Our Love Story: Hard to Guard Against the Sudden Love Strike-Chapter 328 - 316: Dean Thorne’s Concerns

On Monday morning, Harrison Rowe came to pick up Simon Forrester for a meeting at the design office. After the meeting, Simon Forrester had lunch with Logan Lockwood and Harrison Rowe, and took the opportunity to have Harrison accompany him to the dealership to order Sienna Thornton’s new car.

With the car situation resolved, Simon Forrester had Harrison drop him off at the High Court. He had arranged to meet Quentin Thorne.

Simon Forrester entered the dean’s office, where Quentin Thorne set aside his work to greet him. He initially raised his hand as if to pat Simon’s shoulder, but after a moment, withdrew it: "How’s your back injury?"

Simon Forrester was surprised: "You know I got injured?"

Quentin Thorne smiled without replying, and after inviting him to sit on the sofa, began to rinse the tea set to prepare tea.

Simon Forrester didn’t press further, thinking that Quentin Thorne surely kept tabs on his and Sienna Thornton’s lives. After a pause, he said, "My back is almost healed, I’m recuperating at home, planning to return to work after three months."

Quentin Thorne nodded, using a tea scoop to take some tea leaves: "In the future, for things like climbing up and down, let other designers do it, don’t push yourself so hard."

Though said politely, Simon Forrester knew that Quentin Thorne specifically brought up this matter, probably because it bothered him quite a bit, though he habitually greeted people with a smile, even if he was displeased.

"Uncle Thorne is right," Simon Forrester nodded, "I came today mainly to tell you two things."

"Please, go ahead." Quentin Thorne served a cup of tea to Simon Forrester.

"At the beginning of December, Candy and I plan to go to Europe for a month. After we return, there are two things to do—I’m stepping down as the director of the design office to fully take over the ’Forrester Group’, and Candy and I are planning to register our marriage after New Year’s Day."

Hearing this, the smile on Quentin Thorne’s face disappeared completely.

He lifted his gaze and looked at Simon Forrester for a long time, took a sip of his tea thoughtfully, put his cup down, and said calmly, "You and Annie are still young, there’s no need to rush into marriage."

Upon hearing this, Simon Forrester felt a bit displeased. He had come with full humility, but now felt instantly irritated, though he couldn’t show it in front of his future father-in-law, so he kept a smile: "I’m not that young."

Quentin Thorne waved his hand: "People nowadays maintain themselves well, you could say you’re ten years younger. If you hadn’t said, I’d think you just graduated college. It’s too early to marry now, no rush!"

Simon Forrester: "..."

He wasn’t sure if Quentin Thorne disapproved of their New Year’s Day wedding because he was worried about the injury affecting his health, or because Quentin Thorne wasn’t ready to acknowledge Sienna Thornton as family.

Simon Forrester silently cursed Quentin Thorne, the old guy, for not speaking clearly and being evasive about being young. He’s nearly forty, how is that young?

Extremely agitated, already in a bad mood due to his back discomfort, he could no longer care about Quentin Thorne’s identity as his future father-in-law and directly said, "Uncle Thorne, you know Candy and I will get married eventually, but I feel like you don’t quite approve of this. Can you tell me why? I can change."

"Next spring festival, I plan to acknowledge Annie. Your marriage can be discussed after she returns to the Thorne Family. If by then, Annie still wants to marry you, I won’t stop it. Everything will follow procedure. If meeting the family is necessary, it should be done. Once everything is settled, I’ll agree to the marriage, and then you can register. There’s still time."

These words have two implications: if Sienna Thornton becomes the Thorne Family’s leading lady, she would not necessarily have to marry Simon Forrester; on the other hand, if the Forrester Family wants to marry the Thorne Family’s leading lady, they must show sincerity.

Admittedly, with Sienna Thornton’s attributes—a young and beautiful law PhD and law firm partner who returned from overseas—her suitors would surely be as plentiful as fish in a river. Quentin Thorne could even introduce her to men of power and influence. In the eyes of society, men with significant power are perceived as stronger than pure businessmen like Simon Forrester.

Simon Forrester naturally trusts Sienna Thornton and is very confident in their relationship. So, even if Quentin Thorne wishes to introduce other men to Sienna Thornton, he isn’t worried. Besides, Sienna acknowledging Quentin Thorne at the year-end gathering only delays their marriage registration by a month, which isn’t too long, so he agrees.

However, this matter caused him great dissatisfaction towards Quentin Thorne, but despite his displeasure, he won’t act wilfully and offend his future father-in-law. If Quentin Thorne gets agitated, this old guy might really meddle with his marriage to Sienna Thornton.

Why doesn’t Quentin Thorne want Sienna Thornton to marry into the Forrester Family?

At his position and achievement, money and wealth are not things worth chasing after with all effort. He believes his daughter should focus on pursuing ideals and self-realization.

Although the Forrester Family is wealthy, it exudes a strong scent of money, and some rich family bad habits are vividly expressed in the Forrester Family—earlier, the Forrester Group promised his daughter rewards but didn’t deliver them all at once; Zane Forrester and his wife adamantly opposed it; Old Master Forrester absurdly desired three great-grandchildren; and some woman appearing out of nowhere claiming to be pregnant with Simon Forrester’s child...

All these things made Quentin Thorne disapprove of such a family as the Forrester Family.

Simon Forrester vaguely guessed Quentin Thorne’s thinking, but these were facts he couldn’t change.

Regarding marriage, he and Sienna Thornton could have discreetly registered the marriage, but he chose to consider Quentin Thorne’s feelings and respect his decision. These are among his sincere gestures towards Sienna Thornton and their relationship.

Remembering his purpose for coming today, Simon Forrester snapped back, drank the cup of tea in front of him, suppressed his frustration, and put on a smile for Quentin Thorne: "Uncle Thorne, if there’s nothing else, I won’t delay your work any longer."

Saying this, he stood up to leave.

"Hold on!" Quentin Thorne suddenly called out.

Simon Forrester turned back.

Quentin Thorne got up and walked to his desk, tore a page from his personal notepad, and handed it to Simon Forrester: "Here’s the current hiding place of the girl who unexpectedly changed her testimony in the inn case and even accused Annie of witness tampering."

Simon Forrester took it, glanced at the hastily written address, considered for a moment, and accepted: "Alright, I’ll discuss with Candy tonight about how to handle this."

Quentin Thorne’s expression became serious: "I’m giving you this person’s whereabouts not hoping Annie will handle it, but so you can find out whether this incident aimed to destroy Annie because of you. If it is, I hope you’ll properly manage aftermath, to prevent this from affecting Annie again."

Simon Forrester was silent for a long time.

As Quentin Thorne said these words, two women’s faces flashed in his mind.

"I understand, Uncle Thorne," Simon Forrester put the note away, "If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now."

Quentin Thorne smiled at him, though his eyes behind frameless glasses were stern: "The inn case has been over a year. If you still haven’t found someone, consider your efficiency and approach."