Chapter 265: Unfortunately, You Have No Chance

Chapter 265: Chapter 265: Unfortunately, You Have No Chance

Patriarch Forrester and Bella Thorne were preparing to return to Portclyde. The day before they left, Vesper Grayson asked to meet with Shiloh Sloan. The three of them arranged a small get-together, as none of them knew when they would see each other again.

Inside a private room at a café, just as Vesper Grayson and Shiloh Sloan were sitting down, Bella Thorne pushed open the door, carrying shopping bags.

"This is from Grandpa Forrester for you, and this other one is a gift from me for your baby."

"I’m just past three months. There’s still a long way to go before I give birth. Isn’t it a bit too early for gifts?"

"Not at all. When the baby is born, I’ll prepare another gift."

Vesper Grayson took the shopping bags. Bella’s gift was a complete set of exquisite baby clothes, while Patriarch Forrester’s gift was exceptionally valuable. It was a vintage-style headpiece set made of pure gold, with intricate patterns. A single glance revealed its immense value, and it possessed a certain quality that spoke of age and history.

"I’ll accept the clothes, but this headpiece set is far too valuable. I can’t accept it."

"Grandpa said it’s nothing to him. Since it’s a gift from an elder, you should just accept it."

Vesper Grayson hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, I’ll accept it then. Please thank Grandpa Forrester for me."

"Mm, I’ll be sure to pass it on." Bella Thorne picked up her coffee and took a sip, then glanced down at her phone, an unsettled look she couldn’t quite hide on her face.

"What’s wrong? Missing your Mr. Forrester?"

"No."

Though that was her reply, Vesper Grayson could clearly see she didn’t mean it. But since Bella didn’t elaborate, Vesper didn’t press the issue and simply speared a slice of apple with her fork and began to eat it slowly.

She had been eating a lot of fruit lately because of her morning sickness.

Her doctor told her to eat whatever she was craving, and that she didn’t need to be too restrictive, aside from avoiding "cold" foods.

Just then, Shiloh Sloan answered a phone call.

"Miss Sloan, we’ve completed all the renovations according to your requirements."

"Thank you for your hard work. I’ll arrange for the final payment to be transferred tonight."

Vesper Grayson asked curiously, "Did you buy a new house?"

"No, I just had Whispering Breeze Lodge renovated to reinforce the security."

"I remember you just finished renovating it not long ago. Why are you doing construction again?" She had been there for dinner just a few days ago. The courtyard was elegant and chic; it didn’t need any work at all.

"Don’t even ask. A couple of days ago, someone climbed the wall and broke in. Luckily, Nolan Forrester intervened in time, or the consequences would have been unimaginable." Even though it had been two days, Shiloh Sloan still felt a lingering fear when she thought back on it.

"Did they catch the person?" Vesper Grayson frowned.

Shiloh Sloan shook her head gently. "No. There wasn’t a single fingerprint on the knife he left behind. The man had extensive burn scars on his face, so his fingerprints were probably destroyed, which is why he didn’t leave any traces. The police said that in a situation like this, they can’t track him through database comparisons. All they can do is wait for him to show up again."

Bella Thorne looked nervous. "Have you offended anyone recently?"

"No, but I have someone in mind. Without evidence, though, there’s no way to prove it," Shiloh Sloan said in a low voice.

"I always thought Northolme was extremely safe, but to think such a dangerous and vicious incident could happen here." Bella Thorne kindly suggested, "Why don’t you move somewhere else?"

"He’s already targeting me; hiding won’t do any good. Instead of running, I might as well stay at Whispering Breeze Lodge and wait for him to walk into the trap."

The police were worried she might be attacked again, so they specially arranged for plainclothes officers to stake out the area. Quentin Stone and Magnus were also living in the courtyard across from hers. If that man came again, he definitely wouldn’t be as lucky as last time.

Seeing that Shiloh had made up her mind, Vesper Grayson remembered the phone call from moments ago, and her eyes curved into a beaming smile.

"Looks like you two have made up?"

"We haven’t."

"Oh, I heard everything. The person on the phone just now referred to Nolan Forrester as your boyfriend, and you didn’t correct them."

Shiloh Sloan froze. "I didn’t even notice..."

Vesper Grayson’s gaze was teasing. "Did you not notice, or did you tacitly approve? He saved you this time, and even got hurt doing it. Honestly, aren’t you deeply moved?"

They had been friends for many years, so she understood Shiloh Sloan’s personality best. Having lacked affection since childhood, Shiloh was easily moved and would hold onto the memory whenever someone treated her with a little genuine kindness. Vesper had only helped her out of a jam once as a small favor, yet Shiloh was still grateful for it to this day.

A flicker of unease crossed Shiloh Sloan’s face. "I really do owe him for this. If he hadn’t insisted on moving in across from me, even if I had called someone else for help, they might not have arrived so quickly. It’s a good thing he didn’t leave when I tried to drive him away..."

If Nolan Forrester had really moved out back then, the consequences of that night would have been unthinkable. Even if the police had arrived in time, an irreversible tragedy would have already occurred.

Vesper Grayson sighed softly. "You two were apart for three years, but you never let each other go. He moved out of the Forrester family home for you, which shows how deep his feelings are. Why not try giving him a chance?"

"As for Mrs. Forrester, as long as you two stand firm, she’ll eventually give in."

"Nolan is her only son. Besides, with his abilities, he can live very well even without the Forrester family."

Shiloh Sloan lowered her gaze, her long lashes trembling slightly.

"I just don’t want him to sacrifice too much for me, to lose everything he originally had. I’m not worthy of that kind of devotion."

"But those things aren’t what he wanted in the first place. You should learn to respect his choices, not be trapped by your own insecurity and push away the person who loves you." Vesper Grayson’s tone was earnest. "You are wonderful. You deserve to be treated with genuine affection."

Shiloh Sloan stared at her, stunned. The turmoil and apprehension that had plagued her for days slowly dissipated, and a surge of courage to press forward suddenly rose in her heart.

’After all I’ve been through, what’s left to be timid or shrink away from? Why can’t I be brave just once for the one I love?’

Listening quietly from the side, the worried expression on Bella Thorne’s face also began to soften. Her family background was ordinary, and she had no one to rely on. In that, wasn’t she just like another Shiloh Sloan?

’I’ve hidden a love for years, but I keep retreating out of insecurity and cowardice, always thinking that letting go and wishing him well is the best I can do. But is that really true?’

’I’ve loved Nolan Forrester for years. Now that I finally have this status, how can I think of backing down just because of a few provocative words from Justine Hughes?’

’I’m the legally protected wife now. As long as Nolan Forrester doesn’t ask for a divorce, on what grounds should I be the one to back down?’

Once she thought this through, Bella Thorne felt a sense of sudden clarity.

"Shiloh, Vesper is right. We should all be a little braver. Don’t worry about what other people think, and boldly pursue what we want."

Shiloh Sloan let out a laugh. "Yeah. We started with nothing, so what’s there to lose?"

Vesper Grayson raised her glass of fruit juice and said with a smile, "Come on, let’s have a toast! May everything go smoothly for us from now on, and may all our wishes come true."

The crisp sound of glasses clinking rang out as the three of them looked at each other and smiled.

After their afternoon tea, the three of them went to a nearby mall to wander around. At nearly five o’clock, Jared Hawthorne called.

"Where are you?"

Vesper Grayson told him the address.

"I’m coming to get you. Grandpa wants us to go back to the old residence tonight."

"Okay."

After hanging up, Vesper Grayson said with a hint of regret, "I guess we’ll have to end our shopping here for today. I have to go."

Shiloh Sloan linked her arm with Bella Thorne’s. "I’ll make sure Bella gets home safely."

"You shouldn’t drive her yourself. Just call a car for Bella. What if that guy is still watching you from the shadows? It’d be dangerous for you to be alone."

White Horse Manor is in the suburbs. The round trip takes an hour, and it would be dark by the time she returned, which really isn’t safe.

Bella Thorne quickly agreed. "Vesper’s right. I’ll be fine taking a cab."

"It’s not safe for a young woman to take a cab alone at night." Shiloh Sloan was still worried. "I’ll have someone drive you in my car."

"I appreciate it, thank you."

Such small gestures of care between friends could always warm one’s heart.

Ten minutes later, Jared Hawthorne’s car pulled up to the mall entrance. He got out, opened the passenger door, and after Vesper Grayson was seated, he leaned in and carefully fastened her seatbelt for her.

Shiloh Sloan couldn’t help but smile at the sight and teased, "President Hawthorne truly is a rare find. He’s exceptionally capable and so considerate when taking care of people."

Jared Hawthorne shot her a cool glance. "Too bad you don’t have a chance. My wife has always been the only one for me."

Shiloh Sloan: "..."

Bella Thorne couldn’t help but press her lips together to stifle a small laugh.

"We’re heading out. Let’s get together again when we have time," Vesper Grayson said, waving goodbye.

Watching the car drive away, Shiloh Sloan rolled her eyes and grumbled under her breath.

"Why are all men so blindly narcissistic?"