Chapter 94 - 92: I’m Home
"What nonsense are you spouting!"
Mrs. Lane flew into a rage at her words. Send her son abroad?
’Absolutely not!’
Cecilia Sterling pursed her lips slightly. "It’s just a friendly suggestion. Whether you take it or not is up to you. In any case, I’m not leaving Lorcain."
Walter Lane studied Cecilia Sterling. Despite their brief exchange, he could already tell this young woman wasn’t as fragile and easily bullied as she appeared. Very few young people could remain so composed under the pressure he was deliberately exerting.
’She’s stubborn and unyielding to the core!’
Just then, fearing Walter Lane would turn and leave, Timothy Rowe seized the moment and spoke up abruptly. "Chair-Chairman Lane, excuse me. I’m a student from the computer science department at Lorcain Institute of Technology. My name is Timothy Rowe."
As he spoke, he held out the document with both hands. "A few of my classmates and I spent over a year developing an optimization program related to artificial intelligence, and this program..."
But before he could finish, Mrs. Lane snatched the document from his hands and tossed it to the ground like trash.
"Unbelievable. Are you trying to solicit investments here?" Mrs. Lane sneered, her malicious gaze sweeping over Timothy Rowe and Gavin Garrett before landing on Cecilia Sterling. "Hanging around with a girl like this, how broad could your horizons possibly be? You should have some basic moral decency!"
Timothy Rowe’s expression froze as he stared at the document on the ground.
Gavin Garrett quickly crouched down to pick it up, glaring indignantly at them. "If you don’t want to look at it, fine, but why resort to personal attacks? Is this how all rich people behave?"
After being shut down and humiliated twice in a row, even the optimistic Timothy Rowe was starting to feel disheartened.
He lowered his head, swallowed his resentment, and pulled Gavin Garrett’s arm. "Let’s go."
Gavin Garrett shot a final, angry glare at Walter and Mrs. Lane and snorted before letting Timothy Rowe lead him away.
Cecilia Sterling’s eyes glinted as she watched them leave. ’Just one unexpected encounter, and the Lane Group has already lost the genius team that should have been theirs.’
Snapping back to the present, Cecilia Sterling looked at Walter Lane and said, "Morality is for restraining oneself, not for restraining others. If that’s what you mean by moral decency, then I’d rather have no morals at all."
Walter Lane stared at Cecilia Sterling with his deep-set eyes for a moment, realizing there was no point in continuing the conversation. He didn’t respond, but turned with a grim expression and walked into the Goodman Family’s villa with Mrs. Lane.
Watching them go, a chill gradually spread across Cecilia Sterling’s face.
She knew that with her current abilities, fighting the Lane Group was like an ant trying to shake a tree. But she wouldn’t give up on any opportunity, no matter how small. She had intercepted Timothy Rowe today; tomorrow, there would surely be other chances.
She would dismantle the Lane Group piece by piece and get justice for every wrong she had ever suffered!
After standing by the roadside for a moment to calm herself, Cecilia Sterling didn’t go back into the Goodman house. Instead, she turned and started walking back the way she came.
’Estelle is definitely in no mood for a party today,’ Cecilia Sterling thought. ’I’ll ask her to meet up tomorrow.’
BEEP BEEP—
A blinding glare of headlights, accompanied by the blare of a horn, came from behind. Cecilia Sterling stopped and turned to see a flashy gold convertible sports car pulling up slowly beside her.
Jonah Goodman rested one hand on the steering wheel, a smile playing on his lips as he looked at Cecilia Sterling. "Get in, Cecilia. I’ll give you a ride home!"
’A handsome guy, a luxury car, and a beautiful girl like me—what a perfect picture that would be.’
’Too bad I’m already home.’
Cecilia Sterling shook her head and pointed a thumb over her shoulder at the luxurious villa behind her. "Thanks, but I’m home."
The playful, devil-may-care expression on Jonah Goodman’s face finally changed. His eyes widened, and his handsome brows furrowed deeply. "You... you live here?"
"Mhm," Cecilia Sterling replied casually, turning to leave.
"Wait." Jonah Goodman quickly called out to her, grabbing his phone. "Let me get your WhatsApp!"
Cecilia Sterling smiled but shook her head again. "Estelle told me to stay away from you, so I’m not going to add you behind her back. If you’ve got the guts, go ask Estelle for my number. If she gives it to you, then I’ll add you."
With that, Cecilia Sterling turned and walked toward her villa.
But Jonah Goodman wasn’t angry at all. ’Cecilia is special,’ he thought. ’She isn’t just some "wooden beauty"; she’s interesting.’
He watched until Cecilia Sterling unlocked the front gate with her fingerprint and went inside before finally tearing his intrigued gaze away. His mood had inexplicably lifted. He stomped on the gas, and with a low roar of its engine, the sports car sped off, kicking up dust.
Perhaps because she’d had a couple of drinks at the party, Cecilia Sterling slept soundly that night. When she finally woke up, it was already nine-thirty the next morning.
The curtains drew open slowly, and bright sunlight poured in, instantly filling the entire room. Cecilia Sterling stretched, casually picked up her phone to reply to unread messages, and went downstairs to the coffee nook to brew herself a cup to wake up.
Estelle Goodman had sent her an apology message half an hour ago.
"Honey, I’m so sorry. I was the one who invited you, but then I just hid away and left you all alone. /pout"
"Honey, are you mad at me? Why aren’t you messaging me back?"
Cecilia could tell from the text that Estelle’s mood had improved considerably; her tone was back to normal. She quickly replied, "I just woke up. Why would I be mad at you over something like that? I’m just glad you’re okay. I was worried about you."
Estelle replied instantly. "So embarrassing, haha. Don’t worry about me, I’m fine."
Cecilia couldn’t be sure if she was really fine or just pretending, but as her friend, she knew she had to be there for her. A smile touched her lips, and she sent over her home’s location. "Meet up?"
There was a brief silence from the other end. After a long moment, a single "?" appeared.
Cecilia sank into the sofa with her coffee, her smile widening. She could just picture the shocked expression on Estelle Goodman’s face.
Then came a barrage of messages!
"What’s going on?"
"You’re here?"
"Your house is here too?"
"Five hundred meters!"
Cecilia quickly replied, "Yeah, I was shocked too when you sent me your location yesterday!"
"Wait right there, I’m coming over now!"
Ten minutes later, Estelle Goodman appeared at the front gate, still in her nightgown.
Watching from a distance as Cecilia emerged from the villa’s main door to let her in, Estelle couldn’t contain her excited grin.
They actually lived this close to each other!
"Oh my god, honey, your house is in an even better spot than mine! When did you buy it?" Estelle couldn’t help but exclaim as soon as she stepped into the yard.
"I got it for a steal from the previous owner. I had no idea your family moved here too. Now we can go home and go to school together."