Ch. 1161..1165

Chapter 1161 "Okay." Without thinking much, Sylvia put Flint into his arms and said, "Take care of Flint for a while. The first round of competition is this afternoon, sol have to get ready." The judges' duty was to rate the works of the participants, but as head judge, Sylvia had much more responsibilities than the others.

Sylvia went upstairs and left the father and son alone.

Odell pursed his lips at Sylvia's back which disappeared beyond the stairs.

He then grabbed Flint and stopped him from reaching his neck.

Sylvia went up to her studio on the third floor.

She went through the competition agenda once more and tidied up the necessary documents.

After she was done, she glanced at her watch and noticed that there were twenty minutes left until ten o'clock. She performed one last check on everything and went downstairs.

Odell was sitting on the couch in the living room.

He had a book in one hand while his other held onto Flint's bum to prevent him from fallingoff the couch. When Sylvia came down, he put the book away.

Flint called her and extended his arms.

"Mommy!" Sylvia was about to meet Lily, so she went to the door instead of going to Flint.

Before she could tell Odell to take care of Flint while she was gone, he said, "Are you going to meet Lilynow?" Surprised , Sylvia nodded and said, "I'll be back soon. You "I'll drive you there." Odell carried Flint and got up from the couch.

"It's okay. | can go there myself. The cafe is just around the corner." He carried Flint over to her, and the young child automatically climbed into her embrace.

Sylvia quickly caught the little guy, and Odell grabbed his car keys.

She pursed her lips.

There was nothing else she could do except follow him and bring Flint along. The black MPV arrived at the cafe after a while.

Sylvia put Flint in Odell's care and got out of the car alone.

The cafe was not too busy at this hour with only three tables of customers havinga leisurely drink. Sylvia saw Lily in the corner when she walked in.

Lily wore a plain dress and her hair was tied up.

She wore simple makeup that contrasted her usual proud and delicate look. Lily stood up when she noticed Sylvia.

She smiled, not exactly naturally, but humbly enough.

Sylvia went over.

"Ms.Ross, please have a seat," Lily said.

Sylvia sat opposite her.

"What coffee do you want?" Lily asked.

"Anything that's not too bitter is fine." "Great." Lily then told the waiter, "Two signatures, with extra sugar. And two bruschettas." The waiter nodded and went off with the order.

Lily then revealed a meticulous-looking box from her side.

She put the box in front of Sylvia and smiled.

"Ms.Ross, | don't know your taste, so | simply got a necklace for you.

Take it as compensation for what my grandmother and | have done to you in the past.

| hope you like it." The logo on the box proved that it was one of the most expensive jewelry brands. Sylvia glanced at the box.

She pushed it back and smiled politely.

"Thank you, but | can't accept this. | have accepted your apology, so just keep this.” Lily frowned at Sylvia's relaxed smile. "I'm sorry.

My grandmother and | shouldn't have hurt you.

Chapter 1162 Sylvia was surprised. She expected an apology, not Lily confessing that she had looked down on her. It seemed like Lily had turned over a newleaf.

Sylvia assured, "It's okay."

Lily smiled.

She pushed the box to Sylvia once more and wore a sincere look.

"Sylvia, | picked this for you. Please accept it. If you don't, | won't be able to forgive myself." Sylvia felt helpless. "It's fine. It's history, and you've apologized. | don’t hate you anymore, so why are you doing this to yourself?” Lily lowered her head.

"| heard ... from my grandfather that you suffered from severe depression back then." Sylvia pursed her lips. "I'm sorry, Sylvia," she said.

She sounded much more natural and sincere than before.

"It's okay." Lily looked at her and saw a smile.

In turn, she smiled back.

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Sylvia pursed her lips.

"I'm sorry, Sylvia," she said.

She sounded much more natural and sincere than before.

"It's okay." Lily looked at her and saw a smile.

In turn, she smiled back.

A thought rushed into her mind and she lowered her head again.

“Actually, other than that, | worked with Thomas before this to separate you and Master Carter." Sylvia was slightly stunned before she said, "Yeah, | know." Lily lowered her head again.

"| was prejudiced from the start. Sylvia, you can hate me, resent me, scold me, or whatever you like. | can take it. You don't need to forgive me immediately either." Sylvia went silent.

She could tell Lily was sincere with her apology, but the change of personality was a little too much. At the same time yesterday, Lily and the others had looked down on her at the opening ceremony for the competition. Sylvia remembered that Lily had something else to tell her other than making an apology.

"Lily, you said you have something else to tell me. What is it?"

Lily took a deep breath.

However, before she could speak, her gaze caught the towering figure standing outside the window. The handsome man was staring at them further away with the baby in his arms.

Lily caught his gaze when she glanced at him; his eyes were frosty and emotionless .

Shocked, she immediately retracted her gaze.

She said to Sylvia, "That's it.

Nothing else.

| just want to apologize to you in person." "Really?" Sylvia found it difficult to believe.

Lily pursed her lips.

"Yeah. | want to meet you in person. That's why | said | have something else to tell you." "Okay." Sylvia smiled.

"If there's nothing else, | have to go now to prepare for the competition." Before she left, she looked at Lily one last time. "Oh, you should go home and get prepared as well." Lily smiled.

"It's okay.|'ve already resigned from being a judge. Mr.President has already approved it."

Sylvia was stunned.

Lily wore a relaxed smile.

"My grandfather told me to give up the position. He's right. I'm not skilled enough in painting to become a judge." Sylvia pursed her lips. "Okay then. | have to go now.” She stood up and wanted to leave.

"Sylvia," Lily called out to her.

"What is it?" "Have you really forgiven me?" she asked nervously.

Sylvia smiled.

"Of course. Otherwise, | wouldn't be here." She then left the coffee shop without pause.

Lily looked at the box that Sylvia refused to take.

Her face was thick with worry.

Sylvia should have no idea about Odell stopping the project with Springsteen Corporation.

Chapter 1163 Sylvia strode out of the coffee shop and found Odell with Flint beside the car.

Odell's towering figure with the adorable Flint in his arms easily turned heads.

Sylvia strode over to them.

Flint gurgled as he snuggled into his mother's arms.

Odell stroked her head and subtly glanced into the cafe." You were in there for a while. What did she say to you?" Sylvia frowned.

"It was just ten minutes.

It wasn't that long." Odell curled his lips.

"Then, what did she say to you?" Sylvia honestly said, "She apologized and wanted to give me a gift to make up for it,but | didn't take it. "What else?" Sylvia pondered.

"She looked sincere.

| wonder what Master Springsteen said to her that changed her so drastically.

She even admitted that she shouldn't have looked down on me and confessed that she worked with Thomas before." Odell's expression turned grim when heheard Thomas's name.

Amoment of silence later, he asked, "What else?" "Nothing else.

That's it." Odell stared at her fair cheeks and softened his grim expression.

"Okay, let's go home." He opened the door for her.

Sylvia got in with Flint as Odell slid into the driver's seat.

The car engine roared to life and drove off.

They returned to the Carters’ residence after a little more than five minutes.

Odell watched the mother and son walk in before he pulled his phone out to call Cliff. The call got through.

“Continue the project with the Springsteens." Cliff answered, "Yes, sir. I'll inform them right away." Lily remained seated in the cafe.

Her brows were furrowed and her face was thick with grief.

She felt better after asking for forgiveness, but as long as the project with Carter Corporation remained paused, the crisis thatwould befall the Springsteen Corporation would be unimaginably catastrophic.

She got nervous.

She started to grab her hair while her frustration built up.

Just when she was about to call her grandfather to ask for help, her phone rang.

It was her assistant.

She answered the phone and said, "What is it?” The assistant's delighted voice came through.

"Ms.Springsteen, the project is back online! Carter Corporation has agreed to continue working with us." Lily's eyes shimmered with hope.

She bolted up and squealed, "Really?!" "Yeah! Cliff just called me and confirmed it.

The workers came back, and the operations are back on track." Lily sighed a breath of relief.

"Okay, | got it. I'll come back to the office later." She stared at the screen of her phone for a few minutes after thecall just to confirm that she was not dreaming.

It felt surreal to her.

She curled her lips and wore a self mocking smile.

The man's love for Sylvia was immeasurable to the point that any woman would be jealous of her.

Lily had looked down upon Sylvia from the start due to her prejudice and first impression, andit was what put her company at risk. The thought rushed to her mind and ushered a self mocking chuckle.

Sylvia remembered everything that happened , but she never once tried to take revenge on Lily orMadam Springsteen.

Given how stern Odell's methods were, had she wanted to take revenge or have the slightest feeling of grievance,the Springsteens would have been over before it even started.

Compared to Sylvia's forgiving personality, Lily felt ashamed for being narrow-minded and insulting her family's name with her actions.

That must be the reason why Odell loved Sylvia that much.

Chapter 1164 The art competition was in full swing. As the head judge, Sylvia had to inspect and rate the contestants' entries one by one, round byround.

She also had to discuss with the other judges to get their agreement before giving the final rating. Many hardworking and talented contestants survived round after round of elimination.

The elimination round also discarded many other mediocre entries.

One month had gone by since the start of the competition.

The competition reached its final round.

After Sylvia, Simon, and the others gave the final rating to the champion, the first and the second runner-ups, the competition officiallyended.

The champion and the second runner-up were two boys from the art academy while the firstrunner-up was just a middle schooler. Sylvia, Simon, and the other veteran artists presented the prize to all three winners.

Christopher then took the stage to present an inspiring speech as a conclusion to the month-long competition.

Sylvia took a group photo with the staff and winners before she came down from the stage.

Odell was in the audience seat.

While she was walking toward him, a bunch of contestants who were eliminated in the earlier rounds surrounded her and passionately asked her for pictures.

"Ms.Ross, may we have a picture?" "Yeah, Ms.Ross, | want a picture with you." The youthful contestants showed endless enthusiasm. Sylvia glanced at Odell.

He smiled and signaled her with a gentle gaze, telling her that she could take pictures with the enthusiastic contestants andthat he could wait.

Sylvia took pictures with the contestants, who were mostly students, and it took her more than ten minutes to finish taking pictures with everyone.

When the picture-taking session finally ended, she walked out of the crowd and saw the man elegantly waiting for her at hisseat. As she walked over to him, the man stood up and held her hand.

He smiled charmingly and said, "Is class over, Ms. Ross?"

Sylvia rolled her eyes at him.

"Yeah, class is over. Let's go home." They left via the main entrance while holding hands.

The sun had set over the horizon and the moon was waking up to its duty.

The chilly weather was unforgiving, but the starry sky added a hint of romance to the night.

Sylvia felt relieved now that the competition was over.

She could take a few days off and spend time with the kids.

They got into the car and went home.

On the way back, Sylvia's phone rang.

She glanced at the screen and saw a text from Sherry.

"Sylvia , | saw you on stage! You looked great when you were giving out the prizes!" Attached was a picture of Sylvia on stage. Sherry must have seen the prize-giving ceremony live.

Sylvia smiled.

"How have you been lately?" She had gotten carried away by the competition for the past month, and it had been two weekssince she last texted Sherry.

It was surprising that Sherry had the time to watch the live stream, and judging from her text, she seemed tobe doing well.

Sherry replied, "I'm doing great! | don't need to worry about anything. | don't need to do chores, and | can eat and drink whatever, whenever | want. I'm getting fat."

Sylvia chuckled.

Just when she was about to reply, Odell glanced at her.

"What's so funny?"

She smiled.

"I'm texting Sherry."

Odell's gaze shifted.

"How's she been doing lately?"

"She's been great. She doesn't need to do chores, can eat and drink whatever and whenever she wants. She's gotten fat, she said." Odell pursed his lips.

Sylvia continued texting Sherry for a while before she noticed Odell reacting strangely.

He stared at her with a deep gaze.

Chapter 1165 Sylvia asked, “What's wrong?" Odell's expression remained heavy. Annoyed, she pouted and tapped his shoulder.“Come on, tell me what happened." "John got married." Sylvia's eyes went wide with shock.

"When? When did he get married?" "A month ago." "To Shannon?"

"Yeah."

The thought of her friend claiming to be free from chores and getting thefreedom to eat and drink rushed into her mind. She asked, "What about Sherry? Has John released her?" "No." Sylvia frowned.

"Where is she now?" Odell stroked her head and said softly, "John must be keeping her outsideof the Stocktons' residence after the wedding, but he went on a business trip on the same day of his wedding and has not come back since then." Sylvia sighed a breath of relief.

If John was not around, he would not be able to go to Sherry, and she would stop becoming his lover, at least for now. Sylvia knew what happened. Even if Sherry was forced to be John's lover, she would never give up on her friend.

The Sherry she knew was a tolerant person, but once anything crossed her moral line, she would challenge anddefy whatever opposed her beliefs even if it cost her her life.

Being a lover to her ex while he was married to her sister was not something she could accept. Sylvia pondered.

"Odell, do you know where she's being held right now?" Things had gotten out of hand.

She must think of a way to save her friend from this endless abyss.

If John happened to come back, Sylvia was worried that Sherry might do something reckless. "It's being looked into." John had many real estates in Glenchester, both openly and secretly.

He was an influential person and the richest man in the city, hence it was not an easy task for outsiders todig into his private properties.

Sylvia asked, "You knew they were getting married before the wedding, didn't you?" Odell pursed his lips and nodded. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Sylvia asked.

He remained silent.

Sylvia pouted and wanted to punch him for his silence, but a sudden thought rushed into her mind.

Amonth ago was when the art competition started.

John's wedding had happened around the same time, and Odell would have told her about it, giventhat it was a huge event. Maybe Odell decided not to tell her about the wedding because she was preparing for the competition and needed to focus. IV Her hand froze in the air before she could punch his chest.

She retracted her hand and glared at him.

"| want to be the first to know about what happened to Sherry next time." Odell smiled.

"| promise." He grabbed her retracting hand and pulled her closer to him.

Sylvia tried to break free, but he was stronger.

He hugged her under his arm and said, "You're not mad anymore?" His charming voice tickled her ears. Sylvia was flustered.

She knew he had kept it a secret for her sake, and he actually did not doanything wrong.

Despite thinking so, she said, "! just don't want to stoop to your level."

Odell chuckled and pinched her face.

"Have | been too lenient lately? You are the one being unreasonable here, and you said youdon't want to stoop to my level?" Sylvia held the urge to laugh and feigned a pouty expression.

"Why? Are you mad?"

Odell smiled.

"| don't have the nerve to be mad at you." Sylvia grinned.

"That's what | thought.’ She leaned onto his chest and enjoyed his warmth.

However, the thought of Sherry and John's relationship vexed her.