CHAPTER 369: CHAPTER 369: GET OUT OF THE CAR

As they were talking, Quentin Sterling came up the stairs.

"Clarissa, you’re here? I’ve been looking for you everywhere."

Clarissa Morgan smiled, "Didn’t I just text you saying I’m in the games room?"

"Really? I didn’t even check my phone." Quentin Sterling walked over to Clarissa Morgan, looked at Shane Warner and Audrey Sutton, and smiled at Shane Warner, saying, "Shane, I was just looking for you. I’ve heard Starfield is preparing to launch gemstone products, and I wanted to ask if you could give me a backdoor using stones from my Sterling family?"

Shane Warner finally spoke, responding to Quentin Sterling, "I share the same thought. The quality of Sterling family’s materials is well-known, so there’s no need to talk about backdoors. Working together is a win-win situation."

Quentin Sterling said, "As for costs, we’ll definitely offer Starfield the lowest and can send people to source stones onsite. The high-quality ones I’ll keep for you."

Clarissa Morgan interjected, "Let’s not stand here. Find a place to sit and talk."

Seeing that it’s indeed work-related, Audrey Sutton relaxed and linked arms with Shane Warner as they headed downstairs.

Besides, she wasn’t afraid of Clarissa Morgan anymore.

Initially, she was wary of Clarissa Morgan, thinking she and Shane Warner might have old affections that could threaten her position as Third Young Mistress.

Now she felt utterly assured that no matter how much Clarissa Morgan fussed, it was merely a solo act she staged herself.

They went downstairs and found a relatively secluded corner in the restaurant to sit.

Audrey Sutton saw that Shane Warner hadn’t eaten and ordered him a steak.

While Shane Warner and Quentin Sterling discussed cooperation, she quietly helped cut the steak into equal-sized pieces before handing the plate to Shane Warner.

It was evident not only as Shane Warner’s affection for his wife but also their shared love and Audrey Sutton’s thoughtfulness.

Yet Shane Warner only ate a little, a mere third of the steak, leaving two-thirds which Audrey Sutton finished.

Clarissa Morgan occasionally interjected during Shane Warner’s and Quentin Sterling’s conversation to offer suggestions.

Meanwhile, business-clueless Audrey Sutton just sat quietly next to Shane Warner.

She thought that with Shane Warner’s intellect, he didn’t need her advice.

Suddenly, someone gently tapped her shoulder, and Audrey Sutton turned to see Arthur Sutton, "Third Brother?"

Arthur Sutton nodded at Shane Warner and whispered to Audrey Sutton, "Come with me for a moment."

Audrey Sutton stood up, and seeing Arthur Sutton calling her, Shane Warner was assured and let her follow Arthur Sutton.

"What’s up, Third Brother?"

"Do you remember Old Mr. Holt from The Holt family?"

"The Grandpa Holt who used to do business with our grandpa?"

Arthur Sutton nodded, "Yes, I just ran into him, and he heard you were here too and wanted to meet you."

When Audrey Sutton was little, Grandpa Holt often visited their home to play with the kids, and now he’s still like an old child. It was once heard that back in their schooling days he even vied with her grandpa for the same girl. However, that girl didn’t end up marrying either of them.

While Arthur Sutton led Audrey Sutton to find Old Mr. Holt, they saw Janelle Tollman and Wayne Archer among the crowd.

Janelle Tollman seemed hurried while on a phone call as she headed outside, and Wayne Archer followed quickly behind.

This sight made Arthur Sutton a bit worried, questioning if something happened to her child at home that prompted Janelle Tollman’s urgency.

However, he currently lacks any valid reason to approach her, fearing it would raise her guard.

Though Wayne Archer’s presence brings him some unease.

...

On the hillside, where there were no streetlights, the surroundings were dark and silent.

At the corner, a beam from a car’s headlights appeared as a black sedan drove along the winding mountain road through the night.

Inside the car, Vanessa Sterling sat uneasily, gripping the band-aid Quentin Sterling had placed on her left ring finger with her right hand, trying to diminish her inner fear.

The woman in the passenger seat repeatedly glanced at Vanessa Sterling, hesitating to speak.

Since Miles Sterling got into the car, he hadn’t uttered a word, the silence creating an odd atmosphere.

"Miles, who is she? Are you really taking her with you?" The woman couldn’t help but ask.

Yet, Miles Sterling didn’t answer.

The woman seemed unsatisfied with his silence, pouting and whining, "What’s wrong with you? Weren’t you fine just now?"

"Her issues shouldn’t affect you with me. Why show your mood over her? If you don’t want her here, let her get out of the car? She’s really an eyesore!"

Vanessa Sterling lowered her head, pursed her lips, and stared out at the pitch-black night silently.

The woman glared at her several times, but when Miles Sterling remained indifferent, she became even more petulant, "Stop the car!"

Miles Sterling finally broke his silence, coldly uttering two words, "Shut up."

The woman grew infuriated and directly grabbed his arm, "Stop the car! Tonight it’s either her or me!"

Miles Sterling almost drove the car towards the cliffside, quickly braking as the woman’s head slammed against the steering wheel, making her even more aggrieved, "Tell her to get out!"

When the woman played this ultimatum, she felt confident, thinking she was more mature and seductive than Vanessa Sterling, believing that Miles Sterling would surely choose her if forced to decide.

The sudden brake made Vanessa Sterling jolt forward, struggling to regain her balance, she heard Miles Sterling utter two restrained words, "Get out."

The woman and Vanessa Sterling stared in surprise, and the woman cast smug glances at Vanessa Sterling.

Vanessa Sterling quietly reached for the car door, momentarily feeling liberated.

Yet, aware that she eventually had to return to that family, she didn’t feel genuinely happy.

As the door opened, before she could step out, they heard Miles Sterling’s voice again, "You, get out."

The woman stared at Miles Sterling, incredulous, and pointed at herself, "Me?"

Without further words, Miles Sterling got out, unfastened his seatbelt, walked around the car, kicked the car door Vanessa Sterling had opened shut, then opened the passenger door and forcibly pulled the woman out.

The woman, stunned with disbelief, too furious to speak, found no room for pleading as Miles Sterling refused her attempts, walking back to the driver’s seat and instantly drove away.

Left standing alone on the deserted mountain road, the woman watched the car disappear, stomping her feet in anger...