When she heard the name Jasper, Jane instinctively stiffened.Zachary raised his hand and placed it on her back, gently soothing her.“Relax, I’m here.”Jane wanted to relax.But Jasper was like a curse.Although she hadn’t seen him in years and hadn’t been beaten again, seeing him now made those dark days from the past feel like they were resurfacing.And she couldn’t deny that this biological father of hers had indeed become a stain in her life.In this situation, staying with Zachary was actually harming him.How could she relax?“Eat, it’s bad for your stomach if the food gets cold.”Zachary served her some dishes, his gaze never leaving Jane, regardless of the expressions on the people across the table.Under these circumstances, no matter how carefree Jane tried to be, she couldn’t eat.She tapped Zachary’s thigh under the table.Zachary held her hand and whispered, “We’ll talk about it tonight. Don’t make a scene now.”Jane withdrew her hand.She looked at Rebecca
“However, fate brought us back together, so this time, I will stay with Zachary firmly. No one and nothing can separate us.” She paused and then changed her tone. “That’s all I wanted to say.”Just as she was about to sit down, Madam Collins spoke, and Jane immediately straightened up.But Zachary pulled her back down.She felt a bit nervous, but Madam Collins said, “Let’s all be seated. We’re not your superiors or elders, you don’t need to stand as if you’re reporting to us or showing absolute respect.”It seemed she still wasn’t accepting it.Jane didn’t argue.Madam Collins asked, “Do you really love Zachary?”Jane answered without hesitation, “Yes.”A faint smile flashed in Zachary’s eyes, and he served her a hot drink.“If you don’t want to eat, have something to drink. It’ll warm your stomach.”But since Madam Collins was speaking to her, Jane couldn’t drink it at that moment.“We’re having a family dinner today,” Zachary reassured her. “It’s not a struggle session or
“But it’s impossible for us to accept your marriage. Even if she can sever the father-daughter relationship, word will always get out. If Jasper is brought up later, Zachary, your future will be very difficult.”Zachary remained calm, but there was a faint air of arrogance in his voice. “I have more than one path in front of me.”Jane agreed with this.Zachary was different from ordinary people like her.She could only change a little bit of her fate through hard work and study.But for Zachary, anything was possible.However, no matter which path he took, having her by his side definitely brought more risks.Rebecca couldn’t help but interrupt. “We’ve already compromised by letting you two date, but Zachary, the future wife of the head of the Collins family cannot be someone with a stain on her record.”Zachary’s eyes turned cold, and a faint layer of frost covered them.Jane sensed the anger beginning to leak from him.She hurriedly grabbed his hand, her pinky finger brushi
“I’ve looked this matter, and I know he doesn’t have one.”“Then why?”Zachary lowered his phone, and a dark gleam flashed in his eyes.“Before you and I got together, no one cared. But after we were together, I’m afraid there were quite a few people who came into contact with Jasper.”Jane’s expression dimmed slightly.The man gently grasped her chin and lifted her face to meet his gaze.“You don’t need to feel ashamed. He doesn’t deserve to be your father. And now, you’ve earned everything through your own efforts. You can live with your head held high.”Jane removed his hand from her chin and intertwined her fingers with his.“But I still…”“Don’t say you’re causing me trouble. I don’t want to hear it.”Jane had no choice but to fall silent.Zachary continued, “How much my family is involved, I haven’t figured out yet. According to Frank’s investigation feedback, it’s possible that before he sent someone to watch Jasper, Jasper had already been taken away. The one that’s
Jordan instantly lost control. "Westley, my hair!"She pushed Westley away forcefully, took out a small mirror from her backpack, and saw that the hair on the side had been scorched and curled. Fuming, she kicked the man in front of her.The man, who had his hands behind his back, made a gesture, then, with a concerned expression, asked, "Did you get hurt?""Are you blind?"Jordan poked a strand of hair towards his eyes. "Can't you see? My hair is burnt!"Westley nodded seriously. "I see."Jordan was so angry that her cheeks puffed up. "It’s all your fault!""How do you want me to compensate?" he asked."Divorce."Westley didn’t argue, instead, he asked, "Didn’t I tell you not to wander around here?"Jordan paused for a second. "You never said that!"She wasn’t easily tricked anymore. "Even if you did, this isn’t the first time I’ve been here. Don’t your people recognize me?"She had grown up and couldn’t be easily deceived now.Westley calmly adjusted his cuffs."A few n
“Huh?”The teammate followed him. "Why? Didn’t you do what Mr. Howard instructed? Why do you still need to receive a punishment?"The captain crossed his hands behind his head, speaking casually. "Oh, because I hurt Mrs. Howard's hair."The team member was rendered speechless.‘Is that even reasonable?’After not eating well at the Collins family’s place, they returned to Jane’s house. Zachary went straight to the kitchen and started making food for her.Jane followed him and tied his apron."Just make some sandwiches."Zachary hummed in response. "Wait outside."Jane went out to check her emails and sort out her recent work.But she found there was no internet.The internet was connected via her phone, and as long as her phone wasn’t turned off, the internet couldn’t be disconnected. She called the telecom provider to inquire.The result was that the line had been actively cut off.She found the gateway and saw that the network cable had been unplugged.She plugged the c
Jane remembered.She might forget many things, but she would never forget this.She took the cup and had a sip.Her voice, hoarse from crying, said, "It hasn’t changed."Charlotte gently patted her head and said in a soft voice, "When I saw Jasper that day, I thought, I can’t let your scars be reopened, I can’t let you face that bloody, dark past again. I also had Frank and Zachary hide everything from you, to protect you. But now, I think, exposing it might not be a bad thing. Sometimes, facing it head-on is the only way to truly move on."Zachary rushed back to the Collins family in Jeswood, and at first, he had the same thought.After threatening the Collins family, stopping the Winston family from posting the video wasn’t hard.But this situation wasn’t a solution in the long run.Life was long, and you never knew when something might resurface.Facing it head-on might not be a bad thing.He lit a cigarette on the balcony, and his phone rang."Man, I’ve been working so h
Charlotte was the person who understood Jane the most in the world.But Zachary still couldn’t fully relax. However, he didn’t press the issue and simply said, "Hmm, seems like your best friend means more to you. Her words are more comforting than mine."Jane patted his face. "Well, you at least have to say something first.""Didn't I say anything?" Zachary held her hand and kissed it. "I’ve said all my life’s words to you."While waiting for Frank at the airport, Charlotte was suddenly embraced by someone."Charlotte."Charlotte smiled and was about to speak when she noticed the approaching Westley.‘Now he’s worried. What’s he been doing these past couple of years?’ wondered Charlotte."Charlotte, did Jane send you to pick me up?""My wife definitely came to pick me up."Charlotte cocked her brows and saw the broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted man walking toward her.His usual casual smile spread across his lips as he reached out and pulled her into his arms."What are you
Jordan and Whitney chatted casually.Most of the time, it was Jordan doing the talking while Whitney listened.After covering enough about the wedding, they talked about Jordan's work over the past few years.She also mentioned the tangled feelings and past with Westley.When she got to that part, she grew a little curious. "Whitney, before you married Caleb, did you ever like anyone?"Whitney shook her head."What about a secret crush?""Not even that."Whitney rarely talked to others about her past.Zachary only knew because he had looked into her and thought she was perfectly suited to be a pawn.And she had needed to become that pawn—to completely sever ties with her past, achieve her goals, and fulfill her ambitions."I was too busy studying and working to think about anything else."Jordan sensed she didn't want to go further, so she didn't press.Just then, Jane called, saying she and Charlotte would arrive soon and join them for lunch.She relayed the message to W
"We had a meal together before, and I noticed you always seemed to like sweet dishes, so I tried buying some. I was worried it might not suit your taste.""It does, it does." Jordan took a bite of the pudding. "It's delicious. But did you buy anything you like to eat?"Whitney said, "I already had breakfast. I can't eat anymore."Jordan offered a suggestion, "Why not try a bite of this sponge cake? It's a specialty here in Nelana."Whitney really couldn't eat any more. She had a small appetite, a condition built up over the years.If she ate a full meal, she couldn't eat snacks afterward. And if she ate snacks, she would lose her appetite for meals.She had a small stomach.But seeing Jordan looking at her so expectantly, she still picked up a piece of sponge cake and took a bite."It's very good."Jordan smiled and took a big bite of the sponge cake herself."Whitney, you're so good at picking food! This is great!"The old house was a bit remote, but it had a rooftop terrac
Jordan said Whitney would be coming over later.Westley hadn't expected that the first one to get out of bed would actually be Whitney."Just the two of you?" he asked."For now, yes."Jordan glanced at her phone. In the group chat, it was just her and Whitney talking—no response yet from Jane or Charlotte.She more or less knew why Jane hadn't responded, but Charlotte too?Still, it didn't really matter. There weren't any specific plans for today anyway.She hadn't known Whitney was coming, so it was a nice surprise."Maybe my sister will text me around noon. We can decide what to do then.""You." She pointed at Westley. "You are not allowed to show up in front of me again after breakfast."Westley nodded. "Got it."After buying food, Whitney told Caleb, "I'm going to find Jordan. You can go handle your stuff. I'll be staying at her place until the wedding."Caleb leaned against the elevator wall, his voice low and lazy. "You're telling me what to do?"Whitney wasn't in a
She replied with an emoji, then looked for her girls in the group chat to ask them out for food.Their group chat had a new member now—Whitney.And it was Whitney who replied to her."I'm already eating at the hotel. Do you want to come over, or should I bring something to you later?"Whitney had actually had a good night's sleep.Though it was a bit later than her usual habit, she still managed to get up for breakfast.Before, it was always Caleb who brought breakfast to the bedside and fed her, because she simply couldn't get out of bed.Jordan figured she was probably having breakfast with Caleb and decided not to bother her."No need, I'll just eat something nearby. Your hotel isn't close to me."Whitney replied. "I'm heading over later anyway, but I'll probably be a bit late. If you're hungry, go ahead and eat something first. I'll bring you something else."Jordan. "Thanks."Whitney. "No problem."Caleb noticed her holding her phone, her expression much softer, even t
Caleb was thinking that in the future, he could let her drink a little more.Of course, only when he was around.She looked kind of cute like this."I did say that, but didn't you just say you wanted to thank me?"Whitney felt that alcohol really wasn't a good thing.Even when hanging out with Jane and the others, she decided not to drink too much anymore.The rationality and logic that she was so proud of had completely vanished.She had never been as calm in front of Caleb as she was with others.Besides, there was a power imbalance between her and him.If she were sober, she wouldn't have been able to reject him anyway.Let alone now, when her mind was muddled.But maybe because she was muddled, she dared to say things that she didn’t usually dare to say."I just lost my balance earlier, and you helped me. Even if you don't accept verbal gratitude, that doesn't mean I owe you something this big."Caleb saw she could barely stand, so he held her by the waist to keep her
"But your reaction just now didn’t seem like you knew I was here."Jane tried to pull her leg back, but when she couldn't, she slapped him in frustration."It was called acting, understand? I didn't want you to look embarrassed, so I got those two out of the way first."Zachary rubbed her ankle with his thumb, as if he believed her. "Then should I be thanking you—for being so considerate?"Jane couldn't be bothered to argue. "Let go. I want to drink.""I'll drink with you."Meanwhile, Frank held Charlotte close and asked in a low voice, "Did she really know we were here?"Charlotte nodded. "What do you think? You really think Jane would mess around during her marriage? She might be bold, but she has boundaries. But you guys really are annoying."Frank hooked her chin with his thumb. "I knew it. You're being cold to me because you're sick of me. I've said it so many times, and you still wouldn't admit it."After saying that, he picked her up and walked out of the bar.He hadn'
Charlotte nudged him with her elbow, warning him not to stir things up.Jordan truly didn't dare to stay any longer. "Westley, take me home.""Okay." Westley finally got up. "You all take your time. If it gets too late, don't go back to the old house—just find a place to crash.""But..." Jordan suddenly felt like leaving wasn't such a good idea. "Maybe I'll stay and play a bit more."Westley simply dragged her out."Jane and Zachary...""You can't control what they do, so why bother worrying over nothing?"Jordan was settled into the passenger seat, her seatbelt fastened firmly.She didn't resist, mostly because she felt what Westley said made sense.Jane was way more capable than she was. This kind of minor drama would be easy for her to handle.Plus, with the smart and composed Charlotte around—It was better if she didn't add to the chaos.Once Westley got into the driver's seat, she asked, "Why did you guys show up? Especially you—didn't you say no seeing each other a w
But it was just a polite gesture—if they had been singing inside, they wouldn't have heard her anyway.So after knocking, she pushed the door open and went in.Charlotte and the others followed to take a look.When they saw the scene inside, they gasped.The four men from home were sitting around a cards table, all eyes on the door, each with a different expression.Zachary looked at Jane, who entered first, and said with a smile, "Honey, pick someone you like and give him a kiss."Jane took a step back and bumped into Charlotte's arms.That was when she noticed the big screen beside them—it was showing their own private room."You were watching us?"Zachary tapped the cards on the table with his long fingers, still smiling."If we weren't watching, how would we get to enjoy such an entertaining scene?"They had all been drinking.Whitney didn't hold her liquor well. She was already a little dazed. Although the room was fairly bright, everything seemed a little off to her.
Caleb didn't respond. Instead, he looked at Westley and played a card.Westley won.And it was a big pot as well.He cocked his brows. "Is this your wedding gift to me, Caleb?"Caleb asked, "Your wedding—Dr. Greyson won't be absent, will he? I heard you two are very close. You've been at death's door multiple times, and he's the one who saved you."Westley nodded. "Theoretically, yes. But I'm not sure if he might have some emergency.""Besides, it's not like you, Caleb, can't reach him. You helped him last time. It's impossible he'd ignore you now."Caleb could contact Carter, but if he did, it would mean helping Carter meet Mandy.He had no interest in meddling in romantic matters—too troublesome.But he couldn't get in touch with Tanner at all.Technically, there was no real need for him to attend Westley's wedding.Even if Whitney was invited by Jane, he himself wasn't obligated.He simply wanted to go, hoping to "accidentally" run into Carter.That way, it wouldn't loo