After Betrayal - I Married a Handsome Tycoon-Chapter 46: She Won’t Take the Blame for Seduction
For a moment, Moira Sloan suspected she was hearing things.
But when she heard it a second time, she knew her ears weren’t playing tricks on her. She was young and healthy, with sharp eyes and ears.
She’d recognize that voice even if it were turned to ash.
It was her former, would-be mother-in-law.
Over the past seven years, she had endured countless caustic remarks from the woman. On one hand, the woman used Moira’s name to gain prestige with bigwigs in the art world; on the other, she privately held Moira’s family in utter contempt.
If Shane Jennings hadn’t stepped in to play peacemaker every time, they would have had a major falling out long ago. Back then, Moira had genuinely loved Shane and didn’t want to put him in a tough spot, so she’d let it slide.
’Wait, who did she just call?’
’Connor?’
’Connor Quinn?’
Moira Sloan frowned and glanced up at Connor Quinn. When she saw his expression was completely unchanged, she wondered if it was just someone else with a similar voice.
But when she turned toward the source of the voice, her eyes met Laura Cheney’s, who was dressed to the nines like a wealthy socialite. Both women stared at each other as if they had just seen a ghost.
Compared to Moira, Laura Cheney’s reaction was far more ’colorful’.
Her gaze darted between Moira and Connor Quinn. Finally, forcing a calm facade, she squeezed out a smile and looked at Connor. "Connor, is this your girlfriend?"
Connor Quinn’s expression was impassive, betraying no emotion. "Mm."
Hearing this, Laura Cheney’s grip on her handbag tightened. "Heh heh."
To say the situation was awkward would be an understatement.
Standing beside Connor Quinn, Moira watched the scene unfold with curious amusement, her mind racing to figure out who Connor was to them.
She had noticed that Laura Cheney seemed to be quite afraid of him.
A deep-seated fear that came from her very bones.
Now *that* was a rare sight.
In all the years she’d known Laura Cheney, she had only ever seen her act this way in front of Master Jennings. Even with the Jennings family matriarch, Laura would still make the occasional passive-aggressive remark.
The thought of the Jennings matriarch made Moira’s heart soften. The old woman had genuinely liked her, doting on and cherishing her.
’Too bad I’ll never have the chance to see her again.’
While Moira’s mind was racing, Laura Cheney exchanged a few brief words with Connor Quinn before leaving with her assistant.
Just before she left, Laura put on a pleasant expression and said to Connor, "You should come home for a visit when you have time. Grandpa and Grandma miss you very much."
Connor’s voice was chilly. "Mm."
After saying her piece, Laura walked past Moira, shooting her a venomous glare. In a voice low enough for only the two of them to hear, she warned, "Drop whatever little scheme you’re cooking up."
Moira subtly arched an eyebrow but didn’t say a word.
’Drop my little scheme?’
’What scheme?’
Once Laura Cheney was out of sight, Moira and Connor Quinn took the elevator downstairs.
They walked out of the mall and got into the car.
Connor tossed the clothes he was holding into the back seat. Leaning back in the passenger seat, Moira watched him with a wry smile. "Do you know Shane Jennings?"
Connor looked back at her, his expression unchanging. "Who?"
"My ex-boyfriend," Moira said.
Connor’s brow twitched slightly. "Never heard of him."
Moira narrowed her eyes at him, clearly skeptical.
But as she thought about it, Moira recalled the two previous times Connor and Shane Jennings had run into each other. They really hadn’t seemed to know one another.
’But if Connor doesn’t know Shane, how could he possibly know Laura Cheney?’
’And judging by their interaction, they had to be... relatives...’
Moira couldn’t make sense of it, so she stopped trying to piece it together. Instead, she just stared intently at Connor Quinn.
With his broad shoulders leaning back against the seat and one hand resting on the steering wheel, Connor met her gaze.
After a full minute, Connor suddenly leaned in. His large hand cupped the back of her neck, gently pulling her toward him. He looked down into her eyes and said, "If you have a question, just ask. Don’t make me guess."
Since he’d given her permission to ask, Moira didn’t beat around the bush. "What’s your relationship with that woman we just saw?"
"My aunt," Connor said.
Moira’s brows knitted. "Your actual aunt?"
His voice was deep. "Mm-hm."
Moira’s heart clenched. She gritted her teeth. "Then you’re telling me you didn’t know her son is Shane Jennings?"
As she said it, Moira nearly coughed up blood in frustration.
Connor watched her, raising an eyebrow. After a long moment, his expression placid, he said, "So, I slept with my cousin’s ex-fiancée. Was that by chance? Or was it your idea of revenge?"
