He Wouldn't Claim Me — Another Man Did-Chapter 54 - 48: Heavy Rain

Isla Prescott didn’t take Annabelle Leighton’s words to heart, until that Friday, when she ran into Cassie’s uncle, Quentin Linden, at the service center.

The weather forecast hadn’t predicted rain that day. At three in the afternoon, however, a low rumble of thunder suddenly echoed. The wind and rain came in a rush, instantly transforming the city. It was shrouded in a vast curtain of rain, and pedestrians scrambled for cover.

Unfortunately, at that very moment, Isla Prescott happened to be at the service center dropping off some review documents for her studio.

She didn’t have an umbrella and couldn’t hail a car on such short notice, so she could only stand at the main entrance of the service center and wait for the rain to stop.

"Ms. Prescott."

Someone called her from behind.

Isla Prescott turned at the sound of her name and saw Quentin Linden.

Quentin Linden was wearing a white shirt and a backpack. He smiled warmly at her. "I thought I was seeing things. It really is Ms. Prescott."

Isla Prescott smiled and nodded at him. "What a coincidence."

"It is. Are you here to run some errands too, Ms. Prescott?"

"Yes, I’m dropping off some documents."

"Even more of a coincidence, then. I’m also here on an errand to drop off documents." His tone held a hint of pleasant surprise, as if fate were quietly paving a path for them.

Isla Prescott gave a small laugh and turned back to face the entrance.

Quentin Linden walked up beside Isla Prescott and glanced at the curtain of rain outside. "The weather is so strange today. The sun was shining brightly when I arrived, but in the blink of an eye, it started pouring like this."

"I know, right? The rain came so suddenly, I didn’t even bring an umbrella."

Quentin Linden immediately asked, "Are you heading back to the studio, Ms. Prescott?"

"Yes."

"Let me give you a ride. It’s raining so hard, and it’s difficult to get a car here." As Quentin Linden spoke, he pointed to a black Audi in a parking spot across from the entrance. "Wait here for a moment. I’ll go get the car and pull up so you don’t get wet."

"Oh, no, it’s alright. The rain probably won’t last long. I don’t want to trouble you."

"It’s no trouble, it’s on my way." To ease her hesitation, Quentin Linden explained, "My company is right across from Skysea Plaza. Otherwise, my sister wouldn’t have me pick up Cassie every day. The task fell to me precisely because it’s so close."

Isla Prescott hesitated for a moment, but then she remembered she had two videos to edit back at the studio and decided not to be coy.

"In that case, I’ll take you up on your offer. Thank you, Mr. Linden."

Quentin Linden’s car was very clean. There was an umbrella and wet wipes in the door’s storage compartment; he was clearly a man who kept his life in order.

As the car headed toward Skysea Plaza, Quentin Linden actively tried to make conversation.

"Ms. Prescott, how has Cassie been doing lately?"

"She’s been doing great. A while ago, she was still a bit hesitant to talk with us, but she’s become more talkative these past couple of days. When she learns a new move, she’s willing to show it to everyone. I think she’s becoming more and more confident."

"Thank you for taking such good care of her."

"Of course. It’s my job."

"And thank you for counseling my sister before, too. To be honest, my sister was in a very bad place that day. She had just gotten divorced and felt that raising Cassie alone would be incredibly difficult. But after talking with you on the phone, she said she felt like there was still some warmth in the world, and that’s when she decided to pull herself together."

"I didn’t really say much. Cassie’s Mom is a strong woman to begin with."

Quentin Linden smiled. It had been a long time since he’d met a woman who was not only so beautiful but also so pleasant to talk to.

He had fallen for Isla Prescott’s beauty at first sight, and now he was captivated by her high emotional intelligence.

"Ms. Prescott, I have a question that might be a bit forward, but I’d like to ask it anyway."

"It’s alright, Mr. Linden. You can just ask."

Quentin Linden gripped the steering wheel nervously. "I was wondering, are you currently single, Ms. Prescott?"

Since they had gotten in the car, he had only talked about Cassie and Cassie’s Mom. Isla Prescott hadn’t expected him to suddenly ask about her love life.

They were both adults; the implication behind Quentin Linden’s question was self-evident.

The words Annabelle Leighton had said to her flashed through Isla Prescott’s mind. ’I can’t believe Annabelle was right. Quentin Linden likes me.’

Isla Prescott suddenly felt that accepting the ride had been the wrong decision. If she had known Quentin Linden would be so direct, she would have rather been trapped at the service center by the rain.

"Ms. Prescott?" Seeing Isla Prescott’s prolonged silence, Quentin Linden grew a little embarrassed. "I’m sorry, did my question offend you? It’s okay if you don’t want to answer."

Isla Prescott managed a smile. "It’s okay, I can answer. I’m single right now, but I already have someone I like."

Quentin Linden wasn’t a fool. Regardless of whether Isla Prescott really had someone she liked, her answer was a clear message for him to give up.

"To be liked by you, Ms. Prescott... that man is truly enviable." Quentin Linden was a man of grace. "I hope you get your wish soon and can be with the person you like."

"Thank you."

For the next ten-odd minutes of the drive, neither of them spoke again. The car was so quiet that the only sound was the back-and-forth swish of the windshield wipers.

Isla Prescott felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, wishing only to arrive at her destination as quickly as possible.

They finally reached Skysea Plaza. Quentin Linden was about to get out and open the door for Isla Prescott, but she quickly stopped him.

"No, no, it’s okay. I can get it myself." She quickly pushed the door open, got out, and shut it behind her, all in one smooth motion.

"Ms. Prescott." Quentin Linden rolled down his window and looked at her. "I hope you won’t take my forwardness today to heart. I’ll still be coming to pick up Cassie often, so please don’t feel awkward when you see me in the future."

Quentin Linden’s gaze was sincere.

"Okay. Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

Quentin Linden turned his car around. Isla Prescott stood at the entrance, politely watching him leave. Once his car had rounded the flowerbed, she turned to head for the elevator, only to realize that the receipt she’d picked up from the service center was still in his car.

"Mr. Linden! Wait!"

Isla Prescott didn’t have Quentin Linden’s contact information, so her only option was to dash into the rain and chase after his car.

"Mr. Linden... Mr. Linden... Wait!"

She waved her arms as she ran. The rain had lightened a bit by now, but her jacket was quickly soaked through, and water seeped into her shoes.

"Mr. Linden! Mr. Linden! Wait up!"

Just as he was about to drive out of the plaza, Quentin Linden finally noticed Isla Prescott chasing his car behind him.

He quickly pulled over, grabbed an umbrella, and got out, holding it over Isla Prescott.

"What’s wrong?"

"I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention when I got out. I left the receipt in your car."

"Let me see."

Quentin Linden opened the passenger side door to check. Sure enough, a receipt had fallen next to the seat.

He picked up the receipt and handed it to Isla Prescott.

"Is this it?"

"Yes, yes, that’s it! Thank you!"

"You’re welcome." Quentin Linden offered the umbrella to Isla Prescott. "Here, take the umbrella. You don’t want to catch a cold."

"No, it’s fine. It’s just a few steps."

"It’s just an umbrella. If you’re worried about it, Ms. Prescott, you can just give it back to me next time I come to pick up Cassie."

Isla Prescott felt it would be inappropriate to refuse again. "Then thank you, Mr. Linden."

She thanked him and raised her hand to take the umbrella. In those few seconds, a Cullinan from the other side of the flowerbed charged aggressively in their direction.

"HONK HONK HONK—"

The driver stopped behind Quentin Linden’s car and laid on the horn impatiently, as if urging him to move along.

Seeing that his car was blocking the way, Quentin Linden quickly said goodbye to Isla Prescott, got in his car, and drove off.

Holding the umbrella, Isla Prescott also thoughtfully moved to the side, intending to let the aggressive Cullinan driver pass. But even after they had cleared the way, the Cullinan just sat there, unmoving.

’They must be doing this on purpose.’

Isla Prescott didn’t want to cause any trouble and was about to walk around the car to leave, but then the Cullinan’s window rolled down, revealing Shane Sterling in the driver’s seat.

"What’s this? Found that special rose worth braving the rain for?" Shane Sterling was smiling, his tone casual, but his eyes were filled with unmistakable coldness.

Isla Prescott knew he had misunderstood, but she didn’t know if letting him believe the misunderstanding would be easier, or if it would be better to explain.

While she was hesitating, Shane Sterling pushed his door open and got out.

The rain was still falling. He ducked his head and stepped under the umbrella Quentin Linden had given her.

When Isla Prescott was holding the umbrella by herself, it had seemed quite large. The moment Shane Sterling stepped under it, the umbrella suddenly felt tiny. To make room for him, she subconsciously raised it higher.

"Why aren’t you talking?" Shane Sterling took a step forward, closing the distance between them. He looked down at her. "Who was that just now?"

"A parent of a student in the dance class."

"A student’s parent?" Shane Sterling naturally assumed Quentin Linden was the child’s father. He scoffed. "Isla Prescott, can’t you aim a little higher?"

Isla Prescott had originally intended to communicate with him calmly, but his words made her temper flare.

"What I ’aim for’ is none of your business. Besides, what makes you think you’re so great?"

"Of course I am. I’m the crème de la crème of men!" Shane Sterling raised an eyebrow. "Too bad you don’t have the taste for it!"

"Sorry, but I’m just a girl from a humble background. I’m not used to—nor can I afford—such fine dining."

"So?" Shane Sterling flicked the umbrella handle. "Are you saying the owner of this umbrella is a better fit for you than I am?"

"If I absolutely had to choose between the two of you, then yes, I think he is a better fit for me. Because we’re from the same world."

Shane Sterling’s expression grew darker and darker, and the atmosphere under the umbrella became heavy.

Another car pulled up behind them.

The Cullinan was parked so aggressively that the new car couldn’t get past.

Isla Prescott tilted the umbrella, effectively forcing Shane Sterling out from under it. "You should go. Your car is blocking the way."

With that, she walked away without a second glance at his expression.

Another unpleasant parting.

In truth, Isla Prescott was heartbroken. More than the regret of not being able to be with Shane Sterling, she lamented that they, too, couldn’t escape the "all or nothing" script of romance.

Perhaps they were like two intersecting lines, destined only for a brief encounter before drifting further and further apart on their final trajectories.

Because of her run-in with Shane Sterling, Isla Prescott couldn’t manage to focus on her work even after getting back to the studio.

A perfectly fine afternoon had been ruined by a sudden downpour. But what she didn’t expect was that the storm’s impact was far from over.

Just as she was about to leave work, Isla Prescott received a call from her landlord, Uncle Dudley.

"Isabelle, you need to get to the hospital! Something’s happened to your mom."