The more Quinn thought about it, the more her heart hurt, and tears streamed down her face. She wiped them again and again until she finally managed to steady herself.
Shelly was about to speak again to comfort her, but Quinn suddenly stood up. Without hesitation, she walked straight toward Jason Carter.
Standing in front of him, Quinn took a deep breath, her voice steady but trembling:
"Jason, that day when I went to see Ivan, I actually asked Alice to come with me, but she was busy. I really didn't intend to start anything with him. The paper crane you saw was only meant as encouragement."
"I admit I used to like him, but he already had a girlfriend, so I let go long ago. I've always kept my distance. I never crossed any line. I think his girlfriend is a good person, and I hope they work things out. You also heard the recording from that day."
"Of course, now I know… even if I had no intention of rekindling anything, for the sake of avoiding suspicion, I shouldn't have gone at all."
"It was my lack of judgment—my foolishness. You can blame me, be angry at me… but please don't see me as that kind of woman, okay?"
Her voice was calm, but her eyes were already burning red. She tried hard to hold back her tears.
She had prepared herself.She thought Jason would at least scold her.Or coldly ask her to leave.
But instead, she heard Jason reply—calmly, almost with mild surprise:
"You don't need to explain any of that to me."
Quinn froze.
There was no anger.No disappointment.No reaction at all.
"You don't need to explain" meant:
It has nothing to do with me.I don't care.You are not someone whose actions affect me anymore.
So her feeling that day was correct.Everything really had just been her own wishful thinking.
Just as Shelly said—
Maybe Jason did once have feelings for her.But after what happened that day, she had already been placed outside of his world.The 40 million dollars he spent back then wasn't because she was special.
It was just kindness.One act.Nothing more.
Tears gathered again. She held them back with every last bit of strength.She wanted desperately to salvage something—to explain—to make him see her heart.
But after talking to Shelly, she understood:
Even if she poured out every emotion inside her, it wouldn't matter now.
Because the wound was not about what happened.It was about what shouldn't have been done in the first place.
Olivia, standing nearby, handed Quinn a tissue and couldn't help shooting Jason a subtle accusing look.
Her expression said clearly:
"My boss, look at the emotional mess trailing behind you…"
Quinn wiped her tears. She didn't want to break down here.She didn't want to look pathetic.She didn't want Jason to dislike her more.
But the unwillingness wouldn't let her walk away.
So she asked, quietly, stubbornly:
"Jason… do you have someone you like?"
Jason did not hesitate.He did not look away.He did not soften his words.
He nodded:
"I have a girlfriend."
Quinn's face instantly turned pale. Her body swayed, and she took a step back before regaining her balance. She forced a smile and asked, "Is it Holly Larson, or Megan?"
She didn't even know why she had to ask. She just needed to know. Maybe she wanted to understand who she had lost to. Who had won the prince.
But she didn't receive an answer.
Looking at Jason Carter, she realized he wasn't even looking at her. His gaze was fixed elsewhere, expression calm, indifferent — as if saying:
"What does that have to do with you?"
Following his gaze, she saw the Wenwan Club auction had begun. A large antique carpet was being displayed, and that was what he was focused on.
Quinn stood frozen for three seconds. Her heart felt hollow.
In Jason's eyes, at this moment, she wasn't even as important as a carpet.
Once—On the day they first met, he had chatted with her casually.At the auto show, he used wealth and influence to help her regain face, moving her booth from a corner to the center.In the café, he appeared like a prince, helping her out of humiliation.
But now—
He treated her like a stranger.
Even when she cried, he didn't care enough to look.
He responded to her only out of politeness, and then his attention shifted away, like her words and pain were irrelevant.
Quinn opened her mouth, but now she didn't know what to say.She quietly returned to her seat and lowered her head onto the table, tears silently falling.
Alice hurried to comfort her, while Shelly let out a quiet sigh.
In Shelly's view, Quinn was already hopelessly attached.If it were her, she would have moved on decisively.No matter how good a man was — if he wasn't hers, there was no point clinging.But Quinn couldn't do that.
At that moment, Quinn's father, Calvin, and her grand-aunt Cora, returned after speaking with acquaintances.
Seeing Quinn crying, Calvin immediately asked what happened. Alice was about to explain everything in detail, but Shelly stopped her and said:
"She just found out the guy she likes has a girlfriend."
Shelly understood Quinn. If Quinn hadn't needed help sorting her emotions, she wouldn't have told even her.
Calvin frowned. "Which guy? Who has such bad judgment? Not choosing my daughter — his loss."
However, Cora noticed Shelly's eyes shift toward the auction floor.
She followed that direction.
There were three tables of people seated there.
But only one young man fit everything — age, appearance, presence, demeanor.
Jason Carter.
Then her gaze slid to Olivia, standing beside him.In one glance, Cora could tell:
Not a girlfriend.A secretary.
After observing their posture, clothing quality, temperament, and subtle details, Cora's expression tightened slightly.
She said lightly:
"This is free choice. You can't force feelings. And don't casually call someone a scoundrel. Just because someone is young doesn't mean his background is weak. Watch your tone — don't say something you can't take back."
Calvin was someone with emotional intelligence. He understood immediately.If his sister said this, there was definitely a reason.
Following her gaze toward Jason, he was also startled.
Just from his bearing alone, one could feel:
The unmistakable presence of someone born into power.
Not new money.Not pretenders.
But a young master from a genuine elite family.
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