“Or you could go back to the scene of the crime and see if you can find any evidence.”
Quinn’s eyes lit up, but the light quickly faded. It was on Julian’s yacht. How could she get on board? There was no way.
As she was pondering, Veronica sat in her car, staring blankly. A car horn blared, snapping her back to reality.
How could Julian do something like that?
In her mind, though he was unsmiling, he was a gentleman. Quinn was a great beauty, but with Julian’s status, he could have any woman he wanted. Women threw themselves at him, but he never bit.
And Quinn had said he was a repeat offender. Was his public image really all an act?
Veronica didn’t want to believe it because Julian was her cousin.
Her mother and Julian’s mother were half-sisters. Lucy’s mother was their youngest half-sister. The ties of a wealthy family were not as close as those of ordinary people. But still, she and Julian were on good terms.
Obviously, Quinn didn’t know that Lucy was from a wealthy family or about the connection between their families and the Sterling family.
Finally, Veronica picked up her phone and dialed Julian’s number. There was no answer. She hung up and started her car.
Half an hour later, he called her back.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Julian’s voice was cool.
Veronica was a few years older than him. They hadn’t played together as children, and their paths rarely crossed as adults. But they were still family and saw each other at holidays.
“Julian, I have a few questions for you. I need you to answer them honestly.”
Her serious tone piqued his curiosity.
“What questions?”
“What did you do to Quinn Lane on the yacht yesterday?”
Instead of answering, he asked, “You know her?”
“Answer my question first,” Veronica insisted. “What did you do yesterday?”
Julian was not in the habit of explaining himself to others. He had no obligation to, even to his cousin.
“I have a meeting soon…”
“Julian, Quinn is going to sue you,” Veronica said. “And I’m her lawyer.”
Julian’s knuckles whitened as he gripped his phone, the veins on the back of his hand standing out.
“Then you shouldn’t have made this call,” he said as his voice grew even colder. “What about your professional ethics?”
“I’m not calling to take your side or to tip you off. I’m calling to say that if you really did do something to her, I will not let our family ties get in the way. I will help her.”
Julian let out a soft laugh. Veronica rarely heard him laugh and wondered why he was laughing at a time like this.
“So, did you or didn’t you?” she asked. Others were afraid of Julian, but she wasn’t. She was his older cousin and a strong woman in her own right. He didn’t intimidate her as much.
“If I did,” he replied, his voice growing even colder, “you would defend her, even against me?”
“Yes,” Veronica said without hesitation.
Julian laughed again.
“She said that just because you’re rich and powerful doesn’t mean you’re above the law,” Veronica said. “She’s speaking up for herself and for all the other girls you’ve hurt. I admire her courage. Even knowing she’s up against you, she’s not backing down.”
In his office at the top of the Apex Tower, unseen by anyone, a smile touched Julian’s lips.
Veronica was praising Quinn. In a way, she was validating his taste. The person he had chosen had good character.
“Veronica, your father was trying to acquire a new energy project, wasn’t he? How much more investment does he need?”
Veronica was taken aback. Why the sudden change of topic?
“What do you mean? Are you trying to bribe me? It won’t work. You know me.”
“No,” Julian said. “It’s a reward. I’ll contact your father. Whatever he needs, I’ll invest unconditionally.”
Veronica frowned, arguing, “Don’t think that just because you do this, I’ll…”
“And then, set up a meeting for me with Quinn,” Julian said. “She probably won’t see me, so you’ll have to arrange it. I think there’s been a misunderstanding.”
Veronica had always trusted his character and had her doubts about this whole affair. But Quinn wouldn’t lie.
“A misunderstanding?” she said, unconvinced. “How can there be a misunderstanding about something like this?”
“I’ll explain to her in person,” Julian said. “This afternoon, at noon. You can be there. We’ll have lunch together.”
Veronica was relieved to hear she could be there. If Julian wanted to meet Quinn alone, she would have been worried he might threaten her. Even though she shouldn’t have to doubt him, she had to protect her client until the matter was cleared up.
She contacted Quinn, who readily agreed.
Quinn had just left the coffee shop when she received Veronica’s message. She had no heart for the competition. Until this was resolved, she couldn’t do anything.
She went back to Lucy’s apartment and tidied up the messy clothes, then cleaned the place.
In the years she had been friends with Lucy, she had gathered that Lucy came from a wealthy family. Lucy was bright, cheerful, and innocent, clearly well-protected by her family. But she had none of the airs of a rich girl and had always been close to Quinn. Quinn felt that if she had a real sister, she would be just like Lucy.
Around eleven, Quinn changed and went out. She rarely wore makeup, and with her eyes still swollen, she didn’t bother. It was cold, so she wore a thick down jacket over a black cashmere sweater.
She took a taxi. On the way, she got a call from Rosalie.
“Quinn, how are you today?” Rosalie asked. Her voice was as gentle as ever, full of concern, like a good sister.
“Fine,” Quinn said coolly. “Don’t worry about me. I can handle my own problems.”
“How can I not worry? After what happened, you must be heartbroken and feel so ashamed. After all, something like that is so disgraceful…”
“Are you done?” Quinn cut her off. “I’m not heartbroken, and I’m not ashamed. I’m not the one who should be disgraced. Don’t say these things to me anymore. They don’t affect me.”
“Quinn, what do you mean?” Rosalie yelled as her voice caught in a sob. “I’m just concerned about you. How can you misunderstand me like this?”
“You know whether it’s a misunderstanding or not,” Quinn said, exhausted. “That’s all. Don’t contact me unless you have something important to say.”
“I’m your sister!” Rosalie cried. “Is it wrong for me to care about you?”
“Thank you for your concern,” Quinn said with a small smile. “But I don’t need it anymore.”
She hung up.
On the other side of the world, Rosalie was so angry she almost threw her phone. She hurled a pillow across the room.
Her phone pinged with the special ringtone she had set for Julian. She snatched it up and opened the chat.
“Sorry, I was in a meeting. I just saw your message.”
Rosalie quickly typed, “It’s okay. You’re busy. My thing isn’t urgent.”
Before she could hit send, another message came through.
“He proposed to you. Did you say yes?”
Rosalie had felt that she and Julian were just a thin piece of paper away from being together. But sometimes, there was no right moment to break through. She couldn’t wait any longer. So, early that morning, she had sent him a message saying someone had confessed their love to her with flowers and gifts. But Julian hadn’t replied, and she had been on edge all day.
So, he had been in a meeting.
She sent her message, and he replied immediately, “Your business is my top priority.”
Rosalie’s heart skipped a beat.
At that moment, Quinn arrived at the restaurant. Veronica was already there. The door to the private room was open, and Quinn saw her staring into space.
Veronica was the epitome of a competent, powerful woman. Her every move exuded professionalism and instilled a sense of security. But at that moment, her expression was a little lost, softening her strong aura and revealing a hint of feminine vulnerability.
“Veronica.”
Quinn knocked lightly on the door.
Veronica looked up.
Quinn had taken off her down jacket. She wore a simple black turtleneck sweater, light blue jeans, and white sneakers. She had no makeup on, her hair pulled back in a simple bun. No one would have guessed she had been married for three years. She looked like a freshman in college.
“Quinn, come in,” Veronica beckoned.
Quinn came in and closed the door.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Veronica pulled her down to sit beside her.
“I just got here. Quinn, let me confirm one more time. The man you saw when you woke up, was it really Julian? Not someone who just looks like him?”
“I wouldn’t mistake him,” Quinn said. “It’s not just his face. His whole aura is unique. How could I be wrong?”
Veronica decided not to hide it from her any longer.
“Quinn, actually, Julian and I are related.”
Quinn’s mouth fell open, her eyes wide. She looked a little dazed, almost cute.
Veronica patted her head, explaining, “His mother and my mother are half-sisters. He’s my cousin. But don’t worry. I said I would help you, and I won’t take his side just because he’s family.”
Veronica had liked Quinn from the start, and Lucy had said so many good things about her. Lucy had a great personality, but she didn’t make friends easily. The fact that she was so close to Quinn made Veronica feel a certain affection for her cousin’s best friend.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.