Mr. CEO, You Look Strangely Familiar

Chapter 66: Chapter 64: Dare to Get into an Accident, and I Won’t Burn a Single Cent of Joss Paper for You

His voice was cold, but Nora Ainsworth felt a sense of comfort.

As the night grew late, she fell into a deep sleep.

In contrast, the night at the Ainsworth family home was chillingly quiet.

Sharon Ainsworth stumbled home, drunk. Mr. Ainsworth frowned, pacing back and forth with his hands clasped behind him. ”Watch the door tomorrow! Don’t let her leave the house! This can’t go on! What a disgrace!”

Nicholas Ainsworth sat on the sofa, fingers flying across his keyboard, completely ignoring the scene. It was no exaggeration to say he wore a perfect poker face, utterly devoid of expression.

Hearing her father’s words, Sharon, in her drunken stupor, shook off the housekeeper’s supporting hand. ”Dad, why did this happen? I was about to get married! Why would fate play such a cruel joke on me and make Quentin think I’m a jinx? It’s not true!”

Mr. Ainsworth’s expression was grim. ”Sharon, as long as Master Grant hasn’t officially called off the marriage, there’s still a chance. In a few days, I’ll visit the Grant family and discuss it again.”

Sharon Ainsworth shook her head. ”I’ve been to Grant Group several times, but Quentin won’t see me. He won’t answer my calls either. This isn’t a good sign. It’s all that woman Joel Chaucer’s fault! Of all the times to die, she had to do it at my wedding! If I had known she was such a jinx, we never should have let her marry into our family. Maybe none of this would have happened.”

Knowing it was useless to argue further, Mr. Ainsworth gestured to the housekeeper. ”Help her to her room.”

Nicholas Ainsworth stood up as well and started upstairs.

”Nicholas!” Mr. Ainsworth called out, exasperated. ”It’s been days! Help me figure out what to do about your sister’s wedding.”

Nicholas turned back. ”My opinion is, at this point, you should stop trying to force the alliance with the Grant family, Dad. I saw it long ago. Quentin Grant has no feelings for Sharon whatsoever. He won’t marry her.”

Mr. Ainsworth sighed. ”It’s not his decision to make. As long as Master Grant and Quentin’s parents give their approval, I think this marriage can still go through.”

Nicholas said no more. ”Since you refuse to give up, why don’t you visit the Grant family yourself? Get a clear answer so you know where things stand.”

He went upstairs. Instead of opening his own bedroom door, he stood before it and turned to look at the one across the hall. The door was shut tight. It hadn’t been opened in days.

His lips pressed into a thin line. He pivoted and pushed the door open.

The door let out a soft CREAK. The room inside was pitch-black.

He reached out and flicked on the light, his hand lingering on the switch.

The room was unchanged. The comforter was neatly folded on the bed, but a thin layer of dust coated the desk.

Nicholas Ainsworth stood there for several long minutes before casually closing the door, plunging the room back into darkness.

He sat on the bed, and then, on some strange impulse, he lay down. The sweet fragrance of the pillow filled his senses.

He pulled the comforter over himself, and his mind went blank.

He fell asleep without realizing it.

The memories in his dream were jumbled. He stared at Nora Ainsworth for a long time in his dream, until it startled him awake.

As Nora Ainsworth rode back to the training camp, her phone buzzed nonstop with calls from Leon Lynch.

After a moment’s hesitation, she answered.

”What’s up?”

”What have you been up to lately?”

”Been busy.”

”What could you possibly be so busy with? Don’t you know they’re trying to set your fiancé up on blind dates? With my kind of charm, I’m always attracting attention. Aren’t you worried at all?” His voice was as teasing as ever.

Nora Ainsworth couldn’t help but smile. ”Scared? Why would I be scared?” she replied calmly. ”Go on your blind dates. As long as you’re not actually getting married, there’s no rush. Feel free to take your pick. I’m giving you the opportunity.”

Leon’s speech slowed. ”If I really did get married someday, would you be anxious enough to come crash the wedding? Rest assured, I’d absolutely go with you.”

Nora Ainsworth brushed it off. ”If you were actually getting married, would you really need me to come and get you? If you don’t want to get married, no one can force you.”

He whined from the other end of the line, ”Meeting Nora Ainsworth has ruined me for life! You owe me!”

Nora Ainsworth watched the scenery speeding by outside the window. ”I’ll treat you to a meal when I have time, but I really don’t have my phone on me much these days.”

”What exactly are you so busy with?” he pressed again.

Nora Ainsworth sighed. ”I’m with Herman Hawthorne.”

Leon’s tone changed instantly. ”Who let you go there? Nora Ainsworth, are you out of your damn mind? Do you have any idea how many people have died in that devil’s training camp of his? Listen to me. Be good and come back to be my Mrs. Lynch.”

Nora’s voice turned serious. ”I know. The training is exceptionally grueling, but I’m not afraid. Leon, this is my choice.”

Leon was silent on the other end for a long moment. Finally, in a tone that was part helpless concession and part-bluster to hide his fear, he growled, ”I’ll come see you. You’d better stay alive for me. If you dare have any accidents, I won’t burn a single piece of spirit money for you!”

Nora didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ”Okay.”

By the time she got to the training camp, the other eight recruits were already assembled, waiting for her.

Jasmine Walsh was clearly displeased. She muttered under her breath, ”Who does she think she is, showing up late.”

Herman Hawthorne sat in a chair with his legs crossed. ”Nora, come to my office.”

With that, he rose and strode away with an air of nonchalance.

Nora Ainsworth followed him.

Jasmine Walsh couldn’t help but assume Herman was about to punish Nora for being late, as he was known for being extremely strict about punctuality.

In reality, Herman had simply called Nora into his office to give her a cup of coffee and let her enjoy the view.

”From here, you get a one-of-a-kind view of the cliffs.”

Nora Ainsworth took a light sip of her coffee. ”Thank you for the coffee. It’s very good.”

Herman stood with his back to the window, a curious look on his face. ”Tell me,” he said, ”if I were to throw you out this window, do you think Quentin would hold it against me?”

She wasn’t scared. ”Of course not. To Quentin Grant, I’m expendable. He gains nothing by having me around, and he certainly loses nothing by not having me.”

He straightened up, his tone casual. ”You’re wrong.”

He continued, ”Quentin may seem cold, but he buries his true thoughts deep down. Ever since you came into the picture, I knew that you and Leon Lynch would never marry. At least, not anytime soon.”

She looked at him. ”You could tell?”

He let out a short laugh. ”Is it that hard to see? Do you think any man would let the woman he considers his become another man’s wife? Let alone a person—from what I know, Quentin won’t even let strangers touch his pets.”

Nora was genuinely in the dark about this. ”Are you talking about the Tibetan Mastiff in the garden at his villa?!”

’Such a ferocious dog.’

Herman Hawthorne said bluntly, ”Yes. Don’t be fooled by how fierce that dog usually is. When it sees Quentin, it’s as gentle as a kitten.”

Nora blurted out before she could think, ”That mastiff is a female, isn’t it?”