After Betrayal - I Married a Handsome Tycoon-Chapter 124: Flirtatious and Helpless

Staring at the disconnected voice call, Moira Sloan was completely baffled.

Before she could ask anything, a message came through from the other end: Get to the point.

’So cold and aloof?’ Moira thought.

Moira typed, skipping the pleasantries and getting straight to the point: What’s the Senior Disciple’s take on our master’s death?

The reply came: You returned to Everwood County to investigate our master’s death?

Moira didn’t hide it. "Yes."

When it came to her Senior Disciple, she harbored not only doubts but also deep reservations.

The main issue was his mysterious nature. It was impossible for her to tell if he was friend or foe.

Normally, there shouldn’t be this kind of apprehension between disciples of the same master, even if they weren’t close. The problem was, there were too many things about him that weren’t normal.

For instance, when Kain Alden had been forced to shut down his shop, and then again, when Kain Alden passed away.

He had been completely absent for the two greatest crises in Kain Alden’s life.

This was far from the normal behavior expected of a Senior Disciple.

After Moira sent her message, there was no immediate reply.

A moment later, a reply came: "Back off. Stay out of this."

Moira: ?

The reply: "You’re out of your depth."

Moira: ??

Moira sent another message, but it was met with silence.

Looking at the dead chat window, Moira let out a scornful little laugh. In all her life, she had never met someone so sharp-tongued and arrogant.

’I’m out of my depth?’

’I guess that means he’s an expert, then.’

A few seconds later, Moira exited the app and immediately dialed Flora Rhodes’s number.

When Flora Rhodes picked up, Moira said, "I need you to keep a close eye on Finn Fuller and Rachel Yates for me."

Flora Rhodes understood immediately. "So there really is something wrong with them?"

Moira frowned. "I’m not sure. That’s why I’m asking you to keep an eye on them."

Moira exchanged a few more words with Flora Rhodes without revealing too much. After she hung up, she felt a tightness in her chest, as if she’d been holding her breath.

’It’s been a year. Who is the mastermind behind all this?’

’Who could be powerful enough to cover up everything so completely?’

Just as Moira was frowning in thought, the half-lowered rolling security door was suddenly yanked up from the outside.

Moira glanced up to see Shauna Duane walking in, a long look on her face.

’Didn’t she storm off in a huff?’

’Why is she back again?’

Not only had Shauna Duane come back, but she was also carrying lunch for Moira.

Curry beef over rice.

Looking at the container of food Shauna slapped down in front of her, Moira raised an eyebrow. "For me?"

Shauna said with a straight face, "Who else would it be for?"

Moira sat on the high stool with her legs crossed, leaning forward with a smile curving her eyes. "Thank you, Shauna."

"Don’t give me that," Shauna said.

Moira blinked. "There are plenty of fish in the sea. Why are you so hung up on Connor Quinn?"

Looking at Moira’s bewitching smile, Shauna found it hard to stay mad, but she was still fuming. "If you think he’s so-so, then why are you the one hung up on him?"

Moira grinned teasingly. "When did I ever say I was hung up on Connor Quinn?"

Shauna shot back, "Aren’t you two together?"

Moira’s red lips curved into a heartless smile. "Just for fun."

Shauna was speechless.

The pedestal Shauna had put Connor Quinn on shattered in an instant.

Especially when she later learned from Moira that they were just friends with benefits, it was as if her heart was instantly encased in concrete.

Moira elegantly picked up her chopsticks and began to eat. Seeing the mortified look on Shauna’s face, she asked teasingly, "Still like him?"

Shauna’s eyes filled with contempt. Though she said nothing, her expression said it all.

That afternoon, Moira and Shauna closed up the shop and left together.

Now that Shauna knew the truth, Moira couldn’t be bothered to take the long way around. Before closing, she sent a message to Connor Quinn, telling him to wait for her right at the door.

Moira walked toward the car just as Shauna and Connor Quinn brushed past each other.

Shauna’s steps faltered. She looked at Connor Quinn with a pained and disgusted expression. "I can’t believe you’re that kind of person."

Hearing this, Connor Quinn’s brow furrowed slightly, but he didn’t stop walking.

Shauna went to get her electric scooter, still muttering under her breath, "And here I thought you were someone with substance. Turns out you’re just as shallow as any other man."

Connor Quinn heard her, his expression calm. He took out his car keys, unlocked the door, and smoothly took the bag from Moira’s hand.

They were barely a meter apart, so of course, Moira heard everything Connor did.

Moira pursed her lips, an odd feeling stirring inside her.

It was an indescribable, suffocating discomfort.

’Did I just drag him through the mud?’

On the way back, the two of them didn’t say a single word.

Moira was scrolling on her phone. After a moment, she tilted her head to look at Connor Quinn. She thought for a bit, then a lazy smile touched her lips as she asked, "Last night, you weren’t on board with us getting serious, right? What made you change your mind?"

Faced with Moira’s question, Connor Quinn didn’t answer right away.

After about half a minute, his grip on the steering wheel tightened, and he said in a hoarse voice, "Did I have a choice?"

The question caught Moira off guard.

Connor added, "If I hadn’t agreed, you probably wouldn’t have even given me a second glance today."

Moira ran her tongue over her teeth, saying nothing.

’So that’s why he disagreed at first, only to suddenly change his mind.’

’That was the reason. He was afraid I’d stop paying him any attention.’

’Tsk.’

’How pathetic.’

Moira didn’t say anything, but deep down, she felt a pang of guilt.

After a long moment, Moira reached out with her slender, pale fingertips to tilt Connor Quinn’s chin up. Her tone was a mix of resignation and flirtation. "Boss Quinn, what am I to do? It seems like you’re getting a raw deal being with me. Do you want to regret it? It’s not too late to back out."