Half-Hearted: Mr. Sinclair, Stop the Act!-Chapter 72: She Was Truly Disappointed

Sienna Monroe froze for a moment, gathering her thoughts before she could clearly see the man’s face in front of her.

His face was fair, his nose was high and prominent, his features were distinct, and his eyes, which slightly turned up at the corners, were deep and held a somewhat reckless and nonchalant gleam.

This did resemble somewhat how he used to look.

It was impossible to tell he had been through setbacks and severe difficulties.

Although it was her first time meeting him, there had been quite a few tabloid stories about him.

In the Imperial City’s circle of high society, he was certainly considered a significant figure.

Even someone like her who usually didn’t pay much attention to entertainment news knew which girlfriends he had dated.

Besides Esther Sherwood, there were two or three famous actresses from the entertainment industry.

Despite being only 25 years old, his romantic life was rather eventful.

Sienna Monroe gave a slight smile and nodded gently, "Hello."

Her gaze shifted slightly, meeting Sebastian Prescott’s eyes in mid-air, and it lingered for a second. She also smiled and greeted him.

Sebastian Prescott nodded gently in response.

Harrison Hayes’s voice was clear, "Ms. Monroe, I heard from Sebastian that the case was really thanks to you. If not for you, I wouldn’t have gotten out so soon—at least another half a year."

Sienna Monroe’s face bore a faint smile, "I just happened to run into it by chance."

"That’s what you call fate."

Saying this, he made a ’please’ gesture, "Don’t just stand there, take a seat. Today you must eat freely. Don’t bother saving—this place’s signature Buddha jumps over the wall, Huaiyang Wen Si soup, and Ejiao lion heads are quite good."

Just as they were about to sit down, a deep and inquiring voice came from the doorway, "Honey?"

Sienna Monroe was stunned, turning her head, seeing a familiar tall and well-built figure reflected in her serene and gentle eyes.

It was Caleb Sinclair!

She was very surprised, not expecting him to be here.

Thinking this way, she asked, "Why are you here?"

"Mr. Warren’s dinner party is at this restaurant." Caleb Sinclair walked in naturally, his mouth carrying a gentle curve, "I didn’t expect your restaurant would also be here."

His gaze swept towards Sebastian Prescott, but upon seeing Harrison Hayes, his expression slightly froze.

As the third young master of The Sterling Family, he often mingled with the young masters of high society in the Imperial City, so naturally, he knew Harrison Hayes.

But they had not had much interaction.

Wasn’t he supposed to be dining with Sebastian Prescott?

Why is Harrison Hayes here too?

He pressed his lips together, suppressing the doubts in his heart, redirected his gaze back to Sebastian Prescott, and spoke warmly, "Long time no see, Lawyer Prescott."

"Not really, we just saw each other a few days ago at the hospital." Sebastian Prescott’s voice was indifferent, carrying a hint of coldness.

Caleb Sinclair was momentarily choked by his words, furrowing his brows, then chuckled, "True. As Sienna mentioned, you specially had someone bring SOULAUD’s Scar Removal Cream from Valden, you’ve been very considerate, thank you."

Hearing this, Sebastian Prescott lightly lifted his eyelids and glanced at him, the corners of his lips curling slightly into an arc, "No need, it was necessary. The parking lot incident is something I should thank her for."

"Lawyer Prescott is being too polite; my wife has always been kind-hearted, and since it happened, lending a hand was just a small task."

Sebastian Prescott wasn’t unfamiliar with the hostility emanating from Caleb Sinclair.

Aside from the first time at the school celebration event, this had been present on several other occasions.

He subconsciously glanced at Sienna Monroe, but quickly withdrew his gaze, "In matters involving life, expressing thanks is appropriate, Mr. Sinclair. There’s no need to be so formal."

In a few exchanges between the two, the atmosphere around them grew tense.

Harrison Hayes watched from the side, knowing only that Sebastian Prescott was handling Sienna Monroe’s divorce case, while Caleb Sinclair was still unaware.

As the tension was about to become awkward, he stepped forward to break the impasse actively, "Mr. Sinclair, it’s an honor."

"Second Young Master Hayes rather, it’s nice to meet you," Caleb Sinclair withdrew his gaze from Sebastian Prescott and nodded in response.

"Nice to meet you indeed, but don’t be so formal. I’m just here for a meal, let’s be casual." Harrison Hayes intentionally shifted the hosting to Sebastian Prescott.

"Come on, everyone sit down so we can chat."

Sienna Monroe’s eyebrows knitted tightly; she hadn’t spoken much. Since Caleb Sinclair appeared, she knew what he was scheming.

Clearly last night she had candidly told him about dining with Sebastian Prescott tonight. If he had mentioned wanting to join, she certainly wouldn’t have objected.

But now, he used the fact that she hadn’t told him the restaurant location as a pretext to feign an encounter while he was supposed to be socializing.

Just to play on his hidden suspicions.

She asked, "Isn’t it a problem to leave the social engagement?"

Caleb Sinclair’s hand paused as he was pulling out a chair for her, raising his head to meet her eyes filled with coldness, realizing she was angry.

His heart tightened, he responded with a gentle smile, "It’s fine, Landor and Manager Chaney are there, just a small engagement. I can message them later."

Sienna Monroe said nothing further, her lips pressed together as she sat down.

Just as the atmosphere was about to become tense again, Harrison Hayes timely spoke to enliven the mood, "Today it’s my treat from Sebastian Prescott, Mr. Sinclair, Ms. Monroe, don’t worry about saving his money."

Speaking as he did, he pushed the menu towards Sienna Monroe.

Sienna Monroe gently pushed it back, her lips carrying a soft smile, "You handle it, I’m unfamiliar with this restaurant, don’t know what’s good to eat."

Harrison Hayes took on the task, flipping through the menu while asking, "Okay. Do you have any dietary restrictions or allergies?"

Caleb Sinclair naturally replied, "Sienna doesn’t like onions and celery, allergic to mangoes and nuts like cashews, walnuts, almonds, peanuts."

"It’s quite a coincidence, Sebastian doesn’t eat those either, allergic to mangoes and peanuts," Harrison Hayes turned his head to Sebastian Prescott as if seeking confirmation, "Isn’t that right, Sebastian?"

Sienna Monroe paused her drinking motion, lifting her gaze at Sebastian Prescott opposite her, just as he looked back at her.

He lowered his eyelids and responded lightly, "Yes."

Caleb Sinclair furrowed his brows, feeling a sudden inexplicable sourness spreading through his heart, his grip on the cup intensified subconsciously.

"Such a coincidence? But nowadays quite a few people are allergic to these things."

The implication being that it’s not just the two of them who are allergic...

Sebastian Prescott’s lips curled faintly, his deep, cold eyes carrying a touch of indolence and mockery.

Subsequently, Harrison Hayes steered the topic away with some humorous banter.

The meal was tinged with a harmony that concealed slight awkwardness, with Sebastian Prescott saying little, and Sienna Monroe speaking only when prompted by Harrison Hayes.

After the meal ended, with Sebastian Prescott picking up the tab, they parted at the door, and Sienna Monroe’s face turned cold.

On the way home, Caleb Sinclair tried several times to engage her in conversation, but she ignored him.

Once home, Sienna Monroe headed straight in, and Caleb Sinclair chased after her, his voice slightly annoyed, "Sienna, what do you mean by this? How long do you intend to keep up the attitude?"

"During dinner, you were indifferent to me, and now still..."

"How dare you bring up dinner? What? You think you were being dignified?" Sienna Monroe turned to look at him, raising her voice to interrupt him.

Caleb Sinclair froze.

He had dated Sienna Monroe for three years before marrying her for another three, and the image he had of her was one of bright-eyed grace and gentleness.

Even during past arguments caused by Vivian Nash, she never spoke to him like this.

He frowned, "It’s just a meal with you and them, does that damage your reputation? Sienna, are you blaming me for Sebastian now?"

"Then why didn’t you tell me last night that you wanted to come with me? Why did you sneak behind my back? Do you think that’s honorable?"

"Sienna, is that really what you think of me?" Caleb Sinclair looked hurt.

Sienna Monroe questioned him, "I want to ask you, what have I done to make you doubt me like this? How can you use your narrow mind to presume my relationship with Sebastian?"

"Does this mean that from now on, you’ll question any male friend I have? Caleb Sinclair, you truly don’t trust me, after all these years together, am I really not worthy of your trust?!"

Her eyes welled with a light mist, her expression tinged with disappointment.

She was truly disappointed.

Whether it was his betrayal, his duplicity, suspicion, deceit, or compulsive lying, they shattered her previous knowledge.

Her heart, full of wounds, ached once more, tears pooling in her eyes but refusing to fall.

Why?

Why did that spirited, warm-hearted boy turn into this?

Her strength was drained, and she spoke coldly and lightly, "Think whatever you want."

After speaking, she turned and went upstairs.

Caleb Sinclair was stunned, her red eyes, her tears, and her face full of disappointment made his blood freeze, his heart felt compressed with gravity.

It hurt to breathe.

Without thinking, he hurried up the stairs, and in the cloakroom, he saw her.

He hurried over, seeing a white suitcase sprawled open, as Sienna Monroe packed clothes into it.

"Sienna..."

Sienna ignored him, continuing to throw her clothes into the suitcase.

Once it was almost full, she closed the suitcase, and as soon as she tried to lift it, Caleb Sinclair rushed over, grabbed her arm, and took the suitcase from her.

"Honey, where are you going..."

"Let go!" Sienna angrily freed herself from his grasp, "Since you doubt me like this, there’s no point in staying together. I’m going to my parent’s house, and then..."

"I didn’t, honey. Listen to me, I really didn’t follow you secretly; it was just a coincidence."

Hearing she was going back home, Caleb’s heart jumped to his throat, and he softened his voice to explain and apologize, "I was wrong, okay? I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that, it’s my fault."

Sienna stubbornly held onto the suitcase handle, refusing to speak.

"Honey, I truly know I’ve wronged you." Caleb Sinclair knelt down on one knee, pleading with her, "You can hit me or yell at me, but don’t hurt your health."

The stalemate lasted a while before Sienna spoke expressionlessly, "Leave, I don’t want to see you now, without my permission, don’t come back to the master bedroom."

"Honey..."

Seeing her resolute stance, Caleb sighed softly, asking, "Alright, if you don’t leave, I’ll follow what you say. I’ll help organize the clothes in the suitcase and then go, okay?"

As he said it, he cautiously opened the suitcase, took out the clothes inside, and hung them one by one.

Sienna didn’t bother with him, stepping directly into the bathroom.

That night, Caleb indeed moved to the guest bedroom, taking several sets of clothes with him, truly following her order not to step into the master bedroom without her permission.

The next morning, as she came downstairs, Caleb had already prepared breakfast.

His face still showed tenderness, "Honey, awake? Did you sleep well last night?"

Sienna ignored him, pulled out a chair, and silently started eating.

Caleb wanted to take her, but Sienna refused.

Faced with her cold demeanor, Caleb felt a bit lost, even somewhat defeated.

After being together for so long, when had Sienna ever treated him like this?

Caleb looked somewhat forlorn.

Upon arriving at the gallery, Sienna met Faye Irving and someone from the Art Association, along with Director Dawson, Nora Joyce, two exhibit group leaders, and the head of the research and planning department.

Once a cooperation intention was established, they started discussing the theme for this joint exhibition.

By the time it was confirmed, it was past noon.

Returning to the gallery, it was already past two.

She directed Nora, "Gather all departments, meeting in the conference room at 2:30."

"Yes."

As she reached the office door, her phone in her bag beeped with a message alert.

Ding!

[Radiance Beauty Spa will undergo a surprise inspection by the market supervision and quality inspection bureau at 10 AM tomorrow. Your uncle sent an anonymous tip alleging false advertising and consumer fraud by Radiance Beauty Spa. Tomorrow, unfavorable rumors about Radiance Beauty Spa will spread in the circle.]

A flash of surprise flickered in Sienna’s eyes.

She hadn’t expected her uncle to act so quickly.

Now she needed to find a way to get hold of the remaining account books that June Ewing kept in the old house’s safe.

The phone suddenly received a call.

It was her uncle, Fabian Hughes.

Since returning to the Hughes Family’s old residence two or three days ago, Fabian hadn’t contacted her.

Today was the first call.

She stepped inside, closed the office door, locked it, and then answered the phone, "Hello, Uncle."

"Sienna, busy lately?" A strong, powerful voice came from the other end.

"Managing, not too busy."

Fabian Hughes didn’t waste time, getting straight to the point, "How long have you been aware of the underground operations at Radiance Beauty Spa?"

Sienna paused, "Not long, it was merely suspicion before. It was during the tax inspection that I saw part of the illegal operations in the account books and confirmed it."

"Did you obtain that account book?"

"No, but I took photos of a few pages, incomplete."

Fabian Hughes fell silent for a few seconds, "I’ve secretly investigated the beauty salon’s matter these past few days. June Ewing has done it quite discreetly, finding very little trace. So don’t rush into this, especially given your role as a shareholder at Radiance Beauty Spa; even if you didn’t partake in the decision-making or operations, this scandal could surely implicate you."

"Particularly fearing that June will seize the opportunity to target you, hence, before the situation escalates, you must extricate yourself cleanly. I’ve maintained some rapport with The Prescott Family, their second son is a first-class lawyer in Imperial City, getting him to represent you in this case increases your chances."

Sienna’s expression froze momentarily.

The Prescott Family?

Second son?

She tentatively asked, "Uncle, the person you’re referring to... is it Sebastian?"