Chapter 190: Self-Righteous Affection

Chapter 190: Chapter 190: Self-Righteous Affection

She will never accept you.

Those words were a knife straight to Ryan Sterling’s heart.

His mother may have said it unintentionally, but to Ryan Sterling, it was utterly cruel.

"Yeah, she won’t accept me."

’Maybe she never accepted me from the very beginning!’

’Otherwise... she wouldn’t have chosen to have an abortion.’

Seeing her son’s mood instantly plummet, Florence Morgan realized she had hurt him and quickly stepped forward, trying to take his hand.

"Ryan, just listen to your mother! You and Eve are not meant to be in this lifetime. Stop thinking about it, and stop being so stubborn! Focus on your work. You’re so exceptional, you’re bound to meet someone who’s right for you. Don’t fight your own brother over a woman! You’ll become a laughingstock."

Ryan Sterling pulled his hand back and took a step away.

"Mom, I’m not telling you to stay out of this because I want to stop them from remarrying. It’s because this decision should be based purely on Evelyn Grant’s own wishes, not on any other external pressure! If she can’t get over my brother, and if after all is said and done she still thinks he’s the one for her, I won’t say a single thing if they get back together."

But if the Sterling Family pressured Evelyn Grant again—by putting her in their debt, for instance, or by helping her and her family—then it wouldn’t be her true intention at all!

"Isn’t Eve just acting out of anger right now? If I don’t help your brother, then after what he did—you know what I’m talking about—how could Eve possibly forgive him?"

"If she doesn’t forgive him, then that’s her choice! No one needs to go and influence her."

All Ryan Sterling wanted was for her to be happy.

Even if he wasn’t fated to be with her, even if they would never be together in this life, he still only wished for her happiness.

"Ryan, don’t you think you’re overstepping your bounds?" Florence Morgan said suddenly. "Right now, who are you to her?"

"..."

"Besides, does Eve even need you to protect her like this? Have you asked her?"

"..."

Florence Morgan patted her son’s shoulder. "Self-righteous devotion is the most hurtful kind."

...

Alex Grant was busy doing his schoolwork, and Evelyn Grant didn’t want to disturb him, so she picked up her phone to continue with her own work.

A short while later, Mr. Shaw knocked on the door, also carrying quite a few things in his hands.

"Ms. Grant, are you feeling any better?"

Mr. Shaw wore his usual beaming smile.

Ever since her conversation with Ryan Sterling, Evelyn Grant, while not entirely convinced that the firm had no connection to him, still felt a little awkward around Mr. Shaw.

’I told him so much before...’

’If the firm really has nothing to do with Ryan Sterling, then how could it not be awkward? A junior lawyer like me saying all those insubordinate things to my boss, especially when Mr. Shaw has been so good to me?’

"I’m much better," Evelyn Grant said with a smile. "I heard you were the one who brought me to the hospital. Thank you, Mr. Shaw."

"Don’t mention it. You’ve been with the firm for years; you’re one of our senior staff! I couldn’t just stand by and watch when you fell ill, could I?" Mr. Shaw waved his hand. "I was actually just wondering if I’d given you too heavy a workload, leaving you no time to rest. But... *sigh*, my hands are tied. The firm is just so busy."

"The workload isn’t heavy at all, and it’s all part of my job."

As soon as she said that, Mr. Shaw seized the opportunity. "*Sigh*, you see, the client from the case you were handling just came by the firm. He refuses to switch counsel and is insisting that you continue to be his defense attorney. I’m in a really difficult position."

"Then there’s no need to switch. I’ll continue with the case. It was my job to begin with."