Belated Moonlight: He Regretted Only After I Left-Chapter 23: Sacrifice Your Looks to Flirt?

Seeing Stella Sterling not speaking, Shane Donovan leaned back slightly, his long fingers lightly tapping on the armrest of the luxurious sofa, relaxed yet exuding an invisible sense of control.

"Counselor Sterling, there’s no need to feel indebted," he raised his eyes, his gaze landing on her slightly pursed lips, his voice low and steady, "In business, it’s just mutual benefit."

He paused slightly, giving her time to process, before continuing, "Innovatech Bio has some intellectual property maintenance and contract disputes that need assistance from an external law firm."

"If your firm is interested, we can discuss cooperation. You help me handle these cases, and I’ll help you solve your immediate troubles. A fair deal."

Stella Sterling was stunned.

The business of Innovatech Bio?!

For her newly established law firm, struggling to stabilize, this was an opportunity beyond her wildest dreams!

She instantly understood Shane Donovan’s intention.

This old fox... really knows how to get the most out of a situation with minimal effort.

Seeing her silence, Shane Donovan raised his eyebrows slightly, leaning forward imperceptibly, closing the distance between them, his deep voice carrying a barely detectable hint of amusement: "What? Does Counselor Sterling lack confidence in her professional abilities, or does she think... Innovatech’s business is unworthy of her firm?"

"Of course not!" Stella Sterling almost instinctively refuted.

As soon as she spoke, she realized she had already fallen into his rhythm.

Shane Donovan’s lips curved almost imperceptibly, that faint smile softening his stern profile just a bit, "Then it’s settled."

He didn’t give her a chance to hesitate, directly taking out his phone and dialing a number, "Evan, come over for a moment."

In less than a minute, the door to the private room was pushed open, and Evan Hughes poked his head in, smiling with a playful teasing, "Oh, has our Young Master Donovan finished his heart-to-heart with the beauty? What do you want me, this third wheel, for?"

Shane Donovan ignored his teasing, "Pull up the surveillance and waiting staff list for the ’Camellia Room’ in Area B on the evening of the 16th last month. Check if there’s a ’John Fletcher’ and his interaction with the people from Momentum Ads that evening."

Evan Hughes was taken aback for a moment, then quickly dropped his jesting demeanor, nodding, "Okay, I’ll have someone check right away."

There’s no denying Evan Hughes’s efficiency. With one phone call, a few words conveyed all the instructions.

After hanging up, he gave Shane Donovan an ’OK’ gesture, "All set, I’ll have news for you by tomorrow afternoon at the latest."

The entire process was smooth and efficient, solving in just a few minutes what Stella Sterling had been running around for days, unable to fix.

Seeing the matter completed, Stella Sterling found it inappropriate to stay longer. She stood up, "Then... I won’t disturb President Donovan further. I’ll take my leave now."

She turned to leave.

"Wait." Shane Donovan suddenly called after her.

Stella Sterling turned back in confusion.

Only to see Shane Donovan stand up, picking up the suit jacket draped over the back of the sofa, taking a few steps to stand in front of her.

His tall figure exuded an invisible pressure, his scent of faint cigars and cold woody fragrance instantly enveloping her.

Stella Sterling instinctively held her breath, stepping back slightly, almost feeling the warmth radiating from him.

Shane Donovan paused for a moment, then, maintaining his usual expression, put the suit jacket around her shoulders.

The suit still carried his warmth and scent, wrapping her petite form almost completely, hiding the view beneath the hem of her dress securely.

Stella Sterling froze slightly, instinctively wanting to refuse, "No need, I..."

Just as Shane Donovan was about to help her adjust the lapels, her movement made his fingertips accidentally brush against the exposed skin of her collarbone.

The touch was cool but carried a tingle like an electric current, making them both pause.

He lowered his gaze to look at her, the corridor’s light casting heavy shadows in his deep eyes, his Adam’s apple sliding almost imperceptibly, his voice low and nearly hoarse, "Don’t move."

Stella Sterling’s words of refusal caught in her throat, finally turning into a barely audible, "Thank you."

She adjusted the oversized suit jacket around her, avoiding his gaze, and quickly walked out of the private room.

Downstairs, Finn Lockwood was waiting anxiously in the lobby, his eyes widening in surprise upon seeing Stella Sterling coming down clad in a man’s expensive suit jacket, hurrying over, "Boss! Are you okay?"

Stella Sterling shook her head, "I’m fine, let’s go, it’s sorted out."

"Sorted out?" Finn Lockwood was both surprised and delighted, wanting to inquire further, only to be stopped by Stella’s glance.

"Let’s go, we can talk outside."

The two walked out one after the other.

Meanwhile, in the VIP private room on the second floor, Shane Donovan stood by the large floor-to-ceiling window, watching the slender figure disappear around the street corner.

Only after losing sight of her did he slowly retract his gaze, raising his hand to unconsciously rub the fingertips that accidentally brushed her collarbone skin before...

The sleek, warm touch seemed imprinted, spreading through subtle nerve endings all the way to his heart, stirring a difficult-to-quell ripple, making his heartbeat seem a little out of rhythm.

Behind him, at some unmarked moment, Evan Hughes reappeared, draping an arm around Shane Donovan’s shoulder, looking in the direction the car had left with a teasing, gossipy smile.

"Not bad, Young Master Donovan. I thought you had a heart of cement, not loving anyone! Yet here you are playing hero and giving clothes, such smooth moves on the ladies..."

"Hurry and tell, who’s this little beauty? Never seen her in the circle before. She’s beautiful. No wonder even an iron tree like you blossomed..."

Shane Donovan expressionlessly brushed off his arm, turning back toward the private room, his tone indifferent, "Aidan Sterling’s sister."

"Oh, Aidan Sterling’s sister..." Evan Hughes repeated instinctively, suddenly reacting, his voice escalating, "Whose sister?! The Sterling Cripple’s sister?! Damn! She’s all grown up?!"

He could hardly believe his ears!

Everyone knows that in The Kaelon Circle, the leaders of the young elite are Aidan Sterling and Shane Donovan, famous rivals.

Evan Hughes knew Aidan Sterling had a treasured sister, rumored to have run off with a poor boy, spreading through the circle. Unexpectedly, he met her today!

But, circling back to the topic...

"Young Master Donovan, why not sacrifice a bit of your charm and woo her?"

Evan Hughes wore a mischievous grin, fearing chaos, "What do you think, if the Sterling Cripple found out you ran off with his treasured sister, would he rush back with a forty-meter saber to fight you?" 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Shane Donovan downed the drink in his glass, his Adam’s apple bobbing, his profile appearing particularly hard-edged in the dim light.

He set down the glass with a crisp sound, not answering Evan Hughes’s question, only saying faintly: "Let’s go."

After speaking, without waiting for Evan Hughes to react, he grabbed his belongings and strode out of the private room.

Evan Hughes watched him leave, touching his chin, a playful smile on his face.

Tsk, the Sterling Cripple’s sister.

Looks like there’s going to be some significant drama to watch in the future...