Our Love Story: Hard to Guard Against the Sudden Love Strike-Chapter 393 - 374: Career
Quentin Thorne was right, what Sienna Thornton wanted most was her career.
The sense of accomplishment from career success, the social status it brings, is unmatched by even the sweetest romance.
The more children she has, the less time she can dedicate to her career, and her future career path will become increasingly narrow.
She worked so hard to come out of Raines Village, traveled across the ocean to the United States, endured so much hardship, studied diligently—not to marry into the Forrester Family and help carry on their family line.
The news brought by Quentin Thorne did indeed make Sienna Thornton a bit unhappy, but she wasn’t about to vent about the Forrester Family in front of Quentin Thorne.
She calmed down a bit and said, "I’ll discuss this with Cyrus. Besides, you know my nature; he can’t force me to do anything."
Quentin Thorne looked at her, disappointment in his eyes: "Annie, you know Dad’s concerns are not just about the Forrester Family’s demand for three sons. You’re so clever, why aren’t you seeing the bigger picture?"
Sienna Thornton avoided his gaze.
"Let me just mention two things—" Quentin Thorne regained his calm demeanor, "Lawyer Jefferson’s power play, and the unexpected death of the Sinclair daughter. Regarding these two events, how did the Forrester Family behave? Their behavior is just like asking you to have three sons without considering your feelings. When trouble strikes, they hide; when things are fine, they act like nothing happened, always smiling."
Quentin Thorne went a bit too far, and Sienna Thornton’s emotions flared up as she raised her voice: "Dad! Could you please stop talking?"
This shout of "Dad" caught Quentin Thorne off guard.
Initially, he stared at Sienna Thornton in shock, and after a while, his previously angry face broke into a smile, as if a kaleidoscope of confetti was exploding above his head.
He was deeply delighted, and his tone softened: "Alright."
Sienna Thornton also realized she had raised her voice, and after a brief standoff with Quentin Thorne, she felt somewhat awkward, lowered her head slightly, and took a sip of coffee to ease the tension.
Father and daughter sat in silence for a while, then Sienna Thornton spoke softly: "Lawyer Jefferson’s power play was handled assertively by Aunt Langley. It’s inevitable for the elders to be soft-hearted. One vegetarian who shies away from killing, another reluctant to get involved in women’s issues, entrusting the matter to me, someone not yet officially part of the family, is probably the best they can do."
"What about the Sinclair affair?"
"That too can’t be entirely blamed on the Forresters. They are business people and have always been discreet; while they didn’t make a big fuss for my sake, they privately approached the Sinclair Family and offered a substantial compensation. Often, it’s not that they didn’t act; it’s just that they lack the capability."
Seeing how every word of Sienna Thornton was in defense of the Forrester Family, excusing their inaction, Quentin Thorne couldn’t help but feel heartache and helplessness, shaking his head. He originally wanted to say "Daughters are hard to keep around," but feared it would provoke Sienna Thornton, so he swallowed the words.
He instead asked: "How is your mother’s health? Did the doctor advise reducing movement, and is she complying?"
"Yes, she is."
"Remember to go for a check-up after a month."
"I will."
Sienna Thornton had intended to ask Quentin Thorne how he knew the doctor’s advice, but then she remembered that the head surgeon for Melinda Linton’s operation was arranged by him, and understood that he had gotten the information from the doctor.
After sitting for a while longer, Quentin Thorne asked: "Do you have any plans for what’s next?"
Sienna Thornton said: "I’ve been sending out resumes over the past few days. I’ll see if any law firms want me. If so, I intend to work in international business; if not, I plan to join a U.S. corporation my classmate works at."
Quentin Thorne nodded: "Let me know anytime if you need Dad’s help."
"Alright, I will."
"When you start working, who will care for your mother?"
"There is a caregiver during the day, and I can take care of her after work at night."
Then they talked a bit more about Melinda Linton’s health. As it was nearing evening, Sienna Thornton hurried home to prepare dinner for Melinda, while Quentin Thorne set off back to Brimfield.
On the way upstairs, Sienna Thornton suddenly remembered she forgot to ask Quentin Thorne if he had argued with his wife and daughter after returning from the Forresters on the second day of the New Year because of her.
But then she thought there’s no point in asking—Quentin Thorne certainly wouldn’t tell her the truth—so she let it go.
-
A few days passed and Sienna Thornton received several interview calls, mostly from small local firms in Z City.
Z City, lacking a port and companies specializing in export products, meant these local small firms hardly have an international department or much international business.
The partners interviewing her, seeing she was a Harvard JD with qualifications and experience that even exceeded the partners’, tended to think she was too qualified, a Buddha too grand for their small temple, and many politely declined her.
Thus, within a week, Sienna Thornton attended countless interviews but did not find a single law firm that wanted her. Just as she was perplexed, she discovered Joy Jefferson’s business card in her purse.
She decided to call Joy Jefferson and explained her situation. Joy Jefferson promised to get back to her soon. In less than half a day, Joy Jefferson texted her an address and arranged for her to bring her resume for a meeting at their company the next morning at ten.
The next morning, Sienna Thornton got up, prepared breakfast and lunch for Melinda Linton, instructed the caregiver on a few things, and left the apartment at nine to head to Joy Jefferson’s place.
Before Senior Two, Sienna Thornton and Joy Jefferson had a rather ordinary relationship, more like acquaintances. It wasn’t until an event in 2006, as one of the few top female students in the science class, that their relationship grew closer.
In July 2006, Sienna and Joy represented the school respectively—one went to Brimfield for the math competition, and the other to Riverbend for the international robotics competition.
Unsurprisingly, both of them returned with the championship titles in the youth division.
The school held a commendation ceremony, and the two of them sat backstage waiting to speak. Two top students in one small backstage area made the air quite thin.
From that point on, they became rather good classmates. However, after the college entrance exam, Sienna Thornton went to the University of Azure Harbor to study law, and Joy Jefferson went to Volkland to study mechanics. Both were equally immersed in their studies—one in the library, one in the lab—with no time to contact each other, until Sienna Thornton returned to Z City for a class reunion in the past two years, reconnecting with Joy Jefferson who had also just returned from Volkland.
The car arrived at an industrial park on the city outskirts, and Sienna Thornton followed the navigation to find a company labeled "ST Industrial Co., Ltd."
The company looked large, with an entrance courtyard that spanned at least seventy to eighty acres.
After calling Joy Jefferson, Sienna waited in her car until she saw Joy Jefferson coming out, dressed in light gray engineer attire.
She was about to drive into the entrance once the gates opened, when suddenly her phone rang. Seeing it was a call from a local Brimfield landline number, she pressed the receive button on the steering wheel: "Hello, this is Sienna Thornton."
"Lawyer Thornton?"
The man’s voice was a medium tone, clearly older than Sienna Thornton, prompting her to change her address: "This is she, may I ask who this is?"
The caller said: "This is Director-General Linton from the Treaty and Law Department of the Ministry of Commerce. Do you have time to meet up?"
