Chapter 476: Bury the Hatchet?
As she finished speaking, Cecily Taylor put on a deliberate show of embarrassment.
Aiden Howkins frowned. "Have you told our Young Madam about this?"
"Young Madam?" Cecily Taylor froze, not immediately understanding.
Aiden Howkins’s expression was grim as he remained silent.
It was obvious that the Young Madam he referred to could be no one other than Claire Sinclair.
Cecily Taylor bit her lip, suppressing her jealousy and forcing herself to speak in a humble tone. "During the show’s recording today, some of my inappropriate comments negatively affected Professor Sinclair. I feel terribly guilty, so I’d like to invite them both to my birthday party as a way of apologizing. Could you please relay this to Young Master Quincy?"
Aiden Howkins nodded but still said nothing.
Cecily Taylor had always been a top star, used to being treated with deference by everyone she met. The fact that this man was so cold to her made her increasingly irritated.
’He’s just a mere aide. What’s with the attitude!’
Though she thought this, she didn’t let it show. "I’ll head back now, then. I’ll leave it in your hands."
Only after watching Cecily Taylor disappear into the recording studio did Aiden Howkins turn and leave.
Just as Cecily Taylor returned to the entrance of Hall 1, she happened to see Adrian Quincy walking out with his arm around Claire Sinclair’s slender waist.
Cecily Taylor froze. ’Why is Young Master Quincy here???’
’This is a great opportunity!’
Cecily Taylor walked over, putting on a friendly smile. "Professor Sinclair, Young Master Quincy, next Tuesday is my birthday. I’d like to invite you both to my party. It could be a chance for us to bury the hatchet. I wonder if Professor Sinclair would be willing to grace me with her presence?"
’Bury the hatchet?’
Claire Sinclair asked with amusement, "Professor Taylor, what’s this about burying the hatchet? It’s not like we’re mortal enemies."
Cecily Taylor gave a dry laugh. "It’s just that I spoke a bit too harshly today. I was so desperate for my team to win that I said something impulsive. Please don’t take it to heart."
Claire Sinclair laughed lightly. "Professor Taylor, I didn’t mind at all. We were both just rooting for our contestants. As for your birthday, I’ll have to check my schedule. If I’m free, I’ll come. If not, then I guess it can’t be helped."
’What??’
’Cecily Taylor couldn’t believe it. She had already swallowed her pride to invite her, and this damned bitch was still going to see how she felt before deciding whether to go?’
For a moment, Cecily Taylor almost turned and stormed off. But for the sake of her goal, she forced herself to endure it and turned to Adrian Quincy. "And you, Young Master Quincy?"
Adrian Quincy replied expressionlessly, "I’m with Claire."
Cecily Taylor: "..."
Blindsided by their public display of affection, she was momentarily speechless.
And just like that, Claire Sinclair and Adrian Quincy turned and left, leaving Cecily Taylor standing there, about to explode with anger.
-
That night, when they returned to the hotel, it was already past midnight.
Claire Sinclair was exhausted. After a quick shower, she collapsed into bed.
When Adrian Quincy came out of the shower, he saw the woman on the bed, fast asleep with one foot already kicked out from under the blanket.
A slight smile touched his lips. He walked over, pulled the blanket back over her, then raised the thermostat by one degree before finally walking out onto the balcony.
The wind was chilly. The temperature had dropped again.
Adrian Quincy didn’t feel the cold, but he felt a weary sort of wakefulness.
Looking back, he saw that she had kicked off the blanket again. Left with no choice, he went back inside, carefully lay down beside her, and pulled her into his arms to keep her warm.
A sudden thought struck him. Adrian Quincy reached for his phone on the nightstand and sent a text to Helen Wallace: *Get a pregnancy test for Claire tomorrow.*
They had been quite diligent these past few months. It was best to be extra careful and prepared.