Ch. 381..390
“N-No…,” Jadie struggled hard. “Babe, stop acting like a crude. I promise you won’t forget it once you’ve gotten a taste,” Randall said.
“Help me. Zach! Zach…,” Jadie twisted and turned as she watched Zach chatting away not far from her. However, just when it looked like someone heard her, another person came to block Zach’s view. Yvonne looked over but retracted her gaze indifferently.
Jadie felt hopeless as she was dragged into the pool with her mouth covered. She felt something touch her private areas. Just as Randall was excited about succeeding, he suddenly felt something was wrong with Jadie.
Jadie’s face was pale, and she was breathing with much difficulty. Randall immediately let go, and Jadie’s body went limp. She sunk to the pool floor without any struggle.
‘What the hell, is she having some kind of illness?!’ Randall thought. He was panicking and was worried he had murdered someone. He quickly exited the pool, but Jadie did not follow him. You can barely see her silhouette on the pool floor and her hair floating.
Zach looked at the dessert area and did not see Jadie there. His eyes immediately squinted. Yvonne smiled as she swirled the champagne in her glass, “I’ve helped introduce you to so many people and helped you close on a big deal. How do you plan to thank me?”
Just as Zach was looking for Jadie, a scream erupted from outside, “Ah! Someone’s in trouble!” The first thing that came to Zach’s mind was the missing Jadie. Without hesitation, he placed his wine glass on the table and rushed outside. When he arrived, he saw a group of people pulling Jadie out of the pool. He swiftly removed his coat and gently draped it over her body. His imposing presence made the onlookers step back in silence.
“Jadie, Jadie!” Zach shouted while patting her face. She showed no reaction, so Zach said to the onlookers, “Could you please call an ambulance.”
“S-Sure,” someone answered. Swiftly, many people surrounded the swimming pool. Yvonne walked over and saw Zach giving Jadie mouth-to- mouth. Her brows furrowed, and she said coldly, “What is the meaning of this!”
The servant at the side replied, “I was just passing by and saw a person floating in the pool.” Yvonne noticed a few people avoiding her gaze. She knew a few of them, but she said nothing.
“Why did she drown out of nowhere?” Yvonne then asked.
The maid answered, “The pool was just cleaned today, so she might’ve accidentally fallen in because it was too slippery.”
Yvonne’s gaze landed on Zach, and an unknown feeling grew in her chest. She had never seen Zach like this before. Had something happened to Jadie, she would be responsible, too. Since she was the person who invited Jadie to this event.
Although she achieved her goal, she was worried about what Zach would do to her if Jadie died. Yvonne panicked and asked, “Where’s the ambulance? Make the call quickly.”
“I’ve already called!” Someone answered.
“Wake up, Jadie!” Yvonne screamed. “Cough… cough cough,” Finally, Jadie showed some reaction.
The Rewritten Love: A Second Beginning By Max Charming chapter 382
Zach stared at the shivering and pale Jadie. He embraced her and caressed her hair, “Alright, you’re fine now.” “I feel terrible, Zach…” Jadie croaked.
“Where’s the medication?” Zach asked. Jadie felt like she was suffocating, and it was getting harder to breathe, “I-In the b-bag.”
Zach quickly brought Jadie to a couch while a servant swiftly brought her bag over. Zach opened the bag and found the medication inside. He then fed Jadie two pills.
Jadie was lucky that she survived. After she ate her medication, her breathing gradually returned to normal. At the same time, the ambulance arrived. As Zach carried Jadie, Yvonne stood up and said, “I’m coming with you to the hospital.”
“No need for that,” Zach remarked, his look at her sending shivers down her back with its frostiness. In the ambulance, Jadie kept holding onto Zach’s hand. “I’m scared, Zach,” she whimpered.
“It’s okay. Nothing’s going to happen. anymore. We’ll talk about this once you get better,” Zach comforted her while wiping the tears from her eyes. After the event ended, Hayson threw a fit about what happened.
Yvonne’s mood was not any better. She had smashed everything in the room and made a mess of the floor. Her mirrors were smashed to bits while the servants stood by the side with their heads hung low. No one dared to say a thing. She cursed, “That bastard, who does he think he’s talking to! He wouldn’t be eligible to participate in this banquet if it wasn’t for me. Yet, he dared to lose his temper on me over Jadie!”
“I wasn’t the one who caused Jadie to drown! He even dared to throw a face at me! He’s driving me crazy!” Yvonne continued to scream.
One of the servants got up and comforted her, “Ms. Young, it’s not worth it getting so angry over this. Madam will investigate this carefully. Regardless, it was a human life.”
“That’s right! Ms. Young, Mr. Jardin might’ve been too worried, so he couldn’t control his temper,” Another servant said.
Frida walked in and saw the mess in the room. She shook her head in resignation, “You like to judge others, yet a man has made you lose your composure. You were never like this in the past, Yvonne. Have you taken a liking to him?”
Yvonne got up, imploring her, “Mom, how’s the investigation? Was it done intentionally, or did she fall in by accident?”
Frida told her, “I’ve investigated it. It was dark then, so no one saw it. It should be an accident. However, since it happened in our residence, we would naturally need to bear the responsibility. You will need to go to the hospital to visit this girl. From what I saw, she seemed to have asthma and was lucky to even be alive.”
Yvonne did not expect Jadie to have asthma. “I don’t want to see her. I wasn’t the one who pushed her,” Yvonne said while averting her gaze. Frida’s expression darkened, and she started to suspect something. However, she did not say anything.
“It’s up to you whether you want to go, but as your mother, I will advise you. Zach is not compatible with you. Even though he has spectacular abilities, we, as the Young family, will never accept a person like that,” Frida said.
“Why!” Yvonne shouted. “There is no reason. I said I forbade you, and that’s it. If you don’t want the Young family legacy to be ruined by someone else, listen to me. If you want to be in a relationship, I can find someone suitable for you,” Frida answered. Yvonne stomped her feet in anger and begged, “But I just want him!”
Frida furrowed her brows and scolded,” Enough! I don’t want to listen to this a second time. I’m telling you that you can date anyone, but I won’t allow you to have any relations with Hayson. I will never agree to this unless you aren’t my daughter anymore.” Frida said this and left the room.
Yvonne was confused with Frida’s attitude to this. ‘Why did Mom hate the Jent family so much?’
The Rewritten Love: A Second Beginning By Max Charming chapter 383
Madelyn arrived at school on Monday on time, and it was just about time for morning self-study sessions. When she got to class, she did not see Yvonne and Jadie. Not only did they miss the morning self-study sessions, but Madelyn also did not see Jadie for the whole morning.
‘Did something happen to Jadie?’ Madelyn wondered. It had been so long since Jadie met with an incident, so Madelyn could not remember it. At noon, Mya came over to invite her to lunch. Madelyn asked Mya about Jadie when they were at the cafeteria.
Mya told her, “I also heard from your class that Jadie was admitted to the hospital. She had accidentally fallen into the swimming pool when she was at the Young residence.”
“Oh yeah, I also didn’t see Forrest today. He hasn’t been coming to classes since last Friday,” Mya added. Madelyn ate her food calmly and replied, “My mission is complete. I already helped him acquire sufficient results to get into Ventropolis University. Even if he doesn’t study, it is not my concern. Why would you care about him?” Mya lowered her head and whispered, ” I thought both of you used to be best buds…”
‘What else could he be doing besides dating? As for Jadie falling into the swimming pool, was it truly an accident?’ Madelyn thought. Madelyn’s sixth sense was always right. She thought that this incident was more complex than it seems.
“If you’re still worried, I can accompany you to the hospital, Madelyn,” Mya offered.
Madelyn looked at Mya and thought,” Should I let her come with me? That would be good, too. If Mya was there, Zach wouldn’t dare do anything to me! Additionally, Jadie has been staying with the Jent family for dozens of years. Even if she was not a part of the Jent family, I should still visit her.’ “Sure, sorry for troubling you,” Madelyn said.
“It’s not a problem. We’re friends, right! Since you’ve helped me so much, this kind of small thing should be fine, “As Mya said this, she took her bag up and unzipped it. She then said, “Oh yeah, since you are my first friend in school, My parents had me bring a lot of good stuff to gift to you.” As she spoke, she brought out a lot of bags,” This is dill, mint, and saffron… all grown by our family.”
“I can’t accept such expensive items,” Madelyn refused. No wonder her bag was so full; it was filled with all these things. “They aren’t that expensive. We’ve planted acres of this stuff. Do you not like these herbs? I also have beef jerky.”
Madelyn asked, “Beef jerky? I thought your family reared pigs?” Mya’s face flushed red out of embarrassment as she said, “Actually, our family has more cows than pigs.”
Madelyn continued to ask, “How many? Mya thought about it and said, “Not much! Just about ten thousand cows. We have lesser pigs, around a few thousand of them.”
‘Oh my goodness! With so many animals, the field at her house should be enormous. If you really thought about it, I might not even be as rich as her family,’ Madelyn thought.
In return, Madelyn also gifted Mya a bracelet she had bought at Marisburg after she accepted so many gifts from Mya. She did not know how much it cost since it was Ethan who had footed the bill. Madelyn could not even begin to guess the value of the bag of saffron. Had she not been able to refuse Mya, Madelyn would not have accepted such expensive items.
When they arrived at the hospital, Madelyn brought fruits, while Mya brought a bouquet of flowers. Madelyn had asked Kevin for news about Jadie being hospitalized. He probably told her about Jadie’s location with Zach’s consent. They had taken a cab to the hospital.
When they walked to the sick ward, they heard Jadie’s voice, “Zach, I’m full. You can return first! Rosario is here to care for me, so I will be fine. If you continue to delay your work, Mr. Jent will be angry.”
“Madelyn? Why are you here? Come in and take a seat,” Rosario, who was walking out of the bathroom with a basin, just happened to meet Madelyn outside. Madelyn walked into the sick ward with Mya following behind her timidly.
‘…It was Ethan who told me about Jadie being admitted to the hospital. I was worried, so I came over to check on her,” Madelyn explained.
The Rewritten Love: A Second Beginning By Max Charming chapter 384
Mya looked at Madelyn, a bit puzzled. ‘I thought I was the one who told her about it.’ But she didn’t say anything more.
Rosario took the stuff they were holding and placed them on a table. While Ethan was in a meeting at the Arnold Corporation’s office building, he suddenly let out a sneeze.
Leyton quietly adjusted the air conditioning, thinking to himself, ‘I hope he didn’t catch a cold from the sea breeze.’ In the hospital room, Jadie lowered her head and asked, “Did the school find out what happened to me?”
“I’m not sure,” Madelyn replied in a gentle voice. “I just got back from Marisburg. I’m glad that you’re okay.” “Did you have lunch? I can get you something,” Rosario kindly offered.
Madelyn quickly responded, “Thank you, but we ate before we came.” Zach stood up and offered Mya a chair. ” Please, take a seat. Standing for too long can be tiring.”
“It’s okay, I’m fine standing,” Mya replied, feeling a bit shy. Madelyn mentioned, “Jadie, now that I see you’re okay, I’ll have to head back to school later.”
Zach said, “I’m heading back to the office anyway. I can give you two a ride. Madelyn hesitated for a moment, not too sure about going to school with him. “It’s alright, we can just catch a taxi.”
“Madelyn, you’ve already come all this way to visit me. It’s only fair for Zach to give you a ride back to school. Please don’t refuse, okay?” Since Jadie had said so, Madelyn couldn’t keep saying no. She nodded, Alright.”
After a little while, Madelyn, Mya, and Zach left Jadie’s room and made their way to the parking lot together. Zach opened the passenger door, clearly expecting Madelyn to sit there. Madelyn spoke up, “I’ll sit in the backseat with Mya.”
“Don’t make me repeat,” he said with a stern voice, not giving her a chance to refuse. Mya sensed the tension and said, “It’s okay, Madelyn. I can sit in the back alone. You can sit up front.” With those words, she opened the rear door and got in.
So, Madelyn reluctantly took the passenger seat. No one spoke a word during the car ride, and Zach’s frosty demeanor seemed as cold as the frigid weather outside, filling the vehicle with an icy tension.
Madelyn didn’t understand what was wrong. ‘He must be really upset about someone trying to harm Jadie.’
When they arrived at the school gate, Madelyn quickly opened the car door. “I have something to discuss with her. You go on ahead,” Zach told Mya. Mya replied, “Alright, Mr. Jardin,” and then said to Madelyn, “I’ll wait for you.
After Mya got out of the car, Zach locked the doors. Madelyn’s heart skipped a beat. “Wh- What are you trying to do? Don’t do anything stupid. We’re at the school gate; people will notice.”
“Oh, you’ve just reminded me.” Zach pressed on the gas pedal, and the car sped forward. He was driving way too fast, well above the speed limit, nearly colliding with a motorbike that had just come from a side road.
Madelyn glanced back and saw that the rider had fallen. “Zach Jardin, are you out of your mind? That lady is pregnant! He didn’t say anything. Madelyn watched in shock as he drove the car onto an overpass.
The Rewritten Love: A Second Beginning By Max Charming chapter 385
Madelyn found herself taken to a remote, deserted place surrounded by towering mountains. It was the highest point in Ventropolis, but it was also the most desolate, with hardly anyone around. There were no road surveillance cameras along the way, and not a single car passed by.
The car came to a stop, and Madelyn, feeling fearful, gripped her seatbelt tightly, hunching her body. “What do you want?”
Zach’s fingers lightly rested on the steering wheel. Madelyn, with a mix of anxiety and fear in her eyes, stared at him. She thought that the most important person to him was Jadie, so she hurriedly said, “I have nothing to do with what happened to Jadie!”
As soon as she finished speaking, he unexpectedly leaned down, his fingertips weaving into her hair, and he kissed her.
“Mhmm,” Madelyn moaned as she kept struggling desperately. Her school uniform disarranged as his hands roaming over her body.
Feeling her buttons being unfastened, she became instantly alert and pushed Zach away with all her strength. Without a second’s hesitation, she slapped him right across the face.
Madelyn held onto the fabric of her clothes, tears glistening on her eyelashes. She tried hard to stay calm as she said, “Zach… Can’t you stop doing this to me? You already have Jadie!”
Zach’s expression was inscrutable. He suddenly smiled, reaching out to wipe some saliva from the corner of her mouth with his thumb. “So what? Don’t you like it too? I can feel your body’s reaction. What are you afraid of? Aren’t you the one who likes me the most?”
“No… I don’t like you!” Madelyn looked away, not listening to his tempting words. “Liar,” Zach pulled her close, holding her tightly in his arms.
“Don’t touch me!” Zach sniffed the scent on her. He noticed that she no longer had the sweetness she used to. Now, her scent carried the crispness of another man. At that moment, there was no warmth in his eyes, only a strong sense of possession.
Madelyn felt his hand slipping beneath her skirt, delicately removed the thin layer of fabric. As his rough fingertips brushed over her sensitive spot, a surge of sensation raced through her.
“Aren’t you worried I’ll tell Ethan?” she said. When Zach heard her mentioning Ethan’s name, his movements came to a halt.
Madelyn was still struggling to push him away. Her tear-stained face buried in his chest as she whimpered, “Why, Zach? Weren’t you the one who rejected me? Weren’t you the one who poisoned my body?”
“Thanks to you, I’ll never have my own children,” she continued, her voice filled with anguish. “All I wish now is to be with someone I love and who loves me back. Why… Why can’t you just let me go? You’re with Jadie, but… look at what you’re doing now!”
“If you dare to touch me today,” she declared with determination, “I’ll die right in front of you. I don’t want to betray Ethan! You know, I keep my promises. If I die, Ethan will never forgive you… Can you live with yourself, knowing that you ruin everything you have because of a momentary lust?”
With tears still streaming down her face, she implored, “I know you don’t really like me; it’s just your possessiveness, Zach… Think calmly, is a moment of pleasure more important, or your status and power?”
“Interesting!” Zach’s eyes held a hint of casual interest as he looked at her. At this moment, he seemed like a beast eyeing a trembling prey. He gently wiped away her tears and asked, “Who taught you these things?”
“I’m just telling you facts,” Madelyn replied. Zach was no stranger to temptation and had strong self-control. While he was accustomed to the power dynamics in the business world, he had never been swayed by them. His goals were clear, and he always knew what he wanted.
For someone like Zach, who had climbed up from the bottom, he had seen it all. Madelyn knew that his desire was simply to reach the highest position, a place where everyone would look up to him.
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Madelyn thought that except for Jadie, Zach didn’t seem to have many vulnerabilities. Yet, it was precisely this that made Jadie his biggest weakness.
Madelyn had expected Zach to be with Jadie. She believed that if it weren’t for Jadie, Zach would be dating Yvonne, using her to achieve his goals. Madelyn had, after all, seen his tactics, which were truly impressive.
“Why didn’t I realize you understand me so perfectly?” Zach smiled, gently tucking Madelyn’s long hair behind her ears.
Madelyn’s bright eyes now glistened with tears. The more vulnerable she looked, the more Zach wanted to assert his power over her in the crudest, foulest manner he sometimes imagined. He wanted to pin her down on a bed, making her cry in pleasure and pain. These filthy thoughts of his haunted him, replaying in his dreams night after night. But he couldn’t make them real now, as he had yet to finish what he had to do.
At this moment, Zach’s desires for Madelyn were like maggots creeping through the shadows, gradually closing in on her. She was like a vibrant rose, slowly being overtaken, its petals slowly devoured. There were some truths he wished he didn’t know.
“But, Madelyn, people can change,” Zach said, his tone gentle, leaving Madelyn uncertain of how to respond. He continued, “Do you truly believe that Ethan loves you? Why are you so naive?”
Madelyn retorted, “Because he hasn’t done anything to hurt me. The only one who’s been hurting me all along is you. When I had my surgery, he said he didn’t mind if I couldn’t have children, and he’s willing to wait until I’m ready to marry him.” “So, you were moved?” Zach inquired.
“Yes!” Madelyn looked at him, her voice trembling. “You know, if Father found out about my health condition, my fate would be dreadful. Ethan is the only one who can save me. He’s so good to me, how can I not be moved? He’s been honest with me. He’s never pressured me into anything! You can’t even compare to him!”
If Zach really intended to force himself on Madelyn today, she would rather throw herself off the cliff. She would choose death over encountering him again in this lifetime.
Zach’s gaze deepened, and Madelyn couldn’t quite tell what he was thinking. Suddenly, his phone rang. He picked it up, and whatever was said on the other end seemed to really bother him.
He buckled his seatbelt, turned the steering wheel, and pressed on the gas pedal. On the way back, they didn’t say anything else to each other. Zach dropped Madelyn off at the school gate and quickly drove off.
By the time she got to her classroom, the first class had already finished. During recess, Mya came up to her. 11 Madelyn, are you okay? You look really pale.”
The Rewritten Love: A Second Beginning By Max Charming chapter 387
Madelyn said with a smile, “I’m fine. Do you need something from me?” Mya glanced around before leaning in close to Madelyn’s ear and whispered, Forrest went back to Class Six, and Kayla followed him.”
Upon hearing this news, Madelyn remained unfazed. “His matters don’t concern me,” she replied calmly. ” Excuse me, I have to go to the restroom. Meanwhile, Kai slid a folder toward Zach and remarked, “Is there even a reason to double-check this? The results are the same.
Kai observed Zach’s expression growing darker. The more Zach reacted this way, the more Kai appeared to take a peculiar pleasure in it. He nonchalantly put his arm around an alluring woman beside him and crossed one leg over the other. “We’ve conducted those tests multiple times, just as you requested. The results remain consistent. If you still have any doubts, how about… I record a video of the entire process as proof that these reports haven’t been tampered with?”
Zach picked up the folder and shot Kai a glare. “You better keep your mouth shut.” “Don’t worry, I’ll keep it sealed tight. But you should watch your step, don’t get yourself into trouble.”
After Zach left, the woman by Kai’s side leaned in coyly, “Darling, what did you give him?” Kai leaned in close to her ear, exhaling warmly as he whispered, “That’s a secret!”
Just then, someone stepped out from another room. Kai and the newcomer locked eyes, and there was immediate recognition. Her face underwent a dramatic transformation. She muttered something to the person beside her and quickly made her way to the restroom. Kai left the woman beside him and walked over, his hands in his pockets.
“Darling, where are you going?” asked the woman. But Kai didn’t respond, paying her no mind. Lana Paine had been in the women’s restroom for a long time, thinking about her last encounter with her brother-in-law, Kai. It was the night she had lost consciousness after being drugged. When she finally woke up, the shocking reality hit her: she had slept with Kai. She couldn’t fathom how they had engaged in such an immoral act.
Thirty minutes went by, and Lana examined herself in the mirror, hoping that Kai had left. She stepped out of the restroom, trying to compose herself. But as she neared the exit, she spotted him leaning against the wall as if he had been waiting for her.
Terrified, Lana was about to bolt when Kai swiftly grabbed her, pulling her into the safe passage. He pressed her hands against the wall and began kissing her neck. Lana went rigid. “N-No, we can’t do this. Enough!”
Kai stopped what he was doing, kissed her cheek, and continued, “Don’t you recall? You were all over me that night, repeatedly asking for more. Oh! I forgot! My brother wouldn’t even give you a second look, and that night… our night… was your first! It’s a shame he’ll never know the pleasure your body can offer.”
Lana forcefully withdrew her hand and slapped him across the face. “Enough!” Regret washed over her for that night.
It had been an impulsive moment of weakness, leading to this mess. She should never have taken that glass of wine; otherwise, none of this would be happening now.
At the Stewart residence, Lana and Kai were like strangers. He was a notorious womanizer who rarely came home. Since her marriage to his brother, she and Kai had exchanged barely three sentences. Their meetings were even more infrequent. There were only two instances when they crossed paths: first at her wedding and then waking up beside him after that sinful night.
“Don’t bring up that night again. Listen, even if we had…” Lana hesitated, her embarrassment preventing her from voicing the words directly. She trusted that Kai would understand. “Let’s stop now to avoid making the same mistake. If you ever try to bother me again, I won’t go easy on you.”
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“Well, I’d love to see how you won’t go easy on me,” Kai teased Lana. Lana’s face reddened, and she nervously bit her lip. “Kai Stewart!”
“Do you want to try it again?” Lana had always been known for her gentle nature. Ever since she became a part of the Stewart family through marriage, she endured her parents-in- law’s scolding without complaint. But this time, her anger got the best of her. She swung her handbag at Kai and stomped on his foot with her high heel.
Kai hissed, his eyebrows knitting together. Lana’s face flushed with embarrassment. She quickly picked up her bag and left, not daring to look back, fearing that Kai might follow her.
Sitting in her car with the mirror open, Lana frowned as she examined the red marks on her neck. She reached for her concealer and foundation to hide those marks.
That night, Lana had been covered in marks of passion. Fearing exposure, she had to tell the other Stewart family members that she had gone out of town to visit a doctor and hadn’t returned for seven days straight.
She couldn’t even think about what might happen if they discovered she had slept with her brother-in-law. Lana told herself, ‘I need to end this.’ She planned to find the right moment to resolve this situation once and for all.
At Azure Corporation, Kevin knocked on the door of Zach’s office and walked in to deliver some documents. He didn’t see Zach but happened to spot a DNA report. Kevin wondered, ‘Whose DNA report is that?
“What are you looking at?” Zach’s cold voice emerged from the lounge as he wiped water stains off his hands with a tissue.
“Nothing!” Kevin immediately averted his gaze. “Mr. Jardin, these are the meeting documents for today. There are a few documents of some projects that require your signature.” Zach replied, “Alright, I got it.”
After Kevin left the office, Zach took the DNA report to the shredder and destroyed it. At that moment, he remembered what Madelyn had said, “He’s been honest with me. He’s never pressured me into anything! You can’t even compare to him!” He had never felt so frustrated before; his mind was in turmoil.
At eight o’clock in the evening, Zach received a phone call, preparing to leave the office. Kevin was waiting outside the door, keeping pace with Zach as they headed for the elevator. “Mr. Jardin, many eyes are on us right now. If you step in, you might risk being noticed. Allow me to take care of this. The company relies on your presence.”
Zach pressed the down elevator button. “Still don’t want to clock off?” “But…” Kevin pursed his lips. “That’s enough,” Zach interrupted him firmly. “My matters aren’t your concern. If you want to come along, feel free.”
In a private room at Supreme World, several employees from Azure Corporation’s Business Development Department were in tipsy state. Randall Burton grinned playfully as he reached for the intern’s thigh. “Can’t handle it already? I haven’t had my fun yet. We can discuss the contract signing later.”
“Mr. Burton, why trouble an intern?” Zach’s voice intervened. Azure Corporation’s employees promptly stood up upon seeing him and offered their seats. “Mr. Jardin.”
Zach nodded in acknowledgment, and someone swiftly brought over another set of silverware.
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Zach stared at Randall with a cold look as he sat next to the trembling intern, Maybelline Forde. He approached with a stoic expression. The head of the Business Development Department came over, smiling, and said, “Ms. Forde, get up quick! Mr. Jardin wants to sit next to Mr. Burton.”
Maybelline seemed like she had found a lifeline. “O-Okay.” But before she could stand up, Randall grabbed her. “Mr. Jardin’s presence won’t stop us from having a drink. You can’t even handle alcohol; how are you going to seal a business deal? You must be fresh out of school! Come on… I’ll teach you.”
“Mr. Burton, I don’t need your help in educating our staff,” Zach said as he gripped Randall’s wrist, applying pressure. The atmosphere suddenly froze.
Randall’s wrist hurt, but he kept his cool, considering there were people watching. In the end, he compromised. He chuckled, “I was just kidding, Mr. Jardin. Don’t take it seriously. Come, have a seat, let’s have a drink together, we can discuss everything else later.”
Maybelline was quickly escorted out by her superior, leaving a few experienced employees. Years ago, Randall was involved in a fatal car accident that resulted in someone’s death. Dealing with the deceased person’s family had proven to be troublesome.
In an attempt to resolve the situation, he delved into some unregulated territories and even sought assistance from the Jent family. Randall had a basic understanding of the tactics employed by the Jent family; they held significant influence in Ventropolis, to the extent that not even the city government could touch them.
Randall had mixed feelings toward Zach from the Jent family – both fear and disdain. He saw the Jent family as nothing more than an underground rat’s nest, bound to be exposed sooner or later.
Randall’s own family, while not incredibly wealthy, had enough prestige to put Zach in his place. So, he didn’t think much of Zach’s swagger. To him, people like Zach, even if they worked their whole lives, were just that.
Following the typical business protocol, they had dinner, had some drinks, and the next stop was Supreme World’s casino. This casino was a legitimate business.
After three hours, the elevator was filled with Randall’s laughter. “Mr. Jardin, my apologies for making you lose one hundred and eighty grand. After this project is completed, I’ll make sure to treat you to a good meal; after all, I can’t let you spend that money in vain.”
Kevin pressed the elevator button for the lobby on the first floor, while Zach remained composed. He nodded, saying, “I look forward to it.”
Suddenly, something crossed Randall’s mind, and he brought it up, “By the way, I heard at the Young residence the other day that your sister had a little mishap in the water. Nothing serious, I hope!”
Zach met Randall’s eyes, his smile hiding an iciness that was tricky to spot. Randall felt a shiver run down his spine as he looked into Zach’s eyes, his arm inexplicably breaking out in goosebumps. “She’s fine.”
“Well, that’s good to hear!” Randall breathed a sigh of relief. Zach walked to the lobby on the first floor, watching Randall as he left.
Kevin spoke up, “Mr. Jardin, I don’t understand why you let him win! One hundred and eighty grand is not a small sum. If Mr. Jent finds out, he’ll be furious!”
“One hundred and eighty grand… Is that a lot?” Zach mused absentmindedly.
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Kevin didn’t know what Zach was up to, but Zach’s actions at the casino today left him feeling puzzled. He thought, ‘Mr. Jardin seems to be deliberately losing to Mr. Burton.”
But no matter what Zach did, he always inspired an inexplicable trust in people. Even if it meant something as serious as a crime, Kevin had enough faith in him.
“Mr. Jardin?” Kevin looked at Zach, who seemed lost in thought. He wondered, ‘Could he be thinking about Ms. White?’ After a moment, he concluded, ‘Well, it makes sense. Mr. Jardin and Ms. White have been close since they were kids, and that happened to Ms. White at the Young residence!’
Tonight, Randall was still basking in his belief that he could outsmart everyone. Little did he know that his every move was being closely monitored by them.
The deal they were negotiating with the Burton family’s company was nothing more than a trap, leading Randall to his downfall.
Kevin had been by Zach’s side for many years, and he knew Zach well. He was ruthless enough with anyone, never showing mercy, not even to himself. These so-called rich kids, who thought highly of themselves, were nothing more than puppies in Zach’s eyes.
Manipulating them was a piece of cake. Kevin thought about all they had been through together. He felt that Zach was the only person he willingly submitted to and genuinely wanted to follow.
As they drove back home, Zach furrowed his brow, looking pained as he had stomachache. This ache wasn’t from irregular eating habits; it was a lingering effect from vears ago when he was “transporting goods” and got stabbed. It had punctured his stomach, leaving behind this lasting ailment. Plus, Zach had definitely drunk quite a bit today.
Seeing him like this, Kevin didn’t think twice and took him to the hospital. Half an hour later, Zach groggily woke up. Kai stood by his bedside, adjusting the IV drip speed. “You’re quite lucky. If you’d come any later, I might have had to perform surgery.”
Kai added, “Fortunately, there’s no sign of stomach bleeding for now. But seriously, you knew you couldn’t handle liquor, yet you pushed it this far. I wonder who made you so reckless.
Zach didn’t respond. Kai pulled up a chair beside his bed to sit down. He crossed his legs and speculated to himself, “Could it be that you couldn’t handle the DNA test results that showed you’re Hayson’s son and realized you couldn’t be with Madelyn, so you turned to drinking?”
Zach replied, “You have quite the imagination. You’re wasting your talents as a scriptwriter by being a doctor.”
Kai continued, “You still have the mood for joking, which means you’re not much pain. Your assistant is fetching you some food. We’ve known each other for so many years, so listen to my advice one last time. Smoking is fine, but no more drinking. What you’re experiencing now is a mild stomach bleed. If it ruptures and stomach acid starts corroding your organs, it won’t be as simple as lying down for a week.”
Kai continued, “You still have the mood for joking, which means you’re not in too much pain.” He then added, “Your assistant is fetching you some food.”
“I wouldn’t be saying this if we didn’t know each other for long time,” Kai began, his tone sincere. “Listen to me one last time. Smoking is one thing, but no more drinking.”
He paused, looking directly at Zach. ” What you’re experiencing now is a mild stomach bleed. If it ruptures and stomach acid starts corroding your organs,” Kai’s tone grew serious, “it won’t be as simple as lying down for a week.”
Before Kai could say anything else, a voice called out, “Zach!” and a figure hurried into the room. It was Jadie. Soon after, Kevin appeared at the door. “I ran into Ms. White in the elevator.” Zach redirected his gaze to Jadie. “I’m okay.”
“How can you be okay? Didn’t I tell you that you can’t drink? Why don’t you ever listen, Zach…” Jadie burst into tears in front of Zach. Kevin silently set down the pumpkin soup he had just bought from the hospital cafeteria and left the room.
Kai rose from his seat, his hands tucked into the pockets of his white coat. Since your girlfriend is here, we’ll talk about Madelyn another time. I won’t interrupt you two.”