Audrey Sutton and Vanessa Sterling bumped into Quentin Sterling in the restaurant. He was accompanied by several assistants in suits, seemingly there to discuss work.

Quentin Sterling had been somewhat at odds with Vanessa due to Clarissa Morgan’s issue.

Although Quentin now understood what kind of person Clarissa was and realized he had wronged Vanessa, a lot of things happened to Vanessa afterwards. He never got the chance to properly apologize to her.

Since then, Vanessa didn’t dare to meet Quentin again, and even now, upon running into him, she didn’t dare to greet him like she used to.

Quentin whispered a couple of words to the people beside him, and they promptly headed upstairs via a nearby staircase.

Quentin walked over alone, still gently observing Vanessa, with a slight smile, saying, "Vanessa, long time no see. I heard from Miles that you’re alive, and I’m really glad, but you haven’t returned home and I couldn’t reach you since you changed your phone number."

Vanessa’s smile was full of unfamiliarity and restraint: "... Uncle."

"The way you call me ’Uncle’ makes me feel quite guilty. I misunderstood you during that incident last time and said some harsh words. I’ve wanted to personally apologize to you."

Vanessa shook her head with a smile, pursing her lips as she said, "The past is behind us, I’ve forgotten all about it."

Quentin smiled warmly, using the tone of a senior caring for the junior, saying, "Is Miles living with you? He doesn’t seem to be in a good mental state lately, frequently getting drunk. He ignores the family’s advice."

Vanessa’s smile faded as she replied, "I haven’t been in contact with him recently, so I’m not sure about his situation."

Quentin, slightly surprised, said, "Weren’t you two living together before? I noticed Miles hasn’t been home much, so I thought you were still together. I wanted to ask if anything happened with him recently."

Vanessa shook her head: "I don’t know what’s going on with him."

Although Quentin was unsure about what happened recently, he saw Vanessa didn’t seem willing to talk much about Miles, so he didn’t press further.

"I have some business to attend to today, so I won’t be joining you for dinner."

Vanessa nodded: "Uncle, you go ahead."

After everything that happened, Vanessa understood her feelings for Quentin weren’t romantic.

She liked Quentin because he was the only one who showed her care and warmth when others ostracized and bullied her, so she naturally had goodwill toward him. But that goodwill wasn’t the romantic kind.

After all that happened, she just wanted to live a peaceful life she liked on her own, and at least for now, she wasn’t ready to accept someone else into her life emotionally.

Or, perhaps, she was afraid to engage, fearing losing the hard-won freedom once again.

After lunch, Audrey Sutton and Vanessa went shopping on the street, bought some clothes, and went to the cinema to watch a movie.

Just in time to meet Shane Warner as he finished work, arriving at the cinema to pick them up.

After dropping Vanessa off at her destination, with just the couple in the car, Shane Warner started lecturing Audrey Sutton: "I told you not to wander around aimlessly, but you just keep wanting to go out all day."

Audrey Sutton murmured softly: "Sister Phoebe went out of town with my brother, and no one else wants to hang out with me during the day. It’s boring to stay home alone."

Shane Warner: "Then I’ll wake you up when I get up tomorrow, and you can come to the company with me."

Audrey Sutton: "That sounds even more boring. You’ll be busy working, and I don’t want to disturb you. I’d just be playing on my phone."

Shane Warner: "Looks like I shouldn’t have sent our son to Mom’s place, I should’ve let you care for him, so you wouldn’t be bored all day."

Audrey Sutton: "I originally said there was no need to send him, you insisted on making it troublesome."

Shane Warner glanced at Audrey Sutton, irritably saying: "Now you’re blaming me. If our son wasn’t sent away, would you be wandering outside so happily alone?"

Audrey Sutton chuckled: "True, I bought a lot of stuff today. I bought clothes for you and our son, after dinner we’ll go home and you both can try them on."

Shane Warner: "My phone hasn’t stopped notifying me about card transactions all afternoon."

Audrey Sutton pouted and muttered: "Sure, you say it like that. You just wanted to supervise me, deliberately giving me a card linked to a phone number so you know even if I buy a one-dollar lollipop."

Shane Warner: "I did that to keep an eye on the balance and top up when it’s running low."

Audrey Sutton: "Don’t give me that, who’d believe it?"

Shane Warner chuckled softly without speaking, steering the car towards The Suttons in the warm glow of the setting sun.

Vanessa returned home alone, listening to news radio while preparing dinner.

She had learned a lot of culinary skills online recently, even if not perfected yet, she certainly improved greatly, and at least wasn’t constantly eating frozen food.

The broadcast mentioned the issue in that small county last time, saying several other leaders were arrested, providing some closure for those following the matter.

Upon recalling this incident, Vanessa couldn’t help but think of Miles Sterling, who appeared during her critical moment.

Since Miles Sterling was hospitalized after being shot, she hadn’t visited him, let alone thanked him.

It wasn’t that she didn’t feel gratitude, but she was afraid of getting entangled with Miles again.

When she first returned to Rivia, she was always anxious, fearing Miles Sterling would bother her once discharged.

Later, Audrey Sutton mentioned that Miles Sterling was discharged four days after the incident and returned to Rivia.

During this time, Miles hadn’t sought her out, which gradually eased Vanessa’s anxiety.

She didn’t know what prompted such a change in Miles, but she was most fearful of his emotional instability, worried he might reverse his stance and imprison her again.

Just the thought of such a possibility chilled Vanessa to the bone.

Back when they met on the mountain, Miles indeed seemed different than before, but that didn’t change Vanessa’s fear of him.

Because there were numerous previous instances where Miles would treat her very well.

But it was precisely because he couldn’t tolerate Vanessa’s slightest disobedience or resistance, that any minor displeasure from her actions would agitate him, leading him to punish and reprimand her until she dared not argue with him.

The boiling water in the pot rumbled, pulling Vanessa back from those daunting thoughts.

A dish and a soup, simply enjoying dinner alone.

After cleaning the kitchen, Vanessa opened the door to take out the trash when she suddenly bumped into a shadow...