Tiffany still didn’t quite understand. She finally understood that something had happened after listening to her colleagues’ gossip. She checked the news and glanced through the articles. Her mind immediately went numb. By the time she recollected herself, Jackson had disappeared.She had arrived at the office in Jackson’s car today. By the time she rushed out, Jackson had already driven away. She knew that he was going back to the West residence to confront Atticus. Despite her fear, she couldn’t ignore him at a time like this. Jackson could beat a man to death when he lost control!By the time she arrived at the West residence in a cab, Jackson and Atticus were nowhere to be found. Only Summer was pacing around nervously in the living room. “Where’s Jackson? Is he here?” She asked.Summer nodded, teary-eyed, “He’s here. In the study upstairs. He’s locked himself in with his father. I can’t go in. I’m afraid that something might happen, but I don’t know what to do. I’m sorry, Tiffie,
Jackson’s sudden roar frightened Tiffany into dropping the tissue in her hand. This was the first time he had ever yelled at her. She felt aggrieved.Atticus steadied himself by holding onto a table and forced a smile, “I’m fine, Tiffany. He’s not wrong. I don’t deserve it. I shouldn’t have dragged the Wests into this. This is my problem. I’m a steady man; I will deal with this properly. I haven’t done anything wrong…”Tiffany believed that Atticus was telling the truth. She simply couldn’t relate the man in front of her with the word ‘unbearable.’ “I believe you… Shall we go to the hospital? Please don’t be angry at Jackson. He loses control of his strength when he’s mad…”Atticus shook his head, “I’m fine. He did control his strength. I’m alright. I won’t die. Stay with your mother-in-law. Tell her that I’ve never done anything to betray her. My only mistake was in managing this and causing everyone in the city to find out.”He had just spoken when Jackson lunged at Tiffany, dragging
After some deliberation, Tiffany carefully asked, “How about… I ask Mark to take care of this? I understand that it’s inappropriate for me to interfere in your matters, but you’ve been doing battles with an artist’s pencil for your entire life, dad. You’re no match for this woman. At this point, getting back at her would be the most crucial thing to do in regaining your reputation.”Jackson could have solved this too, but he would never help Atticus. Father and son were now mortal enemies.Atticus was hesitant. Summer made the decision first, “Then… Please ask Mark for help, Tiffie. I can’t manage this situation either. The Wests are now in the eye of the storm. I’m afraid that we’ll never be able to squash this scandal without the Tremonts. I’m thoroughly humiliated too. I’ve been upright and disciplined all of my life, yet I’ve ended up falling head first in my old age, and in the hands of a woman much younger than I am. I’m going to give her a slap in the face if I ever see her!”Ti
Mark shrugged helplessly, “I’m going to go home, even if you beat me to death. I don’t know your father too well, but if Tiffany is asking for my help, that means that the situation isn’t as shady as the newspapers say. You can ignore it, but I can’t afford to infuriate Mrs. Tremont and my son. You can stay in my office for a while and calm down. You’ve already hit him. Give it a rest, and leave it to me.”Mark looked at Tiffany when he arrived at the Tremont Estate then sat down next to Arianne, “I know why you’ve asked me to come home. Jackson was right next to me when you called. I might get beaten up if I’m not careful…”Tiffany was gripped with fear, “Well, we had no idea that he was right next to you… He really scared me to death today. I even slapped him back at the West residence. Now I’m kind of regretting it, but the situation was too complicated. I want to console him too, but he’s so stubborn… I really couldn’t reach him.”Mark sighed, “Don’t worry, he’s not angry with you.
Seeing this, the old woman couldn’t help curling her lips, “Look, your husband has gone out with another woman and you’re still so calm about it. Don’t come crying to me if something happens.”Arianne’s head was spinning, “Granny! They just happen to be going the same way. Don’t ever say such a thing. It might happen with other women, but not Tiffie. Do not think of Tiffie in that way!”Tabitha waved her arms as she walked out to the garden. Arianne let out a long sigh. People had more to say in their old age. She didn’t really mind. Once the old woman understood Tiffany more, she would stop saying such things.Tiffany followed Mark into the office. She walked towards Jackson when she saw him and knelt down next to him to check his swollen hand, “Does it hurt?”Jackson turned his face away and didn’t say a word. The only thing he wanted to do now, was to stay quiet and do nothing.Knowing that Mark was outside, waiting for her to take him away, Tiffany used up her lifetime supply of go
Jackson mumbled an indifferent reply, closed his eyes and leaned back on the car seat in silence.Once they arrived back at White Water Bay Villa, he took off his bloodied shirt and got into the shower. Tiffany took out the first aid kit and quietly waited. She wanted to soothe the trauma plaguing his mind. She wanted him to really cheer up. She would always stay by his side. Jackson suddenly slid his hand down her clothes from behind while she was lost in her thoughts. Then, he climbed on top of her, “I want you…”They hadn’t been intimate for a while due to Bernadette’s troublemaking. She nearly lost control when she smelled the fresh scent of his body wash. However, she knew that he was only seeking psychological comfort and was simply trying to release it out of habit, just like his wanton, carefree past. She had to help him get rid of this habit. She only wanted to be intimate with him in the name of love.She pushed him away, pulled out the alcohol swab to clean his wound, “No.
It was soon proven that he did. It had been less than half a day, but he seemed to be back to his normal self. He was dressed in white woolen home clothes with an apron around his waist. He looked like a decent man from a good family. She knew that this picture of calm was superficial. His heart was riddled with gaping wounds. Her heart went out to him. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his firm body and pressed the side of her face firmly against his back, “Jackson…”Jackson stiffened and smiled, “Why so emotional all of a sudden? I just wanted to cook, since I have nothing to do at home. Go and get showered. Dinner will be ready soon.”She pinched his waist provocatively, “Alright, I’ll wash myself clean…”Perhaps it was the effect from Jackson’s efforts to bring comfort, as Tiffany now felt much happier. She hummed a tune as she arrived downstairs after her shower and quietly waited for dinner. She stared at the glistening and fragrant feast all over the table and near
Mark pulled out a cigarette from his cigarette box. A bodyguard quickly lit it up for him.He exhaled a puff of smoke before carelessly saying, “I can represent the West family, so you may speak freely. I’ll be honest with you, no West will see you now. You have nothing to do with Mr. West at all. Everyone knows this. Consider it our way of getting rid of a problem with money.”Bernadette gritted her teeth, “And what if I don’t want to talk to you?”He lifted his gaze at her and smirked, “I’ll give you one more chance. If you won’t talk, then you won’t ever get to talk again.”Bernadette’s fingers tense, “Fine, I’ll talk then. I want a villa on San Pelegrino Hill and $15 million in cash. These are my terms. They are non-negotiable.”A villa in San Pelegrino Hills? And 15 million dollars? Mark chuckled, but his eyes were cold and terrifying, “Heh… Do you really think… that you have the right to make these demands? A villa in San Pelegrino Hills already costs more than $15 million, and y