CHAPTER 184: CHAPTER 184: NO WINNER

Sheila Yardley originally planned to repay him, even if they didn’t break up; she intended to earn money to pay him back.

She initially thought about settling Caleb Grant’s money first, then gathering Ryder Griffin’s.

Though Caleb Grant’s monthly salary wasn’t small, it was all used to offset previous debts; she was just an intern at Aidan Lockwood’s place, and the salary barely covered her own and her mother’s expenses for a month.

After thinking a bit, Sheila Yardley said, "Give me a year, and I’ll repay you a hundred thousand first."

"A hundred thousand in a year? Your sponsor wouldn’t be so stingy, right? Three hundred thousand in three days, all at once, I imagine you wouldn’t want this entanglement to drag on excessively."

"I can’t come up with that much money at once."

Ryder Griffin chuckled and said, "Figure it out yourself; borrow from your sponsors if you like, sell if you must, or..." As he spoke, his gaze carried a hint of playful teasing as he looked Sheila Yardley up and down, continuing, "If there’s absolutely no way, spend the night with me. My biggest regret is loving you for all these years without having slept with you."

Sheila Yardley never thought that Ryder Griffin would become so unfamiliar one day, so much so that she started to doubt if she even knew him at all.

Seeing Sheila Yardley silent, Ryder Griffin stepped forward, raised his hand and placed it on her shirt collar. Sheila Yardley instantly recoiled like she was shocked, took two steps back, inhaling deeply, said, "I’ll repay you as soon as possible."

As he watched her turn and leave like she was escaping, Ryder Griffin’s gaze fell on her back, and he leaned against the wall behind him, pulling out a pack of cigarettes, lit one, his focus seemed lost as it fell to the ground, no one knew what he was thinking.

"Ryder, what are you doing here?"

As Lynn Kendall approached, Ryder Griffin did not extinguish the cigarette in his hand, casually replied, "Came out to smoke."

"I’m pregnant."

"Get rid of the child; I won’t marry you."

Lynn Kendall was stunned, furrowed her brow and said, "The baby will be born in a few months, we’ve been together for such a long time, how can you tell me to abort it?"

"You know well how we met; we’re all just playing here, so don’t pretend to be devout and talk about marriage and having children."

"Playing? Ryder, do you still think I’m with you just to play? You saw how difficult it’s been for me during this pregnancy, I genuinely want to have the child and then settle down with you."

Ryder Griffin sneered, "Do you think you have what it takes to keep me?"

"What do you mean?"

"I can get you pregnant while I’m with my ex-girlfriend, and after marrying you, I can get another woman pregnant; I don’t want any ties holding me back. You’d be wise to get rid of the kid early."

Lynn Kendall never thought that she initially wanted to play a bit to get back at Sheila Yardley, but in the end, she got herself involved.

When she first interacted with Ryder Griffin, he was different from the men she knew, more innocent, at that time she felt everything was under her control.

Her original plan was to leave after Ryder Griffin broke up with Sheila Yardley.

But she never thought that after spending a long time with Ryder Griffin, she fell in love with him and wanted to have a stable home with him.

Knowing fully well that what Ryder Griffin seeks is just desire and never loved her, maybe it was precisely this unreclaimed intensity that had her so obsessed with him.

"I believe that once we’re married and have the kid, you’ll settle down." Lynn Kendall said reluctantly.

"Do you think you can compare to Sheila Yardley in any way?"

"How can’t I compare to her?! In your career, I’ve introduced so many friends to you, can Sheila Yardley do that? If it weren’t for me, would your studio have developed so quickly?"

Hearing this, Ryder Griffin sneered looking at Lynn Kendall and said, "You must be aware of how you’ve acquired these contacts."

Lynn Kendall never thought that despite her efforts for his better future and a better life together, he showed no gratitude and blamed her instead.

Seeing Ryder Griffin seemed determined not to want this child, but she knew that it was precisely the child in her belly that was holding him; if she really aborted the child, she feared he would kick her far away in the future.

So Lynn Kendall said, "Fine, I don’t care whether you will marry me or not, I’ll definitely give birth to the child, at worst, I’ll raise it myself!"

"You’re crazy."

"Yes, I’m crazy!"

The two parted unhappily, it seemed there was no winner in this gamble.

Sheila Yardley didn’t return to the dressing room, she stood on the side of the backstage, watching the models’ performances on stage.

But her mind wasn’t on the displayed works; it was on how to handle the money she owed Ryder Griffin.

After her mother’s surgery and discharge, she was still on medication, and her family couldn’t talk about savings at all, always in debt repayment.

Asking Shannon Quinn, given she was taking care of a child alone, was too much to ask for all at once; Sheila Yardley found herself speechless.

As for Aidan Lockwood, if she asked, he would surely lend it, but he had already helped her greatly at work, and asking again for thirty thousand seemed inappropriate.

Then there was Caleb Grant, but she didn’t know what he’d demand if she asked him for money.

"What’s on your mind?"

The music was unclear, but perhaps she was too sensitive to Caleb Grant’s voice, it instantly pulled her back from her thoughts, and she turned to look at Caleb Grant beside her, casually answering, "Nothing..."

"Why didn’t you wake me?"

"...You seemed tired." Sheila Yardley paused in speaking, then asked the unanswered question earlier, "Why are you here?"

Caleb Grant did not answer but retrieved the fashion show invitation from his suit pocket, and only then did Sheila Yardley understand.

No wonder he agreed to her taking this trip without a word, turns out he was to be here too.

Her gaze fell back on the runway, Sheila Yardley pressed her lips together, rehearsing various ways of asking for money, but still couldn’t say it.

"Do you have something you need to say?"

Sheila Yardley’s body stiffened, unknowing how he saw through her, she looked at Caleb Grant, but the words changed as they left her lips, "Go sit in the audience, if you have an invitation, there’s a seating allocation."

Caleb Grant eyed her twice, as she was too inexperienced to hide her emotions; he could tell if she had something from one glance, though since she didn’t want to say it, he wouldn’t press further, merely responded, "This angle is quite good."

"Then I’ll find you a chair."

Sheila Yardley turned, just as she took a step, Caleb Grant grabbed her arm and pulled her back to the front, "Stand still."