Chapter 46: Chapter 40: Lining Up

Yvette Shaw’s face was pale with anger. “Isla Prescott, what nonsense are you spouting!”

“I didn’t want things to get ugly here, but you forced my hand. I’m warning you, if you harass my mom again, I won’t hesitate to repeat what I just said to the media. And while I’m at it, I’ll tell everyone that after I won my first dance competition, you never taught me another step.”

After Isla Prescott won that dance competition, Yvette Shaw’s public image began to improve. Afterwards, she became addicted to her social life and couldn’t be bothered to teach Isla anymore. To keep up appearances, she never hired any dance instructors for Isla, leaving her to fend for herself in the dance studio.

A young Isla Prescott had no other choice but to borrow a tablet from Silas Lockwood and learn to dance by following online videos every day. Her later acceptance into the Meritopia Dance Academy was a testament to her own defiant spirit, not a credit to Yvette Shaw.

“You dare threaten me?”

“I’m not threatening you. I’m just reminding you that your past kindness doesn’t give you the right to control me, and I’m no pushover.” She finished calmly and gave Yvette Shaw a slight bow. “I’ll be going now. Aunty, please take care.”

Furious, Yvette Shaw swept the mahjong tiles from the table and hurled them all at Isla Prescott.

“Isla Prescott, you bitch, stay away from my Silas! If you dare get near him again, I won’t spare you!”

The mahjong tiles struck Isla Prescott’s back, and a jolt of pain shot through her, but she refused to show it.

“Don’t worry. I won’t have anything to do with Silas Lockwood ever again. But not because you forbid it. It’s because I don’t like him anymore!”

—

The moment Isla Prescott walked out of the private room, she felt a sense of relief, as if a long-held obsession had finally faded away.

She may have been young when she joined the Lockwood family, but she wasn’t a fool. She had always been sensitive enough to perceive the adults’ subtle machinations.

As for the fact that her adoption was just a publicity stunt, she had accidentally overheard it one day while Yvette Shaw was on the phone.

Isla Prescott would never forget the shock she felt in that instant. It was the first time her younger self had learned that a person’s kindness could conceal selfish motives.

But back then, her mother couldn’t afford to raise her, so she had no choice but to continue living at the mercy of others.

But now, having experienced the vicissitudes of life, she was no longer the helpless little girl of the past.

Outside the private room, Shane Sterling stood planted in the middle of the hallway, his hands stuffed in his pockets as if he were a model striking a pose.

Isla Prescott wasn’t sure when he had arrived or whether he had heard the argument inside the room. Of course, she was in no mood to ask.

She walked straight past Shane Sterling and headed for the elevators.

Shane Sterling followed at an unhurried pace.

They waited for the elevator together, rode it down together, and walked out of The Lanthian Club together. He didn’t say a word the entire time, quiet as her shadow. When Isla Prescott headed for the subway, he followed her right into the station. The pampered young master had never ridden the subway in his life and had no idea how to get through the gate.

“Wait.” Shane Sterling grabbed Isla Prescott, who had started to go through the gate. “How do I get in?”

Isla Prescott was speechless. “Buy a ticket or scan the QR code on your phone. Either works.”

Shane Sterling looked around. “Where do I buy a ticket? How do I scan the code?”

Isla was even more at a loss for words. “So, why exactly are you following me?”

“I was worried about you,” he said, perfectly self-assured.

Isla’s heart felt like it had been brushed by a feather, a ticklish sensation that hung in the air like the promise of spring.

She muttered under her breath, “You don’t even know how to ride the subway. You seem more like the one who needs to be worried about.”

Shane Sterling looked slightly embarrassed. “Whatever. Just get me through first.”

“You don’t have to follow me. I’m fine. Go on back to your car.”

Not bothering to argue with her, Shane Sterling grabbed a random man standing nearby. “Hey, buddy. Five thousand. Help me get through the gate.”

The man, thinking it was some new kind of scam, warily pushed Shane Sterling away and hurried off.

Seeing Shane Sterling about to grab someone else, Isla Prescott quickly yanked him back. “Fine, I’ll teach you! I’ll teach you, okay?”

She took Shane Sterling’s phone, opened his Alipay, and pulled up the QR code for the subway. “This is something that costs five yuan to solve, and you wanted to spend five thousand,” she said irritably. “Just because you’re rich doesn’t mean you can be that reckless with your money.”

“If you think I’m so reckless with money, how about you manage it for me from now on?”

Despite the clamor of the subway station, the flirtatious undertone in his words was too clear to ignore.

Isla Prescott froze on the spot.

Shane Sterling gleefully scanned the code and went through the gate, stepping right in front of her. “You just said you don’t like Silas Lockwood anymore. I didn’t mishear that, did I?”

Isla snapped back to her senses. “You eavesdrop on a private conversation and then have the audacity to ask me to confirm it? Do you have any manners?”

“You were the one shouting. The whole club probably heard you, okay?”

“If you already heard me, then why are you asking?”

Isla Prescott turned, clutched the strap of her tote bag, and hurried down the stairs to the platform. Quick as the wind, Shane Sterling followed right behind her.

“I just wanted to make sure.”

“What is there to make sure of?”

“Fine, then let me make sure of something else.”

“What?”

“When do you plan on dating again?”

Isla stopped short on the stairs and shot him a sidelong glance. “What’s it to you?”

His smile was like a bottle of chilled sparkling water, his eyes crinkling with a refreshing crispness. “I’m just getting in line.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep