Chapter 55

Quinn genuinely didn't enjoy drinking and rarely had the opportunity. The rich, fruity aroma wafting from her glass made her feel tipsy before she even took a sip.

Trying to manage Cameron, she brought the glass to her lips and took a small sip. The sharpness of the alcohol made her grimace immediately.

"Not a fan?" he asked.

She shook her head, unsure how to express her dislike without offending him. "I'm just not used to it."

Just then, the attendant began to bring out the appetizers, and Quinn's eyes lit up at the sight of the food. She was about to dive in when a familiar middle-aged man approached them, a disingenuous smile plastered across his face.

"Mr. Sutton, what… I didn't expect to run into you here."

Cameron's expression darkened when he saw the approaching man, his brows furrowing together. Quinn wracked her brain, trying to place where she had seen him before, when the man's gaze landed on her. "Ms. Lawson, you look beautiful every time I see you."

It clicked. She recalled who this man was—the same man who had approached Harry that morning, pleading to see Cameron—Jeremy Smith.

"Do you know him?" Cameron raised an eyebrow at Quinn, noticing the change in her expression.

She nodded slowly. "We've met once."

"Ah, Ms. Lawson, our last meeting was so rushed, I didn't get a chance to bring you a proper gift. I'm glad we've crossed paths again. A friend recently gifted me a beautiful emerald bracelet, and I'd like you to have it as a token of our encounter."

He extended a velvet box toward her before she could refuse.

"Mr. Smith, you're too kind. I can't accept such a generous gift," Quinn said, hastily declining.

"It's just a stone. It's nothing valuable. Please, take it," Jeremy insisted, glancing at Cameron as if to gauge his reaction.

Caught between declining and feeling pressured to accept, Quinn looked to Cameron for help. However, he remained silent, appearing more like a spectator than a participant in this awkward exchange. He seemed to be waiting for something to unfold.

Cameron's silence might have given Jeremy the courage to push further. When Quinn hesitated, he placed the velvet box directly before her and poured himself a glass of wine. Raising it, he addressed Cameron, "Mr. Sutton, I want to apologize for what I did. I admit I acted foolishly, and I deeply regret it. I'm here to make amends."

"My father was unaware of the drugging incident. When he found out, he was furious and ended up hospitalized with a heart attack. His condition is still critical."

"I hope, considering the long-standing friendship between our families, you can find it in your heart to forgive me this time."

His apology seemed sincere, especially given that he was speaking to the much younger Cameron. Quinn felt a twinge of sympathy as she watched the exchange, but then she realized this man was the reason Cameron had been drugged that day at the club. Cameron remained indifferent, his eyelids drooping as he intently focused on his glass of wine. He refused to lift his gaze to acknowledge Jeremy.

With no response from Cameron, Jeremy turned to Quinn. "Ms. Lawson, I'd like to toast to you."

Quinn was taken aback. Why was he toasting her now? It felt inappropriate amidst all the apologies he was making.