Chapter 439 Four Years Later, They Finally Meet in the Restaurant
Oliver stared at her intently, as if he could see her concern, her jealousy.
He could see that she still cared about him.
Sarah glanced at the check on the table.
She watched him lavish money on a young girl.
This kind of affection had been there when they were dating, too. Back then, he catered to her every whim, everything centered around her preferences. But years later, he had simply switched to pampering another girl.
Sarah felt a pang of sadness.
She thought, 'It's okay to be sad, but not for too long.'
She looked up at him and softly declined, "Sorry, Mr. Windsor, this isn't Vesper City ArtScape Academy, and I'm not an ArtScape Academy teacher. I can't teach her anything!"
Oliver's gaze was intense. "Are you mad?"
Sarah lowered her eyes. "Why would I be mad? Mr. Windsor can be generous to whoever he wants. It's not my place to say."
Oliver's eyes held the wisdom of a mature man.
He suddenly gave a faint smile. "I thought you were jealous!"
Then, he put the check away.
He stood up to leave, but as he held the door handle, he turned back to her and said softly, "Not long after you left, I saw Nicholas on a date. Less than a year later, he got married! In the past four years, his career has flourished, and he has a happy family. But Sarah, are you doing well?"
He said these words...
Sarah looked up sharply, meeting his deep, unreadable eyes.
Oliver said softly, "Only we are not doing well."
He opened the door and left.
That sentence, "Only we are not doing well," echoed in Sarah's ears, deafening.
She couldn't help but think back to four years ago, that morning.
The laurel tree, the shattered glass lamp, and Matthew's roar—all those memories were heart-wrenching.
Oliver walked out, and Electra followed him like a shadow. As he opened the car door, she reached out to him. "Fifty million dollars!"
"What are you talking about?"
Electra squeezed into the car. "I heard it all at the door! You were going to spend fifty million dollars on me."
Oliver snorted. "That money was for your sister-in-law! Get out!"
Electra refused to get out.
Oliver simply opened the car door and threw her out.
Electra kicked the car door and yelled, "She doesn't want you anymore! Sister-in-law, Oliver, you're just deluding yourself."
The car drove away in front of her.
Electra cursed.
Inside the luxurious car, the driver drove steadily, wiping away cold sweat. "Miss Ross is really rude."
Oliver snorted. "Indulging her in everything will only harm her."
He composed himself and dialed Zoey's number.
Zoey answered.
Oliver's tone was cold, with a hint of indifference. "Look into that high-flying Mr. Moore. Find a way to give him some trouble, so he doesn't have time to go out for coffee."
Zoey was surprised. "Mr. Windsor, you mean Nicholas?"
Oliver hung up.
Zoey, being Oliver's confidante, easily understood her boss's intentions. He was serious.
She immediately got to work.
That evening, around five, Nicholas was about to leave work with his briefcase.
His secretary hurried over and whispered, "Mr. Moore, there's been a change in the development project! Someone's causing us trouble!"
Nicholas's gaze turned cold. "Who dares to go against the Moore family?"
The secretary didn't dare to speak.
Nicholas looked at him for a moment and then spoke softly, "Oliver?"
The secretary still didn't dare to speak. Everyone knew that conflicts between big shots often resulted in ordinary people suffering. Mr. Windsor had barely managed to hold his own against Matthew back then, and now he was even more powerful.
Nicholas put down his briefcase.
He lit a cigarette, his refined face shrouded in pale blue smoke.
After a while, he said softly, "Contact Mr. Harvey for me. Tell him I'm inviting him to dinner at the same club as last time. And bring a case of the wine I brought back from France."
The secretary nodded. "Yes, Mr. Moore."
That night, on the bustling streets of Evergreen City, Nicholas vomited on the sidewalk. His secretary patted his back. "You can't drink like this next time. If Mr. Matthew Moore finds out, he'll be furious!"
Nicholas leaned against the railing. "Why should he find out?"
He straightened up and stumbled into the car.
The issue wasn't resolved yet,
But he didn't want to use the Moore family's connections. He knew this trouble was caused by Oliver. If he asked his family for help, it would mean he was useless.
He didn't want anyone to look down on him, especially her.
The car drove into the Moore Mansion. When Nicholas entered the bedroom, he was visibly drunk.
He didn't even take off his clothes and collapsed onto the bed.
Hestia removed his shoes and jacket, then brought a warm towel. She said softly, "You should know your limits when socializing. Drinking like this isn't good. Grandpa will scold you if he sees."
Nicholas grabbed her hand.
He held her hand tightly against his chest, his handsome face flushed. He mumbled.
"I'll buy a house for you and Jacob."
"What's wrong with taking care of my sister-in-law?"
Hestia was stunned.
She tried to pull her hand away, but Nicholas held on tightly.
A tear rolled down Nicholas's cheek.
His young face was full of pain. "Why can't I? Tell me, why can't I? Have you forgotten everything about your time with the Moore family?"
Hestia looked up, trying to hold back her tears.
But she couldn't.
She slapped her husband, her voice trembling with disappointment. "Nicholas, open your eyes and see who I am!"
Nicholas lay on the white pillow.
Under the light, he saw his wife, her face streaked with tears.
The alcohol sobered him up instantly.
They stared at each other. He didn't even try to explain. He just gave a bitter smile and said, "You know? Good, I don't have to pretend anymore."
Hestia slapped him again.
She was trembling all over. "Nicholas, are you crazy?"
Nicholas blinked slowly, murmuring, "I've been crazy for four years."
He curled up, pain wracking his body.
He was born with everything.
He came from a noble family, but he had never hated his background more than at that moment. If he weren't a Moore, if he weren't part of the Moore family, he could express his feelings freely without having to suppress them so painfully.
He had once thought she would always be with the Moore family.
She would paint in the room, and he would read on the sofa nearby. They didn't need to say a word; just seeing her profile occasionally was enough.
Hestia knelt on the floor, crying uncontrollably.
The next Morning, in the grand hall of the Moore Mansion, the Moore family gathered for breakfast. The atmosphere was noticeably tense, and the servants were careful not to make any noise.
Matthew looked at Nicholas and his wife.
They sat side by side, looking like a perfect couple, but they were worlds apart. Matthew spoke with displeasure, "I heard you were drunk last night! Trouble at work?"
"Just a small issue."
Nicholas didn't want to discuss it further. "I'm done eating. I'm heading to work."
Matthew said, "Don't be so focused on work. You should spend time with your wife and kids. Look at you, always busy. You come home late or drunk. Do you think this house is a hotel?"
Nicholas glanced at Hestia.
"Got it."
After he left, Matthew personally served Hestia an egg, speaking gently, "Nicholas is busy with work. You should take care of things at home. He's young and building his career."
Hestia held back her tears and nodded. "I understand."
Matthew was very pleased.
But Hestia knew their marriage couldn't go back to the way it was. Last night, Nicholas had made it clear he didn't want to pretend to be a loving couple anymore.
Their marriage was on the brink!
She couldn't bear it. She wanted to win Nicholas's heart back.
All day, Nicholas was swamped with work.
In the evening, Matthew called him personally, asking him to come home for dinner with his wife and kids. He absentmindedly agreed.
As he left the building, the sky was painted with a beautiful sunset.
The secretary opened the car door for him and said softly, "About the land deal..."
Nicholas closed his eyes to rest. "We'll discuss it tomorrow. Tonight, I need to deal with Grandpa."
The secretary nodded.
The black car started slowly.
About 20 minutes later, the car stopped at an intersection. Nicholas looked out the window at the restaurant where he and Hestia had their first date.
Four years had passed, and they were like strangers sharing a bed.
Next to his car, a black Range Rover's window rolled down.
Inside sat Oliver.
In a white shirt and an expensive black three-piece suit, he looked strikingly handsome in the orange twilight.
He leaned on the window, a faint smile on his lips.
"Mr. Moore, what a coincidence!"
Nicholas turned his head, his refined face expressionless. "Mr. Windsor, life is full of unexpected encounters."
Oliver sat up straight, looking dignified. He smiled warmly. "Mr. Moore, are you rushing home for dinner? If not, we could dine together. By the way, I invited Sarah."
Nicholas's face tightened.
He wasn't stupid. He guessed Oliver knew something. "Did she tell you?"
In an instant, Oliver's expression turned cold.
He sneered. "She didn't tell me anything! Nicholas, she took the fall for your mistake. You have a happy family, but Sarah is separated from her child. If you have any decency, stay away from her. You don't deserve to be around her!"
Nicholas's fingers curled. "And you do?"
Oliver's smile grew colder. "At least I can openly say I love her! Nicholas, if you find it tough, you can call Matthew. I don't mind facing both of you."
With that, the Range Rover's window rolled up, and the car drove away.
Nicholas sat in his car.
His phone rang. It was his wife, Hestia, calling to remind him to come home for dinner.
Nicholas didn't answer.
He leaned back in his seat and lit a cigarette, his hand trembling.
He thought, maybe he really was crazy.
Four years later, at the same restaurant, at the same time, Oliver sat impeccably dressed.
Next to him was Nicole, wearing a pretty dress, sitting obediently. She looked up and asked, "Will Mommy really come?"
Oliver patted her head. "Yes, Mommy will be here soon."
It started to rain lightly outside.
A banana tree outside the window had its leaves washed green by the rain, refreshing to the eyes.
Oliver waited patiently.
Around 7 PM, a gentle woman's voice came from the entrance. "I have an appointment with Mr. Windsor here."