After Betrayal - I Married a Handsome Tycoon-Chapter 82: Setting a Trap, and He’s Serious About It
Some other man?
Connor Quinn?
Seeing these two messages, Moira Sloan narrowed her eyes and glanced up at Connor Quinn.
He was standing right in front of her, looking down and taking in every word on her screen.
But his expression was calm, betraying no hint of panic or guilt.
They stared at each other for a moment before Moira, finding it pointless, broke the silence with a sneer. "You two brothers are quite a pair. Both of you so sanctimonious."
’Neither of them is any good.’
Connor Quinn replied coolly, "Ten bucks for the ride. We’ll be even. Getting in?"
Moira pursed her lips at his words.
At this hour, forget hailing a cab; the roads were practically empty of even private cars.
Moira was silent for about thirty seconds. Without a word, she got into the car.
This time, however, she didn’t take the passenger seat, sliding into the back instead.
Seeing her get in, Connor didn’t linger outside. He walked around to the driver’s side and got behind the wheel.
As the car pulled onto the road, neither of them spoke.
Connor focused on driving; Moira focused on her phone.
Tell him to get lost.
Flora Rhodes: Aren’t you curious about what he has to say?
Moira Sloan: What does it have to do with me?
Flora Rhodes: ??
Moira Sloan: I have nothing to do with those two brothers, and I have zero interest in their business.
After Moira sent the message, Flora didn’t reply right away.
A moment later, it seemed to dawn on Flora. She asked: Did you and the other man break up?
Moira lowered her gaze to her phone, unable to stop a scornful smile from forming. We were never together. How could we break up?
Flora Rhodes: ...
Flora’s internal monologue: ’For crying out loud, the way you two were looking at each other at Shane Jennings’s wedding... you could practically see the sparks fly. And you’re telling me you weren’t together?!’
But that was a thought Flora only dared to have, not to voice. After a moment’s hesitation, she typed: You really don’t want to know?
Moira Sloan: No.
About ten minutes later, the car arrived at Moira’s apartment complex.
The car stopped. Connor glanced at her in the rearview mirror. As Moira pushed the door open to get out, the phone he’d tossed on the center console suddenly rang.
Connor glanced down at it and, without any attempt to hide it from Moira, answered the call. "Hello? Who’s this?"
On the other end, Leo Lawson let out an exasperated laugh. "Nine hundred and ninety-nine white chrysanthemums, Quinn, you—"
Connor leaned to the side, resting a hand on the steering wheel. "Buying a house?"
Leo was silent on the other end.
Connor said, "Six hundred thousand. Price is firm."
Again, silence from Leo.
Connor’s brow furrowed as he spoke into the phone. "It comes with all the furniture. I really can’t go any lower."
Leo, figuring out what was going on, let out a soft snort and listened quietly to the performance.
As expected, Connor didn’t disappoint. A second later, his voice dropped. "Five hundred thousand? No, that’s too low."
After a brief pause, Connor spoke again. "Can you close tomorrow? I can only accept payment in full."
Leo said, "Quinn, don’t you think you’re laying it on a bit thick?"
Connor said, "Fine. I’ll cover the transfer fees. See you tomorrow."
With that, he hung up before Leo could say another word.
After hanging up, Connor stared down at the dark screen of his phone, silent for a long moment.
Moira had seen it all. She’d been about to get out, but her brow furrowed. "Did you really just sell your house for five hundred thousand?"
Houses in Everwood County weren’t expensive, but Connor’s place was in a prime location. Even six hundred thousand would have been a steal.
Five hundred thousand.
At that price, he was practically giving it away.
At that thought, Moira suddenly realized something: Connor was genuinely desperate for money.
Otherwise, who would sell their own house for so little?
When Connor didn’t answer, Moira’s frown deepened. "How much does Jade Quinn’s surgery cost?"
Connor looked up, reaching for his cigarettes. "The surgery and follow-up care will be around eight hundred thousand," he answered in a low voice.
Moira asked, "And how much do you have now?"
Connor lit a cigarette. "Even after selling the house, I’ll still be short a few tens of thousands."
Moira fell silent.
’Even a hero can be brought down by a lack of money.’
Connor was usually such a tough, unyielding man. Though his face showed nothing now, his eyes were filled with a deep gloom.
Moira clutched her purse. She thought about how she had used him, and how he had helped take care of Jean Hale for the past couple of days. Her heart softened. "Look, however much you’re short, I’ll lend it to you. You can pay me back whenever you’re able."
Connor flicked the ash from his cigarette. "I don’t need it."
Moira started, "You—"
Connor cut her off. "It’s getting late. You should go get some rest."
Hearing Connor’s clear dismissal, Moira swallowed the rest of her words.
’Fine. She’d said what she needed to say.’
’If he wouldn’t accept her help, there was nothing more she could do.’
The corner of Moira’s mouth twitched into a small, wry smile as she pushed the door open and got out.
Just as she disappeared into the darkness, the phone in Connor’s hand rang again.
He glanced at the screen. Seeing the two words "Shane Jennings," his eyes turned cold. He swiped to answer. "Speak."
