novelraw Chapter 190: That Was My Clone—Justin Quincy
Chapter 190: That Was My Clone—Justin Quincy
By the time they finished dinner, it was already a few minutes past midnight. The neighborhood streetlights had gone out, leaving the world outside pitch black.
After drinking some water, Holly Winslow suddenly remembered something. She pulled a box from her suitcase and handed it to Wyatt Winslow, saying with a grin, "Dad, this is for you."
Seeing the confused look on his face, she explained, "Doesn’t your neck hurt, Dad? This is a massaging pillow. My roommate said it’s really effective. Her grandma uses one, and now her neck doesn’t hurt at all."
Wyatt Winslow had never told her his neck was bothering him. He pressed his lips together and accepted the gift, his tone a bit subdued. "You don’t have to buy me things in the future."
"I have money, Dad."
Of course, Holly Winslow knew what he meant. ’He’s worried I don’t have the money.’
Both Jarton Second High and B University had given her scholarships. While not as much as Mortimer Quincy received, it was still a considerable sum.
She had originally wanted to give the money to Wyatt Winslow, but he had refused and told her to keep it for herself.
Wyatt Winslow’s grip on the box tightened. He adjusted his glasses and looked up at Holly Winslow. Her eyes were so clear and bright that he couldn’t bring himself to say what was on his mind. "It’s getting late. Go get some sleep."
’Holly... your mother has a child now.’
...
Perhaps because he’d been denied the prize he’d been so close to claiming, Holly Winslow could feel Scholar Quincy’s profound sulkiness.
Sexually frustrated.
Take right now, for example.
With Wyatt Winslow off at work, she was curled up on the sofa, watching TV and sending a text: What are you up to?
Mortimer Quincy replied almost instantly: Cultivating my indestructible body.
Holly Winslow: ...
’Indestructible my ass.’
She quickly typed out a reply: Quincy the Puppy, are you trying to be snarky?
The cold war had begun.
Mortimer Quincy caved instantly, showing absolutely no backbone: Honey, that wasn’t me. It was my alter ego—Justin Quincy.
Holly Winslow cracked up, giggling at her phone. ’An alter ego? Alter ego my ass!’
A mischievous glint appeared in her eye as she typed back: My husband’s broken. Guess it’s time to get a new one.
A few seconds later, a call from Mortimer Quincy came through. His voice, laced with mock indignation, came over the line. "Feeling brave, are we?"
Holly Winslow snorted, completely unafraid of him. "You’re the one who’s gotten brave. Are you trying to break up with me?"
"In the old days, I’d have you in a timeout corner in a heartbeat."
"I want to get married."
Mortimer Quincy, sitting on his sofa, added, "Let’s go to the movies this afternoon."
"A mystery or a horror film?"
Before Mortimer Quincy could answer, Holly Winslow continued, "There’s a really popular movie out right now called *Ghost Cry*. I hear it’s terrifying."
Again, before he could speak, she added, "Actually, never mind. Let’s see *The Explorer* instead. It has really high ratings."
"So, Quincy the Puppy, what do you want to see?"
This was a question with a blatantly obvious answer, and Mortimer Quincy saw it coming. He’d been through this song and dance far too many times.
Quincy the Moneybags gave the perfect answer, "We’ll see both. The first one’s at one, we’ll be done by five. I’ll get you home before your dad gets back."
Holly Winslow lifted her chin. ’Quincy the Moneybags really knows what he’s doing.’ With the plan set, she hung up, changed her clothes, and headed out.
At the movie theater, three couples had an unexpected run-in.
The moment Holly Winslow and Mortimer Quincy entered the theater, they saw two other couples waiting in the lobby: Anna Willow’s and Iris Kensington’s. All twelve of their eyes met.
Anna Willow and Iris Kensington rubbed their noses guiltily. They shuffled apart to make a space between them and pulled Holly Winslow down to sit, cooing obsequiously, "Holly, our little fairy."
Holly feigned anger. "So this is you two being ’busy’?"
"Ditching me for your boyfriends, and you even lied and said you were busy until tomorrow. Our friendship is over."
She’d been trying to make plans with Anna Willow and Iris Kensington since yesterday, but they’d both claimed to be busy. One said she had to visit her grandmother, the other said she had to spend time with her mother.
Turns out "grandma" and "mom" were just code for their boyfriends.
Iris Kensington and Anna Willow had only just bumped into each other themselves, and both had been stunned for a moment upon seeing the other.
Neither had expected to have their lies exposed to each other so unceremoniously.
The two exchanged a look, then simultaneously linked arms with Holly Winslow. Anna Willow put on a fawning expression. "A chance encounter is better than a planned date! Holly, it must be fate!"
Iris Kensington nodded in agreement. "Totally! It’s fate, it’s fate! The same movie theater at the exact same time."
Holly swatted at them playfully, narrowing her eyes. "Fate my ass. If I hadn’t caught you, you would’ve kept lying to me."
As she spoke, she pointed toward the popcorn counter for Mortimer Quincy and held up two fingers.
Mortimer Quincy nodded and headed off to buy popcorn. Zeke Zane got up and followed him. "What are you guys seeing?"
"You’ll find out in a bit." Although Mortimer Quincy didn’t know Holly and her two friends that well, he had already figured a few things out about them.
Zeke Zane: "..."
Meanwhile, Anna Willow and Iris Kensington were clinging to Holly. Iris said with a sly grin, "Holly, I’ll buy you bubble tea later to make it up to you."
Holly huffed twice. "Fine, you’re forgiven. What are you guys seeing?"
"*Ghost Cry*," Anna Willow said excitedly.
Iris Kensington nodded. "Us too."
Holly Winslow: "..."
’Their tastes really were identical.’
It wasn’t just their taste in movies that was the same; their seats were also in the same row.
Zeke Zane, who all along had just been hoping to hold hands during the movie: "..."
’It’s fine,’ he thought. ’There’s still the next show.’
Unexpectedly, all three couples were in the same showing for the second movie as well. Holly Winslow, Anna Willow, and Iris Kensington couldn’t hold back their laughter, looking for all the world like the poster children for "Best Friends Forever."
Zeke Zane: "..."
Mortimer Quincy had expected as much. By now, he’d found a comfortable way to hold Holly Winslow’s hand, his eyes on the "ghost" with its gaping, bloody maw on the screen.
’My girl is terrified of mice and cockroaches, yet she loves this kind of gory, horrifying imagery.’
The first time they’d gone to the movies, Holly Winslow had bought the tickets, saying it was her treat.
He had assumed it would be some sappy little romance drama, the kind perfect for holding hands.
Instead, it turned out to be a thriller that opened with a shot of a python’s massive, gaping maw.
The whiplash from expecting a sweet romance to seeing a gaping python maw had given him quite a "shock."
After the movie, she had asked him cheerfully, "Wasn’t that great? If you liked it, I’ll treat you again next time."
At the time, his expression had gone blank for a few seconds before he managed to say, "Sure."
Holly Winslow later explained that it was a test of a boyfriend’s courage. No cowards allowed.
It didn’t matter how handsome he was.
Thinking back on it, he glanced at Holly Winslow in the dim theater light. She seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself.
He raised an eyebrow, then suddenly leaned close to her and whispered mischievously, "Honey, look at me."
Holly Winslow instinctively turned to look at him. The next second, something soft brushed against her lips. She: "..."
She grabbed a piece of popcorn and stuffed it in his mouth, then made a silly face at him.
Mortimer Quincy chuckled, a low laugh rumbling in his chest. He wrapped his arm around her waist and rested his head on her shoulder. "Honey, I’m scared."
Holly Winslow: "..."
’Yeah, right.’
Anna Willow and Iris Kensington leaned forward to peek past their boyfriends and snickered.
With Mortimer Quincy taking the lead, Zeke Zane "very naturally" took Anna Willow’s hand. Anna blushed.
...
For the next few days, Holly Winslow went to the countryside and spent time with Walter Winslow and Joan Sawyer. Wyatt Winslow came to stay for a day or two as well. On the last day of her vacation, it was time for Holly to head back to school.
Naturally, Wyatt Winslow was there to see her off.
Joan Sawyer held onto her hand, reluctant to let go, and insisted on stuffing two thousand yuan into it. "Holly, you take care of yourself out there. Use this money to buy some new clothes for yourself and Miles."
"I will, Grandma."
Holly Winslow accepted the money. She glanced at Wyatt Winslow, who was standing nearby, then pulled Joan Sawyer a little farther away. "Grandma, you and Grandpa should move to the county seat. It’ll be more lively with the whole family together."