Wynn Shaw looked at the text message, her face expressionless, and casually set her phone aside.
‘So in Jaden Lancaster’s eyes, I’m the kind of person willing to give him everything.’
But the Wynn of the past had never realized this.
She had always thought she was simply doing her part for their shared future.
Jaden Lancaster did know her to some extent, but his understanding was incomplete.
The banquet hall was bustling with guests, but he didn’t see a single familiar face.
He stood alone in the crowd, feeling a sense of dazed loneliness.
‘It would be nice if Wynn were here.’ With her company and encouragement, he was sure he could find the courage to get back on his feet.
The woman who always worked late into the night, who would make him a cup of hot tea no matter how exhausted she was and softly reassure him that all his efforts would pay off in the end.
By the time the guests had dispersed, it was already midnight.
In the end, he walked out of the main entrance with Summer Sullivan.
He leaned against a lamppost in the parking lot, quietly waiting for her to appear.
Summer Sullivan didn’t want to wait with him.
For one, it was cold.
For another, she had to get back to the Sullivan Family’s home as soon as possible, or her family would get suspicious if they found her missing.
“I have to go back.
I need to take Chase to school tomorrow.”
A pang of guilt struck Jaden Lancaster.
He reached out, pulled her into his arms, and draped his overcoat over her shoulders.
“This must be hard on you.
Get some rest.
I’ll call a car for you.”
Summer Sullivan managed to keep her expression neutral.
She didn’t insist on him driving her home, merely nodding lightly.
The surroundings grew quiet as the last few people trickled away.
A long column of ash had formed on the cigarette between Jaden Lancaster’s fingers, which fell silently beside his leather shoe.
He remained in the same position, his gaze fixed on the main entrance.
Finally, Wynn Shaw walked out, a gray shawl draped over her shoulders.
Her expression was relaxed and languid, her steps unhurried.
Far from showing any fatigue that might come from using unsavory tactics to secure a deal, she looked completely in her element.
Jaden Lancaster had intended to maintain his composure and face her with a magnanimous attitude, but now he couldn’t hold back any longer.
He strode forward, his concern barely concealing a sharp question:
“Wynn, did you see my message?”
Wynn Shaw sidestepped his touch.
“What message?
I didn’t see it.
Why are you here?”
Jaden Lancaster explained that he was here for a client partnership and had unexpectedly seen her talking with Mr.
Ford for so long that he couldn’t get a word in.
Ford for so long?
I’ve told you not to compromise yourself.
The business world is full of all kinds of people.
There are some circles we might not be able to reach, but we must never abandon our principles.”
‘She has no idea how much I care about her!’
Wynn Shaw raised an eyebrow, her voice as cold as a winter night’s wind.
“Jaden Lancaster, is that the kind of person you think I am?”
Her words stung him, and he shook his head.
“I don’t want to think of you like that, but I’m just looking out for you.
If Mr.
Ford made some inappropriate demands, we can just give up on this partnership.
The Lancaster Group has plenty of room to grow; we don’t need this one deal.”
He was genuinely scared that this naive girl, Wynn, would do something foolish.
The thought left a bitter taste in Jaden Lancaster’s mouth.
‘What if this naive girl leaves me in the future and can’t get over it?’
‘Without me by her side, who will protect her innocence?
Who will protect her?’
‘But Summer…
and his son were waiting for him.’
Jaden Lancaster’s mind was in utter turmoil.
For a moment, his gaze toward Wynn Shaw filled with an undisguisable complexity—a mix of guilt, reluctance, and an emotion that had built up for years, one he himself hadn’t even recognized.
Wynn Shaw, naturally, was in no mood to respond to his gaze.
“There is nothing between Mr.
Ford and me besides work, so please don’t make baseless assumptions.
I met with him tonight as a partner, and he acknowledged my abilities.
Jaden Lancaster, I hope you can show me more trust.
Otherwise, I have no problem with leaving the Lancaster Group.”
He never expected Wynn Shaw to say something so final.
Jaden Lancaster’s expression changed, his body stiffening.
“Wynn, stop messing around.
I’m just worried you’ll do something foolish or be taken advantage of.”
His words were cut short by the sudden appearance of two bodyguards.
One of the bodyguards eyed Jaden Lancaster warily, distracting him.
Jaden was equally alert.
‘Aren’t these Mr.
Ford’s men?’
That bodyguard took a half-step forward, discreetly positioning himself between Jaden and Wynn Shaw.
“Sir, please watch your words.
Miss Shaw was meeting with Mr.
Ford as an important partner.
Please refrain from spreading false information.
Otherwise, if Miss Shaw’s reputation is damaged, we will have no choice but to blacklist those with malicious intent.”
Jaden Lancaster was thunderstruck.
The bodyguard’s respectful attitude toward Wynn Shaw, combined with her own composed demeanor from start to finish…
‘Could it be that he had truly misunderstood Wynn Shaw?’
On one hand, he was shocked by the revelation; on the other, he had never realized that Wynn had become so outstanding that others would take notice.
‘If she left the Lancaster Group, she’s more than capable of starting her own business.
Why would she need to struggle so hard under him?’
“Please step aside.
It’s time for us to escort Miss Shaw home.”
Jaden Lancaster didn’t move.
He was already flustered, his breathing growing rapid.
“Wynn, where are you going this late?
Let me take you home.
I misunderstood you.
We can talk more when we get back.”
The bodyguards beside her were growing impatient, but Wynn Shaw raised a hand, signaling for them to leave first.
‘She didn’t want to reveal the whole truth just yet—the Lancaster Group hadn’t completely fallen, she hadn’t taken the core team with her, and Jaden Lancaster hadn’t truly recognized his mistake.’
“Let’s talk in the car.”
Wynn Shaw walked toward Jaden Lancaster’s car first.
A hint of relief flickered across Jaden Lancaster’s face.
Not daring to hesitate, he immediately followed her.
Wynn Shaw didn’t get in the car right away.
She stopped by the door—Jaden Lancaster had grabbed her arm.
“Wynn, I need you to hear me out.”
“Go on.”
“I don’t know why you’ve been so cold to me lately, not even coming to the office.
I think there must be some misunderstanding.
I hope you still have enough respect and attachment for this relationship.”
Jaden Lancaster had already prepared for the worst.
“I’m afraid…
that one day you’ll stop loving me.”
And fall in love with someone else.
He still didn’t dare to ask Wynn Shaw about the diamond ring, especially not under the current circumstances.
If that turned out to be another misunderstanding, he would only push her further away.
Not far away, the bodyguards frowned.
One of them gazed at the two figures under the lamppost and whispered:
“Why do you think Miss Shaw is wasting so much time on this sketchy guy?”
The moment he finished speaking, he sharply detected the flash of a camera.
He immediately turned to block the view of Wynn Shaw and warned the reporter not to just snap photos.
The reporter shrugged nonchalantly and whispered as he turned to leave:
“Let’s go, let’s go.
I got a shot of the Shaw Family’s heiress having a private meeting with a man.”
This reporter was highly skilled at his job; anyone who could get into a Kaelus banquet was no ordinary person.
People always waited eagerly to subscribe to his news.
However, less than a few minutes after the story was posted, the headline about Wynn Shaw was bought out and taken down.