Thousands of Brilliant Stars: You Deserve the Best!-Chapter 63: Hector Sutton Wants to Pursue Iris Crawford!
Iris Crawford was a clear-headed person. She clearly understood the sparks flying between her and Lachlan Wyatt, and she clearly knew why her chest felt heavy upon hearing these things.
It seemed she really had feelings for Lachlan Wyatt.
Clenching her fingers, Iris’s expression turned serious.
Leading the way into the private room, Iris naturally took the central seat at the table. Ever since she arrived, all the prime seats had been ceded to her, even Lachlan couldn’t compete for them.
This woman’s aura was becoming increasingly unapologetic, lacking any adherence to traditional feminine virtues.
She casually ordered a few dishes from the waiter, then passed the menu to the person who walked in after her, like a boss speaking first, followed by the subordinates.
Lachlan took the lead in ordering the rest of the dishes. Hector Sutton and James Chesterton also sat down, having come today to discuss matters concerning Gia. Hector pondered for a while and said, "Gia has been blacklisted, our company is certainly affected. After all, she’s an artist we’ve been promoting recently, and many investments are now going to waste."
"Seems like Vera got one of Gia’s drama series," James scratched his head, always quick to gather such information, "It’s a historical drama with a strong female lead, it’s so frustrating."
Playing with her chopsticks, Iris nonchalantly asked, "Has the deal for that historical drama been finalized?"
"Not yet."
Hector looked a bit distressed about this, which is why he considered seeking advice from Lachlan and the others, given that the situation with Gia and Peter Marshall was a commission from Shayna Shaw and him.
"Then, has the female antagonist been confirmed?"
Iris smiled, knocked on the table, and said to James, "Has Vera signed a contract with the production team?" 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
"Yes." James looked at the ceiling, thinking aloud, "The villain hasn’t been confirmed because of character issues; they haven’t found an actress willing to take the role..."
He stopped mid-sentence.
Because he saw Iris point at herself from across the table.
...What’s with her always wanting to stir things up everywhere?!
James immediately looked at Hector, who touched his chin and said, "You want to play the antagonist?"
Iris smiled and said, "I not only want to play it, but I can also outshine her, be a complete villain."
Only she dared to voice such ambitious words.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Lachlan, across from her, raised an eyebrow.
In her confrontation with the Jacobs Family, Iris didn’t let any opportunity slip by. Since Vera was an artist from a company invested in by the Jacobs Family, if Iris could overshadow her in the same drama, it would be a slap in the face for the Jacobs Family.
No wonder she was so enthusiastic, even eager to take on the role of the antagonist.
Lachlan understood, but he wondered whether Iris’s aggressiveness meant she was indifferent to Jordan Jacobs now, or if she still cared too much about him?
Why did it still feel like there was a bit of lingering sentiment between her and Jordan Jacobs last night?!
While Lachlan was pondering, Hector suddenly gulped down some Coke for courage and asked Iris, "I can help arrange for you to get in, but there’s something I want to discuss with you after dinner. Do you have time to talk with me alone?"
Lachlan felt a pang of concern!
He looked up at Iris, but she casually agreed.
"Hmm."
What on earth! Hmm! Hector has no ties with Iris, what could it be?!
Lachlan felt he couldn’t eat this meal anymore, growing more frustrated as they ate. When it was over, he took the lead in paying the bill and was about to leave when he saw Hector and Iris trailing behind, holding on.
He said, "Can Lachlan and James go out first? I have something to discuss with Iris."
Something?
Lachlan and James exchanged glances, both frowning, but James still said, "Alright, what do you two have to discuss that requires kicking us out?"
Hector’s neck turned red, "Oh, just go out first, and remember to close the door!"
Have to close the door for the talk?!
James was anxious and looked at Lachlan, who remained expressionless, seemingly unconcerned about Iris and Hector having a private discussion.
"You introduced them, so how come they still have secrets to discuss?" James asked Lachlan as he closed the door, "Could Hector be borrowing money from Iris?"
"..." Lachlan’s Adam’s apple moved up and down, "What’s it to me!"
"So you’re saying you don’t care," James straightened up, "Fine, let’s go, after all, Hector will send Iris back."
He gave Lachlan a tug, but couldn’t move him.
Lachlan stood outside the closed door, his face showing no expression, yet his body unmoving.
James was speechless; Lachlan was too introverted, unable to reveal the slightest curiosity!
If you want to know, just show it, there’s no shame in that! So James took out his phone from his pocket and tapped on the screen. Out of the corner of his eye, Lachlan glanced over and suddenly blurted, "You put a listening device on Iris?"
"Shh!" James pulled Lachlan aside and gave him a wireless earbud, "What do you mean, listening device? It’s a transmitter with built-in audio and positioning functions, for... for ensuring Iris’s personal safety, okay? I slipped it into her sleeve during the meal."
"..." Does one need to ensure personal safety even during a meal?
Lachlan said through gritted teeth, "James, you’re shameless! How could you do such eavesdropping!"
After saying this, he immediately stuffed the wireless earbud James handed him into his ear.
James: "..." Your actions are more truthful than your words.
Adjusting the channel, James and Lachlan huddled on a sofa in the outer hall to eavesdrop on Iris and Hector’s conversation.
In the private room, Hector was completely unaware that Iris was being eavesdropped on. Though it wasn’t the first time he was alone with her, for some reason, his heart was still racing.
The last time they were alone was in a hotel; he had accompanied Iris back on Lachlan’s behalf and witnessed Iris’s extraordinary side. Since then, this uniquely styled woman had left a mark in his heart.
Many times, Hector found it strange that out of all the women in the world, he was drawn to a woman with such flamboyant conduct. But matters of the heart... who can predict?
Perhaps among the mundane masses, Iris’s distinctiveness was uniquely captivating.
Taking a breath, Hector said to Iris, "About the previous commission, I still want to express my gratitude."
Iris, feeling somewhat bored, toyed with her glass, "No need, you guys aren’t working for free."
"..." Her words directly blocked Hector. He thought Iris might follow up and open the topic, but with what she said, what’s left to be thankful for!
It’s only natural for one to pay and the other to do the job; there’s no room for empathy between them.
After a while, Hector unexpectedly moved forward and grabbed Iris’s hand!
Iris Crawford was startled, wanting to push him away, but realized that Hector Sutton, who should have been pale-faced, was now flushed as he stammered, "I’m really, really annoyed with you!"
"Mm, I know." Iris nodded, "Could you...let go first?"
"How could I let go!" Hector took this opportunity to spill it all, "From the first time I saw you, I found you incredibly annoying, such a pretty face, yet you have such a sharp tongue! Why does a perfectly fine beautiful woman have to have a mouth? Every day acting innocent while being cunning, even hitting people! Are you a woman? Iris, you are a woman, you know, you should obediently be behind a man, washing your hands and cooking—"
"Are you done?" When Iris heard this from Hector, she got annoyed. These men were always nagging about what women should or shouldn’t do. Essentially, they were just insecure and afraid, as if women could usurp their throne.
In contrast, Lachlan Wyatt never cared about these things. Whether it was women or men, good or bad, he feared nothing.
Perhaps strong people inherently possess overwhelming strength, so they are not afraid of gender differences or any sudden awakenings from either side.
Hector knew Iris didn’t like listening to these things, yet he still firmly held Iris’s hand, "I know you don’t want to hear it, but Iris, if you see me as the public, perhaps my voice is the voice of the mainstream. Can you guarantee that you will never be hurt by worldly opinions?"
"I don’t care how the mainstream evaluates me." Iris smiled, as if the sky collapsing behind her was just a small wrinkle of her brow, "I just want to manage myself well."
"If you don’t care if others dislike you, will you care if others like you?"
Hector paused, using all his strength to ask the final question.
The expression that was quite nonchalant on Iris’s face suddenly froze.
She felt her heartbeat quicken in her chest, looking at Hector in disbelief, "What...did you say?"
Hector stammered, "Anyway, I really dislike you, just can’t stand the sight of you, I think you’re very scheming; the prettier the woman, the less trustworthy she is..."
Iris had always been hated by people, yet what Hector said was actually, "But if I don’t see you for a day, I feel uncomfortable all over, trying to find out things related to you by all means, logically speaking, a woman like you should be the last type I would like!"
His voice, which was originally quite high-pitched, dropped straight down, "But it seems I do have a bit of a crush on you..."
A bit of a crush on you...a bit of a crush on you...
Outside, Lachlan Wyatt and James Chesterton were both stunned. For that moment, Lachlan felt his soul lifting for a few seconds.
Hector Sutton...confessed to Iris Crawford???
Lachlan couldn’t believe it, he felt like he was being foolish, not expecting such a development. Who was Hector Sutton anyway? The one whose family runs a management company, with women lining up to be with him. He never got serious with any woman, thinking they were too troublesome, and now...
He was actually sincerely confessing to Iris Crawford?
A wave of unnamed anger surged in his chest. Lachlan stood up from the sofa, his expression frighteningly gloomy. Just as he was about to rush in, James grabbed him, "Lachlan, don’t! Don’t get impulsive! Let’s sit down and listen to the follow-up, right? Birdie definitely won’t accept Hector Sutton, right?"
Lachlan’s voice was chillingly cold, "She dares?!"
"She won’t dare! She won’t dare!" James tugged at Lachlan, "No one would dare! You’re the best! Don’t be jealous! Sit down and observe the subsequent development!"
Lachlan couldn’t understand the meaning behind James’s words, only feeling a rush of anger colliding in his chest. He knew how captivating Iris could be, but his friend’s sudden confession set off alarms in his mind.
This woman...is too lethal!
Meanwhile in the room, Iris felt dumbfounded by those few words. She sat in the chair, stunned for a few seconds, then suddenly pushed the chair back and stood up, "What are you doing?"
"What am I doing?" Hector was agitated and angry, "I’m confessing my love! Don’t you understand confession? Can you not be so ungrateful!"
The more agitated he became, the more suspicious the embarrassed expression on his face appeared.
"Take your love back, I can’t bear it!" Iris clenched her fingers, "I have no time for your dramatics. Don’t come acting all sincere in front of me, you playboy!"
"That’s a stereotype!" Hector said defiantly, "What’s wrong if I’m a playboy, my past doesn’t represent my present. You and I have fought on the same bed before, why can’t you agree to try it with me?"
Iris chuckled coldly, "Not wanting to means not wanting to."
"Is it because you still have feelings for Jordan Jacobs?" Hector pressed forward, furrowing his brow to question Iris, "Is it?"
"Only a dog would think of him."
"Then do you think Dane Rivers is better than me?" Hector asked urgently, "Because last time I stood by while he helped you..."
Iris still maintained an indifferent expression, "Knowing is good."
"So, if Dane Rivers pursued you, would you agree?"
"Why would Dane Rivers chase me?" Iris said amusedly, "He doesn’t even have time to finish his college assignments, let alone chase women?"
"..." Hector, unable to endure, asked, "So where am I lacking, do you like Lachlan Wyatt?"
Upon these words, not only did Iris fall silent.
Even Lachlan, who was originally on the verge of exploding outside, fell silent as well.
He quieted down instantly, even able to hear the echo of his own heartbeat.
One beat, another.
What...was he hoping for?
In the room, when Hector asked this, Iris uncharacteristically didn’t respond immediately like she did to the previous questions, but instead turned her face away, "It’s none of your business."
Hector felt his heart cool halfway, "So it is..."
"If I had to define these feelings," Iris suddenly looked up, the brightness in her eyes was dazzling, just like a pearl covered in dust finally being cleansed, the moment the morning light broke through, piercing through the dark clouds, "perhaps it is."
Hector felt his legs soften, trembling as he asked, "When you say ’it is,’ are you referring to..."
"Me having feelings for Lachlan Wyatt?" Iris questioned herself, then laughed, "We’ve been together day and night for two years, I know better than anyone that I shouldn’t be moved by him. But every moment we are together is like a silent seduction, tempting me to bow my head."
Iris’s words echoed through the earphones, piercing Lachlan’s heart outside.
"He always appears at the most critical moments, solving all subsequent issues for me. In this aspect, he’s like a benefactor to me." Iris paused, "Lachlan has never hurt me, so I have nothing to accuse him of. Perhaps, over time, I’ve grown fond of him, but I’m also clear that there will be no results for us."
She didn’t even know what identity was behind Lachlan.
This man, however, knew every secret about her, from her soul to her body.
Hector spoke with difficulty, "So you..."
"So I’ve already given up." Iris’s character was such that even when letting go of someone, she was decisive and straightforward, as if being just a little more determined and quick would truly stop her heart from hurting. "The few fond feelings that startled me have already been extinguished by me. Lachlan wouldn’t want to know that I have feelings for him, because once there are, he would give me the cold shoulder. After all, feelings are a burden, even for me. Only by not loving him, by not developing any feelings, can I ensure that I will never be hurt."
It was over before it even began.
But fortunately, this was not a relationship worth starting anyway.
Iris smiled, brushing back the hair by her ear, "No need to pity me, I haven’t lost anything, nor has he. In this life, I no longer hope for relationships, I’ll rely on money instead."
Having said this, she pushed the door open, only to run directly into Lachlan.
