On the Day I Was Kicked Out of the Wealthy Family, I Had a Flash Marriage with a Tycoon-Chapter 149: No Pushovers

Jasper Lockwood said indifferently, "Her persistence is all for nothing."

Chloe Sterling replied, "How is it for nothing? Aren’t you angry right now?"

Jasper Lockwood countered, "Why am I angry? It’s because you ran off to meet with certain people!"

Chloe Sterling pressed her lips together. After a moment, she relented. "It won’t happen again. You’re right. I can’t fool him, and there’s no way I could ever work with him."

Jasper Lockwood released her chin. He hesitated for a moment before saying softly, "Chloe, have you ever considered that your master might be hiding from you on purpose? That he doesn’t want you to find him."

"I have, but... it’s also possible he was taken by some faction and is being held against his will."

"I’ll help you find him. I promise I will. Trust me."

Chloe Sterling gazed at him, her pink lips parting slightly. "Okay."

"Also, I can confirm that the person Silas Coldwell found is not your master."

"How do you know?" Chloe Sterling asked, puzzled.

Jasper Lockwood took out his phone, opened a photo from his album, and showed it to her. "Does this look anything like your master?"

Chloe Sterling looked at the plain-looking man in the photo. It definitely wasn’t her master.

"How did you know this was the person Silas Coldwell was talking about?"

"He’s been searching everywhere for a Pharmacist lately, trying to find a way to counter your Enchanting Fragrance. I know his every move."

"So... you have people watching him?"

"And you think he doesn’t have people watching me?"

Chloe Sterling fell silent. ’Knowing Silas Coldwell’s methods, he would absolutely plant someone near Jasper Lockwood. Even if he couldn’t get someone new in, he’d resort to threats and bribes to turn one of Jasper’s own people.’

’Neither of them was a pushover.’

「A little after ten o’clock that night.」

Chloe Sterling was in the study researching when Chase Langdon suddenly called.

"Chloe, what happened tonight? Why did Jasper Lockwood suddenly show up at Silas Coldwell’s place? You two... you didn’t fight, did you?"

"No. He already knew Silas Coldwell had looked for me today. He’s been having him watched, so when he found out I went to see Silas, he came to get me."

"He’s been having people watch you?"

"No, he’s watching Silas Coldwell."

"Oh, so... you two are really okay?" Chase Langdon asked again.

"We’re fine. He knows I was just anxious to find my master."

"Mm, that’s good. President Lockwood is actually quite reasonable, not as cold as the rumors make him out to be."

’Reasonable?’

Chloe Sterling suddenly recalled the suffocating kiss in the car. ’That didn’t seem particularly reasonable.’

They chatted for a while before hanging up.

After finishing her research, Chloe Sterling shut down her computer and left the study.

Jasper Lockwood was coming up the stairs. Seeing her emerge from the study, he asked, "Heading to bed?"

"Yeah, I have things to do tomorrow, so I need to sleep early tonight."

"Go on."

「The next day, at noon.」

「In a restaurant near The Medical College.」

Jean Kensington poured herself a glass of water and said, "Jasper Lockwood actually barged into Silas Coldwell’s home with his men. Silas must be furious."

Chloe Sterling flipped through the menu without a word. She was worried about what Silas Coldwell’s next move would be.

"But did they really not get into a fight? That doesn’t seem like Silas Coldwell’s style, does it?" Jean Kensington asked curiously, clearly enjoying the drama.

Chloe Sterling’s movements paused, and she looked up at her. "You say that as if you know Silas Coldwell so well."

Jean Kensington scoffed, "Who doesn’t know about his insufferably arrogant personality?"

Chloe Sterling lowered her gaze back to the menu. "He’s in a bad mood lately. You’d better not provoke him."

Jean Kensington smiled. "I know. It’s been a long time since I’ve had any dealings with his side."

After they ordered, while they were waiting for their food, Esther Sterling walked in with two friends.

The three of them were talking and laughing, not noticing Chloe Sterling and Jean Kensington nearby. They soon found an empty table and sat down.

One of the girls said, "Esther, has The Sinclair Group contacted you? When are you signing with them?"

Hearing this, Esther Sterling’s expression changed slightly, and her hand clenched under the table. ’The Sinclair Group did contact me, but they have no intention of signing me at all. I don’t know what’s going on.’

"Esther?" Seeing she was distracted, the girl called her name again.

Esther Sterling snapped back to reality and said calmly, "There’s a process to follow. It’s not that fast."

’I suspect someone is deliberately trying to sabotage me and keep me away from Tristan Sinclair. After all, so many women have their eyes on him.’

’But I won’t give up so easily. Since they won’t come to me, I’ll go directly to Tristan Sinclair.’

’Once Tristan Sinclair gives the word himself, let’s see if they still dare to neglect me.’

Another girl said, "Esther, I heard President Sinclair thinks very highly of you. Not only did he help you out during the competition, but that woman who was kicked out was expelled by President Sinclair himself because she tried to frame you, right?"

At the mention of this, Esther Sterling couldn’t help but curve her lips into a smile. She said modestly, "President Sinclair just places a lot of importance on this competition. It wasn’t all because of me."

The two girls smiled, their faces full of envy.

"You’re beautiful, talented, and so many handsome, powerful men like you. Esther, I’m so jealous."

Esther Sterling smiled. "Don’t be ridiculous. President Sinclair just looks out for me a little. You can’t call it ’like’."

"If he didn’t like you, why would he look out for you? Why not someone else?"

"Exactly! It’s because you’re the most dazzling one of all."

"Huh? Over there... isn’t that Chloe Sterling?" one of the girls said, looking in Chloe’s direction.

Hearing this, Esther Sterling followed her gaze and shot a brief, dismissive glance at the two of them.

The girl huffed. "Talk about an unpleasant coincidence. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have come here."

Esther Sterling calmly withdrew her gaze. Nowadays, she didn’t even consider Chloe Sterling worth her notice.

Jean Kensington noticed the trio as well but pretended not to see them, not even bothering to mention them.

"By the way, I’ve been monitoring the calls of the hit-and-run driver who hit Claire White. We’ll know soon enough if something’s off," Jean Kensington said leisurely after taking a sip of water. "I just don’t believe in that kind of coincidence."

Chloe Sterling nodded. "It is very suspicious."

"Of course it is. By the way, are you going back to The Medical College later?"

"Yeah, I am."

"Alright, then I’ll head back to my company too."

After their meal, the two left the restaurant.

Jean Kensington left, and Chloe Sterling started walking back to The Medical College.

After walking for about ten minutes, just as she reached the entrance to The Medical College, she once again saw the figure who bore a striking resemblance to her adoptive mother.

The woman’s eyes lit up when she saw her. She walked over with a smile. "Hello there, young lady. We meet again."

Looking at the woman, Chloe Sterling found herself getting lost in thought. She paused before replying, "Hello."

"This is a bit forward of me, but I’d still like to invite you for a cup of coffee. Would that be alright?" the woman asked in a gentle voice.

"Invite me for coffee?" A flicker of suspicion crossed Chloe Sterling’s face.

The woman nodded. "Yes. To be honest, I came here specifically to find you. I know you’re the exceptionally talented girl Director Xavier was talking about."

"Director Xavier mentioned me? You are...?"

"I am Charles Sterling’s wife, Ava Rhodes."