CHAPTER 105: CHAPTER 63 LI RENJUAN SAYS: MY SECOND BROTHER AND SECOND SISTER-IN-LAW BROKE UP 1

It had been over a month since Christine Quinn last flew to T City to see Howard Geoffrey; they hadn’t seen each other in all that time...

During that period, Howard did return to New York, but due to his busy schedule, he had stayed at the company.

Later, Howard flew back to T City for a project and had only returned today.

"There’s no need, Christine. Happy birthday."

Howard murmured in a low, husky voice, dropping a kiss on Christine’s forehead.

Deeply moved, Christine accepted the birthday present from Howard. Her eyes reddened with disbelief as she choked out, "I thought you’d forgotten today was my birthday..."

"Silly girl," Howard said, pulling Christine into his arms.

Her heart aching with a sense of grievance, Christine leaned against Howard’s chest. Then, smiling through her tears, she opened the square velvet box in her hand.

She had been hoping for a ring, but what met her gaze was an expensive and tasteful brooch...

Instantly, a sense of loss seeped into her very bones.

However, Christine didn’t let any of her disappointment show. She still hugged his neck excitedly and exclaimed happily, "Thank you for the gift! I love it!"

"As long as you like it," he replied.

Suddenly, Christine stood on tiptoe and kissed him deeply.

His hands also came to rest on her waist.

However, just as the moment perfectly matched the evening’s atmosphere, while Howard was kissing Christine, an image suddenly flashed through his mind: Rebecca Quentin actively kissing him...

It was as if the woman in his arms was the one who lingered in his mind. He deepened the kiss, pressing Christine closer.

Christine’s hands slipped beneath his shirt, her soft fingertips tracing a tantalizing path across his back.

Just as they were lost in each other, a faint scent, different from Rebecca Quentin’s, reached Howard’s nostrils...

It was as if he had suddenly sobered up. Howard slowly pulled away from Christine.

"Howard..." Christine’s eyes shimmered, as if reminding him that tonight could be a special night.

Howard kept his arm around her waist. "I feel sticky," he said. "I want to take a bath."

The night was still young, and Christine wasn’t in a hurry. "I’ll go run the bathwater for you," she said considerately.

"Alright."

After Christine went into the bathroom, Howard loosened two buttons on his shirt. He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, lit a cigarette, and felt an inexplicable wave of irritation.

It was like being under a spell. He didn’t know when it had started, but her image kept flashing through his mind: her twenty-year-old self, innocent and adorable; her, four years later, resilient and determined not to show weakness before him. And now, the image that lingered was of her holding him, her expression bitter and desolate...

Immersed in these memories, he felt trapped, a sensation that no amount of nicotine could numb...

However, the memory of her spending the night in a hotel with Skyler Jones surfaced, and he couldn’t stop a curse from forming in his mind: Damn it!

DING—

A phone’s ringtone pulled Howard from his thoughts.

He turned and saw Christine’s phone glowing on the table.

He walked over, intending to take the phone to her in the bathroom, but a line of text on the screen caught his eye.

Miss Quinn, here is the latest footage of Rebecca Quentin and Mr. Geoffrey.

Perhaps it was fate; the video began to play automatically after he entered her birthday as the password.

The part of the video concerning him showed his work in T City, but the footage of Rebecca Quentin froze his gaze.

The footage depicted a quiet morning. Inside a dimly lit car, Rebecca was nestled against Skyler Jones’s chest, sleeping soundly. Skyler Jones also appeared to be asleep, but his arm remained securely around her. His suit jacket was draped over them both.

"Howard?"

Just as Christine emerged from the bathroom, she saw Howard holding her phone, his gaze fixed on her, cold and hard.

Christine’s face turned pale, and she froze.

Howard’s expression was grim, his eyes like burning coals.

Christine hurriedly explained, "I know you don’t like it when I resort to petty tricks, but I couldn’t stop myself from wanting to know her situation... You haven’t been back, and I’ve been so scared, so terrified that she’s with you..." By the end, Christine was almost sobbing.

Howard narrowed his eyes, his voice low and cold. "So, this is how little you trust me?"

"I..."

Christine was speechless. When she saw Howard turn and walk away indifferently, she crumpled to the floor.