CHAPTER 99: CHAPTER 99: WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH YOU?

Renee Winslow couldn’t answer. She truly didn’t know why Jack Yates was interested in her, insisting on keeping her tightly bound by his side with such obsession and intensity.

Was it because she was young?

But that didn’t make sense. There were so many young women; why cling to her so persistently?

Was it for her looks?

It shouldn’t be. The Film Academy, The Dance Academy, all kinds of art schools, the girls from those schools were all extraordinarily beautiful. If he was really only interested in looks, he should have gone there to find someone.

However, for men, especially men like Jack Yates who had power and a strong social standing, their standard for fancying a woman was nothing more than youth and beauty. Apart from that, she couldn’t think of any other reasons.

So she really wanted to know what Jack Yates was thinking. Why her? Why did it have to be her?

Jack Yates saw her tilting her round little head, like a top student faced with a difficult problem, her big watery eyes clear and bright, filled with a thirst for knowledge, eager for the teacher to reveal the real answer.

Quite adorable.

Suddenly feeling a tickle in his heart, he swallowed, leaned down, and moved close to the girl, staring at her with his deep black eyes, his mouth curving into a playful smile: "Because..."

Suddenly, the ringing of a phone interrupted Jack Yates.

Jack Yates didn’t continue, instead, he laughed, ruffling Renee Winslow’s hair, and turned to answer the phone.

The oppressive feeling suddenly withdrew, as if the hand choking her throat finally loosened. Renee Winslow took a deep breath. At the same time, she felt pity; she was so close, so close to knowing the truth.

Jack Yates answered the phone without turning his back to Renee Winslow, picking up directly in front of her, succinctly saying one word: "Speak."

His voice was low and chilling, full of pressure.

Renee Winslow saw that he had serious business to attend to; even though she felt regretful, she dared not ask further and quietly sat on the sofa.

Jack Yates walked to the table, leaned against the edge, lit a cigarette, and patiently listened to Kyle Sheffield’s report.

"Young Master Yates bribed the local gangsters, though they are just some idlers. He had those people cause trouble at our factory. No one has been harmed for now, but more than half of the new equipment we bought last month has been damaged."

"Do you consider this a family matter or a business matter? If it’s a business matter, I’ll arrange for legal affairs to handle it right away."

If it’s a private matter, then it’s the Yates Family’s internal affair. As an employee, he doesn’t need to be involved, or even qualify to be involved.

Renee Winslow couldn’t hear the voice on the phone. She didn’t know who was calling Jack Yates, nor what was being said. She only saw Jack Yates’s gaze growing colder, his aura filled with a terrifying menace, as if he might erupt in anger at any moment.

Seeing Jack Yates in this state, Renee Winslow felt an inexplicable tension rise within her. Her hands, resting on her lap, involuntarily clutched her pants tightly, her palms starting to sweat.

With the cigarette caught between his fingers, Jack Yates let out a cold laugh. His slender fingers held the cigarette, his thin lips parting lightly to exhale a puff of smoke, his deep voice carrying a slight hoarseness from the smoke: "Very good, quite bold, playing decoy tactics with me, trying to divert me away. He’s got more guts than his short-lived father, worthy of being the eldest grandson of The Yates Family."

Hearing the words "eldest grandson of The Yates Family," Renee Winslow paused briefly, then realized they were talking about Caleb Yates.

And Caleb Yates had just sent her those reckless text messages.

It’s over, it’s all over, not only for Caleb Yates but for her too.

Renee Winslow was so nervous her body nearly froze, her head hanging low, her eyes staring vacantly at the floor, like a convict awaiting a death sentence.

Jack Yates raised his eyes to look at Renee Winslow, seeing the girl huddled like a frightened quail, her head bowed low, wishing she could tuck it into her body.

"Renee Winslow." He called out.

Kyle Sheffield was just about to ask why Jack Yates said Caleb Yates was using diversion tactics when he suddenly heard "Renee Winslow," and instantly understood.

Caleb Yates and Renee Winslow used to be a couple. Not only did Jack Yates, as an uncle, break them apart, but he also forcibly took away his nephew’s girlfriend and managed to send his nephew abroad.

If it weren’t for Yates’ family head’s death, his nephew wouldn’t be able to return to Cathan any time soon.

Now, since Caleb Yates has returned to Cathan, he is naturally going to confront this uncle.

Renee Winslow was still in a daze when she suddenly heard Jack Yates call her name. Startled, she looked up quickly, panic staining her eyes, her gaze wet and blurry.

Jack Yates, looking at her in such a pitiful state, should have been stirred by desire, yet felt none of the expected desire; instead, he felt irritable and inexplicably suffocated inside.

"Come here." He impatiently frowned.

Renee Winslow didn’t move. She was so scared her thoughts had frozen; she heard what he said, but the words couldn’t penetrate her mind or relay to her limbs.

Seeing her unmoving, Jack Yates walked directly over, casually sat down next to her, wrapped an arm around her waist, and forcefully pulled her onto his lap, patting her head.

The whole time, Renee Winslow said nothing and did not resist, like a bird with its wings broken, letting him toy with her as he pleased.

Jack Yates spoke into the phone: "Have Ian Lynch come over immediately to coordinate with Loship Feggman’s people and leave for Kharun, with a transfer in Constantium tomorrow."

Kyle Sheffield: "Okay." After agreeing, Kyle Sheffield added, "But I’m not sure if Miss Winslow’s body can handle it?"

Jack Yates looked down at the delicate, gentle girl in his arms, small and thin, leaning against his chest like a fine porcelain doll, seemingly ready to shatter at a touch.

Such a frail little figure couldn’t endure another journey. She might faint halfway there before even reaching Kharun.

Jack Yates dared not take Renee Winslow on another grueling flight. He could only leave her in Brudelle and come back to fetch her after he finished handling things.

"She won’t be going."

After hanging up the phone, Jack Yates wrapped an arm around Renee Winslow, stroking her face, speaking in a deep voice: "There’s an issue at the factory in Koryan. I need to leave for a few days. Can you manage here alone?"

Seeing he wasn’t angry, Renee Winslow regained a bit of her energy, sitting up straight and asking, "How long will you be gone? When will you be back?"

Jack Yates’s mouth tipped into a small smile: "Are you reluctant to see me go?"

Renee Winslow pressed her lips tight, not immediately answering. It wasn’t that she couldn’t bear him leaving; it was just that being alone in a foreign country made her a little scared.

But she knew very well that she couldn’t be honest at this moment, so she nodded gently. After nodding, worried he might think it was too fake, she added, "I’m a little scared all by myself."

Jack Yates chuckled and ruffled her hair: "Don’t be afraid. I’ll have Harvey Lancaster stay here to protect you. With him around, there won’t be any danger. Plus, I have a branch company here; all the higher-ups are almost entirely Cathanian. And at the worst, there’s always the embassy."

After speaking, he cupped her face and kissed her lips, lowering his voice further: "Don’t worry, I’ll be back very soon."

Renee Winslow obediently nodded: "Alright."

Seeing her agree so readily, Jack Yates felt displeased, quirking his mouth into a cold smile, asking, "Renee, aren’t you curious why there’s trouble at my factory?"

Renee Winslow looked puzzled and confused: "Should I be curious?"

Jack Yates lifted her face with one hand: "Caleb Yates wrecked my factory for your sake."

Renee Winslow: "..."

Jack Yates: "Perhaps he doesn’t yet know I’ve taken you abroad. So, he had someone wreck my factory, aiming to lure me out of the country, and then take you away while I’m not here."

Renee Winslow: "..."

Jack Yates smiled, caressing her face: "Renee, what do you think I should do with you two, oh no, with him?"