CHAPTER 140: CHAPTER 140: "I’M BACK.

Noticing Jasper Crowe’s silence, Ian Kane smirked inwardly. As for Noah Grant’s outcome, he knew it all too well. At most, it would just be the revocation of his lawyer’s license.

Ian had always conducted his affairs flawlessly and knew precisely where the legal boundaries lay.

Moreover, The Grant Family would never allow their esteemed second son to be tainted with an indelible stain.

After a moment of unspoken understanding, Jasper Crowe patted his shoulder, consoling him: "Look on the bright side! Vera is completely focused on her rehabilitation right now. Being such a proud person, she won’t be in a hurry to get married before her career is back on track."

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of enticement, "We still have a chance!"

A sharp pain seared through his stomach, and Ian Kane took a deep breath through his teeth, "Tell Elias Crowe to bring the stomach medicine over."

Jasper Crowe glanced back.

Elias Crowe, who had been waiting outside, immediately stepped forward, pulling an orange translucent pill organizer from his bag and handing it over, "President Kane, I brought the medicine. They’re all the ones Miss Vera prepared for you before, sorted by dosage, and kept ready."

Ian Kane looked at the striking box, his Adam’s apple moved, memories surging forth.

At night, under the warm yellow lamplight, the newlywed Vera sat cross-legged on the carpet, carefully placing the special stomach medicine she bought from Silvanos into the compartments of the organizer, with a focused yet clumsy expression.

She had never been in love, awkwardly learning how to love him, even using an app to meticulously record the details of each stomach pain episode, like the most devout and diligent student.

His fingertips suddenly tightened!

The cold edges of the pillbox pressed into his palm, Ian Kane’s knuckles turned deathly white.

The burning pain in his stomach, mixed with the awkward yet fervent care in his memory, turned into thousands of needles piercing through his five viscera!

Ian Kane bent over in pain, cold sweat instantly beading at his temples, and a rush of metallic iron taste surged up his throat.

Jasper Crowe signaled with his eyes, and he and Elias Crowe quietly retreated, gently closing the door.

Outside in the hallway, Elias Crowe lowered his voice, "Brother, will painting such a picture for him... work?"

He was also a collateral relative of the Crowe Family in Veridia, arranged by the family to be by Ian Kane’s side to train and learn after graduation.

Jasper Crowe threw the torn "understanding agreement" into the trash can.

Then, with a "snap," he lit a lighter, the pale blue flame reflecting his slightly agitated eyebrows.

Taking a deep drag of the cigarette, he exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, "Otherwise? Just watch him waste away here?"

He glanced sideways at the iron door, "Every day he stays despondent, can you calculate the evaporating figures on the account? The Crowe Family can’t afford to wait!"

Amidst the swirling smoke, he flicked off the ash from his cigarette, "Later, arrange for the best team of psychological experts to come in, he is ill and needs treatment! Have the psychologists sort him out, suppress that madness."

"Maybe, after being away for a year or so, his mind will be clearer. By then, that fervent feeling for Vera... might have faded."

Elias Crowe nodded but said nothing.

...

Veridia in June, the sky high and clouds vast.

Sunlight poured unrestrainedly outside an inconspicuous gray and white building, with scorching heat waves in the air.

The iron-gray gate silently slid open.

Noah Grant stepped out.

His suit was impeccably neat, his features slightly more gaunt, the lines of his jaw appearing more resolute, yet his tall figure remained as straight as a pine.

Outside the door, three black, solemn, and stable Hongqi L5 cars waited quietly in a triangular formation, their bodies reflecting a heavy and restrained luster under the sun.

The license plates were low-key, but those in the know could easily recognize the weight behind those numbers.

Beside the cars, several guards in dark plain clothes, with sharp eyes, stood vigilantly.

Rosalind Morgan, in a well-tailored off-white suit with a tasteful scarf around her neck, stood beside Nolan Grant. His stature was tall, his face stern, bearing a five or six resemblance to Noah Grant, but with a colder, more ruthless aura.

With arms behind his back, his quiet gaze fell on his brother, nodding slightly.

Nathan Grant, standing on the other side of their mother, smiled brightly, watching Noah Grant approach, his eyes fixed intently.

Rosalind Morgan moved forward, raising her well-maintained hand, brushing off non-existent dust from Noah Grant’s shirt shoulder.

"You’ve lost weight."

Noah Grant’s Adam’s apple moved slightly, "Mom, big brother, I made you worry."

"We’re family; no need for formalities," Nolan Grant spoke, "Get in the car, let’s go home. Grandfather, grandmother, and father are all waiting at home, the whole family is ready to welcome you."

Nathan Grant quickly echoed, "Yes, yes, brother, everything’s prepared at home! Just waiting for you..."

"No." Noah Grant’s steady voice interrupted his brother’s words.

The air froze.

Rosalind Morgan frowned, her carefully shaped eyebrows knitting together, her gaze suddenly becoming sharper: "What did you say?"

Noah Grant lifted his eyes, his gaze passing over his mother and brother to the approaching Gus car in the distance.

"What could be more important than going home?" Rosalind Morgan’s voice rose a pitch.

Noah Grant turned back, looking deeply into his mother’s eyes, free of his usual rebellious defiance, only unwavering determination.

"To find her." Indisputable.

Rosalind Morgan’s complexion changed instantly, her lips tightened.

Nolan Grant stepped forward, "Alright, you go first."

"It’s still early, come home for dinner tonight."

Rosalind Morgan’s chest heaved, just about to speak when Nolan Grant gently patted her arm.

She clutched the strap of her bag, not speaking.

Nathan Grant immediately slid over, his face full of smiles, intimately looping his arm through their mother’s, "Mom! Second brother just got out... Let’s go home first and wait for him tonight!"

Noah Grant’s gaze swept across his family’s faces, hesitated no longer, and turned, directly opening the door of the waiting Gus car.

...

In the tranquility of a courtyard within the second ring.

Vibrant trumpet vine flowers bloomed fervently, climbing relentlessly, covering the entire gray and simplistic courtyard wall, the orange-red flowers blazing in the sun.

Vera Sheridan sat in a wheelchair, enveloped almost entirely by a loose beige linen dress.

Sunlight filtered through the grapevine trellis, scattering tiny spots of light across her body.

A round, plump orange cat lounged lazily on her lap, emitting a satisfied, gentle purr.

Her head was slightly bowed, one hand unconsciously, gently stroking the warm fur of the orange cat, her profile bathed in the light and shadow, quiet and gentle.

At this moment, the orange cat seemed to hear something, suddenly awakened, its ears perked up, round eyes looking toward the entrance to the courtyard, a short, low whimper escaping its throat.

Vera paused, following the gaze, slowly looking up.

At the entrance, a tall man’s silhouette was crossing through the moon gate draped with trumpet vines, stepping on the bluestone path, walking step by step.

The backlight blurred his face, leaving only a deep outline and heavy footsteps, clearly landing on the heart.

Vera’s eyes suddenly heated, vision blurred, yet the corners of her lips involuntarily lifted.

"Master..." The lump in her throat made it hard to speak.

Noah Grant had already reached her wheelchair, the familiar male scent wrapped in a faint tobacco smell, enveloping her heavily.

He lowered his eyes.

Their eyes met, the man’s lips curved slightly, "I’m back."