Chapter 401

Chapter 401:

“Hi. Ahem!” Lesly was taken by surprise when Janice approached suddenly, causing her to choke on her coffee and spill it.

The embarrassing moment made her feel quite uncomfortable.

“Sorry, did I spill any on you? I got nervous and lost control for a moment.”

Janice smiled, assuring her that she was fine. “May I sit?”

“Yeah, um, of course,” Lesly stammered, clearly feeling nervous.

It was hard to imagine this was Kenneth’s mother.

Considering Kenneth’s competence and straightforward nature, one would expect his mother to be just as impressive, but she seemed quite the opposite.

“Actually, I worked at your son’s company before…”

“I know! Kenneth told me about you. He mentioned his company had a brilliant designer named Janice. I even considered setting you up with Kenneth. Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”

Since Janice had been Aiden’s wife at the time, she realized her words were out of line.

Janice chuckled.

Lesly was truly amusing. So direct and yet so indiscreet—how did she manage in these elite social circles?

Lesly had cloaked herself in an air of awkwardness, adopting a stiff posture and quiet demeanor to ensure that no one would approach her. Yet Janice, undeterred, walked up to her, initiating a conversation that gradually bridged the gap between them.

“Janice, have you ever considered Kenneth? He’s truly admirable—intelligent, thoughtful, and full of aspirations. Since you’re single, maybe he could be a good match,” Lesly suggested, her words clearly indicating that she was already aware of the recent end of Janice and Aiden’s relationship.

The news of their divorce had remained private, known only to a few, Kenneth among them. It seemed likely that Kenneth had confided in his mother about it.

“Well…” Janice hesitated, her lips pressing into a tight line as she pondered the suggestion. Her decision had been spontaneous, perhaps driven by a combination of sympathy for Kenneth and a desire not to leave his mother feeling alone at the gathering. As she reflected on her quick choice, she felt a mixture of regret and resignation.

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“Life has its own plans, I suppose. If two people are meant to be together, fate will find a way to bring them together.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” a male voice chimed in.

Janice felt a brief jolt as she turned to see a pair of radiant eyes, sparkling with an innocence that made them stand out. “Stephen?” she asked, surprised.

She quickly glanced at Wendy, who was engaged in an animated conversation with Leonie, and noticed the subtle confusion in her posture. Stephen, sensing the misunderstanding, gave her a reassuring smile.

“It’s alright,” he said. “I just came over to greet Mrs. Delgado.”

While that was the official reason, it was clear that his true purpose was to speak with Janice. “Is what you mentioned earlier true? Did you really understand my performance?” Stephen asked, his tone sincere.

Seeing Stephen willing to take such a risk just to verify her words, Janice couldn’t help but be moved by his genuine earnestness.

“Yes, I’ve listened to many piano pieces and have gained a fair bit of understanding,” she replied.

“I’ve performed this piece many times, yet nobody has ever discerned the emotions I’ve woven into it. You’re the first,” Stephen said, his voice soft with a mixture of pride and vulnerability.

A small smile played on Janice’s lips as a thought struck her. “You probably come from a prosperous family, don’t you? There seems to be no need for you to depend on Mrs. Chadwick.”

Stephen was momentarily taken aback, but his expression soon shifted into a wry smile. “Indeed, I was born into affluence, but a devastating tragedy during my childhood shattered everything, plunging me into dire straits. To survive, I had no choice but to seek Mrs. Chadwick’s protection.”

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