Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Ill-timed Concern

Mason Walsh’s expression grew complicated.

Southaven and Port Caldoria’s social circles were tightly interwoven, and Jessie Sterling’s name was among the most well-known in their entire sphere.

The favored eldest daughter of the Sterling family was attractive in every way—aside from being unbelievably coddled. Whether it was her looks, character, or family background.

Mason Walsh had entertained the idea of pursuing Jessie Sterling himself, especially given his connection through Lynn Jennings, who was so close to her. He once thought he had an inside track.

But Jessie Sterling never seemed to have a romantic awakening, looking down on everyone.

Later, some less-than-flattering rumors began to circulate that Jessie Sterling’s standards were impossibly high.

But for that very reason, the number of men who wanted to marry her only grew.

In their circle, having impossibly high standards was far better than being promiscuous.

Besides, the Sterling family only had two daughters. Even if Jessie Sterling had no interest in managing the family business, given how much Seth Sterling doted on her, her inheritance was sure to be substantial.

Plenty of men in Southaven and Port Caldoria were likely eyeing Jessie Sterling. But no one expected that just a year or two after her graduation, Seth Sterling would arrange a marriage for her with someone from Aethelburg.

The marriage alliance between the Sterling and Morgan families was still a hot topic of gossip in Southaven, and a source of regret for many.

No one had expected Seth Sterling to choose a son-in-law from outside the Southaven and Port Caldoria circles, sending the apple of his eye from the south all the way to the north.

“She’s a Sterling.” Mason Walsh didn’t want to discuss Jessie Sterling any further with Cheryl Stuart. “She grew up with that good sister of mine, and she’s even more willful than Lynn Jennings. Now she’s the future daughter-in-law of the Morgan family from Aethelburg. Anyway, when you see her in the future, it’s best to keep your distance.”

Cheryl Stuart’s heart skipped a beat.

Although Mason Walsh hadn’t specified which Sterling family, there was likely only one in Southaven—a family renowned throughout the entire country.

How could they not be famous? Sterling Bank, a century-old institution, could be traced back to the late Qing and early Republican era. Moreover, among all banks, Sterling Bank offered some of the highest interest rates on low-risk financial products, making it a favorite for many individual clients. Their service was also considered top-tier in the industry. For the average person, the name Sterling Bank was indeed legendary.

Even Cheryl Stuart herself preferred to do her banking with Sterling.

A daughter of the Sterling family…

That kind of status…

Cheryl Stuart couldn’t help but clutch her handbag tighter. No wonder the news about her that day had vanished from the entire internet overnight, without a trace.

These heiresses from prestigious families…

Just as Jessie Sterling was reveling in her “great victory” over Mason Walsh, she unexpectedly ran into someone she really didn’t want to see right now.

“Jessie.”

Jessie Sterling looked up instinctively at the sound of Julian Grant’s voice.

As her eyes met those of the man walking toward her, Jessie Sterling cursed her bad luck internally.

Lynn Jennings had just spotted a colleague and seemed to have gone off to discuss some academic topic. Jessie, uninterested, was now by herself in the dessert area.

If she had seen Julian Grant earlier, there was no way Jessie would have ventured off on her own.

Ever since running into Arya Thorne in Aethelburg, she’d wanted no part in the drama between the two of them. After one last call to Julian Grant, she had cut off all contact with the man now standing before her.

Julian Grant had sent her messages and called her during that time, but Jessie Sterling had ignored them all.

Running into him now, Jessie could only feel annoyed, but her expression remained serene.

“Julian, what a coincidence,” Jessie Sterling said.

Julian Grant didn’t seem as high-spirited as he used to be. Or perhaps, he had simply grown more reserved lately.

As Jessie Sterling looked at Julian Grant, he was also looking at her.

He had never imagined that one day, the little tagalong who used to follow him everywhere would suddenly be getting married. And the person Jessie Sterling was about to marry wasn’t him.

When Julian Grant first heard that Jessie Sterling was throwing a tantrum and didn’t want to go through with the marriage, he assumed she was just having a fit. Based on past experience, he figured he wouldn’t even have to coax her much before she came to her senses and went back to following him around.

But he never expected that before Jessie had a chance to “come to her senses,” he heard the news that Seth Sterling was marrying her off to Victor Morgan.

Julian Grant knew Jessie Sterling had always been pampered and well-protected by her family. He was certain she would never be willing to leave Southaven, let alone go somewhere as far away as Aethelburg.

But the next time he saw her was at the capital’s airport.

Jessie Sterling didn’t look the least bit reluctant. He had wanted to talk with her more, but she didn’t rush to his side like she used to, eager to be his shadow. That time, she simply smiled and told him that the driver Victor Morgan had arranged was waiting for her outside, so it wouldn’t be convenient for her to take his car.

After that, Julian Grant never saw Jessie Sterling again.

It was only when he heard from his family that Jessie and Victor Morgan had gone abroad for their wedding photoshoot that the reality of her marrying someone else finally began to sink in.

When he tried to find Jessie Sterling, he discovered that when *he* was the one initiating contact, he couldn’t just find her whenever he wanted or see her whenever he pleased.

“It’s been a while,” Julian Grant said, walking up to Jessie Sterling’s side.

“I’ve been a bit busy lately,” Jessie Sterling said.

Although Jessie Sterling didn’t turn and walk away, the distance in her words was impossible for Julian Grant to miss.

The smile on Julian Grant’s face instantly became a little strained. He looked at the woman before him and had to admit that Jessie Sterling was absolutely glowing. She had always been stunningly beautiful, but in the past few years, she had blossomed. The last vestiges of girlish immaturity had given way to a sophisticated allure that made it hard to look away.

“Why the sudden decision to marry someone from Aethelburg? It’s so far, and the climate and food are completely different from the south. Will you be able to get used to it?” Julian Grant asked in a low voice.

Jessie Sterling hadn’t expected Julian Grant to approach her just to say something like this. The polite, faint smile on her face gradually vanished.

She set down the blueberry muffin she was holding. “Does this have anything to do with you?” Jessie Sterling asked coolly.

Julian Grant froze.

Jessie Sterling continued, “I don’t think I need to explain my private affairs to you.”

If Julian Grant had come to her with this before her engagement to Victor Morgan, she might have seen it as concern. But now that her marriage to Victor was set, Jessie didn’t see it as a reminder, but as an attempt to stir up trouble.

’He was just looking for trouble where there was none.’

’How messed up is that?’

Julian Grant sighed. “Jessie, I’m just concerned about you, that’s all. As the neighborhood big brother who watched you grow up, I mean no harm.”

A flicker of confusion crossed Jessie Sterling’s eyes. Some people’s kindness truly came at the most inappropriate times.

“Since you yourself said we’re just neighbors—not relatives, not even close friends—is it ’meaning no harm’ for you to stand there as a ’neighbor’ and paint a picture of my future as unhappy?” Jessie Sterling asked, looking Julian Grant in the eye. “Besides, Julian, don’t you think your concern for me right now is a bit… redundant?”

Even without that previous conversation with Victor Morgan, Jessie Sterling would never get ambiguously entangled with another man while she was already engaged.

That wouldn’t just be disrespectful to Victor Morgan; it would be a failure to respect herself.

She wasn’t capable of doing something so shameless.

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