Chapter 588: Chapter 295: Jane Quinlan is the Third Party (2nd Update)
Jane Quinlan counts down every day; there are eight days left now.
In the evening, Benjamin Quinlan asked her to go shopping with him.
It’s almost time to head home, and Benjamin also needs to prepare New Year’s goods for the family.
Men always seem to lack the knack when shopping for gifts, and Lily had to work overtime today as well.
So, Benjamin had no choice but to settle for his sister’s company.
After wandering around the mall for quite a while, he bought clothes for their parents and some New Year’s gift sets before they finally settled down for a meal.
Jane was so tired that she felt her stomach was flat with hunger; upon entering the restaurant, she slumped into a seat.
"Bro, hurry up, I want some meat; I can’t stand this hunger any longer."
"Keep it classy," Benjamin ordered with the waiter after calling them over.
After the waiter left, Benjamin poured her a glass of mango juice: "Based on your behavior, how can you ever be a fine lady of a wealthy household in the future?"
"Who says I want to be some wealthy lady?
Isn’t it enough to just be myself?"
"That’s one way to look at it, you can do as you please, but if there’s any slip-up, you’re losing face for Director Forrest.
It’s true that Director Forrest spoils you, but you should also make some effort on your own.
Don’t let others mock Director Forrest because of so-called high society rules."
Listening to Benjamin, it did seem to make sense.
"That’s true, but you know what kind of person I am.
I’ve never been cut out to be some fine lady of a wealthy household.
And I can’t possibly learn all those rules I never learned since childhood in just a few days."
"Even so, you should put in the effort for his sake."
Jane nodded: "What you’ve said makes sense, brother; I’ll try to pay more attention in the future.
But for now, since it’s just the two of us siblings, I won’t pretend—it’s too exhausting.
I’m so hungry, I’m starving to death."
Benjamin laughed speechlessly: "At the year-end party, Director Forrest really looked dashing—did you not swoon with joy?"
"How could I not? Didn’t you see the sparkling tears in my eyes?
I was nearly overcome with tears.
I mean, such a great man; how on earth did I, Jane Quinlan, manage to snag him?
I must have accumulated a massive amount of good karma in my last life for the heavens to treat me this kindly."
"But these past few days, the gossip at the company has been so rampant; aren’t you uncomfortable?"
"Oh my god, don’t even mention it.
These past few days, I’m about to develop a kidney issue from holding it in.
To avoid hearing those people gossiping about me behind my back almost completely openly in the restroom.
Now, I only visit the bathroom once a day.
I feel that if this gossip continues, my kidneys will give out sooner or later."
Benjamin frowned: "Are people in your office really that brash?"
"And people in your department don’t gossip?"
"Our department is okay; everyone is saying how beautiful you looked that day.
Mainly because we don’t have many women in our office.
There are just a few and they don’t even work in the same room as us.
But every day at lunch as soon as I enter the canteen, it’s all about you."
Jane shook her head, visibly irritated: "Ah, I don’t want to talk about this anymore."
The waiter served the dishes, and Jane immediately called for rice.
Seeing her wolf down the food, Benjamin was speechless; the girl really was starving.
"Eat slower."
She managed to gobble down two bowls of rice in a short time, assaulting the dishes vigorously.
Benjamin was surprised: "How many meals did you miss? You never used to eat this much."
"Mhm, I’ve been feeling down recently, so my appetite increased.
I think I need to get a check-up at the hospital; I might have a hormonal imbalance.
It’s mainly because of the enormous mental stress."
Benjamin nodded: "Director Forrest will be quite busy at the end of the year; if it doesn’t work out, I’ll go with you."
"No need, I’m afraid the doctor will prescribe all sorts of tests and I won’t have the time. Let’s talk about it after the new year, it’s not urgent at this very moment."
"Alright then, if Director Forrest is busy later on, I’ll accompany you.
But I think there shouldn’t be much at the end of the year.
We’ll see how your schedules go."
Jane nodded and started to drink her juice.
"Jane, let me ask you another thing; I’m your real brother, so don’t you lie to me."
"Ask away, why would I lie to you?"
"When you and Director Forrest started dating, he was single, right?"
Jane laughed: "Of course."
"Then I’m relieved."
Jane looked at him speechlessly: "Bro, why are you asking this? It’s so weird."
"There have been people saying that you’re the other woman."
"She’s meddling in the relationship between Director Forrest and that Evie Larkin."
"Impossible, Kay Forrest and Evie Larkin broke up many years ago.
They were still in high school back then, and it’s been more than a decade since.
Moreover, after they broke up, Kay Forrest has had many girlfriends.
Several of them were foreigners, so if you put it that way, I’m certainly not the other woman.
I don’t even know which number I would be."
Benjamin Quinlan nodded: "I definitely believe you, but those gossipy women at the office are making it sound so real.
I have faith in you, but others might distort the facts as the rumors spread.
You might end up being labeled as the other woman."
"What exactly are they saying?" After hearing this from Benjamin Quinlan, Jane Quinlan couldn’t stay calm.
Indeed, she knew all too well how terrifying rumors could be.
She has been silent all these days because she knows they are just jealous of her.
But if they slander her, she can’t let that slide.
"They’re saying that you got between Director Forrest and Evie Larkin.
Director Forrest openly shows his love for you while Evie Larkin is tormented day and night.
They say the two of you are heartless, disregarding Evie’s wellbeing.
The rumor has morphed as it’s been passed along—some say you’re shameless.
Others accuse Director Forrest of being a playboy.
I’m concerned that the rumors are getting out of hand and neither you nor Director Forrest have come forward to clarify.
Who knows what they will turn into."
Jane Quinlan let out a deep sigh. If that’s the case, she could no longer remain silent.
After all, it’s about her reputation.
To envy is one thing, but to destroy someone is quite another.
"Brother, I’m aware now, and I’ll pay attention."
She put down her juice glass, feeling her mood ruined by the news.
She had lost her appetite.
Benjamin Quinlan looked at the empty plates: "What do you say, shall we go?"
Jane Quinlan stood up: "Yeah, let’s go. Kay should still be at work, I’ll head back first."
"I’ll drive you."
"No need, I’m going to take a cab straight to my doorstep. You go home and drop off your things, then go pick up Evie.
You need to be a good boyfriend, Evie is a good girl, don’t let her down."
"Don’t worry, I have it under control.
With Evie, the whole world is flowers when she’s in a good mood.
But when she’s not, it’s like bombs are buried everywhere."
"That’s because you’re not doing it right, Kay never makes me angry."
Jane Quinlan said with her tongue out in a laugh.
Benjamin Quinlan tapped her forehead: "Get out of here, stop tormenting me, I’m not single anymore."
The two parted ways at the entrance of the shopping mall and took separate taxis home.
Jane Quinlan was the first to take a bath and lie down on the bed.
She originally planned to talk to Kay about the rumors when he got home.
But as she waited, she fell asleep.
When Kay arrived, it was already past eleven o’clock.
He entered quietly, seeing her asleep, he didn’t even bother to shower and climbed straight into bed.
The next day, when she woke up, Jane Quinlan groggily asked Kay, "What time did you get back last night?"
Kay opened his eyes and yawned: "Pretty late, didn’t wake you."
He pulled her into his arms: "Sleep some more."
"It’s almost seven."
"Doesn’t matter, I’m exhausted."
Jane Quinlan lay down in his arms, turning on her side: "I fell asleep waiting for you last night; I actually wanted to discuss something with you."
"What is it?"
"You’re not paying attention to the rumors spreading at work recently, are you?"
"Hmm, didn’t we agree not to mind them?"
"But everyone is now saying that I ruined your relationship with Evie Larkin, calling me the other woman.
These things, when repeated, are taken as the truth.
I can endure anything, but I can’t bear the reputation of being the other woman because that’s not who I am."
Kay Forrest looked at her, tilting his head, "Is that so?"
Jane Quinlan nodded: "I wanted to tell you, if they keep saying this, I will fight back. You won’t be troubled by that, will you?"
Kay looked at her with an affectionate smile, tousling her hair: "Of course not, fight back. I support you.
No matter what you do, I will always stand behind you, supporting you. We are about to become husband and wife soon.
Husband and wife should be unified, unwavering in their trust and support for each other no matter what happens."
Jane Quinlan nodded gently, looking tenderly at Kay Forrest. With his support, she felt she had nothing to fear.