Free Web NovelChapter 76: Chapter 76: It’s All Because of Her
Sonia Quincy had a light, sweet, and subtle fragrance about her. It wasn’t like perfume, but more like a long-fused blend of laundry detergent and body wash, absorbed and embraced by her skin’s natural scent.
The scent was neither too strong nor too faint, its sweetness just right.
Felix Preston held Sonia Quincy tightly, as if a piece of his heart had suddenly gone empty and he was desperate to inlay her into that space, to fill the void.
"Felix Preston, what’s wrong?" Sonia Quincy raised her hands, wrapping them around his lean, narrow waist. She patted his back, her palms landing gently and softly, again and again.
He still didn’t speak, only tightening his arms, pressing Sonia Quincy forcefully into his embrace.
Sonia Quincy pulled back one hand to shield her stomach while continuing to pat him with the other.
"What is it? Did something happen?"
"No." Felix Preston shook his head, finally speaking.
Sonia Quincy softened her voice, asking as calmly as possible, "Are you in a bad mood then? Or is the pressure just too much?"
"No." Felix Preston still shook his head, giving the same short answer.
"..." Sonia Quincy frowned slightly. ’I don’t know what angle to try next,’ she thought.
"Sonia." Felix Preston called her name in a hoarse voice, then lowered his head and buried his face in the crook of her neck, greedily inhaling her sweet scent.
His scorching breath fanned across the sensitive skin of her neck, and his soft, warm lips brushed against her skin, hovering tantalizingly close. Sonia Quincy shivered, and goosebumps broke out all over her body.
"Hey, I’m here." She didn’t pull away. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, rubbing her cheek against Felix Preston’s ear.
Felix Preston closed his eyes, the bridge of his fine nose tracing the side of Sonia Quincy’s neck. His voice was fragile as he said, "Just let me hold you for a bit. I need to hold you."
Sonia Quincy: "Okay."
Felix Preston clearly had something on his mind, but he also clearly didn’t want to talk about it. Sonia Quincy was unwilling to force him, so she stopped asking and just let him hold her obediently.
He was both hugging her and taking liberties, teasing her until she felt flustered all over.
But Sonia Quincy didn’t want to push him away, so she let him push the boundaries.
"Alright, I’m all recharged."
After holding her for a good ten minutes, Felix Preston reluctantly let Sonia Quincy go.
Sonia Quincy straightened her crooked collar, her cheeks a little flushed.
"Time to eat," she said.
Felix Preston gently caressed her face and replied with a smile, "Okay."
The food was freshly cooked, all of it steaming hot.
Felix Preston quickly brought the dishes to the table, while Sonia Quincy was in charge of scooping the rice and getting the chopsticks.
"Everything you made today is my favorite." A look of pleasant surprise appeared in Felix Preston’s eyes as he gazed at the exquisite-looking dishes on the table.
Sonia Quincy: "That’s right, they’re all your favorites. Go on, try them."
Felix Preston picked up his bowl and chopsticks and placed a slice of glossy, fragrant, stir-fried pork belly into his mouth.
"Delicious." His review was simple and direct. After saying it, he took a big mouthful of rice. "It’s been a long day. I was starving."
Sonia Quincy put a shrimp in his bowl. "Even if you’re starving, you should still eat slowly."
Felix Preston nodded. "Mm."
Perhaps he was truly recharged, or perhaps Sonia Quincy’s cooking was just that delicious, but in any case, Felix Preston’s mood was visibly and gradually improving.
Sonia Quincy watched his expression, and once he seemed back to normal, she tentatively asked, "How did the pitch go today? Were they satisfied with your game?"
"It was alright." Felix Preston’s answer was very natural; he didn’t give anything away.
"It’s just that the results of the bid won’t be out for a while."
"Oh." Sonia Quincy nodded as if she believed him completely. "Just wait patiently, then. I believe in you."
Felix Preston looked up at her with a smile and placed a piece of lean meat into her bowl.
"Okay."
The husband and wife were in perfect sync. One didn’t say more, and the other didn’t ask more, neither wanting to shatter this peaceful, warm moment.
But some people just can’t stand to see others happy, as if they fear the couple might have a single day of peace.
The next afternoon, Sonia Quincy was curled up on the sofa putting the finishing touches on the color of a necklace for Whisperwind when she suddenly got a call from Renee Sinclair.
She hadn’t saved Renee Sinclair’s contact information, so when the call came in, the screen only displayed an unknown number.
At first, she thought it was a spam call, so she answered but didn’t hurry to speak. Not until Renee Sinclair let out a tentative "Hello?"
"...Miss Sinclair?" She raised an eyebrow, unable to hide her surprise.
Renee Sinclair’s voice was cold. "Sonia Quincy, let’s meet. There’s something I think you must know."
Sonia Quincy didn’t really want to go. While still adjusting the colors, she said nonchalantly, "Meet? That seems like too much trouble. Whatever you have to say, Miss Sinclair, you can just say it over the phone. I’m listening."
"This has to be said in person!" Renee Sinclair had little patience. Before Sonia Quincy could refuse a second time, she said directly, "It’s because of you that Felix lost this investment. How can this be resolved if you don’t show your face?"
"...What did you say?" The paintbrush between Sonia Quincy’s fingers suddenly dropped onto the sofa.
Renee Sinclair didn’t explain, only saying, "Four o’clock this afternoon. I’ll be waiting for you at The Arbor Café. Don’t you dare hide and not show up."
With that, she hung up.
"It’s because of you that Felix lost this investment..."
The words, as if enchanted by a spell, continued to echo in Sonia Quincy’s mind long after the call ended.
Sonia Quincy’s mind went blank. She sat stunned on the sofa for over ten minutes before grabbing her phone and rushing out the door without even taking her purse. In reality, there was still over an hour until the appointed time.
The Arbor Café was in Downtown Aethelburg. When Sonia Quincy arrived, Renee Sinclair was already seated inside the shop. She had arrived even earlier than Sonia Quincy.
"Sit."
She lifted her chin slightly, gesturing to the seat opposite her, then pushed a glass of orange juice in front of Sonia Quincy.
Sonia Quincy sat down but didn’t spare the orange juice a single glance.
"What did you mean on the phone? How could Felix Preston lose the investment because of me?" She didn’t want to beat around the bush, so she went straight to the point.
Renee Sinclair stirred the coffee in her cup, the corner of her lip curling into a mocking smile.
"Sonia Quincy, you’ve seen the game Felix is making, haven’t you?"
Frowning, Sonia Quincy let out a cold, "Mm." "I’ve seen it."
Renee Sinclair: "I admit, the game is very novel. Very. But in this world, it’s the country’s first otome game centered on a romantic theme."
"This world is very shallow. Dating 2D characters—most people here would just find it weird, unhinged. Not many gamers are willing to accept it, and naturally, no capital is willing to invest in it."
"But if Felix had been obedient, the Sinclair Group would have been willing to take the risk and invest two-thirds of the aid funds into his game."
"This game could have seen the light of day. But because of you, not only is the game dead, but Felix might never get back on his feet."
"’Obedient’?" That one word made Sonia Quincy extremely uncomfortable. Her gaze turned chilling as she stared at Renee Sinclair. "What exactly did you want Felix Preston to be obedient about, Miss Sinclair?"
