Belated Moonlight: He Regretted Only After I Left-Chapter 158: She Helped Him and His Childhood Sweetheart, Only to Become His Idealized Love

Chapter 158: Chapter 158: She Helped Him and His Childhood Sweetheart, Only to Become His Idealized Love

"It’s so late, who could it be?" Grace Quinn furrowed her brows in confusion, mumbling to herself as she slipped her feet into slippers and jogged over.

Peering through the peephole, her face instantly brightened, a look of undisguised delight spreading across her face, and she quickly opened the door.

"Uncle!"

The man outside was tall and dressed in a tight black leather jacket, outlining his muscular build.

His facial features were rugged, with high brow bones and deep-set eyes, giving off a menacing aura even when silent.

He was Audrey Quinn’s cousin, Alden the Fourth. Despite his notorious reputation from his dealings in the underworld, he genuinely doted on his niece Grace, almost always fulfilling her requests.

"Grace." Alden the Fourth raised his hand with a grin, habitually trying to ruffle Grace’s hair. Seeing her meticulously styled hair, his hand paused in mid-air and then shifted to pat her shoulder, "Still up this late?"

"Uncle, why are you here? Come in!" Grace warmly hooked her arm around Alden the Fourth’s and pulled him inside.

"Fourth Brother..." Audrey Quinn also welcomed him, a barely noticeable flicker of tension passing through her eyes. "What brings you here at this hour?"

Alden the Fourth stepped in, his gaze sweeping around the living room, then boldly sat down at the main seat on the couch, legs stretched out, as he pulled out a pack of cigarettes, placing one between his lips: "I heard things are a bit unstable over at The Donovan Family?"

He was well-informed; even as a figure in the underworld, he had his ways of keeping tabs on the intricate dynamics of the Donovan Family.

Grace immediately felt like she’d found her anchor, snuggling up as she recounted the grievances suffered at the Donovan Family, especially the incident where Old Mrs. Donovan suggested Jasper Hawthorne marry into the family and Old Mr. Donovan insisted on a DNA test, embellishing her tale.

Alden the Fourth listened quietly amid the swirling smoke, his brow furrowed slightly upon hearing ’DNA test’, as he looked over at Audrey Quinn...

Audrey’s heart skipped a beat, instinctively lowering her eyelids, her fingers unknowingly twisting the hem of her clothes, hesitant to meet his gaze.

"Uncle?" Grace called out in puzzlement.

Alden the Fourth retracted his gaze, inhaled deeply on his cigarette, then slowly exhaled, "Alright, Grace, when it comes to matters like this, listen to your mom... She’s experienced more in life than you have; do as she advises. The Donovan Family’s affairs are deep waters, some things can’t be rushed."

Though Grace was somewhat spoiled, she had an unquestioning reverence and dependence on her uncle, who had pampered her since childhood.

With him saying this, her small doubts dissipated as she obediently nodded: "Hmm, I understand, Uncle, I’ll follow Mom’s lead."

Alden the Fourth grunted in acknowledgment, then stood up, "Alright, it’s late, get some rest. If anything comes up, call me anytime."

He arrived unexpectedly, and left decisively.

Audrey Quinn saw Alden the Fourth off, closed the door, leaned against the cold door panel, and exhaled deeply, yet her palms were cold and damp...

...

Early the next morning, the winter sun carried a touch of lazy warmth.

Stella Sterling had arranged to meet a client at a high-end café near the law office. After finishing the meeting, she strolled alone down the street, heading back to the office.

She wore a neatly tailored oat-colored cashmere coat, a light gray cashmere scarf draped around her neck, her long hair loosely pinned up to reveal her fair and slender neck, exuding a cool yet capable aura.

Just as she reached an intersection lined with luxury shops, she heard a female voice she was all too familiar with...

"Jasper Hawthorne! What do you mean? Coming out with me to buy wedding stuff and you keep showing that deadpan face?!"

Stella’s steps paused, instinctively turning towards the direction of the voice.

In front of a jewelry store not far away, Grace Quinn was clutching Jasper Hawthorne’s arm, her face full of undisguised anger.

She was dressed particularly flamboyantly today, in a bright pink fur coat with heavy makeup, clashing with the surrounding elegant environment.

Jasper, on the other hand, was in a dark gray suit, standing tall despite his extremely bad mood, with tightly pressed lips and a look of impatience in his eyes.

"Grace Quinn, this is a public place, what are you doing?" His voice held suppressed fury, deep and raspy.

"I’m making a scene? How am I making a scene?!"

Grace’s voice rose sharply, attracting the attention of passersby, "You’ve been distracted since we entered the store, you’re even indifferent when I ask you to help pick a necklace! Jasper Hawthorne, are you still thinking about that..."

Her words came to an abrupt halt.

Her eyes suddenly fixed on Stella Sterling standing a few steps away.

In an instant, the rage on Grace’s face exploded like a lit powder keg.

She forcibly shook off Jasper’s hand, stormed over to Stella with her nails nearly poking Stella’s face.

"Stella Sterling! What are you doing here? Are you stalking us?"

Stella furrowed her brows slightly, stepping back, unwilling to engage further with the two, she turned to leave.

"Stop right there!" Grace wouldn’t relent, grabbing Stella’s arm with surprising force, her nails pressing painfully through the thick coat, "Don’t think I don’t know what’s in your dirty little mind! What, you can’t stand to see Jasper getting married to me? Well I’ll tell you, he’s now my fiancé! We’re about to get married! Don’t you dare try to seduce him again!"

Such blatant, twisted accusations made Stella feel thoroughly ridiculous.

She forcibly shook off Grace’s hand, coldly replying, "I have no interest in garbage that’s already been thrown away!"

"Who are you calling garbage?" Grace snapped, her voice sharp like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, "Stop pretending, if you had no intentions, why would Jasper keep thinking about you, he..."

"Grace!" Jasper finally stepped forward, grasping Grace’s wrist, pulling her away from Stella with barely contained anger in his voice, "Enough! Aren’t you embarrassed enough?"

"Embarrassed?" Grace looked completely incredulous, mixed with immense grievance and fury, her voice carrying a sob, "Jasper Hawthorne, you’re yelling at me because of her? You never used to treat me like this!"

Stella watched coldly from the side.

Grace’s words were indeed accurate.

Jasper had never really gotten angry at Grace before.

Never even a harsh word.

Now that their relationship was legitimate, he had changed.

How ironic...

"Alright, let’s not make a fuss, we’ll talk about this at home." Jasper frowned, trying to drag Grace away.

But Grace was unyielding, throwing his hand off, "Jasper Hawthorne, do you find it ridiculous? Are you still not giving up? Stella Sterling just called you garbage! And yet, here you are, treating her like a precious memory!"

Precious memory?

Stella was momentarily stunned, then she laughed with bitter amusement.

This was truly the most sarcastic joke she’s heard.

Letting him be with his childhood sweetheart, she ended up being the precious memory?

Could there be anything more absurd in the world?