Chapter 379 I Am On Your Side

    Chapter 379 I Am On Your Side

    b33 /b

    +20 Free Coins

    Laura reached out, squeezing Quinn’s shoulder. “Whatever you decide, I’m on your side–no questions asked.”

    Quinn inhaled, steering the conversation toward safer ground. “What about the Whitethorn Group procurement bid? When will the three–party quote results be announced?”

    Laura consulted the tablet in her hand. “Three days. If wend it, we’ll also receive invites to the Whitethorn Group annual g.”

    The g was more than apany party. Suppliers, partner conglomerates, and anyone orbiting the Whitethorn sphere sent delegates in glittering gowns and faultless tuxedos. For ambitious executives, it was a hunting ground for contacts, alliances, and whispered deals.

    Laura straightened with visible pride. “I’m confident in our product—and we refined it using your design. The new process trims costs by five percent. Unless Whitethorn Group is blind, they’ll choose us.”

    Five percent might sound small, yet on a mass–production scale, it tranted to savings that could tilt the bnce sheet of an empire.

    Quinn offered a muted nod, refusing to let her anticipation show. “Let’s hope.”

    She trusted her redesign, but the final decision still rested with Julius.

    Just then, ia /iyoung secretary hurried over, breathless. “Ms. Bridger, there’s a visitor asking for you. He says his name is Leander Fane.”

    Quinn froze, surprise flickering across her features. Beside her, Laura’s brows shot up in equal disbelief.

    Rowan’s ie /iilooking /iifor /iiQuinn/ii? /i

    Quinn collected herself. “Take him to the conference room.”

    The secretary nodded briskly and hurried off.

    Laura muttered under her breath. “Why would your brother want to see you now? Don’t tell me he’s here to plead for Serena.”

    Quinn considered, her voice even. “Whether that’s it or not, we’ll know soon enough.”

    A few minutester, Quinn stepped into the conference room. Leander was already waiting,

    16:56 Tue, Sep b9 /b

    Chapter 379 I Am On Your Side

    hands folded neatly on the polished table.

    :

    “You came about Serena Fane, didn’t you?” Quinn said, cutting straight to the chase.

    b33 /b

    +20 Free Coins

    Leander rose, eyes steady. “Yes. I hope you’ll forgive her this once, and–more importantly–I need you to persuade Julius not to have her expelled from the Fane family.”

    Quinn’s dark eyes zed, her shoulders squared as though bracing for recoil. “So she really is a little sister to you, huh? She matters that much? Enough that, after she drags Dad and Mom through the mud, you still pardon her without blinking–still throw yourself forward to plead for her?”

    Leander’s voice came out hushed, almost t. “Nothing can happen to her right now.”

    iNot before /iiSerena /iifinishes /iithe /iistem/ii–/iicell /iidonation /iithat /iicould /iikeep /iiLena /iialive/i.

    Quinn frowned. “And why, exactly, can’t anything happen to her right now?”

    He drew a breath deep enough to stretch his ribs. “If you still recognize me as your brother, I need you to make Julius take back what he said. Let Serena stay with the family. Please.”

    Quinn replied, “If so, thene with me.”

    Leander’s brow tightened. “To where?”

    “The Hero’s Memorial Garden in Yarburn,” Quinn said, pocketing the keys and slinging her bag across one shoulder. “That’s where Dad and Mom are buried. You lost your memories–do you at least remember how to drive?”

    Leander pressed his lips together. “I may have lost my memories, but I can still work a wheel.”

    “Perfect. We’ll drive straight to Yarburn. The GPS will keep us honest, and we’ll trade seats along the way. If we leave now, we’ll see Yarburn by dawn.”

    Leander answered with silence, a slow nod that consented without surrender.

    Before leaving, Quinn paused to inform Laura.

    Laura’s eyes went wide. “You’re driving to Yarburn with your brother? All night?”

    “Dad and Mom worried about him to theirst breath,” Quinn replied. “Whether he still remembers them or not, he owes them a visit.”

    Laura chewed her lip. “Just the two of you, driving through the night–won’t that be exhausting?”

    16:56 Tueb, /bSep 9

    Chapter 379 I Am On Your Side

    b33 /b

    +20 Free Coins

    “I’ve handled worse.” Quinn smiled. iDuring /iifield /iimissions/ii, /iiforty/ii–/iieight /iisleepless /iihours /iihad /iibeen /iroutine. A inight /ibehind ia /iiwindshield /iiwas /iichild’s /iiy/i.

    Minutester, she led Leander across the lot to her sedan.

    She imed the driver’s seat for the first stretch.

    Leander settled beside her, expressionless, offering no clue to the storm or stillness inside.

    As the city lights thinned, Quinn spoke into the quiet. “Yarburn is our hometown.”

    Leander’s gaze dropped to his knees. “Is it?”

    “It was the four of us–you, me, Dad, Mom. We lived in Yarburn when we were little. Later, Dad’s work pulled us to Jexburgh, but we’d still go back whenever we could.”

    Mile after mile, Quinn began threading the lost years together–birthday cakes gone lopsided, snowball wars in the narrow alley, the day the family dog vanished and returned with a stolen shoe.

    Leander sat in still absorption, drinking the stories as if they were water after drought.

    “Because of Dad, you vowed since young to be a soldier. You were my hero, so after high school, I enrolled at the National Defense University, then joined the service myself.”

    A crease formed between Leander’s brows. “Then why are you…”