Chapter 98 It's Best if Everyone Knows
Since Nancy didn't know what time Steven was picking up Rachel in the afternoon, she went straight to Steven's architecture firm after leaving Stargaze Gallery.
She deliberately chose a spot where she could see the company's entrance and parking lot. The winter afternoon sun was warm and pleasant.
She forcibly suppressed the restlessness in her heart, patiently telling herself.
Today she had to see Steven no matter what.
Her calmed mind had also realized that Kira and Faith's employer was very likely someone from the wealthy circles.
This was a level she could never reach no matter what.
After all, she really had no connections in Dawnlight City.
The only people she knew were Steven and Rachel.
But this matter didn't seem like something Rachel would do, so if she wanted to find out who was behind it, she still had to rely on Steven.
Besides, her current situation was really bad. The only one who could protect her and give her support was Steven.
Thinking this way, she let out a long breath, calmed herself down, and looked at the company entrance with determination in her eyes.
She was patient and could keep her cool. After waiting for about three hours, she saw a black Cayenne drive out from the underground garage.
She recognized this car - it was Steven's personal vehicle.
Although they had always kept their relationship secret, they had met in private quite a few times. She had some knowledge of Steven's daily cars, clothes, accessories, and such.
The car was driving fast, and Nancy couldn't catch up to stop it. Just then a taxi came by. She quickly flagged it down and told the driver, "Please follow that black Cayenne ahead."
The driver said nothing and stepped on the gas to catch up.
After driving for about half an hour, the Cayenne stopped at Dawnlight City's biggest money pit - Nightshade Club.
Watching Steven get out of the car, Nancy randomly pulled out two bills from her bag, dropped a "keep the change," and hurriedly pushed open the car door to get out.
Just as Steven was about to go in, Nancy softly called out, like gentle spring rain, hesitantly, "Steven."
Hearing the familiar voice, Steven paused, turned his head, and a delicate, vulnerable figure appeared in his eyes.
He immediately frowned, his surprised tone mixed with some displeasure, his gaze examining her, "You followed me?"
Nancy suppressed the hurt in her heart, her eyes couldn't help but redden. She walked two steps toward him, asking with wronged choking voice, "Steven, are you abandoning me again?"
She sniffled, her eyes brimming with tears that stubbornly refused to fall.
"You haven't answered my calls these past days, haven't replied to my messages. I couldn't find you, so today I waited for you outside your company all afternoon."
As she spoke, tears streamed down her face. She raised her hand to remove her mask, wiped away the tears, and tried hard to squeeze out a smile.
"I know you must have your difficulties, so I'm not here today to pester you. Since this is your decision, I support you. Besides wanting to say a final goodbye, I have one last request."
Steven looked at her increasingly swollen face, the shock on his face deepening, "What happened to your face?"
Nancy looked at him with teary eyes, "Yesterday afternoon someone came to Scenic Bay Estates to cause trouble and put up banners. I don't know who's behind this, but I guess it might be someone I can't afford to offend.
In Dawnlight City, besides you, no one can help me. If I did something wrong and offended someone, I can apologize, just asking them to spare me and stop pushing me like this."
Causing trouble at Scenic Bay Estates, putting up banners?
Steven's eyes were full of disbelief.
Without thinking, he guessed this must be Heather's doing.
Looking at her pitiful appearance, her measured approach yet hopeful gaze, something in his heart unconsciously softened.
Nancy had been with him for over a year after all. There was no reason she should end up like this.
Moreover,
He did feel some reluctance toward her.
Now seeing her like this, he felt even more unable to bear it. He pressed his lips together, complexity flashing in his eyes.
As if struggling with something.
After a long while, he finally spoke, "I'll help you find out who's behind this. Leave it to me, don't worry. You go back first. I have a business meeting now and can't leave. I'll come see you later after I'm done."
Nancy's eyes lit up, her lips trembling, "Really? You're not lying to me?"
Steven squeezed her hand, his voice gentle, "When have I ever lied to you?"
Nancy smiled through her tears, "Okay. Then you go ahead with your business, I'll wait for you at home."
"Okay."
"You have to come!"
Steven nodded, touched her head, a trace of heartache showing in his eyes, "Make sure to take care of the wounds on your face, okay? Apply medicine properly. I'll contact an international medical beauty company later and get you the best scar removal cream."
The smile on Nancy's face deepened as she sniffled, "Okay."
With that, she turned and left, hailed a car by the roadside, and headed back to Scenic Bay Estates.
Looking out the window at Nightshade Club, Dawnlight City's most luxurious and biggest money pit, she slowly lowered her eyelids and let out the pent-up frustration in her chest.
Sure enough, with Steven, retreating to advance and playing pitiful and vulnerable always worked.
As long as it worked, that was good.
Nightshade Club had 14 floors in total. Each floor had different consumption levels and naturally different entertainment options.
Steven had arranged to meet someone on the 13th floor tonight to discuss business. Coming out of the elevator, passing through Area A, he saw four or five rich kids sitting in the lounge area drinking and chatting.
"Really? No way, they're known in the circle as a model couple."
"After all these years, their deep love can't be an act, right?"
"I still find it hard to believe."
"Really, why would I lie to you? I just saw it with my own eyes. Downstairs, very intimate with a woman. I saw Rachel at Mrs. Davis's funeral that day, it definitely wasn't her."
Steven hadn't really paid attention to their conversation at first.
But when he heard the keywords "Mrs. Davis" and "Rachel," he stopped in his tracks, his eyelid twitching sharply.
Downstairs, very intimate with a woman?
Were they talking about him and Nancy?
His heartbeat suddenly became irregular. However, before he could speak, he heard a familiar, casual voice.
"Everyone's here? What are you talking about? What about Rachel?"
Steven turned around and saw the owner of that voice.
It was Asher.
His breathing hitched.
Last time Asher had even had dinner with Rachel. If he passed this on to Rachel's ears...
He clenched his fists, turned back to look at those people, frowning as he said in a deep voice, "Gentlemen, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want!"
Asher seemed to have just noticed him, looking surprised, "Mr. Martinez, I'm really sorry, I didn't notice you just now. What brings you here?"
"Meeting a client to discuss business."
Steven briefly explained his purpose, his gaze falling on the man who said he saw it with his own eyes, "Just now you said I was getting cozy with a woman downstairs?"
The man leisurely crossed his legs, leaning back in his chair, "Yes, did I say something wrong?"
"Not wrong. That girl is my cousin. I came here for business today, and she insisted on following me in to have fun, but I didn't let her."
Steven's eyes were calm, "I don't really need to explain to you, but after all, this concerns my and my cousin's reputation. Sir, please don't spread rumors."
With that, he simply nodded at Asher and walked away expressionlessly.
His tense back never relaxed though.
What if this still reached Rachel's ears?
How would Rachel react?
Would she investigate?
Or what if it reached Heather's ears?
His heart trembled violently. He gritted his teeth - absolutely not!
The softness he had originally felt toward Nancy instantly became rock hard.
Asher watched Steven's departing figure, curved his lips, and gave the man next to him a thumbs up, "Nice acting. Put today's bill on Benjamin's account."
"Benjamin? Benjamin from the Wright family?"
"What does this have to do with him?"
Asher waved his hand, said "it's a secret," and left. He sent Benjamin a voice message, "Benjamin, it's done. Ask Rachel if she wants to continue spreading this rumor?"
Getting Benjamin's reply, Rachel smiled slightly, though it didn't reach her eyes.
This Nancy was quite tenacious.
Steven was also quite unchangeable.
She didn't even know what words to use to describe her current complicated feelings.
But this was killing two birds with one stone for her.
She wanted to extinguish Nancy's last hope.
She typed back: [Of course we should continue. It has to reach my mother-in-law's ears to be good, the more people know the better. But don't spread it too fast, in case Heather notices something's off.]