Chapter 730 - 726: She Misjudged Again

"Huh?"

Even someone like Monica Coleman, who had seen it all, was stunned by the news.

"Director Jennings and Jasmine?"

Ivy Winters nodded gently. "It seems like something might be starting. But this isn’t something I can just ask Randall about directly. Besides, with his personality, he’d probably deny it anyway. So, I thought I’d come check things out first."

"Ivy, this..." Monica Coleman still couldn’t believe it. The last time she saw Chairman Jennings was at the Jandon charity gala, and Jasmine had been there too.

And Chairman Jennings had brought a date that day.

It was the girl he had met on a blind date, the one she and Jasmine had run into that day.

’How did things suddenly involve Chairman Jennings and Jasmine?’

But she was an outsider and might have missed a lot. Ivy was the most reliable source, so if she said it, it probably wasn’t just a baseless rumor.

Monica Coleman slowly composed herself, suppressing her shock. She softened her tone and said sincerely, "Since you’re asking, Ivy, let me say a few words on Jasmine’s behalf, as her friend."

"She’s... had a very difficult first half of her life. She’s a woman who has endured great hardship and is exceptionally resilient. This quality of endurance might not seem particularly useful to a family like the Jennings Family, but I think it speaks volumes about her tough and tenacious character. In many ways, that kind of strength is crucial and precious."

"Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if any man fell for her, Chairman Jennings included. I can’t say Jasmine is perfect, but as a woman, she has a side that makes men want to cherish her and a side that makes other women admire her. She’s gentle but not weak, resolute but not harsh. She has incredible charisma."

Ivy Winters listened intently, inwardly shocked.

Monica Coleman was one of Cathay’s top female entrepreneurs. There were very few women she would praise so highly, so her glowing assessment of Jasmine Sterling took Ivy Winters by surprise.

"Ivy, there’s one more thing. I’m not sure if you’re aware of it."

"What is it?" Ivy Winters asked curiously.

Monica Coleman hesitated for a moment before speaking plainly. "This isn’t something that could be hidden from you anyway. And since you’re looking into the situation between them, I think I should tell you."

"Jasmine... has three children."

With that one sentence, the expression on Ivy Winters’s face froze.

’Children?’

’Three of them?’

This was completely unexpected. She had considered that Jasmine Sterling might be middle-aged and unmarried, but she had never imagined she had children—let alone three of them.

Seeing her expression, Monica Coleman knew she hadn’t known.

"But Jasmine’s three children are all exceptional. Her eldest daughter, in particular, is an investor in Lorcain with considerable personal assets. Chairman Jennings knows her and speaks very highly of her."

"Her second daughter is an actress who just won an award. Though, I recently learned from the news that this daughter isn’t biologically hers. Jasmine found her in a park years ago. She raised the poor child as her own, and the truth only came out recently because of an accident."

"Her youngest son is a top student specially recruited into The Luminar Class at Lorcain U. He’s also very smart and sensible."

"For Jasmine to have raised three such wonderful children all by herself shows her capability and character. It’s something an ordinary person could never do."

As Ivy Winters listened, a sense of sincere admiration grew within her.

But considering the reality of the situation, she felt a lump in her throat, and a complicated look crossed her face.

"What are we to do?" she murmured, shaking her head helplessly. Her heart filled with worry for Randall.

As a woman herself, she held no negative views toward a single mother like Jasmine Sterling. On the contrary, she could empathize with her hardships and struggles.

But the fact that there were three children was far beyond what she had anticipated. Even if Randall liked her, how could he ever get past the old man?

The old man was getting on in years. If he found out Randall had fallen for a woman with three children, he might get so angry it would affect his health.

Monica Coleman knew what Ivy Winters was thinking and couldn’t help but sigh. "Ivy, things have suddenly gotten a lot more difficult, haven’t they?"

"More than difficult. Knowing the old man’s temperament, he’d probably blow up the entire Jennings Family."

Monica Coleman pursed her lips, a wry smile appearing on her face. "But I want to add one more thing. In the end, a life is lived by two people. Take you, for instance, Ivy. You and your husband have been deeply in love for many years, and you still are."

"I myself only got together with Perry for the sake of family interests. We’ve treated each other with respect all these years, but I always feel like something is missing from my life."

"Setting aside everything else, Chairman Jennings has remained unmarried all this time. Ultimately, it’s because he hasn’t met the other half he wants to spend his life with."

"If he truly likes Jasmine, I don’t think the children are much of an obstacle. After all, her three children are all grown up with their own independent lives. Even if the two of them get together, they won’t be bothered by the kids."

The more Ivy Winters listened, the more something felt off. After a long moment, it dawned on her. "All three children are adults?"

Monica Coleman nodded.

"Then... then how old is Ms. Sterling?"

"She’s... forty-four, maybe forty-five."

Ivy Winters fell silent.

’She had misjudged again.’

Just now, seeing Jasmine Sterling up close, she didn’t look at all like a woman in her forties. At most, she looked to be around Randall’s age, maybe thirty-seven or thirty-eight.

’That means she’s five or six years older than Randall!’

Taking a deep breath, Ivy Winters forced herself to calm down. Compared to the age gap, having three children was clearly the more difficult issue.

"Thank you, Monica, for telling me so much." Ivy Winters regained her composure and thanked Monica Coleman.

Monica Coleman smiled back. "It’s nothing. I’m just telling you the facts about Jasmine. With her personality, she wouldn’t hide anything, especially not her children. Her kids are her greatest pride."

"But Ivy, I still think you should confirm things with Chairman Jennings. You don’t want this to be a big misunderstanding. I heard from Jasmine that Director Vance has been relentlessly pursuing her recently."

"Director Vance?"

"Yes, Finn Vance, the chairman of the Vance Group. He’s the leader in Cathay’s new energy sector."

"Finn Vance!"

"That’s right. That Director Vance."

Ivy Winters nodded with a look of surprise. She hadn’t expected Jasmine Sterling to have another suitor with such status and power.

After Ivy Winters got in her car and left, Monica Coleman, who had been about to leave herself, turned around and went back to Cleanscape.

"Monica, what are you doing back?"

In the office, Monica Coleman sat down on the sofa, looked at Jasmine Sterling, and asked, "Do you know who Ivy is?"

"Huh?" Jasmine Sterling froze for a second, then blinked.

Monica Coleman let out a soft breath. Not wanting Jasmine to be left passively in the dark, she stated bluntly, "She’s Chairman Jennings’s sister-in-law!"