Our Love Story: Hard to Guard Against the Sudden Love Strike-Chapter 220 - 218: Losing Composure

Sienna Thornton also sized up Quentin Thorne.

If she remembered correctly, the current Dean of Court G should be in his fifties to sixties, but the man before her looked merely in his early forties—so young that it was hard to associate him with the highest power in the domestic judicial field.

"Where is Thornton currently employed?" Quentin Thorne put down his teacup, smiling as he asked.

"Hmm?" Sienna reverted to the present, replying politely, "I’ve just resigned from the Forresters, I’m setting up a partnership firm."

Sitting nearby, Simon Forrester added, "Sienna practiced in the international department of Vantage for two years after returning from the United States. Last year, coinciding with the expiration of her contract with Vantage, the Forresters happened to need someone, so I asked her to help out for a couple of months."

Quentin Thorne nodded, his gaze returning to Sienna Thornton, smiling as he said, "What did Thornton do in the United States?"

The question was clearly directed at Sienna, yet for some reason, she seemed lost in thought and didn’t answer. Sitting next to her, Simon Forrester glanced at her and replied on her behalf, "She previously pursued a JD degree at Harvard, returning to China in 2016."

"Hmm..." Quentin Thorne nodded, pondering for a moment before looking at Sienna Thornton, admiration glowing in his eyes, "The entry competition for law schools in the United States is incredibly fierce, and the selection process is extremely harsh, not to mention the high-level degree at a prestigious university. Thornton is truly outstanding, and clearly aware of her strengths; pursuing international pathways is excellent! After our country’s accession to the World Trade Organization, legal experts in handling international trade disputes are highly sought after! Thornton has a bright future ahead!"

"..." Sienna Thornton was momentarily stuck, unable to continue the conversation; perhaps she was just nervous meeting Dean Thorne for the first time, or her mind was elsewhere.

Simon Forrester looked at her worriedly, assuming she was nervous and shy, so he continued answering for her, "Yes, Sienna’s practice direction is precisely as you mentioned. She concurrently studied Economics during her undergrad at HKU and is indeed very adept at resolving trade disputes."

He briefly mentioned the trade dispute cases Sienna successfully handled for the Forresters last year.

Quentin Thorne listened, nodding, with unrestrained admiration for Sienna Thornton evident in his eyes, just like Old Master Forrester. This admiration reached a point where it couldn’t be concealed—or maybe, in the presence of this brilliant young talent, he never intended to hide his appreciation.

But Sienna Thornton was absent-minded throughout, sometimes staring into her teacup, other times gazing blankly at Quentin Thorne.

As the conversation carried on, Mrs. Thorne came in from outside, inviting, "Dinner is ready, everyone come in to eat."

Simon Forrester stood up, exchanging greetings with her.

Perhaps by nature, Mrs. Thorne lacked Quentin Thorne’s enthusiasm; she only engaged in brief pleasantries with Simon Forrester before returning to the dining room.

Sienna Thornton observed Mrs. Thorne’s cold demeanor and wondered: why such a warm and affable gentleman like Dean Thorne is paired with someone as cold as Mrs. Thorne?

Quentin Thorne and Uncle Grant warmly invited Simon Forrester and Sienna Thornton to stay for dinner. Simon Forrester, fearing Sienna might feel uncomfortable, made an excuse to return to the old residence to accompany his grandfather, leaving the Grant Family soon after with Sienna.

Before they left, Quentin Thorne handed Sienna Thornton a business card, telling her she could call him to discuss any difficulties encountered in her work in the future.

He mentioned the word "discuss"; such a high-ranking person showed no airs, offering this young professional high respect.

Sienna Thornton accepted the card, feeling a lump in her throat.

On the way back, she told Simon Forrester, "Dean Thorne is indeed a good person."

Simon Forrester also reflected, "Yes, Dean Thorne is truly nice; he is kind to the elderly and respectful of the younger generation, with great integrity."

"But," Sienna Thornton instinctively tightened her grasp on Simon Forrester’s hand, "Mrs. Thorne seems difficult to interact with."

Simon Forrester chuckled softly, "Your intuition is quite accurate. Mrs. Thorne and Dean Thorne are two different kinds of people. Mrs. Thorne is aloof and stern; I’ve never seen her smile from childhood to adulthood, often acting as if everyone owes her."

Sienna Thornton exclaimed in surprise, "Ah! Why would it be like that? She’s so beautiful and graceful, with a husband like Dean Thorne, why behave in such a manner?"

Simon Forrester did not respond further until he was holding Sienna Thornton’s hand, returning to the Forrester Family’s courtyard. With the gate closed, he whispered, "It’s said that after Dean Thorne got engaged with her, he fell in love with another girl, causing such a turmoil that he wanted to break off the engagement. It was a very serious affair back then. She was the high-profile young lady of the Grant Family, her father and brothers were all high-ranking officials at the time, and they couldn’t accept such a blow to their reputation, so perhaps that’s the origin of the marital discord."

Sienna Thornton didn’t expect to hear gossip about the Dean of Court G’s matrimonial issues one day, her mouth agape in shock.

Simon Forrester tousled her hair, then led her toward the inner yard, advising as they walked, "Okay, let’s keep these matters between us, no need to share it around."

Sienna Thornton nodded, indicating she understood.

She was still clutching the humble business card tightly, didn’t know why, but she felt she would meet Dean Thorne again.

-

When they entered the house, Old Master Forrester was in the inner hall watching TV. Upon noticing their return, he promptly beckoned them to sit, "Did you introduce Thornton to Dean Thorne?"

Sienna Thornton responded affirmatively, "We chatted with Dean Thorne until now."

Old Master Forrester chuckled, further asking, "Did you get Dean Thorne to guide you on your work?"

Sienna Thornton pursed her lips, embarrassed to admit she was distracted staring at Dean Thorne the entire time.

Simon Forrester removed his jacket, sat down beside them, smiling, "Of course, what do you think we could talk about for one or two hours?"

Old Master Forrester nodded contentedly, reclining against the sofa, raising a hand to scratch his ear, dismissively snorting, "That old Grant, when his granddaughter became a prosecutor a few years back, he talked to me about it for an entire month; even my bird is scared of him!"

"Dean Thorne’s daughter is a prosecutor?" Simon Forrester quizzed, "Isn’t his daughter still young? How can she be a prosecutor so early?"

"That girl didn’t pursue further education after undergrad; directly worked as a clerk at the suburban court of the county court, climbed her way up from the bottom!"

"What age is she?" Simon Forrester probed.

Old Master Forrester pondered for a moment, "Probably around Thornton’s age, she looks quite young."

Listening quietly to the conversation, Sienna Thornton added, "To be a prosecutor by your twenties is quite impressive."

Old Master Forrester smugly retorted, "Who doesn’t know their family has connections? In my view, Thornton achieving her accomplishments independently is truly remarkable."

Simon Forrester was equally puzzled, "Dean Thorne only has one daughter?"

"Yes," Old Master Forrester affirmed, "Dean Thorne is an only child too; theoretically, during the ’one-child two-child’ policy, he could easily have more children, but somehow they only had this daughter, perhaps owing to poor marital relations..."

Realizing he spoke too much, the elderly man decided to hold his tongue.