Chapter 11 The Fall
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When he said this, it was partly to rify his rtionship with Quinn. After all, there had been an incident at the restaurant where Quinn had pointed a toy gun at the back of Julius‘ head, clearly offending him.
On the other hand, Azure Technologies and hispany were clearly vying for the Whitethorn family’s investment in the drone sector. They werepetitors, and his current actions were essentially implying that Azure Technologies was unreliable and fabricated stories. He was naturally aiming to eliminate hispetition.
With a frosty gaze, Quinn looked at Trent, her husband of three years. She had poured her heart and soul into hispany, only to be dismissed as an “ordinary employee.”
“Is that so?” Julius responded nonchntly, his face revealing no hint of emotion.
At that moment, Sidonie spoke up. “Ms. Wentworth, I know you and Quinn are friends. I understand you want her to leave a good impression on Mr. Whitethorn, but there’s no need to fabricate such a nonsensical identity for her.”
“What do you mean by fabricating such a nonsensical identity? When Quinn was busy studying drones, you were probably still ying with model airnes!” Laura retorted, clearly annoyed.
“Does she have any patents rted to drones? Or has shepleted any projects?” Sidonie asked in return.
Laura opened her mouth but found herself unable to say anything.
After all, Quinn’s drone research at the time was conducted within the military, involving confidential contracts. Therefore, it couldn’t be directly spoken about.
“So, no?” Sidonie raised an eyebrow and retorted, “You should know how to back up your deception, at least!”
People who were on good terms with the Stonehurst family also began to join in theughter.
Laura was livid, but Quinn simply responded with a nonchnt tone, “Whether it’s all smoke and mirrors, we’ll find out eventually!”
“Stubbornness willnd you in hot water sooner orter,” Sidonie ridiculed.
Just then, someone led in a steed, its coat as ck as ink, save for its four hooves, which were pure white.
“Mr. Whitethorn, this is the horse the Stonehurst family has prepared for you,” Hugh said, trying to please the man. “Though spirited, it has been tamed by a professional. If you like it, why not take it for a ride?”
Julius merely cast a casual nce at the magnificent horse, showing no intention of mounting it for a test ride.
The atmosphere suddenly turned somewhat awkward.
“How about I give this fine horse a test ride for Mr. Whitethorn?” Sidonie volunteered, also intending to show off a bit.
Since Quinn’s show–off at the restaurantst time had made asting impression on Julius, she believed she could do the same now. She was determined to leave a mark on Julius‘ memory.
Upon seeing the situation, Hugh quickly suggested, “That sounds great. Let Sidonie take a fewps. Sidonie’s equestrian skills are quite impressive. She <b>even </b>has an international horse riding certification!”
Seeing that Julius did not object, Sidonie leaped up, mounting the back of the ck steed. Then, with a squeeze of her legs against the horse’s belly, she galloped away.
Those who had good rtions with the Stonehurst family began to sing praises of Sidonie.
“Ms. Stonehurst truly lives up to the Stonehurst family’s reputation. Not only can she fly a ne, but she’s also an excellent horse rider.”
This level of horsemanship is good enough for apetition, isn’t it?”
“With such a gant demeanor<b>, </b>she would have been a heroine if it <b>were </b>in tines of war.”
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Chapter 11 The Fall
Laura muttered to Quinn. “Ugh. Heroine? Sidonie is nothing more than a show–off with some skills!”
That was because Laura had witnessed what a truly gant woman looked like when she rode a horse.
It seemed as though Trent had heard her words. He approached and said, “Sidonie is a truly carefree, straightforward, and independent woman. She isn’t like you all, who only focus on how to belittle others. Quinn, instead of using your friend to insult Sidonie, you should think about how to improve yourself.”
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“I only know this,” Quinn retorted bluntly, “A truly carefree and independent woman would never entertain a married man.”
Upon hearing the words, Trent was filled with irritation. However, given the situation at hand, he couldn’t afford to lose his
temper.
At that moment, Sidonie felt she had shown off enough while on horseback, <i>so </i>she decided to ride back.
As she neared her destination, she tightened the reins, intending to slow down the horse’s pace gradually.
However, the steed between her legs showed no signs of slowing down. Instead, it seemed <i>to </i>be running faster and faster.
Seeing they were nearing the crowd, Sidonie became more anxious. Despite usingmands or pulling the reins tighter, she was unable to slow down the horse.
In her panic, she even slipped her foot off the pedal, instantly turning into a picture of utter disarray.
“Ahh!” Sidonie shrieked, unable at this point to halt the wild gallop of her horse.
As they watched the ck horse charge straight toward them, the individuals who had previously admired Sidonie’s equestrian skills suddenly scattered and fled.
Quickly, Quinn pulled Laura away, dodging the path of the oing horse.
Just then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Julius. To her surprise, he remained still, rooted to the spot. Meanwhile, Sidonie, astride an uncontroble ck horse, was rapidly closing in on him.
<i>If </i>things <i>continue </i><i>this </i><i>way</i><b>, </b><i>Julius </i>will <i>surely </i><i>end </i><i>up </i><i>in </i><i>a </i><i>collision</i><i>! </i>
<i>If </i><i>someone </i>were <i>to </i><i>be </i><i>struck </i><i>by </i><i>a </i><i>horse </i><i>charging </i>at <i>such </i><i>speed</i>, <i>they’d </i><i>be </i><i>lucky </i><i>to </i><i>stay </i><i>alive</i><i>, </i><i>let </i><i>alone </i><i>without </i><i>serious </i><i>injury</i>!
In a sudden burst of energy, Quinn charged toward Julius, her body fueled by an unbelievable strength. She swiftly grabbed Julius in an embrace, and they tumbled together to the side.
Amidst the screams of the crowd, the two managed to dodge the oing galloping hooves.
Hugh breathed a sigh of relief. <b>If </b>Julius had really been injured by that horse, then the entire Stonehurst family would probably have been in a lot of trouble.
Quinn was panting; the weight pressing on her served as a reminder of what she had just done.
Julius, are you alright? Did you get hurt?” she asked.
The man remained on top of her, yet he didn’t utter a word.
<i>Could </i><i>it </i><i>be </i><i>that </i>when we <b>were </b><i>rolling </i><b>away </b>earlier, he <b>was </b><i>kicked </i><i>by </i>a <i>horse’s </i>hoof?
In her mind, Quinn was specting, wanting to stand up and check on Julius‘ injury.
Suddenly, a strong force pressed down on her shoulder, preventing her from rising.
Julius‘ cold voice echoed in her ears. “Why did you save me?”
There’s no reason. It’s just instinct!<b>” </b>she responded nonchntly.
Her innate military instincts from the past didn’t even allow her to think. She simply rushed over instinctively to save him.
Instinct?” He slowly propped himself up, gazing down at her lying beneath him.”
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Chapter 11 The Fall
At that moment, a faint ripple stirred within his eyes, which had previously held an eerie stillness.
Reflected in his pupils was the visage of Quinn a face that was both delicately charming and resolutely determined.
–
“Yes. If it were someone else, I would have saved them, too! Quinn dered without any hesitation.
Julius was slightly taken aback.
At that moment, Quinn had already grown impatient. “If you’re not injured, get up quickly.”
His eyes glimmered slightly. No one had ever dared to show him impatience like this before.
Seeing that he hadn’t made a move, Quinn directly pushed Julius off her and stood up.
Not far off, the ck horse was still charging around in circles uncontrobly. Sidonie, who was on the horse’s back, was being jolted around, letting out continuous shrieks. “Help… Ah… Ah! Help! Stop this horse! Quick!”
At that moment, however, no one dared to step forward and stop this horse.
Sidonie didn’t hold out for long. The reins slipped from her grasp. The ck horse took another leap, and, losing her bnce, Sidonie tumbled off its back.
Fortunately, thending spot was a softwn.
Despite everything, her pain was so intense that she couldn’t stop wailing.
Worried, Trent rushed over to Sidonie’s side, saying, “Hang in there. The staff have already gone to get help. Soon, they’ll carry you to the hospital for treatment.”
Just then, Laura’s voice suddenly rang out. “Quinnie, watch out!”
Startled, Trent suddenly looked up, his gaze darting toward Quinn. He saw the ck horse charging in her direction.
Instinctively, he rose to his feet, intending to run toward Quinn’s direction.
However, Sidonie suddenly grabbed his hand. “Trent, I’m in so much pain!” <b>Her </b>cry of pain brought Trent’s steps to a halt.
In just a fleeting moment, the ck horse had already reached Quinn
A glint of malice shed in Sidonie’s eyes<b>. </b><b>If </b>she were in such a disarray, she wouldn’t let Quinn get off easily. She wanted Quinn to be even more disheveled than her.
Everyone gasped in surprise, watching as Quinn stood frozen in ce. Everyone simply assumed that Quinn was paralyzed by fear.
Just when everyone thought that Quinn was about to be trampled under the horse’s hooves in the next moment, Quinn swiftly grabbed the reins and, with a swift leap, she was on the horse’s back.
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