He Does Not Deserve My Devotion-Chapter 74: All Kinds of Ingratiation

"That’s right. This is my revenge," Aiden Sinclair admitted.

Sophia Sawyer trembled, her eyes widening. "I am your mother. Everything I’ve done was for your own good. Clara Jacobs has an excellent family background and is incredibly talented. The Jacobs Family is also willing to support you. How is she in any way inferior to that Nina Walsh?"

A chill settled in Aiden Sinclair’s heart. ’To think that even now, she could still say those words—’for your own good’—without a hint of shame.’

’Treating him like a puppet, controlling his freedom, beating him when he disobeyed... that was also ’for his own good’?’

Aiden Sinclair’s cold demeanor made Sophia Sawyer realize their relationship as mother and son was completely fractured.

Instinctively, she believed the person responsible for this problem wasn’t her, but Nina Walsh.

’If that woman hadn’t shown up, Aiden would have married Clara Jacobs long ago, and the Sinclair fortune would already be theirs.’

As if he could read minds, Aiden Sinclair instantly discerned Sophia Sawyer’s thoughts. He picked up a file from the table.

"I’ve already transferred all my assets to Nina Walsh, including my half of the Sinclair Group fortune. If she has an ’accident,’ all assets will be automatically donated to charity. No one else will get a single cent."

"What? You...!"

Sophia Sawyer was so furious she was rendered speechless.

’Aiden actually used all his assets to shield Nina Walsh. He’s gone mad. He must be completely insane!’

...

Nina Walsh sat listlessly in the car for a while, her fingers twirling the tassels on her shawl.

"Bored of waiting?"

Aiden Sinclair got into the car, his arm wrapping around her like a tentacle. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Nina Walsh squirmed, moving a little farther away from him. "Don’t get close to me. It’s suffocating."

Instead, Aiden Sinclair took her hand, lacing their fingers together.

As the car started to move, Aiden Sinclair began to murmur.

"I love your scent. Whenever you’re near, my heart settles and I feel at peace. My therapist says my insomnia stems from a fear of the dark—it’s a psychological knot. Your fragrance might be the key to untying it."

"And who’s going to untie my knot...?"

Nina Walsh murmured to the window. After a moment’s thought, she let out a laugh.

’How laughable. Aiden Sinclair wanted her to save him, but who was going to save her?’

’Then again, she had no knots to untie. Her heart had died long ago.’

’A walking corpse, someone who barely even thinks—how could she have any knots left to untie?’

Nina Walsh’s lifeless tone made Aiden Sinclair’s heart clench. He began to have second thoughts. ’Is it really right for me to force her to stay by my side?’

"Mr. Sinclair, we’re here."

The car stopped at Skyscape Plaza. Aiden Sinclair, acting as if nothing had happened, led her into a jewelry store.

The store manager’s surprise at seeing Aiden Sinclair with a woman who wasn’t Clara Jacobs lasted only a second before being replaced by a professional smile as she ushered them into the VIP room.

"Mr. Sinclair, the pair of rings you ordered are ready."

The woman’s ring featured an abstract rose design. At its heart was a large diamond, with the delicate lines of the petals around it studded with smaller pavé diamonds of the same hue. It was both exquisite and opulent.

The man’s ring, meanwhile, was much simpler: a clean platinum band engraved with the design of its counterpart.

"Try it on."

Aiden Sinclair picked up the diamond ring, took Nina Walsh’s right hand, and slipped it onto her ring finger.

The manager immediately began to heap on the praise. "The ring is magnificent, but not gaudy. A design from Mr. Sinclair’s own hand—it truly complements Mrs. Sinclair’s aura perfectly."

"Do you like it?" Aiden Sinclair asked.

"A ring meant for someone else doesn’t suit me."

Nina Walsh lifted her hand. As she let it drop, the ring slid off her finger and hit the floor with a sharp TINK.

The manager’s face went pale with fright. She quickly picked up the ring. "I’m so sorry, Mrs. Sinclair. Our artisan must have gotten the size wrong. We’ll have it adjusted for you."

But Aiden Sinclair held her slender wrist, his expression apologetic. "My mistake. You’ve gotten so thin these past few months that the ring is now several sizes too large."

The ring had to be taken back for resizing and would be delivered to Aethel once it was ready.

Nina Walsh looked weary, so Aiden Sinclair took her home.

While waiting for the elevator, a young couple next to them was holding a small white dog.

The little dog was wearing a little dress and even had a bow clipped to the fur on its head.

’I’m just like that dog now,’ Nina Walsh thought. ’Being held, led around, and forced into little outfits.’

’It all looks so refined on the surface, but it’s just captivity.’

Back at Cloudcrest Manor, Nina Walsh kicked off her shoes haphazardly and collapsed onto the bed, falling asleep.

’Sleep is probably the only freedom I have left.’

Aiden Sinclair came in behind her, neatly arranged the shoes she had kicked off, and placed a pair of slippers by the bed. Then, he sat on the edge of the mattress and, as was his custom, gently stroked her head to soothe her.

’I can’t be bothered to stop him,’ Nina thought. ’He can do whatever he wants.’

...

An unknown amount of time passed before Nina Walsh was awakened by a soft WHIMPERING.

She opened her eyes. The WHIMPERING sound continued, so she sat up.

Just then, a little dog resembling a white snowball trotted to the bedside on its short legs.

The girl and the dog stared at each other for a few seconds. Then, the little snowball let out two whimpers, turned its backside to her, and scampered over to the door, where it began to SCRITCH-SCRATCH at the wood with its paws.

It scratched a dozen times, but the door didn’t budge.

"ARF—" The little white dog turned to look at Nina Walsh on the bed and let out an impatient bark.

But it was too tiny. No matter how ferocious it tried to sound, it was still just a puppy.

Taking pity on it, Nina Walsh got out of bed to open the door for it.

It shot out like a flash, only to come to a screeching halt at the top of the stairs, stopping so suddenly it nearly tumbled over.

"ARF!" It stood at the edge of the landing, hesitated left and right, and then turned to give Nina Walsh another one of its adorably fierce barks.

Standing behind the door, Nina Walsh was amused by its antics. ’Are its legs too short to even manage the stairs?’

Nina Walsh walked over, picked it up, and carried it down to the first floor.

The little puppy immediately rushed to a tree in the garden, lifted its leg, and took a pee.

After it was done, it ran back and happily circled around Nina Walsh’s feet.

Nina Walsh was amused by the lively little creature. "What do you want, little one? Are you hungry? Need something to eat?"

"ARF!" As if in response, the puppy barked loudly again, this time with an enthusiastic tail wag.

"You can understand me? You really are a clever little dog."

When Nina Walsh went to the kitchen, Mrs. Lane was pleasantly surprised to see her downstairs.

"Mrs. Sinclair, are you hungry? There’s some bird’s nest porridge warming in the kitchen."

"Do you have any sausage? I want to feed the puppy."

"Yes, yes, we do. Please, have a seat, Mrs. Sinclair. I’ll go get it."

Nina Walsh sat down. Mrs. Lane served her a bowl of the bird’s nest porridge before preparing some dog food mixed with lean meat for the puppy.

The puppy ate with gusto at Nina Walsh’s feet. Influenced by its appetite, Nina quickly finished her own bowl of porridge.

Mrs. Lane added from the side, "The young master was worried you might be bored on your own, Mrs. Sinclair, so he had the puppy specially sent over. He’s had all his vaccinations and been dewormed; he’s very clean. The pet shop said his name is Riceball, and that he’s very smart and well-behaved."

"Mm. I see."

Nina Walsh responded and started to take Riceball upstairs, but Riceball suddenly darted to the front door. Afraid it would run off, Nina followed.

Mrs. Lane returned to the kitchen and excitedly picked up the phone. "Young Master, Mrs. Sinclair has finally come downstairs."