really was Silas Coldwell’s men. It was his personal subordinate, Zane Stratton."

Upon hearing this, Jasper Lockwood’s expression darkened instantly.

’So it really was Silas Coldwell!’

Sensing the menacing aura emanating from his boss, Henry Chamberlain didn’t dare to look up. ’That Silas Coldwell is seriously messed up,’ he thought. ’Why would he pull a stunt like that on Sir? What kind of twisted logic is that?’

’Was the plan to have Sir sleep with another woman at the gala, make Chloe see it with her own eyes, and then have her leave Sir to be with him?’

’That’s probably it.’

’If he just killed Sir, Chloe would probably hate him for it and would never go with him. But if Sir gets involved with another woman, Chloe would never be able to accept it. She might not run off with Silas, but she would definitely leave Sir.’

’So damn sinister.’

Jasper’s face was grim. His thoughts ran along the same lines. Silas Coldwell had done this for one reason and one reason only: to make Chloe leave him.

"Sir, what about... the Sinclair Family’s part in this?" Henry Chamberlain asked carefully.

A sharp glint flashed in the depths of Jasper Lockwood’s eyes. "Are you certain Phoebe Sinclair knew nothing about it?"

"Phoebe Sinclair never had any contact with Silas Coldwell or his subordinates from start to finish. She shouldn’t have known."

"Then how, from so far away, did she so keenly sense something was wrong with me and decide to follow?"

"It’s not that surprising she noticed. After all, Phoebe Sinclair’s eyes are always on you," Henry Chamberlain blurted out. Realizing his mistake, he quickly added, "My apologies, Sir. I misspoke."

Jasper Lockwood said coldly, "Investigate it thoroughly. I want the absolute truth."

"Yes, Sir. I’ll look into it again."

「In the dojo’s break room.」

Chloe Sterling and Chase Langdon had just gotten back with beer and food when Jean Kensington showed up.

"You two are drinking without me!"

Chloe glanced around her. "Where’s the baby?"

"He’s with my younger uncle," Jean Kensington said, walking over to sit beside her. "He’s staying over at his place tonight."

"Is he okay with that?" Chase asked.

Jean said, "Of course. The two of them are thick as thieves now."

Chase chuckled. "Well, in that case, you can join us in drinking till we drop tonight."

"Huh?" Jean asked, surprised. "Drinking till you drop? Is this a celebration, or are you drowning your sorrows?"

Chase: "Neither. We just feel like drinking."

"Exactly. We just want to drink," Chloe said, setting a beer down in front of Jean with a THUD. "This one’s yours."

Jean didn’t hesitate, immediately pouring herself a glass.