Thea Lynch detests the feeling of being deceived.
Even knowing the other party's intentions were good, she couldn't accept it.
Especially when the one deceiving her was Ian Preston.
Clearly, she trusted him the most before.
Perhaps Ian didn't expect her to find out so quickly, watching her without offering an explanation. Thea propped her elbow on the table, supporting her forehead with her palm, and exhaled slowly.
Her long hair fell over her shoulders, obscuring her facial expression.
Thea was more frustrated.
All this was not without traces, she simply hadn't thought deeply about it at first. Silas Cheney was just an excuse. She suddenly felt like she had fallen into his trap from the moment she returned to the country.
As if everything was under his control and surveillance, she was circling around in the high walls he built, never able to sever ties and shake off connections with him.
Ian gently rubbed the beads in his hands for a long time before replying, "Stratus Technologies was just a small company I invested in back then, not in my hands now. I admit, it was I who took the initiative to contact Silas Cheney."
Hearing his words, Thea nodded weakly, "No wonder. It turns out I shouldn't thank Silas, but thank you."
"Your entry into Stratus can hardly be called going through the backdoor. You have excellent achievements and outstanding abilities; you deserve it."
He switched to an official tone, "Putting aside our relationship, letting a talent like you flow into the overseas market would certainly be our loss. Keeping you here is the best way."
"The business world is like this, using some means is reasonable."
Businessmen are inherently profit-driven, what tricks wouldn't they use when ruthless? Moreover, he hadn't used extreme measures, maximizing her interests throughout, achieving the best of both worlds as much as possible.
In simple terms, Stratus Technologies was prepared for her all along.
He knew about her achievements abroad and knew she wouldn't lack job opportunities after graduation. But he was also a businessman, acutely aware that ability doesn't mean everything.
She was the only girl of her generation in the orphanage, raised as the youngest, pampered by elders, not understanding the ways of the world, unable to learn sophistication.
Rather than let her be oppressed elsewhere, staying at Stratus would allow her space to showcase her talents and prevent her from being hurt.
Most importantly, she would be by his side.
He wouldn't need to travel several times a month just to see her from afar like a few years ago.
Nor would he have to worry daily about her discomfort abroad, arranging many stores near her school and residence just for her convenience.
"I've learned a lot."
Thea's voice sounded again, with a hint of light laughter in the tone, not sarcastic.
She straightened up, casually hooking her hand that supported her forehead to sweep her long hair behind, revealing her plain and clean face.
"Indeed, I learn a lot every time I'm with you, Third Brother."
It sounded like genuine praise.
"However, next time, you could just tell me directly, why go around in circles doing good deeds? Otherwise, how can I remember this favor from you?"
Ian's eyebrows moved, "If I told you, would you agree?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Thea tilted her head in confusion, "You've generously given me shares, who would refuse money?"
He stared into her eyes without speaking for a long time, finally asking the question he'd wanted to ask since he first saw her after her return to Coronet.
"You don't resent me anymore?"
Bringing up past matters again, ever since returning to Coronet, the last thing Thea wanted was to hear Ian mention those trivial old affairs.
For a moment, the curve of her lips faded, she looked away to the painting on the side, replied with a flat tone, "I'm not a child, it's not about resentment or not."
"Then why have you seemed so uncomfortable around me ever since you returned? Before..." Even if she couldn't speak, her joy at seeing him couldn't be hidden.
She abruptly turned her head to meet his eyes, "Do you have to bring up the past?"
The tone was more like saying, "I've already given you face, do you have to tear it apart now?"
Before she could finish, there was a faint "pop" sound from the other side, fingers clutching hard at a bead on the knee, the whitened fingertips leaving a scratch on the bead, teetering on the edge of losing control.
Ian's eyelashes trembled lightly, looking up again to calm seas.
"They're still waiting for me, let's talk another day."
Without waiting for his reply, Thea got up and left.
The person behind didn't make any sound or attempt to stop her.
Opening the door, before Thea could breathe a sigh of relief, she met Ian's mother's eyes filled with astonishment.
"Hello."
Thea nodded to her, not intending to engage in small talk.
Others seeing this would certainly find it strange. Though she grew up in the compound, she was the child most loved and adored by the elders of several families, each sincerely considering her as one of their own. But with Ian's mother, she was extraordinarily unfamiliar.
"Xixi is back?" Ian's mother propped up a smile, "Auntie's been out of town these past two days, didn't know you were back."
After speaking, she glanced at the compartment behind Thea, tentatively asking:
"You and Ian today..."
Thea didn't believe Nina Sinclair hadn't mentioned their meeting, "Auntie, rest assured, I just ran into Third Brother by chance. I was having a gathering with colleagues next door."
"What a coincidence then."
"You..."
Capturing the awkwardness in Ian's mother's eyes, Thea interrupted, stepping aside to make way, "Third Brother is inside, I won't disturb you."
Obviously, Ian's mother was also unwilling to converse with her, hastily replying, "Alright, alright, you go on. We can chat when I return to the orphanage another day."
Thea hummed in response, not looking back as she walked towards her compartment.
Footsteps sounded behind her, shoes tapping lightly on the ground.
Ian came out.
Soon she heard Ian's mother's voice, pressing with her tone, as if afraid Thea would hear, yet still faintly making out a few questions.
Thea paid no mind to what they were arguing about, reaching the compartment door, and the attendant opened it for her.
Perhaps intentionally, suddenly she heard:
"Did I agree to the marriage with the Sinclair Family?"
"If you believe she is the best candidate for the Preston Family's daughter-in-law, you can use the solution I provided before. Go to the Eastgate Orphanage to find an obedient son, there's no worry about no one marrying her."
"If you had accepted this solution early on, today wouldn't be so ugly, and you wouldn't need to come questioning."
"..."
Not far away, Thea couldn't help but twitch her lips before her figure disappeared down the corridor.
Seeing her entry from the corner of his eye, Ian pursed his thin lips tightly.
"What's wrong with Nina Sinclair? After all these years, she's still not good enough for you?"
In the next second, like realizing something, Ian's mother's voice rose uncontrollably, "You still like Thea Lynch, don't you?"
"I knew it! What doesn't Nina Sinclair have that Thea Lynch does, yet you favor her?"
Ian's hands were in his pockets, eyes slightly raised, "I want to ask you, what makes Nina Sinclair comparable to her?"