bChapter 222 /b

    Jordan spent three days in the hospital, and he was already bouncing back pretty quickly.

    On the afternoon of the third day, Alex hurried into the hospital. “Mr. Erwin, there’s been a problem with Hasan,” he said, his face grim

    Jordan was going over the medical reports with Ste. He frowned and said, “What do you mean?”

    “The cops said Hasan refused to confess, and-” Alex cast a nce at Ste. “He wants to see Ms. Hayes and says he has something important to tell iher /iHe swears he won’t confess unless he meets her.”

    Hearing that, Ste felt a surge of conflicting emotions. She wondered, ‘Why would Hasan still want to see me? What else could he possibly have to say?‘

    “Turn him down,” Jordan said firmly. “A man like Hasan can’t possibly mean well.”

    Alex said, “But the police said if he keeps refusing to confess, the case will beplicated. He insists it was an ident and won’t admit to

    intentional harm.”

    Ste bit her lips, torn inside. She longed to know what Hasan wanted to say about Jordan’s past and what tied the two of them together. Those questions lingered in her heart, leaving her restless.

    Perhaps meeting Hasan once could bring her the answers she sought.

    “Ste, what’s on your mind?” Jordan caught the change in her expression.

    Ste hesitated bfor /ba moment. “Maybe we should go see him.”

    “No.” Jordan’s voice grew sharp. “Hasan is twisted. He cannot possibly have good intentions.”

    “What if he keeps denying it?” she said.

    Jordan cut her off. “Even if he doesn’t confess, the evidence we already have is enough to convict him. Ste, I don’t want you to be affected by him any

    longer.”

    As Ste saw the nervous look on Jordan’s face, her suspicions gnawed at her. She couldn’t understand why he was so against her meeting Hasan.

    She thought, ‘Was he worried I might get hurt, or was he afraid of some secret being exposed?‘

    “One more thing.” Alex continued his report. “Hasan said if Ms. Hayes doesn’t meet him, he’ll tell the media everything he knows.”

    Alex paused here, ncing first at Ste, then at Jordan.

    Jordan understood this was Hasan’s threat. If Ste didn’t go to him, he would drag every secret into the light.

    “He wouldn’t dare,” Jordan roared.

    Ste said softly, “Jordan, I know you’re worried about me,

    but what Hasan said made me realize that maybe I don’t really know you that well.

    “I’m not saying I don’t trust you. I just want us to be more honest with each other. I want to know more about you.”

    Jordan tried to speak but couldn’t. Ste had said exactly what was on his mind.

    He did worry about Ste, but more than that, he feared the timing was wrong. If he revealed everything now, he wasn’t sure if Ste would ever forgive

    him.

    b“/bSte, it’s not-” Jordan began to exin.

    Ste cut him off. “What exactly are byou /btrying to say? Are you going to brush me off again with that ‘wrong timing‘ bexcuse/bb?/b”

    When Jordan caught the doubt in Ste’s eyes, pain flooded his chest. He knew a crack had already formed between them. He d i was houten ta her to hear the truth from him than a twisted story from Hasan.

    Jordan took a deep breath. “Ste, sit down. There’s something I need to tell you.”

    The stern look on his face struck Ste with sudden dread, as though something terrible was about to unfold.

    Jordan struggled to speak. “When we first met, I really did keep a lot from you. Sure, you asked me for help, but there was no way I could have found you that fast or pulled together that kind of team.

    “That was not something a regr businessman could do.”

    Even though Ste had long harbored suspicions, hearing Jordan admit it aloud still left her shocked. She sank slowly into her seat, her voice trembling. “What do you mean by that?”

    Jordan looked into her eyes. “Ste, I’m not a decent person. I’ve done things way.”

    I’d never dare expose. Even the first fortune I made didn’te the right

    The words struck Ste hard. She had always believed Jordan to be a somewhat mysterious but capable businessman–talented, but still yed by the rules. Yet now, he was telling her he wasn’t that good.

    “What have you done?” Ste asked, her voice faint and shaky.

    Seeing the fear in her eyes, Jordan wanted nothing more than to strike himself. “I was once a man of the streets. The Quinn family’s downfall truly had something to do with me, but I swear to you, my love is true.

    “From the moment we agreed to this marriage, I knew I didn’t want it to remain just a contract. Everything I’ve done has been to make myself good enough for you and to protect you.”

    Every word shattered Ste. She felt her entire world copse. The man she had slowly fallen for, starting from a sham marriage, turned out to carry such a nasty past.

    From the very beginning, their rtionship had been built on lies and secrets.

    “I need time to process this.” Ste stood up, her tone t. “Jordan, I don’t know how to deal with you right now.”

    “Ste.” Jordan tried to stop her.

    “Leave me alone.” Ste walked toward the door. “I won’t isee /iHasan. There’s no point.”

    He said, “Ste, if you really want to see him, I’ll go with you.”

    3

    Ste replied without turning back, “No need. Jordan, we both need time to think about everything that’s happened.” With that, she opened the door and walked out.

    Watching her walk away, Jordan felt his heart twisting in agony. He feared he might have lost her forever.

    “Mr. Erwin, did I say something wrong?” Alex asked cautiously, staring at Jordan. “Do you want me to kill Hasan?”

    Jordan said coldly, “No. Even if the Quinn family has fallen, they still have ways to get him out of the police station.

    “He only said all that to drive a wedge between Ste and me. Now that I’ve told her the truth, his n won’t work.” Alex nodded, though unease lingered. He wondered whether Jordan’s confession would push Ste further away from him.