Heather ordered a cup of hot milk. In the past, with the weather so warm, she would have surely asked for iced fruit juice instead. Jason's gaze fixated on her, his eyes following the subtle shift in her posture. She sat with a languid elegance, propping a cushion behind her lower back for support. When she noticed his eyes lingering on her belly, she subtly adjusted her posture, making the curve of her abdomen more pronounced. Chuckling softly, Heather broke the silence. "Jason, you're going to be an uncle." A storm gathered in Jason's eyes, dark and swift. His hand shot out, gripping her arm so tightly it seemed he might snap it in two. But Heather remained calm, almost indifferent. "You probably know by now," she said lightly, "before your father passed, he gave his shares to me and the child. From now on, we'll rely on Vander Inc. for our livelihood." With deliberate ease, Heather patted the back of his hand. "As an uncle, you should show mercy. Let me and my child live
Jason lowered his eyes, gazing at the woman in his arms. Just moments ago, they had been so entwined, caught in the intensity of the moment. It was as though they needed nothing and no one but each other. But in a heartbeat, she had turned cold, and now she was discussing terms as if nothing had happened. Heather remained leaning against his chest, her fingers playing idly with the buttons on his shirt. "Jason, you know my father never liked me. He never planned to leave me a cent of his fortune. I've always felt insecure about that." She continued, "But now, I have a chance to inherit everything from the Jenner family—and maybe even from the Vanders too." She looked up, her soft lips kissing his chin as she added, "You'll help me, won't you? I need to stand tall, so when the day my father is released from prison comes, he can't make my life miserable. So that my mother and I can live with dignity." Her arms wrapped around his waist, clinging to him as if she were weak and
Heather opened the door for Jason and immediately frowned and recoiled at the strong smell of smoke that enveloped him. He stepped inside but remained near the entrance, not coming any closer. As she busied herself by arranging food on the table, Heather noticed that her nausea had eased and that her appetite was returning. She sat at the table, savoring her meal, and asked, "Why are you here again, looking for foolish little me? Why does a smart person like you keep getting tangled up with me?" Jason placed a leather tube on the table. "Your painting," he said flatly. Heather set down her chicken drumstick and approached him, wiping her hands before carefully pulling out the painting. She studied it closely, unable to hide her admiration. "It's beautiful—I think this may be the most wonderful moment of my life, right here."Holding the painting, she glanced around the room. "Too bad the subject matter is so limited. How can I display it? If guests come over, they'll see thi
Heather stood on the balcony, watching as Jason sped away in his car. He was driving way too fast, as if putting distance between himself and the disdain he surely felt for her—a woman too pragmatic and too calculating for his liking. Had he been about to take something out of his pocket just before leaving? Heather wondered for a moment—could it have been a ring? But it was too late for that. She had asked him twice already, even playfully, if he'd marry her. Each time, he had failed to give her an answer. And honestly, even if he had said yes, she wasn't sure she would have agreed. There were too many things to consider, too many calculations to make. The shortcut was right in front of her—why waste the energy and courage to take the long, winding road? Missing this chance was almost inevitable. Love wasn't a necessity, and between her and Jason, there was too much suspicion, too much hurt. Neither of them had the nerve to give themselves over fully anymore. They coul
Heather Jenner glanced at the ovulation test strip in her hand. The result was clear—a bold red line. Today was the day. Her body was about to release a mature egg. It would be her best chance to conceive. Without hesitation, she tossed the strip aside and stepped out of the bathroom. In the expansive, minimalist living room, a man lay sprawled across the sofa, drunk. His white dress shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, revealing the smooth, pale skin beneath. The gentle rise and fall of his throat with each breath was tantalizing. Heather straddled his waist, her lips brushing against his Adam's apple as her fingers worked to undo his belt. Just as her hand slid lower, the man suddenly grabbed her wrist.Jason Vander's eyes snapped open. Without a shred of mercy, he shoved her off. "Don't be shameless, Heather. You just got engaged to my brother." Her face, a perfect blend of innocence and desire, was marred by the tears hanging at the corners of her eyes, giving her a fra
The next day, Heather made a visit to Montax University. Jason taught there. Unlike his brother, Brett, who was bold and shrewd, Jason was reserved but brilliant. On the podium, he wore a crisp white shirt, glasses perched on his nose, and he spoke with eloquence, lecturing about the history of Western oil paintings. Heather sat in the last row, then pulled out her phone to send him a message. "Professor, that nude painting you just talked about—don't you think her body isn't as good as mine?" Jason glanced over the students, spotting Heather. Without a hint of reaction, he turned back to continue his lecture.Heather rested her chin on her hand. Art wasn't something she understood, but watching Jason roll up his sleeves as he spoke passionately about his subject was undeniably attractive. She sent another message, "Professor, did you see my tattoo? Care to give it an artist's critique?" Though Jason's expression didn't change, his rhythm faltered. His movements as he
Heather's soft, warm hand sent a shiver down Jason's spine, causing his breathing to grow heavy. Outside, Brett caught the subtle flush in his brother's face, noticing the telltale signs of desire. He couldn't help but tease, "Don't forget you're still on the university grounds, keep it in check." Then, with a mocking grin, he added, "Didn't expect this from you, Jason. Always playing the gentleman, and here you are sneaking around behind your girlfriend's back in broad daylight." But Jason remained calm as he held Heather in his arms. His expression steady, he countered, "Brett, what makes you so sure she isn't my girlfriend?" Brett paused, caught off guard by the question. Before he could respond, Jason rolled the window up completely, shutting him out. At that moment, the woman in Jason's lap tried to lift her head. Without missing a beat, Jason sharply smacked her on the hip, keeping her in place.A muffled sound escaped her lips, and Brett suddenly felt a flicker of fam
As Heather pulled Brett into the private room, Chrishell and Jason were being cheered on to drink from the same cup. Chrishell, with her delicate and seductive appearance, had an air of innocence on the surface, but Heather knew she was far more uninhibited at heart. The sounds she had made in that video could easily drive a man to the brink. Seeing Brett arrive, Chrishell greeted him sweetly, "Brett, Heather, you're here." Her soft and gentle voice greeting him seemed to send Brett into a daze.Most of the people in the room were Jason's friends, who naturally knew that Brett was his older brother. In recent years, the Vanders had risen rapidly, with Brett at the helm as the new generation's leader, his influence undeniable. The crowd around him was eager to ingratiate themselves, and even Chrishell couldn't hide the admiration in her eyes. Heather, pretending nothing was amiss, casually sat down across from Jason. She noticed a painting on the table — a portrait of Chris