Our Love Story: Hard to Guard Against the Sudden Love Strike-Chapter 474 - 452: Provocation (14th Update)

"The ink shows a purple hue, and the seal ink contains castor oil," Quentin Thorne exclaimed with delight, "This ’Longevity Painting’ is authentic!"

Simon Forrester chuckled, able to converse a bit about antiques and paintings: "Yes. Master Quill only uses old ink for painting and signs with seals using traditional castor oil."

Quentin couldn’t bear to part with it, chatted a few words with Simon before bowing his head to admire the painting again. This appreciation lasted over half an hour.

Sienna Thornton sat feeling genuinely bored, just about to get up for a walk when Quentin zipped the painting back into its bag, smilingly asking Simon, "This ’Longevity Painting’ must be worth a lot, right?"

Simon lied effortlessly: "I heard my grandfather bought it early on from a fallen aristocrat for just several dozen dollars, so it wasn’t costly."

Sienna was just pondering how to disclose the painting’s background when she heard him say this, glanced at him and quickly shifted her gaze to Quentin.

She was quite curious about how Quentin would handle this gift.

Quentin stored the painting away, zipped the painting bag, and said to Simon, "I appreciate your gesture, the painting has been admired, and that’s enough!"

Simon realized he didn’t want the painting and persuaded further: "Please, just accept it, it’s no trouble."

Sienna nearly clashed with Simon over this matter earlier, and now, unwilling to watch them argue over the painting, she rose to head to Old Mrs. Thorne’s study.

Old Mrs. Thorne was very pleased to see her granddaughter, immediately putting her work aside and seating Sienna for a chat. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

A few days ago, the old lady had phoned to praise Sienna for excellently completing the fastener project, today briefly expressing her happiness and pride and then inquired about Sienna’s comfort staying at the Thorne Family.

Upon hearing that Ian Grant, despite having a sharp tongue, hadn’t really made things difficult for Sienna, continued to cook for her, and ate with her at the table, the old lady candidly stated: "It requires a process to gradually accept her; changing attitudes overnight is impossible."

Sienna said, "I understand, that’s why I consistently call her Auntie." Of course, this respectful term was simply for Quentin’s sake.

The old lady felt quite relieved, saying that this was the best outcome so far.

Then she asked about Sienna’s wedding plans, to which Sienna replied, "Grandpa Forrester said they’ll choose a date early next month, so I’m not sure of the exact day yet, just know it’s after the Lunar New Year."

Having spent her life studying physics and believing in science, hearing about the Forrester Family’s superstitious and troublesome method of choosing an auspicious wedding date, the old lady expressed some disdain: "Why do ordinary families need such hassle for a wedding? If they handle everything like this, it’ll always be a struggle with auspicious dates."

Sienna clarified: "It’s okay, there’s enough time."

Seeing her granddaughter already speaking for the in-laws before marrying, Old Mrs. Thorne felt both uneasy and concerned, urging her to remember to come back to the Thorne Family to voice any grievances once married.

Sienna smiled, whispered something rather insightful: "Don’t worry, Grandma. My dad will keep a close eye. Once I marry into the Forrester Family, it’ll be them who have headaches and grievances, not me."

Old Mrs. Thorne, recalling how the Forrester Family treated Quentin with utmost respect, instantly burst into laughter.

The grandparents were having an animated chat in the study, while outside Seth Sutton and Mina Thorne had already arrived.

Seeing Seth, who never attended any Thorne Family gatherings, showing up today was surprising for Quentin Thorne. He asked, "Sutton, aren’t you on duty tonight?"

Sutton smiled: "I swapped my shift with a colleague, so it’s no problem."

Quentin didn’t delve further into the topic and invited Mina and Sutton to sit.

This was Simon Forrester’s first time meeting Seth Sutton. He knew Sutton was the one who interrogated Sienna Thornton, and he also knew Sutton spent over half an hour alone in Sienna’s resting room after sending the female officer away the second night after her arrest.

Unwilling to make Sienna relive that interrogation experience, Simon had never asked her what Seth discussed or did during those times in her resting room.

Of course, he absolutely trusted Sienna, but his male intuition indicated Seth might harbor certain feelings towards Sienna.

He had no basis or evidence, just a strong intuition!

Men are visual creatures; they don’t fall for a woman’s inner self only. Before approaching her inner self, they’d at least be attracted by her appearance or find it agreeable.

Since Sutton was Mina’s boyfriend, it meant he liked Mina’s type of looks, so wouldn’t he be tempted upon seeing Sienna’s features resembling Mina’s but far more exquisite and elegant?

This might explain why he dismissed the female officer and entered the resting room occupied only by Sienna that night.

Thinking of all this, Simon’s gaze toward Sutton brimmed with anger. Sutton, sensitive, sensed it and glanced over, cockily raising an eyebrow and boldly meeting Simon’s eyes.

Sutton’s gaze held a challenging tone.

Simon gritted his teeth, his hands resting on his thighs clenched into fists instantly.

Sutton detected his physical reaction and quickly looked away.

Then, from the hallway across the living room, came ripples of bell-like laughter.

Sutton turned his head at the sound, lingering in that direction for over three seconds.

Simon noticed his every move.

After a while, Sutton withdrew his gaze, boldly asking Quentin, "Is Mina’s sister here too?"

Quentin laughed: "Yes, she’s in the study chatting with her grandma."

Sutton then asked Mina, "Why aren’t you chatting with your grandma?"

Perhaps facing her boyfriend, Mina rarely smiled: "I’m not good at science, can’t engage with Grandma, she always veers into physics."

Sutton gave a small smile: "Not able to chat with her, then isn’t it perfect to sit in and learn?"

Fearing he might deem her lazy and unmotivated, Mina reluctantly stood up: "Then I’ll go inside."

When she left, only three men remained in the living room.

Simon continued to glare at Sutton with indignation, yet Sutton appeared unconcerned, carelessly slumping onto the sofa playing with his phone.

As if he didn’t care about his behavior before Quentin.

Witnessing this, Quentin shook his head, his tone slightly stern: "Sutton, let Mina do what she wants, you can give advice but don’t force her into anything!"

Sutton lazily glanced back at Quentin, smirking coldly: "I’m doing this for her good."

Quentin, momentarily stumped by his response, couldn’t quite counter, for Sutton was undeniably right. Mina lacked initiative in her studies, which is why she entered the workforce right after her bachelor’s degree.