bChapter /b169

“Honestly, I really had no idea how old you were back then. You said you were in your teens, but I couldn’t believe it. I thought someone with that kind of skill had to be old. For a while, I even thought you were older than me.”

Steughed, “But I really was in my teens back then.”

“Yeah, if I had known you were underage, everything is unlikely to have happened. It was just a beautiful misunderstanding.” Jordan said.

“But-” Ste hesitated. She found it really weird.

“In the three years I was gone, have you not met one you loved?” asked Ste tentatively.

Jordan shook his head.

“Then when we first met, didn’t you look down on me for being such a mess?” Ste asked.

Jordan pulled her into his arms and said, “No, I didn’t. If anything, I med myself. If we had gotten together earlier, maybe none of those things would have happened to you.

“If you weren’t happy with the Hayes family, I could have taken you to my home.”

Ste could feel his ache for her.

She thought, ‘If Jordan’s friends hadn’t told me today, I truly wouldn’t have known about this.

‘It turned out Jordan wasn’t just being nice. In fact, he had loved me for years.‘

“So when you heard I wanted to get married, you just made up an excuse to introduce yourself? Is that it?” Ste asked.

“Yeah, I couldn’t let you go. For me, there is only you,” Jordan replied.

Ste felt like she was drowning in sweetness. She thought, ‘If Jordan didn’t care about me, he never would’ve done all those things.

‘He’s really, really good to me. It wasn’t just because I could help him in his business.‘

“Jordan,” Ste called.

“Yeah?” Jordan answered. He kept holding her close, as if he would hold her forever.

“Thank you,” Ste said gratefully.

Jordan’s lips curled into a smile. “I should be the one thanking you. You’ve done so much for me. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you.”

‘Maybe this is fate,‘ Ste thought.

When Ste went to the restroom, Jordan was too worried to let her go alone and insisted on tagging along. He couldn’t go into thedies‘ room, so he waited outside.

When Ste came out, she saw Joan had been waiting for her.

Ste had thought she’d left, but it turned out she hadn’t.

“Ste, I know you,” Joan said in an unfriendly voice.

Aug

Ste pave her a faint smile and said. “So what?”

“If I were you, I’d walk away from Jordan right now and not cause problems for him,” Joan said coldly.

“How can I cause problems for him? Don’t you get it? Jordan wouldn’t have gotten this far without me,” Ste shot back.

“I know that. How much do you want? Name your price,” Joan sneered.

Ste was amused by Joan’s naive remarks.

“Name my price? Do you think money makes you invincible? Even if you buy me off, who’s going to handle things thate after? You?” Ste shot back.

Joan’s face darkened. “I don’t buy it. There’s no way you’re the only one in the world who can handle this,” said Joan defiantly.

“If there were, he would’ve found them in these three years,” Ste retorted.

Joan sneered, “You act so high and mighty, Ste. You told everyone you weren’t vited, but who knows how many kids you already had while you were away–”

“Joan.” A sharp voice snapped before she finished.

Joan’s body stiffened.

Jordan had appeared behind her without warning.

Joan nced at Jordan, then looked back at Ste. “Did you call him over?” snorted Joan.

Ste stayed silent, but Jordan said, “She didn’t. I am not deaf. I could hear you from outside. You’re really something. I thought you had left, but it turned out you were hiding here. What are you doing here? To mess with my wife?”

Ste knew it wasn’t right for Jordan to linger in thedies‘ room, so she gestured for him to leave.

Jordan walked out with Ste.

Joan followed them out, and they stood outside the restroom!

Jordan kept gripping Ste’s hand tightly, and with his other hand, he pped Joan across the face.

Even Ste was stunned. In everyone’s mind, no matter what, Jordan would nevery a hand on a woman.

Joan was utterly stunned. She said in disbelief, “You… you struck me.”

“That’s right. So what? Good thing I heard what you said. Otherwise, it would’ve been Ste hitting you,” Jordan said coldly.

Jordan thought, ‘I couldn’t let Ste do it. What if she got hurt?‘

“You think I’m scared of her hitting me?” Joan sneered.

Jordan scoffed, “Yes, I do. My wife’s hands are too precious toy on something like you. I’d rather do it myself.”

With that, Jordan lifted Ste’s hand and pressed a kiss upon it.

Ste’s heart raced faster.

Stung by the scene, Joan snapped, “You–you’re shameless.”

“Shameless?” Jordan repeated, his voice low and dangerous. When he looked at Joan, he became surprisingly terrifying.

“Joan, I dare you to say that again,” Jordan warned.

Joan froze.

“If Jim hadn’t dragged you out, I wouldn’t have been so easy on you. You’ve always been unkind to Ste. Apologize ito /iher. Right now,” Jordan demanded coldly.

Joan’s heart had beenpletely broken. She looked at Jordan in disbelief.

“What did you say? You want me to apologize to her? What did I do wrong?” Joan protested.

Jordan said coldly, “Joan, you need to know if we hadn’t grown up side by side, you’d never be allowed in this world of mine.

“But you’ve hurt my wife too many times. This group can’t keep you around anymore. I’ll tell everyone you’re not part of us from now on.”

“Jordan, are you really going to cut me off for her?” Joan said in a trembling voice.

“If it were just about being friends, I’d be d to have you. But you never saw me as a friend, did you?” Jordan shot back.

Joan was stunned.

After a long silence, Jordan said again, “You know how I handle things. Giving you a p is already an act of leniency. Cross my wife again, and I won’t be so forgiving.”

Joan didn’t know what to say anymore.

Jordan was about to leave with Ste when Joan suddenly shouted, “Jordan, I’m having your baby. You can dump me, but don’t you even care about your kid?”

Jordan turned around, his eyes filled with emotions that were hard to understand.

Ste’s heart skipped a beat.

In shock, she thought, ‘A baby? They have a child?‘

Ste couldn’t deal with this. She shoved Jordan away immediately.

“I–I don’t feel good. I need to go,” Ste said, her voice trembling.

Jordan watched as Ste walked away. He was about to chase after her, but Joan clung tightly to his leg, her lips curled into a sly smile.

“Don’t leave, Jordan. Have you forgotten that night we spent together? I never thought I’d get pregnant so fast. I came here today just to tell you that,” Joan pleaded.