CHAPTER 128: CHAPTER 128: "IF YOU LOSE, GIVE ME A CHILD.

The rain and wind rustled, penetrating the forest and striking the leaves.

The lush evergreen broadleaf forest, nourished by the rain, burst with vibrant vitality, showcasing its robust life force.

In contrast, Jack Yates, who should have soared like a roc into the sky, found himself trapped in this chaotic place where the wind and rain never ceased, as if he’d failed to transcend tribulations or, after being battle-worn, fallen onto an ancient battleground, stripped of his pride and sharpness.

This situation was reminiscent of a hero reaching the end of the road, or a beauty fading with age, inevitably evoking regret and sorrow.

Renee Winslow gently placed her hands on his face, her thumb stroking his high nose bridge, finally resting on his light-colored, sharp thin lips. Her slender, fair fingers tapped lightly on his lips, her gaze as soft as water enveloping him snugly.

"Jack," she called him softly.

Jack Yates did not respond.

Renee called again, "Jack."

Still, Jack did not respond; only his gaze grew deeper, darker, with his pupils gradually losing focus.

This look was familiar to Renee; every time they were in harmony, at the last moment, Jack would exhibit this brief out-of-focus phenomenon.

But now, it was different; what did this look mean?

Had he received too much anesthesia, causing side effects?

"Jack!" Renee, frightened, hurriedly grabbed his shoulder and shook him, saying loudly while shaking, "Jack, Jack, can you hear me?"

Jack snapped out of his numbness, casually saying, "Gently, or I’ll fall apart."

Hearing his low, lazy voice, Renee thought his slow and languid speech must be due to poor health, quickly releasing her hands, looking at him worriedly: "What just happened to you, why did you suddenly... become like that?"

Jack’s mouth twitched slightly, a playful smile flashing in his eyes: "Like what?"

Renee blushed, whispering, "I just saw your eyes glaze over; I feared you had side effects from excessive anesthesia."

Jack: "..."

Seeing him silent, Renee asked, "How are you feeling now? Is there any discomfort anywhere?"

"Yes." Jack took her hand and placed it over his chest, "Feeling uncomfortable here."

Renee was about to say, "I’ll call a doctor," but before she could, Jack pressed her hand down on his chest, rubbing it.

Renee: "..."

With a laugh in his voice, Jack said, "My chest hurts; baby, rub it for me."

Renee quickly withdrew her hand and finally asked what was on her mind: "Jack, are you pretending?"

Jack’s lips curled slightly: "What if I am?"

Renee: "..."

The smile at Jack’s lips deepened: "You can confirm it yourself if you want the answer."

Renee glanced at his plastered right arm, then at his body tightly wrapped in bandages. She hesitated for a moment, then raised her hand.

Jack said, "Renee, let’s make a wager, shall we?"

Renee frowned: "What do you mean?"

Jack stopped smiling, his gaze deep as he looked at her: "Bet on whether I’m truly injured or pretending."

Renee: "..."

Jack continued, "If I’m not injured, you can make any demand: money, house, shares, anything you want. Even if you want to leave me now, I’ll agree. But if I really am injured, you have to agree to one request of mine."

Renee swallowed, nervously asking, "What request?"

Jack: "Give me a child."

Renee: "..."

With a quiet laugh, Jack added, "Not asking you to have one right now; when I want one, you’ll have to give me one."

Renee: "But aren’t you getting married in two years?"

Jack: "That’s my business. You just need to say whether you dare to bet or not."

Renee faltered, not daring to bet because the stakes were too high.

After two seconds, she lowered her head and softly said, "I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have doubted you."

Jack raised his left hand to stroke her face: "You can doubt, and you can bet with me. In fact, I hope you will."

"Why?" Renee asked, puzzled.

Jack: "Daring to bet means you’re not afraid of losing."

Renee remained silent, her head down.

Jack retracted his hand, speaking blandly, "You haven’t slept all night; get some rest."

Renee glanced around the entire hospital room; it was a luxury suite with a companion room, complete with a sofa, TV, refrigerator, and other facilities.

No need to ask; she was certain she would be staying in the companion room, so she stood up and walked to the side.

Jack grabbed her hand: "Where are you going?"

Renee pointed to the room opposite the hospital bed: "To sleep."

Jack Yates patted the bed beneath him, "Sleep here."

Renee Winslow: "..."

Jack Yates: "Don’t just stand there, go to sleep."

Renee Winslow: "I should sleep in the companion room. You’re injured like this, it’s not appropriate for the two of us to sleep together, and it wouldn’t look good if someone saw."

Jack Yates held her hand, "No one will come for now."

Renee Winslow tried to shake off his hand, but Jack Yates gently tugged her arm and pulled her to the edge of the bed.

Renee, being weaker, ultimately couldn’t resist Jack Yates and resignedly laid beside him.

-

It was the rainy season in Bancourt, and it had been raining all day. The rain pattered on the banana leaves, creating a crisp, rhythmic sound.

Renee Winslow woke up to the sound of the rain, gazing outside at the Southeast Asian architecture and the evergreen broadleaf vegetation typical of a tropical rainforest. For a moment, she felt dazed, as if she were in a dream, until she finally realized she was no longer in Northcity, but in Myona.

The sky was dark and gloomy, and the rain continued to fall.

The foreign city, shrouded in rain and fog, seemed unfamiliar and oppressive, causing an inexplicable sense of panic.

Renee Winslow hurriedly sat up and, seeing no one beside her, felt her heart nearly stop for a second.

"Jack Yates!" She called out, her voice trembling, tinged with hoarseness from sleep.

At that moment, Jack Yates was in the companion room conducting an international meeting. All his bandages were off, and he wore a neat black suit, his hair slicked back, appearing steady yet fierce.

As the planning director from Western Euporia finished presenting the proposal, Jack Yates was about to speak but suddenly heard Renee Winslow’s voice.

Jack Yates raised his index finger, gesturing for silence on the video call, then took out his phone to call Kyle Sheffield, but quickly hung up and opted to send a message instead.

YE: [Hurry back to the ward and get her out of here.]

Assistant Sheffield: [Mr. Yates, I’m outside right now, can’t return at the moment.]

YE: [Your bonus for this month is deducted.]

Assistant Sheffield: [...No, Mr. Yates, you can’t do that. It’s just that right now it’s...]

Kyle Sheffield wanted to say it was after office hours, but glancing at his watch, it was just after 2 PM, during work hours.

YE: [It’s work hours now, absence without reason, deduct today’s pay and cancel the monthly bonus.]

Assistant Sheffield: [Mr. Yates, I was wrong, please calm down!]

Assistant Sheffield: [Let Harvey Lancaster distract Miss Winslow first, I’ll head back right away!]

Renee Winslow called "Jack Yates" several times with no response, frightened, she quickly got out of bed to put on her shoes and hurried out. After a few steps, she passed by the closed door of the companion room, halted, turned around, and walked to the door, raising her hand to knock.

Knock, knock, knock—

Jack Yates had already ended the meeting video. Hearing the knock, his face tensed, with one hand he loosened his tie and clenched his teeth tightly.

This was probably the most nervous he had ever been in his life, even more so than when he was being hunted.

He had sneaked into the room to hold the meeting while Renee Winslow was asleep, not expecting her to wake so early.

Usually, she slept past eleven at night and would sleep until nine the next morning. Having not slept at all the previous night, she only slept at ten in the morning, so he thought she would sleep until six or seven in the evening, but unexpectedly, she woke just after two.

What Jack Yates didn’t know was that Renee Winslow, being in an unfamiliar place and in a hospital, lacked a sense of security, and being utterly exhausted, found it hard to sleep soundly.

Renee Winslow grasped the door handle, just about to turn it when Harvey Lancaster rushed into the ward.

"Miss Winslow." Harvey Lancaster grabbed her arm, stopping her from opening the door, "Third brother asked me to take you out for a meal."

Renee Winslow frowned: "Where is Jack Yates?"

Harvey Lancaster: "Third brother went to the clinic to change his dressing."

Renee Winslow questioned, "Don’t they change the dressing in the ward?"

Harvey Lancaster: "This hospital is different from ours back home; changing dressings isn’t done in the ward here."

Renee Winslow asked, "Where is he changing his dressing?"

Harvey Lancaster: "In a special dressing clinic."

Renee Winslow further asked, "When he changes his dressing, don’t you accompany him?"

Harvey Lancaster: "Benjamin Lane and Henry Hayes are with him. Third brother asked me to stay outside the ward to watch over you, so I can take you to eat when you wake up."

Renee Winslow sat on the sofa: "I’m not hungry now, don’t want to eat, I’ll wait for him to come back from the dressing change before I go."

Harvey Lancaster was so anxious that he broke into a sweat, having to use his trump card: "Miss Winslow, don’t make it difficult for me."

Renee Winslow widened her eyes and sharply questioned, "How am I making it difficult for you? I’m not eating, why is that difficult for you? I’m not hungry and can’t eat, why must I eat just because you say, ’don’t make it difficult’?"

Harvey Lancaster: "Miss Winslow, please don’t be angry, I didn’t mean it that way."

Renee Winslow’s tone softened: "I’m not angry, I just want to wait for Jack Yates to come back."

Harvey Lancaster stopped talking, unsure of how to respond, only hoping for Kyle Sheffield to return soon.

At that moment, the sudden sound of a phone ringing came from the companion room.

Renee Winslow heard it clearly; it was Jack Yates’s phone ringing.