Our Love Story: Hard to Guard Against the Sudden Love Strike-Chapter 356 - 337: Daughter

Simon Forrester chatted with Quentin Thorne about this trip to Europe. Upon hearing that he and Sienna Thornton had almost completed their wedding preparations, Quentin’s face looked a bit displeased as he repeatedly emphasized "there’s no need to rush."

As they chatted, the sunset gradually dipped below the horizon outside the window. Simon glanced at his watch, just about to get up and say goodbye, when, at that moment, the front door opened from outside.

A girl with shoulder-length hair styled in a seven-three split, wearing a long black wool coat, who looked slightly more mature than Sienna Thornton, walked in.

Simon observed her.

The girl stood at the entrance with keys in hand, also looking at him. After a few seconds, she shifted her gaze to Quentin Thorne: "Dad, I’m back."

Quentin chuckled, "Mina, you’re back? Have you had dinner yet?"

Mina Thorne bent down to change her short boots, putting the keys in her bag as she walked over. "I’ve eaten. Do you have a guest?"

Quentin stood up immediately, beckoning her over, "This is Rex from Grandpa Forrester’s house. Didn’t you meet him when you were kids?"

Simon nodded and smiled at her as a greeting.

Mina showed no expression and didn’t smile back at Simon, only stared at him for a few seconds and then said indifferently, "Hello."

She then turned to Quentin, "If there’s nothing else, I’ll head upstairs."

Quentin nodded, "Go on."

Soon, the living room was left with just Simon and Quentin.

Simon had long forgotten when he had met Mina as a child.

The last time he saw her was in a photo he got from Ronan Grant. From the photo, she didn’t particularly resemble Sienna Thornton, but seeing her today, with her hairstyle slightly altering her face by covering her jawline and cheekbones with her hair, leaving only her facial features and sharp chin, she did bear some resemblance to Sienna.

However, their demeanor and expressions were far from similar.

Sienna Thornton always had a smile on her face, her lips ever so slightly curved, with a slim and tall figure, perfectly proportioned;

Mina showed no expression, her look somewhat gloomy, and consequently, her lips drooped a bit, with a frame much larger than Sienna’s, but about five centimeters shorter. Thus, she appeared more powerful than Sienna.

Perhaps it was due to her profession as a prosecutor, which rendered her expressions and even her clothing style more solemn.

Logically, she should be slightly younger than Sienna, yet she gave off a feeling of being over five years older.

If Sienna was a lively, beautiful, and enthusiastic girl, then Mina was like an experienced elder sister.

"Now you understand why the first time I saw Annie, I suspected she might be my daughter, right?" Quentin pondered the spot where Mina just left and said thoughtfully.

Simon, coming back to his senses, nodded, "Their facial features are indeed similar, carved out from the same mold as yours."

After saying this, he added, "However, Candy is prettier and has a better demeanor." He didn’t mention their personalities since he wasn’t sure about Mina’s character.

"Yes," Quentin’s tone carried a slight hint of helplessness, "After all, Annie lived in Azure Harbor and abroad for several years. The environment certainly impacts one’s character and demeanor."

He only mentioned demeanor without comparing the daughters’ appearances. This is a real father.

Simon asked, "You know Candy returned to develop in Brimfield to find you, right?"

Quentin nodded, his words tinged with regret, "I guessed it. In her third year at Harvard Law School, the California Court offered her a position as a career judge’s assistant upon graduation, but she declined at that time. You know, after serving as a judge’s assistant for a certain period, there’s a big chance she could have entered the U.S. Department of Justice or become a professor at a top law school. If she had the ability and ambition, she could even enter politics."

Thinking it over, once Quentin suspected Sienna might be his daughter, he would surely dig into her entire past.

Simon felt indignant on Sienna’s behalf.

Although because of Quentin, he could meet and fall in love with Sienna, from another perspective, it was also due to Quentin that Sienna not only endured much hardship from a young age but also missed out on other professional possibilities.

Regarding Sienna’s practice in the United States, Quentin only mentioned two possibilities that she might have achieved. There was another one that could have dramatically changed her fate.

Given her distinction as the "summa cum laude" graduate from Harvard Law School, even if she hadn’t entered the Department of Justice or became a professor, she could have joined a top law firm in California, practiced for a certain period, and eventually promoted to partner, senior partner, or even have her name on a top law firm in California.

Instead of now being in a small domestic firm with only three partners handling simple cases and having to outwit Nolan Kramer or deal with the Forresters’ bizarre cases from time to time.

The partner of a top law firm in the world’s most developed country vs. a partner in a small domestic firm, imagining these two scenarios, doesn’t the contrast feel stark?

Perhaps Quentin thought of this as well, and with a look of guilt, said nothing.

Simon glanced at him, somewhat displeased, took a sip of tea, and said flatly, "Since you even know about the California Court offering her the assistant judge position, you must also know how she emerged from Wrayhaven, traveled through three places, and finally returned to Brimfield, right?"

"I do."

Simon entered soul-searching mode: "What are your thoughts?"

Quentin didn’t respond immediately, sipping his tea. After a moment, he said, "Precisely because of those difficult years, Annie developed a strong will. These experiences aren’t necessarily bad for her. Of course, the debt I owe Annie over these years, I will surely repay."

With that, he said no more.

He had a restrained character, and in certain matters and emotions, he would not let himself vent freely. Similarly, although his marriage with Ian Grant wasn’t happy, and he had reached a high position, he never betrayed his marriage. He was unafraid of adversity; otherwise, why would he give up being a young master and go to Wrayhaven to teach? And for Melinda Linton’s sake, he bravely resisted, leading to half a year of confinement?

Simon realized both he and Sienna carried a rational, restrained, strong, and brave spirit in their bones. Despite having the capital to be free-spirited, they chose to live a restrained life. Such people are indeed the ones who suffer the most.

Thinking of this, Simon refrained from further sarcastic remarks toward Quentin.

"She will understand you eventually, and I’ll also help persuade her, don’t worry." Simon glanced at his watch, "It’s getting late, so I’ll be going now."

Quentin didn’t try to keep him longer, smiling as he asked, "Heading back to eat with Annie? Who cooks when you both live together?"

"Whoever gets off work early cooks. We both know how to cook, so we usually eat at home and rarely eat out." Simon said, "But these days we’ve been eating at the old house and at Auntie’s. Today Candy’s at Auntie’s, so I’ll go find her."

He got up to leave.

Quentin suddenly lowered his voice, asking, "Annie’s mother...is she doing well now?"