Chapter 13 The Beautiful Hands
“What’s so wrong with that? I’m simply hoping to maximize our profits. It’s beneficial for both the company and our family!” Trent replied.
Family? That word once represented Quinn’s deepest longing. When she initially married him, it was in the pursuit of having a family.
However, in the end, she realized that he simply couldn’t provide that to her.
“Would you still have asked me to return to the company if I hadn’t saved Julius today?” Quinn inquired.
You’re the lady boss of the company, so you can return anytime,” Trent said.
“In that case, can I just announce at the office that I’m the lady boss?” Quinn raised an eyebrow.
Trent remained silent for a moment before he finally said, “We agreed before to keep our marriage a secret for now, right? We’ll announce it when the time is right.”
“Well, because if we announce it now, it would mean letting everyone in the company know about your infidelity during our marriage, right? Everyone in the company knows that Sidonie is your first crush, but no one knows about our marriage,” Quinn said straightforwardly.
Visibly upset, Trent asked, “Do you really have to make things difficult for me?”
“I have no intention of making things difficult for you, so I don’t plan on returning to the company. Also, at the equestrian club, I told Julius that if he insists on repaying me, he should donate to build an Operation Hope Elementary School. Thus, don’t expect me to help you persuade Julius to invest in Grafton Technologies!” Quinn responded.
Trent flew into a rage out of humiliation and spent the entire night ignoring Quinn.
The following day, Quinn visited Laura’s office. They agreed that after Montague and Arlene’s burial in their hometown, she would officially start working at the company.
During lunchtime, Quinn spotted a photo on Jacinda’s Instagram. The picture showed a man’s hands, one cradling a bowl of oatmeal, the other holding a spoon, dipped into the bowl.
The caption read: The oatmeal lovingly made by Trent for my future sister–in–law smells so good!
Looking at the oatmeal in the photo, Quinn finally understood what Trent was busy with in the kitchen that morning.
Back when she fell ill, her fever spiked to one hundred and four degrees Fahrenheit. She was so weak that she could barely get out of bed. All Trent said was that he was busy with work and asked her to take care of herself.
Even before her fever had fully subsided, she was called back to work due to company matters.
She went to the office while still on an IV drip, and he took it for granted. He didn’t even order takeout, let alone make oatmeal for her. She had to do it herself.
At that moment, however, he was willing to rise early in the morning to make oatmeal for Sidonie.
The difference between love and the lack of it was truly evident.
“What are you looking at?” Laura asked curiously as she leaned in to take a closer look.
After seeing that photograph, Laura was taken aback for a moment before returning to her senses. “Could it be that Trent cooked oatmeal for Sidonie? That’s too much. You guys aren’t even divorced yet!”
“It doesn’t matter.” Quinn put away her phone, standing up to leave.
Where are you going? You’re not planning to rush to the hospital, are you?” Laura asked curiously.
Tim not that idle. I’m going to the funeral parlor to see my mom and dad,” Quinn said.
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Chapter 13 The Beautiful Hands
No sooner had Quinn stepped out of Laura’s company than a black sedan pulled up in front of her.
A man donned in a black suit stepped out of the car and respectfully said to Quinn, “Ms. Bridger, I am Mr. Whitethorn’s secretary. Mr. Whitethorn would like to express his gratitude for saving his life and invites you to join him for a meal.”
“There’s no need for that. I’ve already made it clear before. If he wants to thank me for saving his life, he can donate to build an Operation Hope Elementary School.” With that, Quinn went straight to her car, opened the door, and got in.
Half an hour later, she found herself in the funeral parlor, standing before the display case that held the cremation urn containing her parents‘ ashes.
On the urn, a national flag was draped.
“Mom, Dad, I initially thought that Trent owed you an apology. I wanted him to pay his respects and say sorry to you. However, there’s no need for that anymore, right?” Quinn murmured softly.
The only response she received was the silence of the air.
She brought her hands together in prayer, reverently paying her respects to Montague and Arlene.
“Just hold on a little longer. It won’t be long before I can take you guys back to our hometown,” said Quinn.
“Are you leaving this place?” Suddenly, a voice echoed from behind her.
A jolt ran through Quinn. As she turned her head, the handsome face of Julius suddenly filled her vision.
“Why are you here?” Quinn asked in surprise.
“Ms. Bridger, you turned down my secretary, so I naturally had to come and extend the invitation myself,” said Julius.
Quinn subtly pursed her lips. With Julius personally showing up, it seemed that turning down that day’s meal was no longer an option.
“Are these your parents‘ ashes?” Julius‘ gaze flickered toward the names attached to the base of the cremation urn. The words read: Montague Bridger Arlene Gurney.
“Yes,” said Quinn.
“Since there’s a national flag draped over the urn, they weren’t ordinary people, were they?” said Julius.
“They were ordinary people, but also fallen heroes,” said Quinn.
Montague and Arlene served in the military for thirty years. From the moment they enlisted, they were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice at any time.
When Quinn was a child, she used to fear that Montague and Arlene might be sacrificed and that there might come a day when she could no longer see them. Because of that, she had thrown tantrums, pleading with them not to be soldiers.
Back then, Montague held her in his arms and said, “Quinn, your mother and I chose to be soldiers out of steadfast conviction. What we want to protect is not just our home. We also want to protect our nation!”
As she grew older, she gradually began to comprehend Montague’s words and understand the meaning of steadfast conviction.
Hence, she chose to attend National Defense University for her university education. After graduation, just like Montague, Arlene, and Rowan, she decided to join the military.
Had it not been for the news of her parents‘ passing, Quinn might still have been a soldier.
*Since you’ve personally extended an invitation, Mr. Whitethorn, let’s go,” said Quinn. She then turned toward the cremation urre holding her parents‘ ashes and said, “Mom, Dad, I’ll visit you again next time.”
After she finished speaking, she turned to leave, only to find Julius still standing there unmoved.
Are you not leaving Quinn’s voice abruptly halted as she watched Julius stride toward her parents‘ cremation urn, He
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Chapter 13 The Beautiful Hands
respectfully bowed three times in front of them.
Quinn was stunned. Julius‘ expression was solemn, and every bow he made was earnest.
It was only after completing the three bows that Julius approached Quinn.
“Let’s go,” he said.
Quinn opened her mouth to ask, “Why did you-”
“Bow? They are fallen heroes. It’s only right that I pay them my respects,” Julius said.
A surge of indescribable emotion suddenly welled up in Quinn’s heart. Everyone said that Julius was a temperamental lunatic. She had even seen his madness firsthand. After subduing a criminal who had intended to kill him, he had pointed a gun directly at the man’s temple, completely disregarding the law.
However, just moments ago, he had shown nothing but respect for Montague and Arlene.
The one who was supposed to do that was Trent, but it was Julius doing it instead at that moment.
The two then left the funeral parlor, where a black Maybach was waiting for them outside. As soon as they appeared, the bodyguard promptly opened the rear car door.
The two of them got into the car, with Julius taking Quinn to a private club restaurant.
“Ms. Bridger, have you been here before?” he asked.
“No,” she replied.
“The food here is pretty good, Ms. Bridger. You should give it a try,” said Julius.
The array of exquisite dishes was swiftly served, and Quinn simply dove in and started eating.
She was indeed hungry, and the sooner she finished eating, the sooner they could part ways.
Due to habits formed from her past military life, Quinn always ate relatively quickly. Once she was about eighty percent full, she unconsciously paused, her gaze falling on Julius‘ hand holding the fork.
His hand, elegant and slender, held the fork in a way that exuded an unusual sense of beauty.
His hand was elegant yet lethal.
It was as if that fork in his hand could transform into a lethal weapon.
“Ms. Bridger, why do you keep looking at my hand? Is there something wrong with it?” Julius asked nonchalantly.
“Oh, no. It’s just that I find your hands very attractive,” Quinn replied truthfully, as if admiring a beautiful weapon.
“Really? Well, if I were to die before you do in the future, Ms. Bridger, I’d have someone cut off my hands, preserve them, and give them to you,” said Julius, startlingly sincere.
