After Betrayal - I Married a Handsome Tycoon-Chapter 152: Boss Quinn, Hug Me

"How about I buy it for you?"

Phrases like "how about it" were inherently sweet and intimate.

It was clearly a byproduct of flirtatious banter and simmering romantic tension.

Moira Sloan looked at the puppy in the photo, her heart stirring slightly. But her reply was, "No, thank you. I don’t like it."

As much as she enjoyed her dynamic with Connor Quinn, she was still rational—not so infatuated that she’d lost her senses.

Given the nature of her relationship with Connor Quinn, it was only a matter of time before they went their separate ways.

And since she knew they would eventually part, it was best to keep their ties to a minimum.

Raising a pet together, especially, required almost as much emotional investment as raising a child.

’When the day comes for them to part, who gets the puppy?’

’Connor Quinn?’

She knew herself too well; she would definitely miss it.

’Her?’

’What would she do if looking at the dog just made her think of him?’

With her thoughts clear, Moira Sloan replied to Connor Quinn. The distraction had unexpectedly lessened her anger.

As she calmed down and her reason returned, she suddenly sensed something was amiss.

Her Eldest Senior Brother was a wily old fox. As far as she knew, his bond with Kain Alden was like that of a father and son—if anything, even deeper than her own.

Yet now he was going against Kain Alden’s dying wish by reopening Erudite Pavilion.

’There had to be something shady going on.’

What that was, she had no way of knowing for now.

’Could it be related to the cause of Kain Alden’s death?’

As these thoughts raced through her mind, Moira Sloan clutched her phone, making a mental note to be on her guard.

Around noon, Moira Sloan left her hotel and hailed a cab to Lillian Kidd’s apartment complex.

When she arrived, she paid the fare and got out, stopping by the convenience store near the entrance to pick up a few things.

She didn’t buy anything too fancy, just some everyday snacks and drinks.

A little later, she went upstairs with her purchases. Lillian Kidd answered the door herself, taking the bags from Moira and smiling as she casually brought up the reopening of Erudite Pavilion.

"I thought your senior brothers would object. I’m surprised all three of them were fine with it."

"I’m not worried about you, though. I’m sure you can understand my good intentions."

Moira Sloan, who was changing her shoes in the entryway, simply smiled at her words and said nothing.

Lillian Kidd had made three dishes and a soup for lunch.

There were two Sichuan dishes, a light vegetable dish, and a seaweed soup.

Lillian said her stomach had been bothering her recently, so she didn’t touch the Sichuan dishes, eating only a few bites of the plain vegetables.

During the meal, Lillian chatted with Moira for a bit about Erudite Pavilion before turning to the subject of her love life.

"Have you considered dating anyone recently?"

Moira smiled back. "No."

Lillian placed a piece of the boiled fish into her bowl. "You should let the past go. A person has to look forward."

"Mm-hm," Moira murmured.

Lillian began tentatively, "How about I introduce you to someone? He’s the grandson of the president at the university where I teach. He just returned from studying abroad, and his character and looks are both top-notch. The most important thing is..."

Lillian continued the introduction with great enthusiasm. Moira listened with a placid smile, but inwardly, she felt a strong sense of resistance.

However, she knew Lillian meant well, so she didn’t let her feelings show and risk upsetting her.

She offered a few noncommittal responses and, when the subject of meeting him came up, she gave a vague "some other time."

Lillian said, "Shane Jennings is a good man, but the one I’m introducing you to, I assure you, is every bit his equal."

Moira’s lips curved into a polite smile. "I know. Thank you, Aunt Lillian. I’ll definitely go meet him when I have some time."

Lillian said earnestly, "I’m only doing this for your own good."

"I know," Moira replied softly.

After lunch, Moira left Lillian’s apartment complex, her spirits low.

Sitting in the taxi, Moira stared out the window at the passing scenery for a while before pulling out her phone and dialing Connor Quinn’s number.

The ringback tone played for a moment before the call connected. Connor Quinn’s cool, deep voice came through the line. "Moira Sloan."

Hearing his voice, Moira took a shallow breath and, on a sudden, inexplicable impulse, asked, "Connor Quinn, why don’t you come to Atheria on a business trip?"

Connor Quinn asked, "Hmm?"

Moira snapped back to her senses, suddenly realizing what she had just said. Her breath caught in her throat. Clutching her phone tightly, she stammered, "It’s nothing."

Without waiting for a response, she immediately hung up.

After ending the call, Moira pressed her lips together tightly and blinked at the passing scenery. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Half an hour later, the taxi arrived at her hotel. Moira paid the fare with her phone and got out.

She entered the hotel, rode the elevator to her floor, and the moment she stepped out, her eyes locked with those of a tall man standing directly in front of the doors.

The next second, her eyes turned red, and she looked like a small, wounded rabbit. "Boss Quinn," she whispered, "hug me."