Free Web NovelChapter 124: Chapter 125: Bloom Preston’s Blind Date History
Mrs. Preston and Sonia Quincy talked for a long time. Besides discussing the reasons for the change in Felix Preston’s personality, they also chatted about some amusing stories from his childhood, his blind dates with other women before he met her, and finally, the reason for the divorce between Mrs. Preston and Felix’s father.
"To put it bluntly, his father just treated me as a substitute. When the one he really wanted came back, the substitute was no longer needed. He kicked me to the curb and abandoned the children along with me."
"Bastard." Sonia Quincy was furious, unable to stop herself from cursing through gritted teeth.
Mrs. Preston nodded and smiled in agreement. "He certainly is a bastard. A few years ago, when the Preston Group was at its peak, he came back looking for Felix."
"Looking for Felix? For what?" Sonia’s tone was hostile. "Did he see how successful Felix is now and decide to come back for money?"
"Hmph..." Mrs. Preston raised an eyebrow and sneered. "If it wasn’t for money, he probably wouldn’t even remember he had a son and daughter in this world. Back then, to be with that woman, he took all the family’s money, leaving the three of us—a widow and her orphans—without even enough for food. Now that woman has found someone new and dumped him, he suddenly remembers he has a son."
Sonia Quincy: "So what did Felix do about him? Did he give him money?"
Hearing this question, Mrs. Preston couldn’t help but recall an utterly ridiculous scene from a few years ago.
"Felix didn’t give him any money. He just gave him a few slaps, plus a few solid kicks to the gut."
"...Huh?" The phrasing was a bit subtle. Sonia was stunned for a few seconds before she understood. "Felix fought with him?"
"Well..." Mrs. Preston touched her forehead helplessly, the coldness in her eyes replaced by cheerful amusement. "It wasn’t a fight. Felix beat him up. He went to the Preston Group to cause a scene, and no matter what Felix did, he wouldn’t leave. In a fit of anger, they started arguing."
"The man is shameless. He used the fact that they share the same blood to guilt-trip Felix, saying that since Felix is his son, it was his natural duty to give him money. The more Felix listened, the angrier he got, and he just grabbed him by the collar and beat him to the ground."
"It was a real thrashing. He hasn’t dared to come back since."
"Hee..." Sonia Quincy covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. "I never would’ve thought Felix Preston had such a savage side."
Mrs. Preston patted her chest in mock fear. "I was terrified by how he looked back then. If Evan Yates and the others hadn’t stepped in to break it up, I was worried he would have crippled the man..."
While Felix Preston was sound asleep and unaware, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law huddled together, trading gossip about him.
"Felix went on blind dates with five girls in total. All five of them were very pleased with him. In fact, three of them wanted to discuss engagement plans with me after just the first meeting."
"Then why didn’t it work out with any of them?"
"Because that little brat scared them all away!"
"...Huh? How did he scare them away?"
"One of the girls invited him to dinner. At the table, she asked him what he liked to do outside of work, and he said he liked to do work-related things. The girl put up with that, and then she asked him if he had any hobbies. His answer? ’Staying alive.’ The poor girl was magnanimous and put up with that, too. She tried again, asking what his requirements were for a future spouse. He said his requirements were simple: he hoped his spouse wouldn’t want to get married."
"Hahahaha... Is he just so blunt he doesn’t know how to talk to girls?"
"Blunt, my ass! He just didn’t want to get married back then, so he deliberately said those things to sabotage the dates..."
Felix Preston lay with his eyes quietly closed, seemingly fast asleep. But after a moment, the corners of his mouth secretly quirked into a smile.
...
"BZZZT—"
「At six in the afternoon」 A WeChat notification from Renee Sinclair popped up again, and only then did Sonia Quincy remember she still owed her an explanation.
She put down her chopsticks, picked up her phone from the sofa, and opened her chat with Renee Sinclair.
—Sonia Quincy, did you ask me to come here to earn brownie points or to watch you and Felix Preston’s public display of affection? I was in the room for over half an hour, and Felix Preston completely ignored me!
—Hey, Sonia Quincy, what’s your deal? You got what you wanted, and now you’re ignoring me? Are you planning to burn this bridge after crossing it?
The two messages were sent three hours apart. It was clear Renee Sinclair was holding a big grudge.
Sonia Quincy furtively glanced at Felix Preston, who was sitting on the bed and eating attentively. Her fingers tapped rapidly on her phone’s keyboard as she sent Renee Sinclair a message.
—I’m not burning any bridges. I’ve been busy with something ever since you left, so I didn’t have time to reply.
Renee Sinclair replied instantly.
—It’s not too late for you to answer my question now.
Sonia Quincy: I genuinely wanted to help you earn brownie points. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have told Felix such a lie. I just didn’t expect him to ignore you so completely...
Renee Sinclair: ...So what do I do now? Hurry up and find another opportunity for me!
Sonia Quincy: I’ll find an opportunity, but right now, I need to ask you for a favor.
Renee Sinclair: Do you have any shame? You promised I’d earn brownie points, but I haven’t gotten a single one, and now you want to order me around?
Sonia Quincy ignored her complaints and stated her own request.
—Miss Sinclair, could you help me find someone named Martin Thornton? He was Felix Preston’s college roommate. There’s something I want to ask him.
Renee Sinclair: ...What do you want to ask Felix’s roommate about?
Sonia Quincy: It’s something small, from a long time ago, but it concerns Felix’s good name.
Renee Sinclair: Got it. Wait for my update. So, when are you going to let me see Felix again?
Sonia Quincy: I’ll find a chance. You can wait for my update, too.
Renee Sinclair: ...
With a confidence that belied her guilt, Sonia Quincy ended the chat, put down her phone, and went back to eating.
「After a week-long Indian summer, autumn finally arrived in Aethelburg.」
The parasol trees along the streets turned yellow. A gust of autumn wind sent the teetering leaves fluttering down, carpeting the street in front of the hospital in a single morning.
Sonia Quincy wrapped her coat tightly around herself. After several prods from Felix Preston, she reluctantly stepped back from the window, then picked up her shoulder bag, ready to leave.
"Come here." Felix Preston beckoned to her, not letting her leave just yet.
She obediently walked over and stood before him. "What’s wrong?"
Felix Preston reached out and tied the belt of her trench coat, then pulled up the collar of the shirt she wore underneath. "It’s windy outside. You need to keep your coat on properly."
Sonia Quincy: "I’m wearing it just fine."
"Mm." Felix Preston caressed her face. "Go on. Evan Yates is already on his way up."
"I’m off, then." Sonia Quincy took two steps back. Only after seeing him smile and nod did she turn and walk toward the door of the hospital room.
Today, she was going out to meet a major client.
She really hadn’t made a mistake in befriending Julia Dawson. They had only known each other for a month, and Julia had already introduced Sonia Quincy to a huge client.
The clients were an elderly couple who wanted Sonia Quincy to help them design a suitable set of jewelry for their son and daughter-in-law, who were about to be married.
