Chapter 40
Simone watched Lionel closely as he tried again. It was his ninth attempt, and he still hadn’t managed to snag a single plush toy. “Want me to give it
shot” she asked
Lael’s ears turned red out of frustration. Hearing Simone’s offer, he quickly inserted a token and uid. “Go ahead”
Kimone lined up the claw carefully and previed the button with confidence. The chaw grabbed the fox plush and, with a satufying drop. in landed perfectly in the prize chute. “Got it” she exclaimed. her eyes sparkling as she pulled the toy out…
“Simone you’re amazing Lionel said. His lips curved into a faint smile as be watched her excitement
Hearing Lionel suddenly call her name. Simone froze for a moment.
Whats wrong” Can’t I call your name?” Lionel asked, noticing her reaction
Simone quickly replied. “No, it’s fine.” She thought, Whatever he wants to call me is fine, as long as it helps me get on his good side
Lionel sudden use of her name caught Simone off guard. Since they’d met the only time they’d addressed each other by na
by name was when they
added each other on Wechat
Well, then I’ll call you Lionel from now won Simone said. She thought, If he is calling me by name, I can’t keep not addressing him like I don’t know his name. After all we seem like friends now.
Lionel stared at her for a moment before breaking into a laugh. “How old are you?” he asked.
“Almost eighteen.” Simone replied. She was puzzled by the sudden question.
Lionel crossed his arms and tilted his head to look at her. “So you’re seventeen.”
He continued. “I’m twenty. If you just call me by my name, doesn’t that make me sound like a kid!”
mone nodded, thinking he kind of had a point. “So, what am I supposed to call you then?” she asked.
She thought. I can’t address him Mr. or Hey man, that sounds inappropriate. Simone racked her brain but couldn’t come up with a suitable
nickname
Lionel didn’t have any b
better ideas either. He said, “Forget it; justi
call me
me by my name.
Simone nodded in agreement.
Afterward, they played a few other arcade games. Lionel soon discovered that Simone had an extraordinary talent for gaming.
While playing. Simone’s fate no longer carried the unreadable emotions from before. Instead, it was filled with focus. At moments like these, the finally seemed like a regular teruger
Glancing at the dark sky, Lionel aid with concern, “It’s getting late. Let me walk
Simone checked the tiene and decided not to refuse.
you homic It’s not safe out here at night”
The walk from downtown to Serenity Estates was only ten minutes, so they skipped calling a cab and walked back.
Sogin’s day–to–night temperature swings were extreme, and by now, the night had dropped to teens. Simone, still in her strappy dress, felt the cold biting at her exposed skin, turning it red she couldn’t help but shiver
Taonel finally noticed her trembling and immediately shrugged off his jacket, draping it over her shoulders
The icy chill vanished, replaced by Lionel’s lingering warmth. Simone looked up at Lionel, who was now wearing just a black short–sleeved shirt.
She pulled the jacket tighter around herself and asked, “Aren’t you cold”
“Thair 10’s nothing” Lionel replied casually. The cold didn’t bother him, he could even handle a cold shower without flinching
bey reached the entrance to the Serenity hiba, Lionel was once again struck by the stark gap between him and Simone
He waited until Simone had fully marred before leaving. He was afraid that if he lingered, the sense of indenurity in his heart would take root and
Simone realized that she had forgotten to return Louel’s jacket as she went upstairs to change. She glanced down from the balcony, but Lionel was
Chapter 10
already gone.
She thought, “Well, I just gave it back next time. Maybe it’s not such a bad thing. It’s a good excuse to see him again
(night, Simone washed Lionel’s jacket and hung it on her balcony. After finishing, she felt a sense of relief and finally drifted off to sleep
Meanwhile, chaos unfolded at Phantom Beats. The two thugs who had fought with Simone, along with their boss, were dragged to an abandoned factory by a group of men. When they returned, they were barely hanging onL
The manager did all this after getting approval from Cyrus, but Sinone remained completely in the dark.
The next morning, just as Simone reached the classroom door. Stella and Raymond blocked her way.
“Sinsone, can you step outside with us for a moment?” Stella asked casiously as she stole a glance at the people lingering outside the classroom.
Seeing the two, Simane thought, What a lousy way to start the day! She refused, “Nope, I need to catch up on sleep. Without sparing them a glance, the walked straight into the classroom.
Raymond said, “That brat’s getting out of hand. I’m going to teach her a lesson” He had been annoyed with Simone for ages. Simone’s indifferent attitude now, angered him, and he prepared to storm into her classroom.
Stella quickly grabbed Raymond’s arm, worried he’d mess things up by making Simone even angrier. She said, “Let it go, Raymond. Simone probably just doesn’t want to see us.”
Simone enjoyed a peaceful morning and thought she was finally free of Stella and Raymond for the day. But after lunch, Stella showed up at the class again, this time alone.
“We need to talk.” Stella said as she walked up to Simone’s desk. Most of the students hadn’t returned to the classroom yet, leaving many seats empty. Stella casually sat down in the seat across from Simone.
Stella wasn’t putting on her usual act today, probably because Raymond wasn’t around. Her tone had lost its fake sweetness, and pretending to be fragile anymore.
Simone found the change intriguing and gave Stella a few extra glances. “What’s the topic?” she asked.
“Let’s talk about the Spence family shares, Stella said, her gaze steady and full of confidence.
Hearing this, Sumone frowned slightly,
she wasn’t
to me. The contract will officially take effect when I turn eighteen”
Stella continued, “Dad signed over 25% of the Spence Group shares to m
Her eyes sparkled with pride and satisfaction, as though the shares had given her a newfound sense of power, a power that came from Samuel Simone froze for a moment, surprised. She hadn’t known about this. At some point, Samuel had started keeping her at arm’s length, and she was rarely informed about company matters,
Simone did know that Samuel held 50% of the shares in total. He had already given 3% each to Norah Charles, and Raymond, leaving himself with
She never imagined he’d land over 25% to Stella. Th
25% to Stella. That clearly meant he wanted Stella to be the heir to the Spence family. Even though, Simone had already given up on Samuel, hearing that he’d secretly handed Stella such a large share still stung
She thought, In the end I am just an outsider. Even though
though I have never wanted to compete with Stella, Samuel still doesn’t trust me?
“Interested?” Stella asked Her eyes gleamed with a hint of calculation.
Simone looked at Stella, her face blank. She asked back, “What do the Spence Group shares have to do with me?
“I can give you 5 of the shares, Stella said earnestly
Sunone suddenly chuckled, her gaze sharp. “What’s the carch?” she asked.
Just clear things up online for me and the Spence family, Stella said, her eyes locked firmly on Sumone.
