CHAPTER 165: CHAPTER 165: A MOTHER’S STATUS RISES WITH HER CHILD

Valdania, evening.

The sunset filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting light into the study.

Fine dust floated in the light, quietly drifting.

A man sat in a heavy brown European-style chair, wearing a meticulously tailored dark gray British plaid suit, outlining broad straight shoulders and a narrow waist.

The knot of a dark red tie was crisp, pressed against the cold white neck with a prominent Adam’s apple.

His long legs were crossed, holding half a cigar between his fingers, smoke curling upward, merging into the dim twilight.

A phone pressed to his ear, the familiar, soul-piercing female voice came through the earpiece, "Hello."

Ian abruptly closed his eyes.

His chest tightened, his once lifeless heart suddenly pounded fiercely.

Countless words clogged his throat, tight, painful.

The entire space was as still as a vividly painted oil painting.

Outside the window, Mount Kaelan lay under a long sunset dusk, inside the only sound was her breath, faintly transmitted through the current, the only warmth he could grasp.

On the other end, Vera furrowed her brow, hesitated for a moment, then decisively hung up, adding the number to the blacklist.

"Beep—beep—beep—"

The busy tone came through, Ian’s breath caught, he awoke as if from a dream.

The man slowly lifted his eyelids, his deep eyes were a sea of desolation.

He took a deep inhale of the cigar, the strong and bitter nicotine rushed into his lungs, but it couldn’t suppress the metallic taste surging at his throat.

Calling again, a mechanical female voice, devoid of emotion, sounded: "Sorry..."

She had blacklisted him.

She knew it was him.

...

Vera slept until she naturally woke up.

She stretched lazily, got up neatly, changed into sweat-absorbing workout clothes, tied up her hair in a high ponytail, and walked out of the bedroom with a bare face.

The air was filled with a faint aroma of coffee.

Noah was standing at the bar counter making pour-over coffee.

The man wore a cotton-linen mandarin collar white shirt, hair tousled, sleeves rolled to the elbows, revealing the smooth lines of his wrist bones.

One hand in his jeans pocket, his right hand held the coffee pot, water steadily dripped from the spout into the filter, the coffee grounds expanding, emitting a rich aroma.

Lucky crouched to the side, watching the stream of water with round eyes.

The man’s refined yet stoic appearance was a stark contrast to the way he whispered naughty words in her ear last night.

Vera subconsciously bit her lower lip.

Hearing movement, Noah looked up.

Vera stood there in the morning light, wearing a sporty tank top and shorts, a pinkish nude paired with black, her hair tied high, revealing a smooth forehead and neck.

Her skin radiated natural rosiness, eyes bright, posture straight, full of vitality.

"Awake? The coffee’s ready too." Noah spoke, his voice slightly hoarse.

"Morning, Senior Grant!"

Noah’s hand paused, "Morning."

Vera sat down at the bar counter, on a high stool, through the rich aroma of coffee, there was a faint hint of his chilly, restrained scent, "Did you go back?"

He had also taken a shower.

He went back, how did he come in?

Noah, "Nathan sent me clothes, borrowed your bathroom."

Recently, Nathan would crash at Noah’s apartment upstairs whenever he had the chance, last night, seeing his brother hadn’t returned all night, he even sent clothes downstairs in the morning, fully thinking his brother had successfully "made his move"!

Vera, understandingly, sipped the coffee, asked with concern, "Does your head still hurt?"

Noah leisurely set down the bone china cup, looked at her, "My head hurts?"

Vera, "..."

She gave him a small glare, looked at Lucky, "Lucky, wasn’t there a big wolf pretending to have a headache to compete for your affection, right?"

Lucky, "Meow meow meow~"

Noah, "..."

Was he pretending to have a headache? Did he?

The next moment, realizing something, the man’s face tensed, glancing at Vera.

Vera, full of fearless, savoring her coffee.

Noah’s large hand could only cover Lucky’s round head, rubbing it, "Who’s a dog, who’s a dog?"

Lucky, "Meow meow meow~"

Vera continued teasing, "Lucky says, it’s you, the dog!"

Noah’s movements paused, his gaze fell on her smiling face, filled with tenderness, a sudden impulse in his heart, he got up, walked to her side, leaning down.

Vera was caught off guard.

The man buried his face in her neck, biting her neck.

The back teeth gently bit, slightly stinging, carrying a tingling sensation.

Vera, "Noah!"

Noah released that little flesh, his nose still against her skin, drawing in her scent, "Didn’t you say I’m a dog, hmm?"

Vera playfully hit his chest, "Does a dog only bite people? Dogs bark too, why don’t you bark?"

Noah, "Woof~"

Vera paused, then burst into laughter, picking up her phone to open the camera to record, "Do it again."

Teasingly.

Noah, "Will you let me bite?"

Without waiting for Vera’s response, he again "bit" her neck, taking the opportunity to kiss deeply, then barked a few more times "Woof," Vera’s hand trembled, capturing the scene.

She thought to herself, she’d edit the part where he barked like a dog later.

After a commotion, Vera’s neck was red, her calves weak, almost unable to get on the treadmill, she gave him a few glares and locked herself in the gym.

Even on weekends, she would do two hours of fasted cardio, and continue dance practice if there’s nothing else, but with the crisp autumn air and Noah’s temptation, she followed him to the suburban riding ranch, also bringing Nathan along.

...

In the suburban ranch, the sky vast, clouds high, green grass lush.

Noah circled Vera in front of him, one hand controlling the reins, the other protectively around her waist.

It was Vera’s first time riding a horse, she found it both fresh and exciting.

Not far was a hurdle, imagining jumping over it, Vera couldn’t help but tense up.

Noah sensed her tense body, the corner of his lips curled into a mischievous smile.

"Hold tight." He whispered, then lightly nudged the horse’s belly, the well-trained steed immediately accelerated, effortlessly clearing a high hurdle.

At the moment the horse soared, a sudden weightlessness hit!

Vera was caught off guard, let out a low cry, instinctively nestled into the firm, warm chest behind her, her hands tightly gripping his arm wrapped around her waist.

Noah held her tightly.

The horse’s hooves landed steadily, Vera’s heart pounded like a drum, she turned her head, lying on his chest.

Noah’s chin lightly brushed her flushing ear tip, he chuckled, "Scared already?"

Vera was about to retort when she heard a few loud whistles not far off.

The two turned towards the sound, seeing a group of brothers and friends lazily leaning against the fence, each wearing a playful smile, waving over.

Among them, Noah’s cousin, Miles Morgan, called out, teasing, "Bro, this isn’t riding a horse, clearly you’re shooting a romance drama! Sis, watch out for his tricks!"

Vera instinctively pulled out of his embrace, turning away to avoid those teasing gazes.

Noah glared at Miles from afar, flicked the whip, and galloped away on the horse.

As the day drew to a close, everyone began an outdoor barbecue.

As the grill was set up, the smoky smell mixed with the aroma of meat spread out.

Vera changed into casual wear, came out from the clubhouse, and walked towards the crowd, suddenly hearing a few men laughing nearby.

One of them, lowering his voice, gestured towards Noah with a nod, giggling to the others:

"If you ask me, Second Brother is too proper. He should learn from others in the circle, first turn raw rice into cooked rice, once her belly shows, no matter how grand Aunt Morgan’s family is, can she not let her grandchild in?"

"Elevated status through motherhood..."

Vera stopped in her tracks, instinctively raised her eyes, searching for Noah.

She saw him standing a short distance away by the fence, talking to his cousin, Miles.

Not paying any attention to these comments at all.

... Is this an acknowledgment?