The meeting location was sent to my phone by Jack.It was a tranquil and serene tea house.Frank and I walked in together. "Jack."Jack turned around, and when he saw Frank, something flickered in his eyes, and he almost couldn't keep his emotions in check.His gaze briefly swept over my abdomen, and he gave his usual gentle smile. "Charlotte, didn't I ask you to come alone?"For some reason, I felt that something was different, but my subconscious trust in him made me not think too much about it. I smiled and explained, "Jack, Frank doesn't feel at ease letting me go out alone…"Frank held me close and looked at Jack. His brown eyes instantly turned icy, and with a tense tone, he interrupted. "I think the injury in your arm might have damaged the basal ganglia."I was momentarily stunned, then realized what he meant.The basal ganglia were involved in controlling the smoothness and rhythm of speech.Frank was essentially saying that Jack had a big mouth but couldn't speak pro
The actions were swift and seamless.It was only then that I realized Frank's skills were quite impressive.Jack was kicked far away, sending a table full of teacups crashing down.A waiter approached, and Alan immediately stepped forward to handle the payment."Do you think my girlfriend is someone you can just push around?"I was in Frank's arms, recovering from the shock, and noticed his intense anger.He had always disliked Jack, and now that Jack had dropped his facade, Frank was naturally furious."What do I want?" Jack slowly got up from the floor, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and suddenly laughed. It was a self-deprecating laugh. The atmosphere around him turned dark and oppressive, but he didn't answer Frank's question. Instead, he focused solely on me. "Charlotte, consider what I said.""Frank…" His sudden change of demeanor left me still trembling, my heart pounding. I took a deep breath and looked at Frank. "I want to go home.""Alright."Frank he
Frank couldn't be bothered to argue with someone like Jack. If it weren't for the sake of the child, he wouldn't want to get his hands dirty with more blood.Now that the antidote was in hand, he never expected that one day he would believe in god.It was all for the child and for Charlotte's lifetime of peace and happiness.Her early life had been too harsh."Even without your antidote, I wouldn't let Grandma come to harm. Put away your filthy thoughts. If you keep trying to harm my wife, I'll make sure you won’t be a man anymore."Jack knew Frank's methods well.Besides Charlotte, no one could tame this lion that bites its prey and never lets go.But Jack wasn't intimidated easily.Covered in mud, Charlotte was his only light. He would never let go. He also… couldn't bear to let go."You won't have a solution. Even if you find someone to develop an antidote, Madam Shaw won't be able to wait that long. Moreover, you can't possibly develop one yourself. The antidote I have is
"Not necessarily." Frank remained calm and composed. "I've already instructed someone to look into it. We should be able to confirm things by tonight."When we returned to Region Gardens, we happened to run into Dr. Travis, who was there to give Grandma acupuncture.But before I could greet him, Julie ran out, looking flustered."Madam Shaw has collapsed."I quickly ran to the room and threw myself beside Grandma, seeing her bluish lips. Tears instantly filled my eyes. "Grandma!"Frank followed closely behind, knowing I wouldn't be consoled easily. He said, "Charlotte, let's have Dr. Travis check on Grandma."I managed to calm down a little and made space for Dr. Travis.At times like this, I hated that I wasn't a doctor and couldn't do anything.Moreover, Grandma had collapsed on the floor. I didn't know if she had hit her head. If I moved her incorrectly, she might be in even more danger.Seeing me kneeling on the floor, Frank couldn't stand it. "Julie, get me a cushion."J
Later that evening, before Frank returned, my phone suddenly pinged with a couple of messages."Charlotte, are you really not considering my suggestion?""Don't make things difficult for Frank. He won't be able to get the antidote. Aren't you afraid he might get into trouble?"My fingers tightened around the phone, so much that my fingertips lost their color and my face turned pale. My heart ached.I couldn't help but marvel at how well Jack knew me after all these years. He truly was a good friend.He knew how to get to me.I didn't even dare to imagine what I would do if something happened to Frank…And what about the baby?Could it be that my issues would cost Frank his life?I felt a chill spread through me, staring blankly at Grandma, who was unconscious. I hadn't noticed when my face had become wet with tears."Charlotte, I'm back…"Frank entered and, noticing my tears, frowned and wiped them away. "Why are you crying?""Frank…"I sniffled, only able to call out hi
Moreover, the current appearance of the Renolds family was just a facade of legitimacy after being separating themselves from the underworld.In the past, I thought Jack was a gentle person and would never do anything against moral principles. Now, I felt worried.I pursed my lips. "I don't want you to get hurt."A gentle smile spread across Frank's brown eyes, and it was quite enchanting. Though he was clearly pleased, he deliberately drawled, "So you're worried about me? I thought Charlotte was just unable to let go of... her feelings for Jack…"I was rendered speechless.I poked his forehead. "You shouldn't be running a company. You should be running a jealousy factory."Frank nodded with a serious expression. "Alright, once I finish dealing with this, I'll find a time to acquire one."My troubled mood finally lifted.I glanced at Grandma, who was still unconscious, and asked, "How confident are you?"Frank held my hand, his lips curling up with a carefree smile. "When I
Hearing this, I touched my stomach. "I can't be with him."Two years ago, I had already…I had foolishly left Frank once before. This time, it wouldn’t happen again.Jane covered my hand and comforted me, "You're pregnant now, and your emotions affect the baby too. Since you've chosen to trust Frank, then don’t get yourself too worked up, okay? Frank will find a way.""You have a point!" I nodded vigorously.Seeing that I was feeling better, Jane relaxed, though she seemed a bit uneasy. "So, Jack has been pretending all along?"I could understand her feelings. After such a long time of deception, it was hard to imagine how deep the thoughts of the once gentle Jack could be.Before I could speak, Jane read my silence and shivered. "It's a good thing you didn't fall for him. People like that have psychological issues. They can be very possessive and controlling, and it's easy for them to have tendencies towards domestic violence…"Jane suddenly laughed and pinched my face. "You’r
Tears welled up in my eyes and I said, "There's no need…""Alright, alright." Yasmin smiled and said, "Since Frank needs to find the antidote and probably doesn't have much time to be with you, how about I bring you and your… grandma to the Cloud to stay?"Hearing this, even more tears welled up in my eyes, and my nostrils began to sting.Even though the Shaw family was the one at fault, she was willing to bring Grandma and me to the Cloud for my sake.And I hadn't even shared the big news of my pregnancy with her in a timely manner…I shook my head repeatedly. "No need, Mom. Jane is here with me, and I don't want you to cause inconvenience for yourself for my sake.""You…" Yasmin, hearing my refusal, didn't press the issue. "Then when Grandma gets better, should you come and spend some time with me?"I immediately agreed, "Of course! I'll stay with you until you're tired of me and ask me to leave. I won't leave, ever."Her tone softened with affection. "Well, I’ll keep that in
She now saw herself only as a sister figure to him. Even though they were a bit close, there was still a sense of distance and wariness.It was impossible for her to fully open up to him.But at that moment, suddenly talking about their relationship wasn't really appropriate.Besides, with how things had developed between her and Westley, if he intervened, it would just force them apart.In the end, it would be her who got hurt.‘Forget it.’Nathan decided to just watch how things would unfold.If Westley still didn't realize his mistakes and hurt Jordan again, then no matter what, he couldn't let them be together."Has Jasmine not come back?""Huh?" The topic changed too quickly, and Jordan was a little slow to react. "No.""Nathan, did you take anything from this room?"Nathan's gaze darkened slightly. "No."Noticing that he was in a bad mood, Jordan didn't ask about his situation with Jasmine."Jasmine probably has something she wants to do."Nathan could tell from her
"I've already picked out a few candidates, but I just haven't had the chance to arrange meetings for you yet. Maybe you've only ever been exposed to him since childhood. Try dating someone else, and you might realize he isn't the only one for you." Jordan shook her head. "Nathan, that's not it..." "I'm certain I like him—no matter how outstanding others are, I won't be interested." Nathan frowned. "You've never tried being with anyone else. How can you be so sure?" Of course, Jordan was sure. Ever since her youthful heart first fluttered, she had been certain, apart from Westley, she would never love anyone else. And that was precisely why his indifference had wounded her so deeply. She had filed for divorce and despised his later attempts at remorse. Because she had never wavered in her feelings—yet he only began to love her after she decided to let go. If he had realized it even a little sooner, they wouldn't have suffered through such a painful, drawn-out
"I’m not doing anything," Westley answered her question, squeezing her hand slightly. "Just need your help with something."Jordan was already in her 20s.How could she not understand the things between men and women?His voice was dangerously hoarse now, and what kind of help could he possibly need from her?"You do it yourself, I can't help.""Well, I’ll do all the hard work."He was the one doing all the hard work indeed.But he was holding her hand, making her hand... move with his!Jordan tried to pull her hand back. "Westley, you’re making me mad."Westley leaned on her shoulder and laughed lowly. "Alright, after you help me, feel free to get angry. Hit me however you want. But right now, Jordy, I can't stop."The temperature in the kitchen gradually rose.With the heating, it made the air dry and uncomfortable.She had just taken a shower to cool down, but now, a thin layer of sweat had formed.She felt hot.Jordan had nowhere to hide and couldn't break free.In t
The arm around her waist suddenly tightened.The breath sprayed near her ear, hot and unsettling.The man's hoarse voice came. "Don't want to sleep? Then how about we do something else?"Jordan gripped the blanket tightly, weakly lying, "I want to go to the bathroom. I haven't washed up yet either."Westley released her.Jordan quickly escaped. She didn't know what she might do if she stayed another second.Westley lowered his head, glancing at her, then sighed deeply.This was a pyrrhic victory.Jordan stayed in the bathroom for a long time.She even took a shower.But after finishing, she suddenly remembered that her bath towel had been taken by Westley.Standing in the bathroom, she felt like she had no way out.And in her haste to come in, she hadn't grabbed a change of clothes.She had impulsively picked up the clothes that Westley had swapped out of and her clothes and tossed them into the laundry basket.Her clothes were now all wet.She could only silently fume.
‘I’ve already taken my pants off and you’re just going to leave it at that?’She thought this must have been intentional on Westley's part.She raised her leg and kicked him, then turned around, pulling the blanket away, her back clearly showing a trace of resentment.Westley didn't mind, pulling both her and the blanket into his arms.He chuckled softly in her ear."Your reaction right now makes me think you're dissatisfied."The deliberate pause was even more teasing.Jordan immediately elbowed him.But because she was tangled in the blanket, she couldn't put much strength into it.The muffled laugh of the man in her ear clearly mocked her, making her even angrier.Her emotions flared up too quickly, and tears started falling.Westley felt the wetness on his arm, it was hot.He quickly sat up.He knew about her tendency to lose control of her tears, but seeing her cry still made his heart ache.He gently wiped the tears from the corner of her eye with his thumb and whis
"You can't possibly have nowhere to stay."Westley turned her around and found her eyes tightly closed.He laughed softly. "You used to try everything to see what’s in front of you right now, so what's wrong now?"Jordan had been influenced by dramas and novels back then.Because she was protected by the Howard family and watched over by Westley, there were no other men around her except for him.Even if there were, she couldn't see their abs.So at that time, she could only secretly look when he was training or at moments when he would take off his clothes.Leanne had also helped her a lot.When she was young, he saved her when she was hospitalized.He injured his shoulder, and he had to take off his clothes to apply medicine.During those days, she insisted on taking care of him and saw a lot.But all of this ended before she turned 18.It was like playing house, no one took it seriously.Later, she never had the chance to see Westley’s body again.Now, she couldn't loo
Westley's eyes flashed with a deep, meaningful smile.He replied calmly, "How did I trick you? I'm just being very sincere. I was just asking about the things from before. I didn't mean anything. If you're overthinking, then... Are you feeling guilty?"Jordan retorted immediately, "I'm not guilty!"Then, she weakly explained, "I didn't do anything wrong. My confession was real, and the words I said to your mom were for you. Later, I didn't contact you because your attitude toward me wasn't good. I didn't dare to reach out. So, it's all your fault."Westley laughed. "Alright, it's all my fault."He released her and stood up, heading toward the bathroom.Jordan stood frozen, not knowing why the conversation ended so abruptly.They didn't really reach any conclusion.But that wasn't the point. She followed him to the bathroom door and knocked."Westley, are you taking a shower?"There was no response. She pressed her ear to the door and thought she could hear water running.Alt
"I..."Jordan leaned on his shoulder, her voice soft. "Can you just say it?""Okay."Westley was easy to talk to. "You said that after giving it some thought, you might have mistaken your feelings for me. You might have confused sibling love with romantic love. Actually, maybe you don't really like me. That was the gist of it. The exact words, it's been so long, I don't remember."Jordan didn't believe that he didn't remember.If he didn't hold a grudge, he wouldn't have treated her the way he did afterward.He didn't even send her a message.Even when the Howard family invited them back for dinner, he had his subordinates contact her."You really are petty."Westley chuckled, pulling her even closer.He kissed the corner of her lips. "Yep, I'm petty. For the things I owe you, I'll apologize and make it up to you, but for the things I've done right, I'll remember them and make you pay me back."Jordan quickly grabbed his wrist, her speech speeding up."Westley, I can explai
Jordan was rendered speechless. "You didn't drink tonight. What, are you drunk from fruit juice?"Westley let go of her, changed his shoes, and, as if he were at his own home, casually unbuttoned his shirt and sat down on the sofa."Huh?"Jordan changed her shoes and walked over. She sat at the coffee table in front of him, her face serious as she said, "You'd better tell me the truth!"Westley leaned back against the sofa, his posture casual."What do you want me to confess?""I want you to..."The man suddenly moved closer, and Jordan swallowed her words.She stared wide-eyed at the extraordinarily handsome man in front of her.He had undone four buttons of his shirt, and as he moved, his muscular physique subtly showed through.Her gaze couldn't help but fall inside his collar.Suddenly, she felt her mouth becoming dry."Jordy, you need to take responsibility for your words.""I..."Before she could finish, her waist was grabbed, and before she could react, she was sit