Chapter 311: Zane and Jasmine Need a Father
Chapter 311: Chapter 311: Zane and Jasmine Need a Father
The elevator car was packed, the space cramped.
Diana Jennings was standing near the doors. The moment they opened, someone pushing their way out from behind knocked her forward.
She nearly fell, but a pair of warm hands caught her shoulders just in time.
"I’m sorry, thank you." Diana Jennings apologized and thanked them in the same breath. She looked up, but froze on the spot when she saw the person’s face.
’It’s him...’
Jaden Forrest stared at her with his deep eyes, his tone impassive. "Stand straight. I’m letting go."
Diana Jennings quickly gathered her thoughts and stood up straight.
Seeing this, Jaden Forrest raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly and slowly withdrew his hands.
Diana Jennings avoided his gaze, turning to step back into the elevator car.
Jaden Forrest and Joel Joyce also stepped into the car, standing beside her.
Diana Jennings stiffened and subconsciously shuffled to the side. Suddenly, the ringtone of the phone in her bag blared.
She lowered her gaze, grabbed her phone from her bag, and upon seeing the caller ID, swiped to answer. "Renee, I’m in the elevator."
"Okay, see you in a bit."
After hanging up, Diana Jennings looked up and was caught off guard when she met the man’s scrutinizing gaze in the reflective elevator wall.
She frowned slightly and turned her head away.
The elevator stopped after going up one floor, and Diana Jennings scrambled out.
Jaden Forrest watched her slender figure, his gaze gradually deepening.
Joel Joyce suddenly spoke up. "President Forrest, don’t you think that woman looks a bit like the little girl Miss Jennings had with her?"
After saying that, he worried President Forrest would say he had too much time on his hands, so he quickly added, "I’m just rambling."
This time, however, Jaden Forrest said nothing. His brow was furrowed in deep thought.
**
「Private club.」
Zoe Morgan sat in a private room, a black velvet jewelry box on the table before her.
She glanced at the time, her brow furrowed slightly.
’Yvonne always used to arrive early when meeting her, but today she was late. It seems Fanny’s social media post from last night upset her.’
Another five minutes passed. Just as Zoe Morgan was picking up her phone to make a call, there was a knock on the door of the private room.
She got up and walked over quickly.
A waiter pushed the door open from the outside, and Zoe Morgan immediately saw Yvonne Morgan’s haggard appearance. A flash of pity crossed her eyes.
"Auntie," Yvonne Morgan called out softly.
Zoe Morgan took her hand and said gently, "Yvonne, are you angry with your auntie?"
The waiter closed the door from the outside.
Yvonne Morgan lowered her eyes and said sullenly, "No, I wouldn’t dare be angry with you, Auntie."
"Sigh." Zoe Morgan sighed lightly, pulled her to a seat, and explained, "It’s not what you think. I haven’t reconciled with Renee Jennings."
"It would only be right for you to reconcile with Renee Jennings," Yvonne Morgan said, forcing a helpless smile. "After all, Renee Jennings is your real niece."
Zoe Morgan quickly explained, "Even though she’s my biological niece, to me, you’re the most important one, Yvonne. Do you understand?"
Yvonne Morgan kept her head down, saying nothing, but her tears fell one by one onto the back of Zoe Morgan’s hand.
"Yvonne, don’t cry." Zoe Morgan was both anxious and pained. "Fanny was the one who brought Renee Jennings. I didn’t know beforehand. If I had known, I definitely wouldn’t have gone."
Yvonne Morgan choked back a sob. "Auntie, I know you don’t want to hurt my feelings, but you really don’t have to lie to me."
"I’m not lying to you," Zoe Morgan said urgently. "I left last night’s dinner without even eating."
"Really?" Yvonne Morgan looked at her, her eyes blurry with tears.
"Really." Zoe Morgan wiped away her tears, her tone gentle. "Don’t be sad anymore, okay?"
Yvonne Morgan threw herself into her arms. "I knew you were the best to me, Auntie."
Zoe Morgan breathed a small sigh of relief and stroked her long hair. "Silly child, you and Renee Jennings are both my nieces."
’Yvonne Morgan and Renee Jennings were both her nieces, but the two of them were ultimately different.’
’Renee Jennings would never be as important as Yvonne Morgan. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have done what she did twenty-four years ago...’
"Auntie, how does Aunt Fanny even know Renee Jennings?" Yvonne Morgan asked from her aunt’s embrace, her eyes betraying her dissatisfaction.
"She said Renee Jennings is a special consultant for their zoo," Zoe Morgan explained.
"A consultant for a zoo?" Yvonne Morgan frowned. "What does that mean?"
Zoe Morgan shook her head. "I’m not sure about that."
She picked up the velvet box and said softly, "Yvonne, I picked out this bracelet for you. See if you like it."
"I love anything you give me, Auntie," Yvonne Morgan said sweetly.
Seeing that she had stopped crying, Zoe Morgan was finally able to relax.
Yvonne Morgan opened the box, her expression one of exaggerated delight. "Auntie, I’ve had my eye on this bracelet for so long, but I could never bring myself to buy it."
Her eyes reddened, and her face was filled with emotion. "Thank you, Auntie. You’re so good to me. You’re the only one left in this family who’s good to me."
"Why do you say that?" Zoe Morgan looked at her, puzzled. "Is everyone else not treating you well?"
With tears in her eyes, Yvonne Morgan said aggrievedly, "I feel like Mom, Dad, and my brother have all started treating me differently... I don’t dare spend money recklessly anymore, for fear that I’ll be kicked out someday."
"Don’t worry," Zoe Morgan said firmly. "Your auntie won’t let that happen."
"Okay." Yvonne Morgan’s eyes glistened with tears as she nodded. "I’m so glad I have you to protect me, Auntie. I love you the most."
Zoe Morgan was very happy that Yvonne depended on her so much.
’Thinking about what Yvonne just said, she felt it was necessary to have a talk with the others.’
**
Renee Jennings and Diana Jennings went shopping with the two little ones and didn’t get home until ten o’clock.
Zane and Jasmine had played all day, and having skipped their afternoon nap, they fell asleep the moment they lay down after their bath, their breathing even and deep.
Diana Jennings watched them for a moment before getting up, leaving the room, and carefully closing the door.
"Sis." Renee Jennings was sitting cross-legged by the bedroom door.
Seeing this, Diana Jennings said with an amused laugh, "Renee, why are you sitting here?"
Renee Jennings scrambled up from the floor. "Want some late-night supper? I happen to have something to tell you."
"Okay." Diana Jennings nodded.
The two went downstairs, where Renee Jennings fried two steaks and opened a bottle of red wine.
After a few sips of wine, Renee Jennings said softly, "Sis, I took Zane and Jasmine out today and ran into Jaden Forrest."
"Actually, I ran into him too." Diana Jennings’s eyelashes fluttered.
Renee Jennings froze mid-sip, her eyes widening in surprise. "You ran into him too?"
"Yes," Diana Jennings nodded. "In the elevator."
Renee Jennings: "So did we!"
’Just like in a novel!’
Renee Jennings blinked. "Zane and Jasmine both said Jaden Forrest was handsome."
"Is that so." Diana Jennings pursed her lips, then tilted her head back and finished the red wine in her glass.
Renee Jennings sensed she was a little down. After refilling her glass, she asked with concern, "Sis, does seeing him make you feel repulsed?"
"It does," Diana Jennings said in a low voice. "After all, it brings back a terrible memory."
Renee Jennings gently squeezed her hand and said softly, "Sis, let’s not talk about this then. Let’s just drink."
"But Zane and Jasmine need a father." Diana Jennings’s brow furrowed, her feelings a complex and tangled mess.