CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43: DON’T BE AFRAID, I’M HERE

Due to her family circumstances, Renee Winslow learned from a young age that she must protect herself well. No one could protect her, so she could only rely on herself for protection.

Thus, she learned to be accommodating, to hide her talents and reveal them when necessary, and to avoid fighting over things.

Her nature was gentle, yet she wasn’t the quiet and dull type. On the contrary, she was gentle yet lively, able to get along with most people amicably, unless she encountered those who were truly eccentric and unreasonable. Even then, she would avoid intense conflicts and would dodge them if she could.

From elementary school through to university, she rarely had conflicts with people. Occasionally, there were minor disagreements, which only resulted in verbal spats or arguments, and she never got into physical fights. Even in verbal spats or arguments, she would always end up losing, and in the end, she would apologize to the other party and make amends, striving not to incur anyone’s resentment.

It’s not that her character was exceptionally pure, but rather she knew that if trouble could be avoided, it should be, because once trouble arose, no one had her back, and her family couldn’t help her at all.

She didn’t want trouble; she only wanted to live her life smoothly.

However, after meeting Jack Yates, Renee was repeatedly provoked into anger by him.

Because Jack Yates didn’t play by the rules. In front of him, she was as gentle as she could be, ten times, even a hundred times more gentle than when dealing with her classmates.

But Jack Yates, like a mad dog ready to go berserk at any moment, would go crazy and bite whenever touched on the wrong spot!

Renee Winslow had been enduring, accommodating, and going along with him.

But she was human—a flesh and blood being, not made of clay. Everyone has a temper, and no matter how good-tempered, anyone will eventually resist if pushed too far.

She struggled with all her might, every cell in her body screaming out in defiance.

Jack Yates pressed down on her, pinning her wrists with one hand, holding both of her wrists firmly against the back of the chair.

The more she resisted, the more Jack Yates wanted to conquer her, wanting her to succumb beneath him.

Renee Winslow smiled at him through her tears, "Jack Yates, you are truly pathetic..."

Jack Yates was enraged again by her, his eyes reddening as he kissed her lips forcefully, silencing her words.

In the vast, barren desert, stars dotted the sky, and the night wind was cool.

The night wind blew with a rustling sound.

The leather seat was laid flat, and Renee Winslow lay on it in despair, looking up at the swaying stars above. It seemed as if a star fell into her eyes, then shattered, turning into tears that flowed from the corner of her eye.

No one knew how much time had passed; even the starlight dimmed as the clear light of the sky was obscured by thick clouds. It wasn’t until heavy dew fell in the night that Jack Yates finally stopped.

He pulled something down, tied a knot, wrapped it in paper, and threw it into the garbage bag hanging in the car.

Renee Winslow had thought he would toss it outside into the desert, but unexpectedly, he was quite disciplined in this regard.

Afterward, Jack Yates cleaned her up, holding her in his arms and kissing her, softly asking, "Does it hurt?"

Renee Winslow didn’t reply; his question was redundant. Given the disparity between them, she inevitably felt pain, even when he was gentle, let alone when he had just been out of control.

Renee Winslow didn’t speak, not wanting to engage with him.

Jack Yates, however, kissed her ear and buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply, apologizing, "I’m sorry, I lost control just now."

Renee Winslow didn’t want to hear such meaningless "affectionate" words from him at a time like this, so she pushed him away, "Are we still going to the gambling stone market?"

Jack Yates asked her, "Do you want to go? If you want to go, I’ll take you."

Renee Winslow calmly replied, "Yes."

Since they were already out, gaining a bit more experience wouldn’t hurt. If she didn’t go, she would just end up back at the hotel with Jack Yates, where he might press her down again.

Jack Yates aired out the car and cleaned it up a bit before taking Renee Winslow to the black market’s gambling stone site.

Renee Winslow got out of the car, sticking close to Jack Yates’ side as she looked at the ominous night market. Instinctively, she clung to Jack Yates’ arm, pressing tightly against him.

She didn’t want to cling to Jack Yates so actively, but in such an environment, as she glanced at the brightly lit gambling stone market and the fierce-looking people lining the streets, fear took hold of her. She was terrified someone might suddenly jump out and stab her without a word.

Jack Yates held her by the waist, his large hand gently stroking her waist as he lowered his head and kissed the corner of her eye, reassuring her in a deep voice, "Don’t be afraid, I’m here."