Ch. 1151..1160
Chapter 1151
Blake walked out of the room with her phone. She had unknowingly felt more and more familiar with this once unfamiliar place, almost treating it like her own home. After she left the room, she did not forget to close the door, ” Liam, I need to go to the company after eating. Mr. Harrison may have some arrangements.”
Liam served her a bowl of chicken soup, “I already took the day off for you in the morning. Finish your meal, and later we can go to the company together. There’s still time.”
Blake replied, “Okay.”
After finishing the meal, Blake went to change her clothes before going to the company in Liam’s car.
After arriving at the parking lot of the company building, Blake went straight to the office. Without hesitation, she walked to Kevin’s office. She stood at the door and decided to knock before going in.
Kevin said, “Come in.”
There were not many people in the secretary department office now; only a few of them were working. Zach had just held his wedding and allowed everyone in the company to take a day off.
Blake walked into Kevin’s office. He then looked up and stared at her. After a while, he indifferently said, “I called you. Why didn’t you answer?”
Blake replied, “My phone was out of battery. Liam helped me charge it last night.”
Her response made Kevin pause for a moment and stare at her. He pretended to not be bothered by it and lowered his head, looking at the documents in his hands, “Are you two in a relationship?”
Blake responded, “This is my private matter. It has nothing to do with you, doesn’t it? Why did you ask me to come? Do you need something?”
Kevin said, “Mr. Jardin is still in the intensive care unit and is still in danger. I need you to go to the hospital to check on him. There’ll be a lot of work to do in the coming days, and I can’t abandon the work. The only person who can go to the hospital is you.”
“But I’m Ms. Samford’s assistant.”
Kevin unhappily squinted, “You’re not her assistant anymore from now on. I’ll talk to her about this. The incident at the wedding was caused by your improper arrangement. When Mr. Jardin wakes up, you’ll be held responsible. I’m now giving you a chance to redeem yourself.”
Blake found what Kevin said ridiculous, “This is clearly a trap you all dug for me. Now that something has happened, you’re blaming everything on me.”
Kevin looked away from the document, “Since you understand that, you should take responsibility for it. Alternatively, find Mr. Jardin’s wife, and you’ll be spared once he wakes up.”
“You’re crazy!”
“Is this how you talk to your superior? If you’ve taken the wedding seriously, there wouldn’t be sedatives in the bridal room. If you want to prove your innocence, I believe the legal department of Jardin Corporation will discuss this matter with you.”
Blake had had enough. She slammed her hands on the table hard and glared at Kevin furiously, “Don’t go too far!
“It’s you guys’ fault for letting Madelyn run away. Why should I take the blame?
You should be the one to be blamed. Damn it! I’m getting angrier and angrier. You’re just a piece of shit!”
Furious, Blake tried to slam open the door and leave. However, for some reason, she just could not open it.
Then, Kevin’s cold voice echoed behind her, “Besides going to the hospital, where else can you go? You can’t even handle your most basic tasks, yet you’re still allowed to stay in the company. If it weren’t for…”
“Enough!” Blake suddenly yelled. She then took off her work badge from around her neck, turned around, and walked up to Kevin, “I know I’m not qualified to stay here. So, transfer me to work with Liam. I stayed here for Madelyn, and since she’s gone now, I don’t see the need to stay here any longer.
“I still have the transfer document from last time. I’ll re-sign it and hand it to you for your confirmation.
“I won’t interfere in your affairs anymore!
“Are you satisfied?”
Chapter 1152
Kevin stopped the pen he was twirling and leaned back in his chair. His gaze was icy, “Hand me the transfer documents in ten minutes, and I’ll sign them.”
“Sure.” Blake turned around and left, forcefully closing the door behind her. There were only a few people working overtime in the office. In less than ten minutes, she had printed the documents and tossed them in front of Kevin.
He signed his name and said, “Handle the handover of your work yourself. I’ll notify the HR department. Starting tomorrow, report downstairs.”
As if deliberately venting her anger, Blake said, “No need to wait until tomorrow. I’ll go right now.”
Kevin flipped through the documents in his hands. Without looking at Blake, he said, “You may leave. Remember to close the door.”
Blake left without closing the door intentionally. Coincidentally, she bumped into Susan, who was going to Kevin’s office. She looked at Blake provocatively as if saying she was glad that Blake finally left.
Blake did not back down; she rolled her eyes at Susan and deliberately bumped into her shoulder. Susan almost fell and glared at her angrily.
Blake held a cardboard box, packing all her belongings into it.
She turned around and left the office with her back facing Kevin. For some reason, tears started streaming down her face. She wiped them with the back of her hand, unaware Kevin was watching her every move.
Susan entered Kevin’s office with a stack of files in her hands, “Mr. Harrison, these are today’s latest documents. You need to sign these.”
After rummaging through the pile of documents, Kevin asked, “Where are the project proposal documents with the Middle East Petroleum Group?”
Susan hesitated and said, “The documents are with Ms. Samford. She asked Blake to come and take those documents. Ms. Samford even called me for it. I can’t stop Blake. Mr. Harrison, as you know, only Mr. Jardin has power over Ms. Samford in this company.”
Kevin squinted, his gaze was sharp, ” You don’t need to use Cecilia as an excuse. Forget about it; go and do your work.”
Susan guiltily nodded, “Okay.”
Kevin wondered if Cecilia had finally made her move.
He had always been aware that Susan was loyal to Cecilia. Now, with Zach in trouble and the company without its leader, Cecilia would not miss this opportunity.
He knew Cecilia taking away the company’s crucial documents was just the beginning; the next step was to take control of the money.
Kevin thought, ‘It turns out that Mr. Jardin has long known about all of this. It’s finally happening.’
Cecilia had already started gathering her forces, and Kevin believed he would be her first target.
When Zach was still in power, Cecilia had been slacking in her work. But as soon as he was in trouble, she began monopolizing the situation, aiming to take control of the company.
Kevin could not deny the necessity of dealing with these documents every day. But he wondered if he still needed to continue dealing with them, given the situation.
He pondered, ‘What’s your ultimate goal, Cecilia?’
It was not just that one time that documents were taken away; it happened again and again. Kevin finally had free time. Employees who had returned to work noticed that something was off, too. They felt like there would be a change in the company soon.
During the routine morning meeting, Kevin was absent. Susan unexpectedly replaced him. Cecilia, in her wheelchair, was present too.
The senior executives were unhappy, ” Ms. Samford, what is this? Are you planning to have Mr. Harrison’s assistant conduct the meeting?”
Cecilia smiled slightly, “Everyone, as you can see, I can’t move freely. And Mr. Harrison is unreachable. So, she was temporarily chosen. If there’s anything wrong with her, feel free to criticize. After this, I’ll participate in the morning meetings. It’s all for the company. It doesn’t matter who conducts the meeting; the purpose is the same.”
Susan, nervous but not lacking courage, spoke. Everything went smoothly. After the meeting, several colleagues who often gossiped in the work group chat started chatting.
[What’s going on?! Mr. Jardin is on his honeymoon, but did Mr. Harrison go with him? How could Mr. Harrison’s assistant be the one who conducts the senior executives’ morning meeting?]
[Exactly! People might even think Mr. Harrison has resigned.]
[But it’s quite strange! Haven’t you all noticed that Mr. Harrison hasn’t been to the company for a long time? I’ve been so free lately, just binge-watching dramas in the morning. I don’t even know what I should be doing.]
Blake, who had not been texting in the group chat in a long time, suddenly chimed in: [Mr. Harrison stops coming to the company?]
Someone mentioned Blake and responded: [You don’t know about it because you’re working downstairs now. I’m so jealous of you! You just read novels and eat snacks every day. If I had such a boss, life would be great.]
[Blake’s life is so comfortable.]
Blake was sitting in Liam’s office. She slowed down as she ate a fruit. She refused to believe it, sat up, took out her phone, and looked at her chat conversation with Kevin. Their last conversation was four to five months ago.
She sent an emoji to Kevin, but it was not delivered to his phone.
Blake sneered, ‘You’ve got the nerve to block me!’
She then tossed her phone aside and continued lying down, snacking.
Chapter 1153
Suddenly, Blake’s phone was flooded with notifications from her group chat.
[Breaking news! It’s bad. Today, someone from HR leaked the information that Mr. Harrison is resigning. Even the HR manager doesn’t dare to approve it.]
[What? Mr. Harrison is resigning? Oh no, my idol is leaving? If he leaves, other women out there will have the chance to pursue him. So annoying. What should I do to keep my man?]
[Since when did Mr. Harrison become your man? Clearly, he’s my husband!]
[I’m not like some people who change their minds all the time. Weren’t you into Mr. Jardin? Why are you stooping to steal my man?]
[He’s married. But going back to the point, will Jardin Corporation shut down soon? Mr. Harrison is actually resigning! My goodness, I can’t even imagine.]
*
Liam returned to his office from a meeting with the editors. He saw Blake, who was troubled and constantly making calls. Concerned, Liam approached and asked, “Who are you calling? Is it very urgent?”
Blake kept hearing the phone’s ringtone as the calls were not being answered.
Liam asked again, “Who are you calling?”
After putting down the phone, Blake answered, “Kevin has resigned. Do you know about this?”
Liam nodded, “I just heard.”
Blake did not understand, “Why did he resign? And it happened right after I transferred. Is something happening in the company?”
Liam responded indifferently, “Blake, StartReading is an independent company. What’s happening in Jardin Corporation has nothing to do with us. Moreover, those matters are company confidential information and won’t be easily disclosed to the public.
“As for what happened, I’m afraid only he knows.”
“I must ask him and get to the bottom of this. How could he transfer me and then resign? There must be some reason behind it.”
When Blake was about to leave, Liam reached out to stop her, “Blake, don’t act on impulse. There must be something going on. Don’t just get involved impulsively, or you might get in trouble.”
Blake was lost in her thoughts, ‘That’s right! I have no connection with people from Jardin Corporation any more. If it weren’t for the gossip messages in the group chat every day, I probably wouldn’t even know that Kevin was leaving.
‘I don’t know why, but I don’t feel good knowing he’s leaving. Perhaps I’m just stubborn. I know he’s not a good person, yet I still worry about him.’
Liam said, “If you want to find out about something, I’ll accompany you.”
Blake shook her head, “I feel like I need to figure this out. Otherwise, I won’t be able to sleep well at night.”
She believed Kevin should not have gone far yet. She did not waste any time and immediately left the tenth-floor office. When she got to the company’s entrance, she looked around. While searching for Kevin, she saw a black car coming out of the underground parking lot.
Blake was standing at the side. Kevin, inside the car, casually dressed, was gripping the steering wheel tightly. He did not glance at Blake; he pretended not to see her.
She mustered her courage and stood in front of the car. Kevin, who was about to leave, was forced to stop. The two stared at each other through the car window.
After he took his hands off the steering wheel, he lit a cigarette. Blake rarely saw him smoke. She walked to the front passenger side, opened the door, and sat in the car. She looked at him and asked straightforwardly, “Why are you resigning?”
Kevin drove the car with one hand and parked it near the company’s entrance. He rested his hand, which was holding the cigarette, outside the car window, ” When did it become your turn to interfere in my affairs? Who are you to do that? Get out of the car!”
Blake gathered her courage and said, ” Your ex-girlfriend.”
She could not see Kevin’s expression. He was slightly stunned and said, ” Mind your own business.” This was his way of dismissing her.
Blake knew that Kevin was brushing her off. She felt that something was going on with him and that it was related to her.
However, before she could say something, Kevin added, “Even if you know, what can you do? You should stay in the company. This comfortable life suits you.
“Don’t get involved in things you shouldn’t know. It’s not good for you.”
Blake replied, “So, you’re worried about me? Last time, you deliberately provoked me to make me propose the transfer, right? Kevin Harrison, I realized you’re very cunning. No wonder so many people say you’re hard to deal with.
“Anyway, we have been in a relationship. Is there anything that I can’t know?”
Kevin threw away the cigarette that he had taken a few puffs, “You never change. You know you were manipulated, yet you still want to get involved. Blake, what are you thinking?!
Kevin lowered the car window as he watched a man walking out of the company.
Blake pursed her lips, “All right, I’ll ask you two final questions. Did you leave because Ms. Samford forced you, or did you leave willingly?”
Kevin remained silent.
Blake asked, “Second question: will you come back?”
Kevin replied, “No.”
He sounded very decisive, making Blake’s heart skip a bit.
Chapter 1154
Blake felt disappointed. Kevin said, “After I leave, the position is yours. With Cecilia looking after you, you can do whatever you want in the company. No one will dare tell you what to do.”
Blake met his gaze and asked, “What do you mean? What do you mean by saying the position is mine? Kevin, what are you planning? Are you using me again?”
Kevin stared at her for a long time. Suddenly, he saw an incoming call displayed on the car’s screen. He said, ” Don’t overthink it. I’ll be going abroad for a while. The company’s affairs are none of my business anymore. Get out of the car now.”
Blake saw that the incoming call was from Audrey. Her heart sank. She was irritated and wanted to curse.
She wanted to know what plans he still had that she was not aware of. She thought, ‘But who am I to question him?’
Then, she got out of the car. After the car drove away, Liam walked over to her and asked, “Are you okay?”
Blake shook her head, “I’m fine.”
In the following week, Blake did not see Kevin in the company. Susan took over her position and became Cecilia’s assistant.
Blake would occasionally pass by Kevin’s previous office. When she did, she would subconsciously look inside at the empty seat. She realized he was really not coming back to the company.
She gradually started to get busy dealing with film and television companies regarding the adaptation of authors’ works.
In the conference room, a few editors were having a meeting.
One editor said, “Lately, we can’t reach the author of ‘Murders in the Night’ for some reason. The crew is ready to start shooting. For this kind of murder mystery genre show, we need to finalize some details. Originally, Hana was in charge of this book, but she’s on maternity leave.”
Hana’s full name was Hana Moore.
Liam asked, “When did we lose contact with the author?”
The editor replied, “It’s been almost half a week.”
Blake responded, “Do we have his address? Has Ms. Moore visited his home?”
“Ms. Moore visited him, but it seemed like there was no one at his home at that time.”
Blake looked at the address information shared by an editor in the meeting group chat. After checking the details, her pupils suddenly contracted.
Blake thought, ‘It’s actually this location!’
She closed her laptop, stood up, and said, “I’ll handle this author. I’ll go there later to check it out. I’ll ask the neighbors. Who knows, I might find him.”
After the meeting, Blake packed up. Liam came over to help her put on a scarf, “I’ll go find you in an hour. I have something to attend to right now.”
Blake sensed an intimacy between them and subconsciously intended to avoid it. Liam had recently been very nice to her, almost like a boyfriend should be.
However, now they were mostly friends and colleagues at work.
Blake understood his feelings. But she did not know how to react to his kindness. Enjoying it made her feel an inexplicable sense of guilt.
Chapter 1155
Blake said, “Thank you, I’m heading out now. If anything comes up, I’ll message you.”
Liam responded, “Be careful.”
Blake, with a black leather bag in hand, was wearing a dark coat that reached her knees. As she took the elevator down and walked through the lobby, she coincidentally ran into Susan, who was chatting happily with the people from the secretarial department.
Blake thought, ‘What an unlucky day.’
She thought about pretending not to see Susan and quietly leaving. However, holding a cup of coffee, Susan did not want to miss the chance to show off to Blake.
Susan stood in front of Blake to block her way, “I didn’t expect to see you still in the company. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you got fired! Tsk, tsk… Looks like you’re doing quite well working as an assistant to an editor-in-chief!”
Blake noticed the expensive clothes and ladies’ watch Susan was flaunting, all from Jardin Corporation’s latest collection, with prices ranging from two to three hundred thousand dollars. Considering the secretaries’ monthly salary was around six to eight thousand dollars, Blake could not help but wonder how Susan afforded such luxury.
Blake lowered her head and chuckled. She hit the nail on the head, “Yeah! After becoming the Deputy CEO’s assistant, someone can now afford jewelry worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Shosanna Swift, do you have a sugar daddy now?”
Susan responded, “Shut up!” Blake covered her mouth and burst into laughter, “Oh, I forgot. Shosanna was your old name. Now you go by Susan.
Look at me; after moving downstairs, I even forgot about that.
“You’re a big-hearted person; you won’t hold it against me, right? I’ll get going now, then.”
People nearby realized Susan’s original name was Shosanna Swift and secretly laughed as they found her name very old-fashioned.
Susan did not like her original name because it was very old-fashioned. So, she had been telling people to call her ” Susan.”
Susan thought, ‘I can’t believe Blake still has the nerve to act all arrogant after being demoted. Well, just wait until I climb up the ladder again, Blake. Sooner or later, I’ll have you fired!’
Blake drove along a familiar route and arrived at a residential area. It was a bachelor apartment complex. She took on this task not only to find the author but also for another reason.
After arriving at the given address, Blake knocked on the door. As expected, no one answered. Then, a neighbor living opposite walked out, ” Stop knocking. He hasn’t been back for a month.”
Blake said, “I see. Thank you.”
The neighbor asked, “What’s your relationship with him?”
Blake answered, “I’m his editor. There’s some content I need to discuss with him.”
“Got it. Come back later. Actually, he’s been coming back late these days.”
“All right, thank you.”
Blake checked the time and saw it was only around five thirty in the evening. She turned and walked into the elevator. After a moment of hesitation, she decided to press the button for the sixteenth floor. As the elevator ascended slowly, her palm holding the handbag started to sweat.
Unexpectedly, as she contemplated, the elevator doors opened, and she saw Kevin. He was waiting for the elevator.
They had not met for a long time. Compared to Blake’s actions, Kevin looked very calm. His eyes remained sharp and cold.
“Do you need something from me?” Kevin stepped into the elevator and pressed the button to go down to the lobby. Blake stood behind him, watching his back, and said, “Who said I’m looking for you?”
Kevin responded, “The recent Start Reading’s project involves the production of a television series titled ‘ Murders in the Night.’ The author and I live in the same apartment building- he’s on the eighth floor, and I’m on the sixteenth. Are you telling me that you accidentally pressed the wrong floor button?”
Blake was terrified when she saw Kevin’s gaze, “Have you been coming back to the company? How do you know about everything that I’m doing?”
The elevator quickly reached the lobby, and Kevin still did not respond. Blake, almost unconsciously, continued to follow him, “Say something!”
Chapter 1156
Kevin was in thin pajamas, and Blake felt cold just looking at him. They were both in the large supermarket just outside the residential area, as Blake voluntarily pushed a cart and walked alongside Kevin.
Blake said, “Are you still informed about what’s happening in the company? StartReading’s employees don’t really play a crucial role at the headquarters of Jardin Corporation. Although Start Reading’s profits are decent, they aren’t even one percent of what Jardin Corporation makes.
“Kevin… Do you still have feelings for me?”
As soon as she said this, she regretted it. She carefully observed Kevin’s expression, only to find him focused on choosing tomatoes instead of paying any attention to her.
She felt irritated.
When Kevin was about to put a tomato into the cart, Blake immediately picked it up, saying, “Are you silly? This tomato isn’t fresh. Let me pick them. How many do you want?”
Kevin dusted off his hands before taking out a black wallet from his pocket and throwing it into Blake’s hands. He walked away as he said, “Buy whatever you want. I’m going for a smoke.”
Blake felt infuriated watching Kevin’s irresponsible attitude.
She had never looked into his wallet before. After opening it, she found a stack of cash, a debit card, and an identification card. Blake took out the ID card from his wallet and examined it carefully. She noticed his birthdate and was shocked to realize he was nearly ten years older than her.
She thought, ‘No way! He looks like he’s in his mid-twenties at most. How could he be over thirty? He seems so much younger on this ID card, but still so fierce.’
She said, “Well, since he gave me the money to spend, I should just spend it.”
After Blake bought some vegetables, she loaded up on snacks and fruits in the snack and fruit sections, filling two shopping carts with large bags.
As the sales staff was helping her with the carts to pay at the cashier, Kevin happened to walk over. He had changed from his pajamas into a nice suit. Blake went to pay, and the total price was over a thousand dollars, but Kevin seemed unbothered.
Blake smiled. “Two bags are yours, and two are mine. Consider it a ‘hard work’ fee, Mr. Harrison. I hope you don’t mind.”
Kevin took two bags and left without responding. Blake took the other two bags and followed. “Weren’t you going for a smoke? Why did you change your clothes? Where are you going?”
Kevin replied, “The hospital.”
Blake said, “To visit Mr. Jardin? I’ll come with you.
“By the way, I’ve been quite busy lately. Is his condition improving? I heard a lot of news in the company’s group chat. Susan is now the Deputy CEO’s assistant, while your position still hasn’t been filled. Also… For some reason, Susan’s been very close to Cecilia recently. The clothes and accessories she wears now are almost worth a million. I suspect Susan might’ve been colluding with Cecilia long ago. If Mr. Jardin doesn’t wake up soon, the company might end up falling into Cecilia’s hands.
“And what about you? What have you been up to lately? Are you really not taking care of the company anymore? You’re a founding employee of Jardin Corporation. Don’t you think it’s a waste to just leave like this?”
From stepping into the elevator to the door of the apartment on the sixteenth floor, Blake had not stopped talking.
She did not notice that Kevin did not seem annoyed by her being talkative.
He placed his things on the dining table, lifted his wrist to check the time, and said coldly, “You have an hour and a half to get the meal ready. When I return, I’ll answer one question of yours. You only get one, so think about what you want to ask until then.”
Chapter 1157
Blake watched as Kevin’s tall figure walked away. For some reason, she felt like Kevin had changed a bit. After three seconds, it suddenly hit her like a ton of bricks. She mumbled, “He… It seems like he didn’t mind my chatter! Usually, he’d be scolding me by now.” Blake felt inexplicably happy inside.
Kevin was not around, so Blake checked out everything in his home. She noticed he had not even tossed out the indoor slippers she wore before. This pair of indoor slippers was the first thing Kevin had bought for her.
She looked it up online and found the slippers were custom-made. The official price was over five hundred dollars. All her slippers at home had been cheaply bought from street vendors. She immediately took them off and put on the warm slippers.
Half an hour after Kevin left, Blake heard a knock on the door. She turned off the stove and cautiously checked through the peephole. It was that frail lady, Audrey. ‘What’s she here for?’
Blake checked her appearance in the entryway mirror. She fixed her hair, shed her jacket to reveal a sexy white camisole, and opened the door.
She pretended to assume it was Kevin and said, “Darling, how’d you get back so fast?”
Upon hearing a familiar voice and seeing the person who came out was Blake, Audrey still maintained a calm and composed smile, “Ms. Harper?”
Blake leaned lazily against the door with arms crossed. “Oh, it’s Ms. Parker! What brings you here? Come on in! I’m whipping up some dinner. Kevin won’t be back for another hour, but you can stay for dinner if you’d like.”
“It’s okay. I’m here to return something.” Audrey lifted the bag in her hand. “This is the suit Mr. Harrison left in my car last time. I washed it and brought it back.”
Blake said, “Gosh, Kevin’s so careless. How could he just forget his clothes? Thanks so much for bringing it over, Ms. Parker.”
Audrey smiled gently, “No worries, it’s the least I can do. Well, I won’t disturb you any longer. Goodbye.”
“I won’t see you off then,” Blake replied. Then, she closed the door and pulled the suit out of the bag. It had a hint of women’s perfume on it.
‘I wonder what the deal is with Audrey and Kevin? Are they a thing now? Kicking her out was rather satisfying. To be honest, I never really liked Audrey. She randomly provoked me on the street last time, so consider this payback.’
Ah, how easy it is to play dumb.” Blake mumbled before turning her attention to the kitchen. She hummed a tune while cooking a few dishes.
SereneCare Hospital reserved a floor of wards. In one of the wards, the person in bed was wearing a hospital gown with a face mask, still unconscious. Cecilia sat beside him and gently wiped his fingertips with a warm towel. ” From now on, you don’t have to come over any more. I’ll take care of Zach.”
Kevin asked, “Was it your idea to replace the dismissed bodyguard?”
Cecilia gazed softly at Zach, “I just don’t want those sketchy individuals getting too close to him. I know you’re loyal to him, but he’s mine and mine alone now.”
Chapter 1158
Kevin seemed to be unsurprised by Cecilia acting borderline obsessive and insane, as if he had expected it all along.
“What a damn eyesore,” Cecilia said, plucking the silver ring off Zach’s ring finger and casually tossing it on the ground.
“That belongs to Mr. Jardin, Cecilia. Don’t you think he’ll punish you after he wakes up?” Kevin asked.
Cecilia said casually, “Madelyn keeps hurting Zach more and more. With his personality, he won’t let Madelyn, that useless bitch, off the hook. Anyway, I’ll allow you to visit Zach since you’ve been working with him for many years, but don’t bring in anyone else.
“I can’t let Madelyn off easily for attempting to kill Zach. Soon, I’ll report it to the police, have her arrested, and make sure she spends the rest of her life in jail. I want her to see how I am with Zach and regret it for the rest of her life!”
Kevin furrowed his brow, “Ms. Samford, I’m afraid this might disappoint you. Mr. Jardin anticipated this earlier. Before the wedding, he had instructed the legal team to ensure that no one was allowed to harm Mrs. Jardin, no matter what happened.”
“What did you say?” Cecilia’s expression suddenly became fierce, and she could not hide the shock in her eyes.
She stood before Kevin and asked, ” Zach anticipated this earlier? How is that even possible? What’s he up to? Tell me! Why!?” Cecilia lost her mind, on the verge of going completely mad!
Kevin lowered his gaze, looking at Cecilia before him, “Ms. Samford, we both know very well what Mr. Jardin intends to do.”
After Kevin left, furious voices echoed in the ward.
‘Honestly, I have no idea what Mr. Jardin was up to. He even gambled with his life.’
It was already 8:30 PM when Kevin returned home and noticed the lights were still on. Upon unlocking the door with his fingerprint, he saw Blake sitting cross-legged on the couch. She was holding a bag of potato chips and laughing joyously while watching a boring variety show. Seeing the snack crumbs scattered on the couch, Kevin frowned.
Blake glanced back at the returning person. “Why are you back so late? The dishes are already cold. Let me heat them up for you.”
Blake brushed off the potato chip crumbs from her clothes and stood up. Holding the dishes, she walked into the kitchen and popped them in the microwave to warm up.
Seeing the once tidy blanket now in disarray with a pillow on the floor, Kevin pinched his brow with a headache. “I’m going to take a shower. Make sure you clean up after eating.”
“What do you mean? Don’t you want to eat? I cooked all this for you myself,” Blake said as Kevin entered the room. He closed the door, removed his jacket, and unbuttoned his shirt. Unexpectedly, the door swung open instantly. Blake was startled at the sight of Kevin covered in scars.
“You…” Some of the scars on Kevin’s body were from knife wounds, densely packed and impossible to count. There were also marks on his back, close to his heart, seemingly from gunshot wounds.
‘Oh my goodness, what has he been through?”
Chapter 1159
Kevin swiftly grabbed his shirt and put it on. “Who said you could barge in? Get out!”
Blake even forgot to speak. She fearfully retreated outside, clutching her chest and gasping for breath. Leaning against the door, she recalled the injuries on Kevin’s body.
‘Wasn’t he Mr. Jardin’s assistant? How does he have these injuries? Every single one of those looked like deadly wounds. We’re in the modern age. How could something like this still happen? What on earth has he been through?’
Kevin stared at himself in the bathroom mirror, his gaze intense and enigmatic. The past events seemed vivid despite ten years passing swiftly.
They replayed like scenes on a videotape repeatedly, hauntingly clear. Kevin wore a clean set of pajamas when he emerged from the bathroom.
Seeing Blake still around, he spoke coldly, “How long do you plan on staying?”
Blake came out of the kitchen with two sets of bowls and utensils. Her expression was calm as if nothing had happened. “Although you bought the ingredients, I made the meal. I waited for you to return without taking a single bite. At least let me finish my meal before you ask me to leave. Besides, I didn’t come specifically to find you today. I’m here for the company’s business. Sean happens to live in the same apartment as you. I need to wait for him to come back and discuss some details about the TV series.”
“Go grab the phone from the nightstand in the room,” said Kevin.
Blake did as he said without asking. Her gaze shifted down while placing the phone within his reach, and she noticed a scar on his wrist beneath the loose cuff. She was stunned, ‘How come I never noticed this horrible scar on Kevin’s wrist before?’
“Come over right away.” Kevin hung up the phone with just a sentence. Then, he said to Blake, “Sean will be here soon.”
Blake was dumbfounded. “H-How do you have the phone number of a StartReading Literary author? Kevin, how much do you really know? You’re unbelievable.”
Kevin said, “Finish your business and leave. Don’t come here anymore. It’s not safe here for someone like you.”
“What do you mean ‘someone like me’? Besides, this is a big apartment. I can come and go as I please. You can’t drive me away even if I’m at your doorstep!”
Kevin gave Blake a deep look. He was usually a man of few words, but he warned her with good intentions, ” Staying here longer will put you in danger. Just stay with Liam and be safe.
After saying that, Kevin put down the utensils, stood up, and left without eating much. It was a waste of all the dishes on the table. Half an hour later, Sean really showed up. Surprisingly, he turned out to be a skinny, ordinary- looking guy, around twenty-six. He seemed sketchy and untrustworthy.
Blake asked Sean to wait at the door for a while. After much hesitation, she finally went to Kevin’s study and began saying, “Regardless of everything, I really appreciate your help with this.
“I know there are things on your mind that you’d rather not share and a past that’s hard to talk about. However, I’d like to say the past is behind you, and you don’t have to trap yourself in it.
My feelings for you in the past were genuine, and I never considered playing around with you. From my childhood until now, I’ve never had a serious relationship, so I was genuinely happy when you said we should be together.
Although we always argued, you never learned to compromise with me…”
Chapter 1160
“Stop holding onto such unrealistic fantasies. Liam’s a better fit for you. Go back and focus on your work. Don’t embarrass me,” said Kevin. Blake was someone who had worked under him, after all.
Blake bit her lip, hesitating to speak. ” I’ll ask you one last time. Do you really have nothing to say to me? I understand Liam’s feelings for me, but… I’m still into you!”
Outside the door, Sean looked puzzled and said, “Well, Kevin, is this a rare occasion? A young lady finally confessed to you?”
After mustering up all the courage, Blake finally spilled the words. However, she heard the author from StartReading Literary, who could not be found, calling Kevin’s name instead of using a respectful address.
“Get out.”
Sean grinned and said, “Ms. Harper, I’ll head out for now. Once you’re done chatting with Kevin, shoot me a message. I’ll come right over.”
Blake was always a straight shooter. If she wanted something, she went for it, and if she was not interested, she did not even bother. Honestly, Blake did not even know why she had ended up falling for Kevin, who had such a bad temper. Aside from being good- looking, he had no other redeeming qualities.
“Did you hear what I just said?”
Kevin asked, “What benefits do I have in causing trouble for myself? It seems that what I just said was all in vain.”
Blake’s gaze followed Kevin as he headed to the wine cabinet and poured a red wine. She approached him from behind. “Shouldn’t you confront your feelings when facing the person you like? I know I’m impulsive and don’t think ahead, but I can see it and feel it too. You want me to stay with Liam to keep me out of trouble. You want to protect me, and I know you care about me, but I don’t get why you’re pushing me away.”
Kevin said, “That’s wishful thinking. If a tool loses its value, why keep it around?”
Kevin tilted his head back, sipping on red wine. Blake took a step forward. ” You lied to me. You’re still lying to me right now.”
Hearing the frustrated voice behind him, Kevin chuckled when he lowered his head. It was the first time Blake had seen him smile. “What’s so funny?”
Kevin turned around. “I’m laughing at your unyielding stubbornness. Alright, it’s getting late. You should head home soon. I don’t have time to drive you home.”
Blake was utterly baffled, ‘What on earth is he talking about?’
Kevin asked, “Why aren’t you leaving? How long do you plan to stay here?”
Blake said, “But you haven’t answered my question.”
Seemingly not getting his answer, Blake had an appearance that she would not leave. The window in the study was not closed. A gust of wind blew, swaying the heavy curtains.
“You clearly have feelings for me. Why not face them and give us a real shot? No ulterior motives or any of that, just trying for the sake of our future. Life is short. Why not give it a try? What if we’re meant for each other?”
Kevin had never encountered someone like her before. Whether in the company or with other women, he had no shortage of pursuers. However, everyone retreated while facing his cold and unfeeling demeanor. Unlike her, who was unapologetically persistent.
Marriage and kids had never even been on Kevin’s radar. A life like his seemed destined for a different path. “Well, let’s see how you can impress me,” said Kevin.
Blake asked, “What do you mean? Are you agreeing to give us a try without any ulterior motives?”
Kevin cleared his throat with a half- clenched fist near his mouth, coughing a few times as if he had a cold. “I’ve got some things I need to take care of.”
“Ah, I got it. Go ahead with your business. I’ll head downstairs and talk to Sean about the set. Take care and don’t catch a cold.” Blake hurried to the window and closed it. “By the way, thank you for helping me with that issue at the police station.”
Kevin sat in his seat and flipped open a page of documents. “You being bailed out wasn’t on my orders. Liam’s father is the Secretary-General, so it’s most likely his doing. Didn’t he tell you about it? Or did you start having regrets when you found out I didn’t bail you out?” Kevin’s hand pinched the corner of the document and paused, not looking up.
Blake shook her head. “No, he rarely talks about his family with me.”
When leaving, something crossed Blake’s mind. She stopped and stood at the doorway, asking cautiously, “What about you? I don’t think I’ve ever seen your family, and there’s not even a photo on your frequently used desk.”
Kevin said, “I’m an orphan. I have no family. My name and identity are fake.”
Blake was instantly stunned. She even forgot what she was about to do, forgot that she was supposed to leave. She walked to Kevin, grabbed a chair, sat beside him, and closed the files before him.
“Take a break. How about you tell me about your past and what you used to do? It’ll help me understand you better. If it’s hard for you to start, I can go first. Since I was little…”