The Night I Left, He Turned Grey

Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Liberated

Leila Jennings opened the study door from the inside. Cecilia Sinclair, who had been pressed against it eavesdropping, had apparently heard nothing and shot Leila an angry glare.

"Dad, Mom, didn’t you say you’d help me teach Leila Jennings a lesson?" Cecilia Sinclair whined, clinging to her mother’s arm and speaking just loud enough for Leila to hear.

Leila was unmoved.

’She’d pleased the couple today. They wouldn’t do anything to her.’

"That’s enough," Mrs. Sinclair said, patting her daughter’s hand. She smiled at Leila. "You won’t be staying here tonight, will you?"

Leila answered with her actions, changing her shoes and leaving.

Cecilia Sinclair was utterly confused. ’What’s with Mom today? Why is she suddenly being so pleasant to Leila?’

’Dad, too. Though he still looked stern, he’d clearly lost his usual cold indifference.’

’What did Leila say? Did she really win over Mom and Dad just like that?!’

’No way!’

’I absolutely cannot let Leila have a foothold in this family.’

Cecilia Sinclair ducked to the side and sent a message to Sarah Lynch.

[Sarah～ You have to come over for dinner tonight! My whole family would love to have you, and so would my brother～]

Then, she immediately sent a message to her brother.

[Bro! Sarah said she’s coming to celebrate my birthday with me tonight! Even though my birthday party was ruined by Leila, we should still celebrate. Let’s have a family celebration!]

Both of them replied at the same time, agreeing.

’Perfect!’

A delighted Cecilia Sinclair turned back to her parents. "Sarah’s coming over tonight. I don’t want to see Leila, so don’t let her come. Wait, she can come to cook. But she has to leave right after."

"Don’t you worry, she’s not coming tonight," Mrs. Sinclair said, guiding her daughter to sit down on the sofa. "Let me put some more ointment on for you. Honestly, that Leila... Hitting you so hard. She deserves to be abandoned with no one to want her."

Cecilia Sinclair snorted. "But she has my brother, doesn’t she? It’s so annoying. My brother must be blind."

’Her eyes darted. She had to find a way to set up her brother and Sarah tonight!’

’Once Sarah becomes my sister-in-law, I’ll probably be able to study abroad.’

’Sarah studied abroad herself, so she’d definitely support me. Then I wouldn’t have to be controlled by my family anymore, and I’d have tons of money to blow.’

...

「The Thorne Residence.」

In the vast mansion, Rhea Warren was reclining on a lounge chair, sunbathing. Hearing footsteps approach, she spoke without opening her eyes. "You’re back."

"Yes, I’m back, Mrs. Warren." Leila crouched beside her mentor’s wife, resting her head against her.

Rhea Warren heard the dejection in her voice. She slowly opened her eyes and reached out to stroke Leila’s hair.

"I have something to show you. Butler Duncan, bring it out."

Butler Duncan brought out a mannequin, on which was draped a long, cream-colored dress of embroidered lace.

The bodice featured exquisite, cut-out embroidered lace combined with a sheer mesh design, so as not to reveal too much skin.

Layers of lace frills at the high collar were designed to trace an elegant line along the neck, while the lace patterns on the shoulders and chest were intricate and three-dimensional.

The lower half was a long satin skirt, its back adorned with a cascade of satin bows and pleats that contrasted with the simplicity of the front.

A pair of long, pearl-adorned gloves added to the overall retro opulence, perfectly capturing an air of classical elegance and exquisite romance.

Butler Duncan explained, "It’s an antique gown from the nineteenth century. Mr. Thorne won it at auction for his wife back in the day. She only wore it twice, and it has always been perfectly preserved. A couple of days ago, we had a restoration specialist go over it again. It’s practically brand new."

Leila was astonished. "For me?"

"Do you like it?" Rhea Warren asked, beaming as she sat up. She walked over to the dress and ran a hand over the fabric, her expression full of nostalgia.

"Why are you giving me a dress, Mrs. Warren?" Leila asked, moving to her side to support her.

"It’s for the gala. You rarely buy clothes for yourself, let alone evening gowns. I know today’s styles are too revealing for your taste, so I dug this one out for you." Rhea Warren patted her hand. "I also hope that you can dress up for yourself, and start a new Chapter in your life."

Leila understood the kind intentions behind the gesture and was deeply moved. "Thank you, Mrs. Warren."

"Don’t be so formal. If Thorne heard you, he’d give you a look." Rhea Warren tapped her arm lightly. "So, what did Sean Sinclair’s parents have to say?"

"They couldn’t be happier. They’ll help me get it done."

"Heh, I couldn’t be happier either." Rhea Warren grew angry just thinking about that couple. "Back then, I was so lost in my grief after Thorne suddenly passed away. I let my guard down for one moment, and that boy, Sean Sinclair, had already sweet-talked you away."

Leila fell into silence.

"But to be fair, Sean Sinclair really did dote on you. He was handsome and gentle—it’s only human." Rhea Warren seemed to recall her own past. "I was also drawn to Thorne’s looks and personality back in the day."

Leila couldn’t help but laugh. "Did Mr. Thorne know?"

"Of course, he knew. How could he not? Girls of my generation would blush just from looking at a boy. But I was different. I walked right up to Thorne and told him, ’You’re ridiculously handsome. It would be even better if you were my husband.’"

As Leila pictured the scene, the smile on her face grew wider.

The two chatted leisurely in the garden. That evening, the three of them had dinner together before retiring to their respective rooms.

Leila had a large, spacious room here. Inside one of its drawers lay a black and gold invitation.

She had just taken it out when Professor Cheney called.

"Is something wrong, Professor Cheney?"

"Did you get the invitation?"

"I did." Leila opened it and saw her name written inside.

"You’ll be going, right?" Professor Cheney asked. "Only Mr. Jacobs, you, and I received the black and gold invitations. Mr. Jacobs isn’t going, so I imagine Ms. Lynch will attend in his stead. I was planning to bring Chloe along to let her see the world a bit, but she keeps asking if you’re going. She says if you don’t go, she doesn’t want to go either. That girl is so timid. She’s only brave when she’s with you."

Leila said, "I’m going."

"Really?" Professor Cheney sounded skeptical. "You’re not just saying that to trick Chloe into going, are you?"

"Mrs. Warren wants me to go."

"Professor Warren wants you to? In that case, I’m relieved. I’ll message that girl back. She’s peskier than my own daughter." Professor Cheney was about to hang up when he suddenly remembered something. "Your husband will be there that day, not to mention President Cole of the Cole Group. Be careful not to let anything slip."

"I know." After a moment, Leila decided to clarify. "Professor Cheney... Sean Sinclair isn’t my husband anymore."

Professor Cheney was silent on the other end for a moment. "Oh. Oh, I see. Well, Leila... don’t be too upset."

"I won’t. Goodbye, Professor Cheney."

"Goodbye." After hanging up, Professor Cheney let out a heavy sigh and muttered, "She’s free. In a way, she’s finally free."

For the past four years, he had watched Leila run herself ragged, pinching every penny for her husband’s sake and waiting on his entire family like a maid. It had never sat right with him. freёwebnovel.com

If his own daughter were living like that, it would break his heart.

Before Thorne passed, his biggest worry had been Leila, and he had entrusted her to the professor’s care. For Professor Cheney, Leila was like a daughter to him.

But Leila had always seemed happy in her role, so the words he wanted to say were swallowed back time and again.

Now, she was divorced.

A divorce was for the best.