CHAPTER 205: CHAPTER 205: JEALOUSY AND HATRED (REVISED)

Upon hearing this response, Tanya visibly relaxed.

"I’m sorry, President Pierce; I was too forward. It’s just that you’ve been so good to me, and I wanted to make sure..."

Declan Pierce’s eyes briefly flashed with hurt, but it disappeared quickly.

He restrained himself and slowly released her hand. Almost as if freed from his grip, Tanya took a step back, widening the gap between them.

Like a startled rabbit, she immediately distanced herself from the source of danger.

She doesn’t like him.

That, at least, was quite clear for now.

Declan pulled a slight mocking smile.

He slipped his hands into his pockets and said flatly, "Julian Poole is currently my partner. You’re my person, so don’t get too close to him."

His words sounded awkward, so Tanya corrected him, "I work under you."

Declan peered at her, his gaze a bit cold.

Tanya realized she might have overstepped and promptly adjusted herself, "Sorry, President Pierce, I didn’t mean to criticize you... Julian and I are just ordinary friends."

Declan was just barely satisfied with this answer.

He pulled out his vibrating phone and glanced; it was Zion Monroe’s message: [Bro, the group that attacked Tanya Sinclair last time has been caught.]

With an unreadable expression, he put away the phone.

"I have some matters to attend to, I’ll be leaving now. You owe me a late-night snack; make it up to me next time."

"Alright, goodbye, President Pierce." She waved him off obediently, her face beaming.

Declan: "..."

Was she this happy to see him leave?

For some reason, he was in a foul mood.

The more he thought about it, the more displeased he became.

Outside the back door, Janne Hayes was already waiting by the door.

"President Pierce." Janne flashed a standard employee smile.

Declan scowled, "What are you smiling for?"

Janne: "..."

Getting reprimanded even for smiling?

When Tanya walked out, Julian Poole had already come down from the stage.

"Tanya." Julian quickly approached, a bit helpless, "You weren’t on stage just now."

Tanya smiled apologetically and explained why she switched with a waiter.

Julian wasn’t surprised; he smiled amicably, "You really haven’t changed at all, still unable to refuse people."

In college, that’s how they ended up collaborating.

"By the way, where’s President Pierce?"

"Oh, he had something to attend to and left."

Julian naturally wasn’t concerned about Declan, happy instead that the troublemaker had gone.

Tanya was responsible for settling the bill for this meal, as agreed upon, and Julian didn’t dispute it.

Kaj Poole and Caden were just outside by the fountain, the big and small heads huddled together, seemingly discussing something,

"Caden." Tanya called out.

Caden immediately stuffed the small notebook back into his bag, and upon seeing Tanya and Julian approach, he put on a polite smile.

"Mom, Uncle Poole."

Tanya patted her son’s head and said softly, "Let’s go, it’s time to go home."

Caden was a bit curious, "Where’s the other uncle? The really handsome one."

Declan’s striking good looks made him memorable.

Tanya patted her son’s head, "He had something to do, so he didn’t come with us."

"Tanya, there’s a nice street nearby; since there’s still time, how about a walk?" Julian casually suggested, "It’ll give you more time with Caden."

As far as he knew, Tanya hadn’t secured custody of the two children yet, and there was always a driver not too far or too close by to accompany Caden.

Evidently, Caden still had to return to The Hawthorne Family.

Tanya’s weakness was her children, and hearing Julian’s suggestion, she couldn’t refuse.

"Alright, let’s take a walk."

Throughout the journey, Tanya held Caden’s hand, her attention almost entirely on her son.

She had missed five years of Caden’s childhood and was eager to make up for it, wanting to buy him everything.

Though she was frugal for herself, when it came to buying things for Caden, she was never stingy.

She bought a heap of clothes, including some for Joy.

"Mom, that’s enough." Even Caden couldn’t help but stop her, saying, "We can get more next time. Plus, I’m growing fast, and soon I won’t fit into these."

The words "next time" tugged at Tanya’s heart. She touched her son’s understanding little face, nearly moved to tears.

"Alright, next time then."

Between mother and son, there’s still a long future ahead.

Julian observed from behind, his gaze touched.

"Uncle." Kaj nudged him with his elbow, "Aren’t you going to pay the bill?"

Julian lightly knocked his head, "Go play your game and return home by yourself later."

There will be plenty of opportunities to show attentiveness, but tonight, Tanya buying clothes for Caden and Joy was her way of making amends as a mother. He didn’t need to pay the bill for her; he just needed to carry the bags.

The sales clerk nearby was perceptive and noticed Julian’s not-so-ordinary gaze, with a beaming smile she complimented,

"Sir, your girlfriend has great taste."

"Thank you." Julian replied, watching Tanya’s figure, smiling, "But not just yet."

When they walked out of the store, Julian chivalrously carried all the bags, walking alongside Tanya.

Holding Caden’s hand, the three of them seriously looked like a family of three from a distance!

Across the street, at a luxury store, Nina Leslie was just walking out with her newly acquired rich boyfriend, when she caught sight of Tanya’s face!

She immediately recognized that the man next to Tanya was the same influential figure who helped Cindy Lynn at the company before—Nexus Technologies’ CEO, Julian Poole!

Nina had thought about trying to flirt with him before, but realized it was impossible; Julian only treated Cindy Lynn differently. She later learned, through hints from Cindy, that Julian had secretly admired her since high school; she was his first love!

The first love effect could be devastating!

Nina had reluctantly given up.

But, to her surprise, now Julian was out with that bitch Tanya Sinclair!

Previously, at the company, wasn’t it because of Cindy that he didn’t even show his face, clearly detesting Tanya?

Why were the two seemingly close now?

Something felt terribly off to Nina.

Who could have imagined Tanya, that conniving woman, would hook up with Julian right after her divorce from President Hawthorne!

Nina felt both jealous and resentful.

It was one thing to lose to Cindy, but how could she lose to the utterly rustic Tanya Sinclair!

"Sweetie, my feet hurt; can you go get the car?" Nina coaxed her fat, rich second-generation boyfriend to fetch the car while she quickly took out her phone and started snapping pictures of Tanya and Julian across the way!

After taking the photos, she couldn’t wait to send them to Cindy, simultaneously sending a voice message to complain.

Nina: "Cindy, look at that bitch Tanya Sinclair! She’s actually hooking up with your Senior Brother Poole!!"