Chapter 53
Thurston leaned in, nuzzled her forehead, and softened his tone to coax her. “Daddy won’t drink today. Come eat with Daddy, okay p>
“No, Daddy smells like smoke too.” Molly stood her ground, shaking her small head even more vigorously.
Seeing this, Jane stepped forward and snatched Molly from Thurston’s arms. She leaned close to his ear, her voice lowered but laced with a chill. “Thurston, did everything I say just go in one ear and out the other p>
Thurston looked at her tense profile, his tone helpless. “I’ll explain when we get back p>
Jane ignored him. With a cold glance, she turned and carried Molly toward the main dining hall.
Lucy followed alongside, unable to resist teasing Molly. “Do I smell stinky p>
Molly immediately grinned, showing her small white teeth. “Of course not! When Grandpa drinks, he smells stinky too p>
Lucy laughed at her bluntness and pinched her cheek. “Molly, why are you so cute p>
The three of them chose a table in the main hall. Lucy took the menu from the waiter, ordering a few dishes Jane liked and a mild children’s meal specifically for Molly.
Upstairs, the private room was already full. Seeing Thurston enter, everyone stood up and greeted him respectfully in unison, “Mr. Thurston p>
Thurston nodded faintly and walked straight to the seat next to Kingsley.
Kingsley was playing with an unlit cigarette in his fingers. He spoke casually, “Your daughter didn’t come p>
“She thinks we smell ‘stinky’ and refused p>
Thurston answered truthfully. He sounded slightly “aggrieved,” but the corners of his mouth ticked up, betraying his indulgence for Molly.
Hearing “thinks we smell stinky,” Kingsley actually cracked a rare smile and
mercilessly dismantled his excuse. “She thinks you smell p>
“My daughter dislikes people who drink. You mean to tell me you aren’t drinking p>
Thurston raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing.
Kingsley didn’t reply, continuing to rub the cigarette between his fingers.
At that moment, a man in a suit walked over quickly with a wine glass, a smile plastered on his face “Mr. Sherwood, Mr. Thurston, it is an honor that you could grace today’s gon you
gathering! We’ll be relying on both in the future. I’ll down this one first; you gentlemen enjoy at your leisure p>
“To mutual success.” Thurston raised his glass and took a shallow sip.
Though Kingsley didn’t speak, he also lifted the glass before him, bringing it to his lips for a taste.
After setting down the glass, Thurston looked at Kingsley, his tone turning serious. “When did you invest in the Sterling Group’s ‘Lunar Tide’ project? I didn’t hear a whisper about it p>
“Do I need to report to you on everything I do?” Kingsley brushed his thumb against the glass, glancing up at him with a distant chill.
“Whether it’s a genuine investment or you have other motives, you know best yourself” Thurston lowered his voice. After a pause, he added, “Since you’ve separated, leave each other some final dignity. Don’t make it ugly p>
Kingsley raised his eyes, staring directly at him with a mocking edge to his voice. “Are you teaching me how to act? Trying to warn me off just to please your wife p>
“I’m reminding you for old times’
sake. Don’t bite the hand that feeds
you reality.” Thurston clinked his
glass gently against Kingsley’s, restoring a facade of peace.
Sherwood, we are partners o
success, after all p>
Kingsley looked at him, the corner of his mouth hooking into a faint, sympathetic
sneer. “Just wait until you get home. You’re going to get an earful p>