Our Love Story: Hard to Guard Against the Sudden Love Strike-Chapter 184 - 182: Baby, You’re So Warm
The simple gold band ring, nestled in a red leather ring box, lined with cream-colored velvet, emitted a faint golden glow in the dim setting.
It was the pair of rings bought that morning.
Clearly, no measurements had been taken, yet it fit perfectly.
Sienna Thornton was completely bewildered, her emotions at that moment a mix of apprehension, tension, confusion, and even a hint of fear.
In just a few minutes, she concocted numerous reasons to refuse Simon Forrester’s proposal, even planning how to persuade him not to break up if he proposed and she declined.
In that instant, past moments with Simon flickered through her mind like an old black-and-white film. She suddenly realized that she really liked him...
Coming back to her senses, Sienna found the band ring firmly placed on her left ring finger.
This was where one wore a wedding ring.
She stared blankly at Simon and asked again, "Why are you giving me a ring?" Her voice was scattered by the mountain wind, and she wasn’t sure if he heard her.
He gazed down at the band on her ring finger for a long while, then enveloped her small hand in his and pulled her into his embrace, kissing her hair and laughing, "Whenever you’re unhappy or feel lonely, touch this ring, and you’ll feel like I’m right there with you."
Sienna breathed a sigh of relief, patting her chest, "You scared me; I thought you were going to propose. I was thinking a proposal should involve a diamond ring, not a band."
Simon laughed too, holding her close, and asked, "No proposal, are you disappointed?"
"Not at all," Sienna played with the simple ring on her finger, "This is nice, it feels easy. I don’t want to make things too complicated."
Hearing this, the smile on Simon’s face slightly faded, a flash of helplessness in his eyes. But only for a moment, then he smiled again, cupping Sienna’s face and kissed her.
"Once the ring is on, it can’t be taken off," he said.
Sienna hugged him, nodding, "Yeah, if you say it represents you, then I’ll definitely wear it always."
At that moment, the wind at Victoria Peak was strong, blowing Sienna’s long hair wildly. She wore shorts and a short-sleeved T-shirt, shivering in the cold wind.
Simon held her in his warm, broad chest and on this chilly night, she felt a cozy warmth, a special sense of security.
She wrapped her arms around his waist, rubbing her face against his neck, suddenly blurting out, "Baby, you’re so warm."
The Inflexible Forrester: Baby???
That night back at the hotel, Sienna suddenly became unusually clingy with Simon.
After showering together, Simon went to brush his teeth, and she clung to him like a koala, insisting he carry her while brushing;
When he was shaving, she sat on the sink’s edge, gently helping him apply shaving cream and aftershave.
*
The day before returning to Brimfield, Sienna took Simon to HKU.
During the National Day holiday, the schools in Azure Harbor continued teaching, and Sienna visited several familiar professors.
When she left HKU to return inland for postgraduate studies, the professors were regretful, as HKU had planned to recommend her for a JD program in Britione after she obtained her LLM. Hearing that she eventually obtained her JD, the professors felt somewhat relieved.
Leaving the law school, Sienna and Simon walked hand in hand through the HKU campus, retracing all her paths at the university.
"Back then, I was determined to return to Brimfield to find my biological father, not realizing what that decision meant for my future. Without that opportunity, I would have stayed in Azure Harbor and gone to Britione for further studies two years later. By now, I’d probably be a lawyer at a Central District law firm or teaching at HKU."
Sienna said, "Actually, I really appreciate Partner Reed. When I first returned to Braden University, the environmental change led to psychological discomfort, and I was quite lost, not knowing what else I could do other than working as a lawyer in Brimfield. Later, it was Partner Reed who persuaded me to pursue a JD degree, even preparing many of the application materials for Harvard Law School. With the resolve to go to the United States, my confusion disappeared, and every day felt particularly fulfilling and meaningful."
Simon did not respond, quietly listening.
"So, when Mrs. Reed did such excessive things to me, I did not make a fuss or pursue it, not wanting to trouble Partner Reed. When you wanted me to leave Vantage, I was very conflicted. Leaving meant that Partner Reed might lose control over certain matters. Later, I selfishly chose my career, but it turned out that ungrateful people don’t fare well. Now look, the guesthouse is gone, the bar association is investigating me, and I can’t find a job at any decent law firm in Brimfield."
Sienna spoke calmly, as if recounting something trivial.
Simon recalled those two months of silence after the guesthouse incident, realizing the profound impact and regret that series of events had on her.
She still held a mentor-student sentiment towards Thomas Reed, but entering The Forresters meant opposing Thomas Reed. At that time, could she withstand it?
In a fleeting moment, Simon didn’t want her to join The Forresters anymore; he just wanted her to be a happy lawyer, doing what she was best at, living a relaxed and pleasant life.
But he also thought of their inevitable someday takeover of The Forresters. The longer she stayed out, the more power Bianca Fordham and Thomas Reed would accumulate, complicating their future position within The Forresters...
*
After having lunch at the HKU cafeteria, Sienna and Simon rushed back to the Central District to meet Barrister Holloway, Sienna’s old mentor.
Barrister Holloway was one of the few senior female barristers in Azure Harbor.
They met Barrister Holloway at a well-known law firm in Central District.
Upon seeing her mentor for the first time in five years, Sienna’s eyes immediately reddened, but she dared not be too casual, keeping her attitude and emotions in check.
Barrister Holloway appeared strict, rarely smiling, and had no intimate gestures towards Sienna. Compared to Sienna’s emotional demeanor, Barrister Holloway seemed much colder.
Upon hearing that Sienna would become a corporate legal advisor for an unlisted mainland company after the holidays, Barrister Holloway sighed and shook her head.
During the more than two-hour conversation, she continually helped Sienna analyze her current predicament, reminding her to prepare for entry into international organizations as soon as her personal financial issues were resolved.
When Sienna and Simon were about to leave, Barrister Holloway asked if she could speak privately with Simon. Sienna didn’t suspect anything and closed the door, waiting outside.
