On the Day I Was Kicked Out of the Wealthy Family, I Had a Flash Marriage with a Tycoon-Chapter 155: Wishful Thinking

Over the phone, Tristan Sinclair scoffed. "I’m not blind. You think I’d defend her? You actually believe a moronic rumor like that!"

Damian Rivers glanced at Rose Lynch’s face, which was red and pale by turns, and added, "I didn’t believe it at first. But when you hear a rumor so many times, you can’t help but have doubts. That’s why I’m asking you."

"Where exactly did you hear this from? Tell me. I’d like to see who has a death wish!"

Hearing this, the color drained from Rose Lynch’s already mottled face.

’How could this be?’

’Esther insisted that Tristan Sinclair defended her, that he liked her. How could this be happening?’

A flicker of terror crossed her pale face, terrified that Damian Rivers would reveal her name.

After a two or three-second pause, Damian Rivers said, "You should just investigate it yourself. I’m hanging up."

With that, he hung up.

"Ms. Lynch, I don’t need to say anything more, do I?"

Rose Lynch looked utterly mortified, unable to utter a single word.

Damian Rivers turned to Chloe Sterling. "Let’s go."

Chloe Sterling didn’t say anything more. She just nodded and left with him.

Watching the two of them leave, Rose Lynch’s heart was a tangle of complicated emotions.

"What do you want to eat?" Damian Rivers asked suddenly.

Chloe Sterling replied, "Thank you for what you did just now. But I already made plans to get hot pot with my colleagues. They’re waiting for me."

"Hot pot works for me! It’s perfect for winter. You don’t mind if I join, do you?"

"..."

In the end, Damian Rivers still went to the hot pot restaurant with Chloe Sterling.

When they saw the two walk into the restaurant, Maya Jacobs and the other two looked stunned.

"Isn’t that the Heir of the Rivers? Why is he with Chloe?"

"Did the Heir of the Rivers come looking for Chloe again?"

The three of them were still staring blankly as the pair approached their table.

Damian Rivers smiled. "Hello, everyone. Mind if one more person joins? It’s on me."

Maya Jacobs snapped back to her senses and said quickly, "We don’t mind, we don’t mind at all! Uh... that’s not what I meant. We wouldn’t mind even if you weren’t paying, Young Master Rivers."

Damian Rivers chuckled. "Then I’ll take you up on that."

After the two sat down, Maya Jacobs asked curiously, "Chloe, how did you end up coming with Young Master Rivers? Did you two have plans?"

Chloe Sterling replied, "We just happened to run into each other."

"What a coincidence?"

"Mhm."

Damian Rivers said, "Actually, I came looking for Chloe specifically to thank her for healing my aunt."

Wyatt Hank exclaimed, "Chloe, you saved someone again!"

Chloe Sterling said lightly, "It was nothing serious."

Maya Jacobs said, "You can solve serious problems, too! Chloe, I bet it won’t be long before your medical skills become famous throughout Crestfall."

Chloe Sterling let out a sudden laugh. "I hope not."

She had no intention of exposing the full extent of her medical skills or her identity as a top-level pharmacist.

"Why not?" their third friend asked, confused.

Chloe Sterling said, "Then I probably wouldn’t have time to come to the lab anymore."

The three of them fell silent at the same time.

If Chloe Sterling left the lab, their progress would be cut in half.

’Better not let that happen, then.’

Damian Rivers picked up the pitcher of juice, poured a glass, and placed it by Chloe Sterling’s hand. "Have some orange juice."

Chloe Sterling glanced at him. "Thank you."

Damian Rivers smiled. "Don’t be so formal."

Maya Jacobs smirked, sizing up the pair with an expression that screamed gossip.

Damian Rivers had a sunny and cheerful personality, with none of the airs of a top-tier scion. He was completely at ease, chatting and eating with the group.

Maya Jacobs and the other two were even more impressed with him.

Chloe Sterling didn’t say much. She spent most of the time eating quietly and listening to the others chat, only joining the conversation when asked a direct question.

Thinking she was in a bad mood because of Rose Lynch’s appearance, Damian Rivers comforted her, "Chloe, there’s no need to be unhappy over someone who isn’t worth it. That’s just punishing yourself for someone else’s mistake."

Chloe Sterling said coolly, "I’m not unhappy. I’m just not much of a talker. Once you get to know me, you’ll find I’m actually pretty boring."

The lab members could attest to that; she was never very talkative.

Damian Rivers said, "How is that boring? That’s just being cool and aloof, just like... certain other people."

Chloe Sterling looked at him, then glanced at the meat in his bowl. "Just eat your meat."

Damian Rivers just smiled and went back to eating.

Rose Lynch returned home in a daze.

Ruby Lynch was already waiting for her. The moment she saw her, she asked, "How did it go? What was her attitude? Is the matter resolved?"

Rose Lynch pressed her lips together and said nothing.

"Say something, will you? What’s with that expression? What on earth happened?"

Rose Lynch walked to the sofa and sat down, ordering a servant, "Get me a glass of hot water."

"Yes, Madam."

The servant immediately went to get the water, quickly returning with a glass and handing it to her. "Madam, your water."

Even after drinking most of the hot water, Rose Lynch still felt a chill that seemed to seep from her very bones.

Seeing her state, Ruby Lynch stopped asking questions and frowned. "Judging by your expression, it seems that damned girl is still determined to have her own way!"

"I saw Young Master Rivers. He went to find Chloe," Rose Lynch said suddenly.

"Mason Rivers?" 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"Not him. It was the so-called Crown Prince of the Rivers Family, Damian Rivers."

Hearing this, Ruby Lynch was stunned. "Damian Rivers went looking for Chloe Sterling? The two of them know each other?"

Rose Lynch nodded. "They seem very familiar with each other. He’s very protective of Chloe. He must be the one who’s been backing her up all this time."

"So it was him! No wonder that damned girl is so arrogant. She really has some skills." After a pause, Ruby Lynch added, "But it’s no big deal. There’s still a huge gap between the Rivers Family and the Sinclair Family."

At the mention of the Sinclair Family, Rose Lynch’s expression soured even more, but she didn’t want to bring up such an embarrassing and humiliating incident.

Ruby Lynch continued, "Once Esther gets into The Sinclair Group and gets together with President Sinclair, what does Damian Rivers even count for!" As she spoke, she suddenly sighed. "It’s a shame I don’t have a daughter, otherwise... well, never mind that. I’ll have to find a way to deal with this myself."

She resolved that even if it cost six million to settle this, she wouldn’t be threatened by a few little bitches and just hand the money over to them for nothing.

Rose Lynch pinched the bridge of her nose. "I’m not feeling well. I’m going to go up and rest for a bit."

"Go on, then." Ruby Lynch stood up, clearly displeased. "I’m leaving."

「That afternoon, Esther Sterling returned.」

Rose Lynch had taken a nap and her complexion had improved slightly. She sat on the sofa, staring unblinkingly at the newly returned Esther Sterling.

"Mom, what’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Esther, be honest with me. Has The Sinclair Group given you an answer yet or not?"

Esther Sterling’s heart tightened. "What do you mean by that?"

"Does President Sinclair really like you? Has he said anything to you? Has he given you any clear indication?"

Esther Sterling’s expression flickered. The Sinclair Group had given her an answer, but it was a rejection.

As for a clear indication, aside from helping her twice, Tristan Sinclair had never said more than a single word to her.

Esther Sterling clenched her hands into fists. The chill from being outside hadn’t faded, yet her palms were slick with a fine sweat. "No, he hasn’t made any clear indication."

Rose Lynch asked, "Then how can you be so sure he likes you?"

Esther Sterling didn’t want to think about it too deeply, much less admit that she might just be deluding herself. "Of all people, he treated me differently. Doesn’t that mean he cares about me? Mom, don’t ask about this for now. I’ll go see President Sinclair in person tomorrow and get a clear answer."

She refused to believe Tristan Sinclair didn’t like her at all. It had to be the people under him, trying to sabotage her.