Chapter 462: Getting Depressed and Dying
Chapter 462: Chapter 462: Getting Depressed and Dying
"Not really," Diana Jennings said quietly, standing by the sink. "It’s a company dinner. I didn’t want to come, but I was worried I wouldn’t fit in."
Hearing that it was a company dinner, Renee Jennings finally relaxed. "Is President Forrest there too?"
"He is."
"Okay. Have you been drinking? Do you need me to come pick you up?"
"I haven’t had anything to drink. I’ll drive myself home in a bit."
"Okay, then. I’m going to take Zane and Jasmine for a walk now."
After hanging up, Diana Jennings ran a hand through her hair, frustrated.
She really hated this kind of atmosphere.
"Sigh..." Diana Jennings sighed, looked up at the mirror, and resignedly tidied her hair with her fingers.
She hadn’t expected to see a tall, slender figure standing in the hallway the moment she stepped out of the restroom.
She paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and walked over, feigning composure. As she passed the man, she offered a polite greeting. "President Forrest."
Diana Jennings had intended to leave right after her greeting, but the man suddenly spoke. "Assistant Jennings."
Diana Jennings frowned instinctively. "Is there something you need, President Forrest?"
Jaden Forrest said in a slow, deliberate tone, "If you feel uncomfortable, you can leave early."
"What?" Diana Jennings stared at him, astonished.
The man repeated himself. "If you don’t like this sort of event, you can head home."
Diana Jennings asked tentatively, "Really? I can?"
"Of course." Jaden Forrest gave a slight nod and headed toward the restroom.
Diana Jennings glanced back at his retreating figure, then happily returned to the private room. She grabbed her bag and announced to the group, "Enjoy the rest of your meal, everyone. I have to go, so I’ll be leaving now."
"Diana Jennings, President Forrest hasn’t left yet! How can you—" Manager Hughes started to block her path but was stopped by Joel Joyce.
"Manager Hughes, it’s Assistant Jennings’s decision. She can leave whenever she likes." Joel Joyce looked at Diana Jennings and gave a small smile. "Assistant Jennings, have a great weekend."
"You too." Diana Jennings nodded at him gratefully.
Not long after she left, Jaden Forrest returned to the private room. His gaze swept across the room; the slender figure was already gone.
He spoke, his voice cool. "Joel Joyce."
Joel Joyce stood up at once. "President Forrest."
"Let’s go." Jaden Forrest tossed out the two words and turned to leave.
"Have a great weekend, everyone. Enjoy yourselves," Joel Joyce said to the group before hurrying to catch up.
**
Renee Jennings was just getting home from her walk with Zane and Jasmine when Diana Jennings’s car pulled into the driveway.
"Mommy’s back!"
"Mommy!"
Diana Jennings got out of the car and jogged over to them. "I’m home!"
"Sis, you’re back so soon?" Renee Jennings was surprised. It had only been half an hour since they last spoke on the phone.
"I left early." Since the children were there, Diana Jennings didn’t explain further.
"Well, that’s good." Renee Jennings grinned. "Are you hungry?"
’Even though Diana had a company dinner tonight, she probably didn’t get to eat much in that kind of setting.’
"Actually, I am a little hungry." Diana Jennings rubbed her stomach. "I’ll make a bowl of noodles after I take a shower."
Renee Jennings said, "Sis, why don’t you go shower? I’ll make the noodles for you."
"It’s fine, I can do it myself."
"What’s wrong? Are you scared to eat my cooking? Afraid I’ll whip up some disaster?"
They continued talking as they walked into the house.
"Bella’s home," Rhea Dempsey said with a chuckle. "It must have been a long night."
"It was fine, not too bad." Diana Jennings just felt out of place.
Renee Jennings looked at her pointedly. "So, sis. I’ll make the noodles, you go shower?"
Diana Jennings was no match for her sister. Besides, being a bit of a neat freak, she really wanted a shower. She nodded. "Alright, I’ll go take a shower."
Watching her two daughters interact, Rhea Dempsey’s heart swelled with warmth.
But at the same time, deep down, a flicker of regret was unavoidable.
A regret that had to remain a secret.
"Mom, do you want some noodles?" Renee Jennings asked, having taken a few steps toward the kitchen before turning back.
"Sure," Rhea Dempsey nodded. "Make a little for me too."
’I just ate not long ago,’ she thought, ’but it’s a sweet gesture from my daughter.’
Renee Jennings was making braised beef noodles, and even she had to admit it smelled delicious.
The aroma drew Zane and Jasmine over.
"It smells so good! Auntie, what are you making? It smells amazing!"
"Auntie, Jasmine wants some noodles too."
Renee Jennings hadn’t expected the two little ones to be such fans. She beamed, her eyes disappearing into crescents. "Alright, alright, Auntie will get you a bowl."
When Diana Jennings came downstairs from her shower, the others, who had already eaten, also sat down at the table to share the braised beef noodles Renee Jennings had made.
After they finished the noodles, Dalton Jenson arrived home. The family then gathered together on the sofa to watch TV, enjoying their cozy evening ritual.
Renee Jennings sat cross-legged on the armchair, a pile of furry friends draped all over her.
Michelle Fuller sent her a WeChat message asking what she was doing. Renee recorded a video and sent it over with a caption: [Getting mobbed.]
Michelle Fuller sent a voice message in reply. The moment Renee played it, she could hear Michelle’s loud laughter. "HAHAHA! Other people mob their pets, but you’re the one getting mobbed!"
Renee Jennings found it hilarious too. She texted back, "So what are you up to?"
Michelle Fuller sent a photo of Ginny and replied, "I’m mobbing her, hahaha."
Before Renee could reply, another voice message from her came through.
"Renee, I’m gonna go take a shower. I’ll message you again in a bit~~~"
Renee Jennings’s lips curved into a small smile. "Okay, I’ll go take a shower too," she replied.
She gently removed her furry entourage one by one. As she stood up to head upstairs, she heard Slider, the turtle, complaining.
’Sigh, no human loves me, their little turtle. One day, this turtle is gonna get ’depwession’ and die...’
’Depwession?’
Renee Jennings walked over to the terrarium and asked curiously, "Slider, what’s this ’depwession’ you mentioned?"
"’Depwession’ is a disease, of course!" Slider pressed up against the glass. "’Depwession’ is very serious. You didn’t know?"
"No, I don’t," Renee Jennings said, amused. "I’ve heard of depression, but this is the first time I’m hearing about ’depwession’."
After hearing her, Slider was silent for a long while before saying, "It... might be depression."
"So the ’depwession’ you were talking about is actually depression?"
"Yes."
"So you were just saying that you’ll get depression and die sooner or later?"
"Yes," Slider said. "Because nobody cares about this turtle. Nobody!"
Renee Jennings raised an eyebrow. "Doesn’t Mom feed you every day? And Zane and Jasmine play with you with their toys. How can you say nobody cares about you?"
"But there’s still *someone* who doesn’t care about this turtle!" Slider turned around, aiming its tail at her.
There was a hint of laughter in Renee Jennings’s voice. "Are you by any chance talking about me?"
Slider spun back around to face her. "You finally figured it out! Renee, you’re so heartless! You didn’t even take your dear turtle with you for your livestream today!"
’Heavens knew how anxious it had been watching the other little buddies go upstairs.’
"There, there, my good turtle. Don’t be mad, okay?" Renee Jennings reached into the tank, patting its shell reassuringly. "I’ll take you with me next time."
"You have to swear."
"I swear that I will absolutely, positively bring my dearest turtle with me for the next livestream."
"Hmph. That’s more like it!"