Chapter 785
Gray thought that as long as he spoke up and gave Shirley a way out, she would come back to him.
But to his surprise, even after he personally asked her to stay, Shirley still had this attitude of completely cutting ties with him.
He grabbed Shirley's shoulder and said arrogantly, "Do you think that by getting close to Lillian and joining HorizonHive Media, you can make it in the entertainment industry? Did you even notice that no one in the private room took you seriously today? Don't be so naive!"
Shirley stared at Gray in front of her, her hands clenched tightly at her sides.
In Gray's condescending gaze, she saw contempt and sarcasm, without a trace of regret, pain, or any other emotion.
Shirley was very glad that when she just found out Gray had jumped into the pool to save her, although her heart raced uncontrollably and she wanted to rush into the room to hug Gray and say that no matter what, she wanted to get back with him, she restrained herself.
Gray was just like Melissa, never really seeing her.
Gray looked down on her, and his attempts to keep her and his entanglement were just because his pride was hurt by being dumped by a woman he considered beneath him.
"Gray, we're over, and I don't owe you anything, do I? We'll still see each other around, so there's no need to make things ugly, right?" Shirley heard herself say in an incredibly calm and steady voice.
Gray's face grew darker, and he coldly stared at Shirley, releasing his grip on her shoulder, and said coldly, "You've really come into your own, Shirley. You have no talent, no looks, and not even a gentle personality to please people. Do you think anyone would cherish a woman like you?
"It was just a novelty, and now you're acting all high and mighty. Fine, when you hit rock bottom and come crying to me for protection, I might not have the patience and mood I have today."
Shirley took a deep breath and nodded. "Thank you for thinking so highly of me today, but I sincerely hope you can maintain your high standards in the future. I'm not worthy."
With that, Shirley didn't look at Gray's extremely ugly face again, turned, opened the door, and left without looking back.
As she closed the door, she heard something crash to the ground inside the room.
Shirley's lips curled into a faint smile.
But there was an inexplicable taste of blood in her mouth, and it took her a moment to realize that she had bitten the inside of her cheek.
Only through this pain could she resist the suffocating sadness in her heart.
When Shirley opened the door to the room across the hall and found Lillian, Lillian was on the balcony, directing Jackson to plant a cactus.
"Jackson, you've packed the soil too tightly. Loosen it up a bit, and replant the broken branches and leaves into the soil; they'll grow new roots."
Shirley walked over and was surprised to see Lillian leaning against the railing, leisurely swirling a glass of red wine.
Meanwhile, Jackson, dressed in a sharp suit, was squatting on the ground, wearing gardening gloves, obediently transplanting the cactus into a pot.
"Is it really that amazing? Are you sure a single leaf can grow roots in the soil?"
"Of course!"
"Lillian, you're amazing. I didn't know that. Can you help me see if this is planted correctly? Should we ask the servants for some fertilizer?"
"No need, just lay the leaf flat on the soil, and it will find its way to root. Life is that resilient."
Lillian adjusted her dress and squatted beside Jackson, tilting her head to look at the cactus he had just transplanted into the pot.
Unexpectedly, Jackson moved closer, bumping into her lightly.
Lillian blinked, "What are you doing?"
Jackson's thin lips curved into a pleased smile, and he said with a hint of laughter in his voice, "Looking for my soil."
Lillian was stunned. Was she Jackson's soil?
In the past, she had always relied on him, looked up to him, and survived under his protection.
Jackson was her brother and her lover. She stood behind him, in his shadow, waiting for him to turn around.
But now, Jackson said she was his soil.
Without her, no matter how lush his tree was, it would quickly wither and fall.
Lillian felt as if something had hit her hard in the heart, and she momentarily forgot to look away.
Until...
A strange sound suddenly interrupted, and Lillian looked up to see Shirley standing not far away, staring at them in shock.
Lillian's heart skipped a beat, and she felt a sudden panic, like a child caught in a forbidden romance by a parent.
She immediately jumped up from the ground, moved away from Jackson, and met Shirley's suspicious gaze.
"Shirley, did you finish talking with Gray? Are you hungry? How about I go with you to get something to eat before we leave?"
Lillian walked over, trying to pull Shirley away.
But Shirley's steps were hesitant, and her suspicious gaze kept shifting between Lillian and Jackson, who was still squatting there.
"Lillian, what are you two doing?"
This atmosphere felt so off.
What had Jackson done again? Was Lillian being deceived by him again?
"We're not doing anything. Mr. Frane accidentally damaged the plants here, and I'm teaching him how to replant them." Lillian waved her hand and explained.
Hearing her still call Jackson "Mr. Frane," Shirley felt slightly relieved.
She thought the harmonious and ambiguous scene she had just witnessed must have been a mistake.
How could Lillian easily forgive Jackson?
"I'm not hungry. I feel nauseous and can't eat anything. I just want to leave."
Shirley pulled Lillian to her other side, separating her from Jackson.
Lillian knew from her words that her conversation with Gray had ended badly.
Seeing Shirley's pale face, Lillian nodded. "Then let's go now."
On the balcony, Jackson could sense Shirley's guarded and rejecting attitude.
Jackson stood up slowly, placed the two potted cacti back on the flower rack, and removed his gloves.
"I'll drive you." Jackson stepped out, his tall figure quickly reaching Lillian's side with his long strides.
"No need to trouble you, Mr. Frane."
"This area doesn't allow outside vehicles, and it's not easy to walk out," Jackson said calmly.
Gray's villa was by a secluded lakeside, surrounded by other villas, covering a large area.
Jackson had driven for over ten minutes just to get into the neighborhood.
Lillian held onto Shirley. "Shirley, let him drive us. I came here in his car."
Shirley didn't respond, and Jackson had already started walking outside. "Let's go."
Shirley looked at Jackson's back and rubbed her eyes.
She felt like there was something wrong with the wine she drank today.
Otherwise, how could she see the noble and powerful Jackson, obediently squatting on a narrow balcony as a gardener, and then willingly acting as their driver?
It was terrifying.
Compared to Jackson's patient and scheming nature, Gray's easily seen-through tricks were laughably weak.
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