On the Day I Was Kicked Out of the Wealthy Family, I Had a Flash Marriage with a Tycoon-Chapter 109: Each with Their Own Thoughts

"Jasper, I can’t right now!" Chloe Sterling said again, her face flushed.

"I know," Jasper Lockwood said. "Are you still going to The Medical College tomorrow?"

"No. Why?"

"Then come to the office with me."

"To your office?"

"Mhm."

Chloe Sterling looked at the man before her, getting the sense that if she didn’t agree, he might just keep her pinned down like this.

"Fine." After a pause, Chloe Sterling added, "Get off."

Jasper Lockwood’s lips curled into a faint, teasing smile as he leisurely returned to his spot beside her.

Chloe Sterling let out a soft breath and turned her face away, avoiding his gaze.

「The next day.」

Chloe Sterling and Jasper Lockwood arrived at Lockwood Group together. She truly didn’t understand why Jasper wanted her at the office. Was it just so she could watch him work?

After handling a few documents, Jasper Lockwood suddenly looked up. "Are you getting bored?"

"No." Chloe Sterling hadn’t been idle; she was using her phone to do research, which she had planned to do today anyway.

"I’m almost finished. I’ll take you out for a bit when I’m done."

"You don’t have to. Go ahead and work. I need to do some research anyway."

As they were speaking, a sudden knock came from the office door.

"What is it?" Jasper Lockwood asked.

Tristan Sinclair’s voice sounded from outside. "Jasper, it’s me."

Jasper Lockwood: "Come in."

Tristan Sinclair pushed the door open and walked right in. He didn’t notice Chloe Sterling off to the side and said with a grin, "I heard someone made a public confession to your little beauty at The Medical College yesterday. You hear about that?"

Chloe Sterling: "..."

Jasper Lockwood glanced at Chloe Sterling, who was sitting on the nearby sofa, and said flatly, "I know."

Tristan Sinclair followed his gaze and finally spotted Chloe Sterling in the office. He snorted with laughter. "What’s this? House arrest? Jasper, you’ve got to be a little more gentle. Don’t scare Chloe off."

Chloe Sterling spoke calmly, "President Sinclair, you’re reading too much into it. I just happened to be free today, so I’m here."

"Oh?" Tristan Sinclair raised an eyebrow. "Then it seems I misunderstood." With that, he walked over and sat down beside Chloe Sterling, teasing, "So, beautiful, who was the one who confessed to you yesterday?"

Chloe Sterling: "I don’t know."

Tristan Sinclair: "You don’t know?"

Chloe Sterling lowered her gaze to her phone and said nonchalantly, "Too many admirers. I can’t keep track."

"Haha... Jasper, I’m just now realizing your little beauty is pretty interesting. That’s good. A young lady should have some spirit."

Seeing them sitting less than three feet apart, a hint of displeasure flashed in Jasper Lockwood’s eyes. "Move away from her."

Tristan Sinclair: "A bit possessive, don’t you think?"

Jasper Lockwood rose and walked toward them.

Tristan Sinclair chuckled and scooted far to the side. Jasper Lockwood sat down next to Chloe Sterling, completely separating them.

"Did you just come here to gossip?" Jasper Lockwood asked.

Tristan Sinclair leaned back lazily on the sofa. "Gossip and business, together. Let’s start with the gossip to lighten the mood. So, which blind fool made a public declaration to Mrs. Lockwood yesterday?"

Jasper Lockwood’s piercing gaze fell on him. "You may have secured that land in Norwall, but it could just as easily slip through your fingers."

Tristan Sinclair: "..."

Jasper Lockwood: "Ready to talk business?"

Tristan Sinclair cleared his throat and his expression turned serious. "Why did you suddenly come down so hard on Nocturne Group? You even forced Silas Coldwell to return to Country E to deal with the fallout. What happened that made you take such a drastic step? Aren’t you worried about pissing off that psycho?"

At his words, Chloe Sterling immediately looked up at Jasper Lockwood and asked in surprise, "When did you make a move against Nocturne Group?"

Tristan Sinclair looked at her. "You know about Nocturne Group, too?"

Chloe Sterling said, "A little."

They both waited for Jasper Lockwood to speak. After a moment, he said nonchalantly, "It’s just normal business competition."

"Normal business competition?" Tristan Sinclair countered. "This doesn’t look like it. This seems more like some deep-seated feud. What on earth happened?"

He truly couldn’t understand Jasper Lockwood’s actions. Nocturne Group was an immense power, and its leader, Silas Coldwell, was a ruthless character. If the two of them were to truly go to war, neither would come out ahead.

Besides, this really wasn’t Jasper Lockwood’s style.

Chloe Sterling finally understood why Silas Coldwell hadn’t contacted her or come looking for her all these days—he had returned to Country E. ’And making such a huge scene right after appearing... it must have been a deliberate provocation aimed at Jasper.’

These two were now completely at loggerheads.

Jasper Lockwood remained silent. Tristan Sinclair ventured a guess, "Is it because of that... Pharmacist?"

He had wanted to say Lynn Chester, but with Chloe Sterling present, he felt it was inappropriate to mention another woman’s name, so he used "Pharmacist" instead.

"Stop guessing. It’s not." Jasper Lockwood shot him a look, a clear warning in his eyes.

He didn’t want Chloe to read too much into it and think she was causing him trouble.

Getting the message, Tristan Sinclair didn’t press the issue, assuming Jasper Lockwood simply didn’t want to mention another woman in front of his little beauty.

Even if she was just a Pharmacist, it could still lead to a misunderstanding.

"Forget it. Let’s drop it. I trust you know what you’re doing." After a pause, Tristan Sinclair added, "Also, I can’t make it to the reception on Saturday. Something else came up."

Jasper Lockwood nodded. "Okay."

The two men then started discussing a joint investment project, while Chloe Sterling quietly continued her research on the side.

Tristan Sinclair didn’t stay long. Once he left, the office fell silent again.

"It’s not because of you," Jasper Lockwood said suddenly. "Silas Coldwell and I have had some competition recently, business-wise."

Chloe Sterling looked up at him but didn’t say much, merely humming in acknowledgment.

She knew that even if she wasn’t the sole reason, she was still involved in some way.

The room fell into silence once more.

Both were lost in their own thoughts.

Chloe Sterling had originally agreed to marry Jasper Lockwood to repay a past kindness, but now this marriage seemed to be causing him trouble. Even if he could handle it, he would still suffer some losses in the end.

She never liked being indebted to anyone, but now she felt she owed Jasper Lockwood.

She had no idea what Silas Coldwell’s next move would be. He wasn’t the type to accept a loss; he was incredibly vindictive and would never let this go.

Seeing Chloe fall silent, Jasper assumed she was unhappy because he had made another move against Silas. She had never wanted him to target Silas in the first place.

It was just like Silas had once said—Chloe cared about him, at least a little. Even if it wasn’t love, there was a history between them.

Sometimes he desperately wanted to ask what exactly had happened between them, why Chloe Sterling would call out for Silas Coldwell not to leave in her dreams. But he was afraid the truth would just make him feel worse, so he never asked.

His only consolation was that they were already married. They had plenty of time for love to grow between them.

He suddenly pulled her into his arms, his long fingers lifting her chin. "Why so quiet? What are you thinking about?"

Chloe Sterling froze for a second, then answered with a serious expression, "A formula for a deadly poison."

Jasper Lockwood: "..."

「The Sinclair Residence.」

Knowing Jasper Lockwood was attending the reception on Saturday, Phoebe Sinclair had already started trying on gowns. She tried on one after another, but nothing satisfied her.

Chloe Kensington said, "I think they all look beautiful, Phoebe. You’re just too hard on yourself. You’re already perfect."

Phoebe Sinclair stared at her reflection and muttered, "Then why didn’t Jasper Lockwood choose me? Why was it Chloe Sterling?"

"That kind of trashy woman knows all the tricks to get a man’s attention. It’s natural that a proper lady like you wouldn’t understand. But I think President Lockwood is just enjoying the novelty. He definitely won’t keep her around for long."

"Jasper Lockwood isn’t that kind of man. He’s not a player, and he’s not the type to chase a fleeting novelty." A flash of resentment crossed Phoebe Sinclair’s beautiful eyes. It was precisely because she understood Jasper’s character that she hated Chloe Sterling so deeply.

Jasper Lockwood was so distinguished and exceptional, yet he conducted himself with integrity, unlike other rich heirs who played with women. He was like an alpine flower, beautiful but untouchable.

She had been the woman closest to him, the one most likely to become his wife. But then Chloe Sterling suddenly appeared, and everything changed. It felt as if the distance between her and Jasper Lockwood was only growing wider.

"Then..." Chloe Kensington scratched her head. "It must be for some other reason. Anyway, there’s no way President Lockwood could actually like that country bumpkin. There has to be more to it."

"Exactly." Phoebe Sinclair’s eyes narrowed. "He can’t be that shallow. He wouldn’t like that kind of woman. Their relationship must be a transaction."

She took two steps forward, picked up a clutch from her vanity, and pulled out a thumb-sized white vial. A smirk played on her lips.

What she wore to the reception didn’t really matter. The important thing was getting Jasper Lockwood that night. Even if she couldn’t win his heart, she would have his body first.

If she could conceive a great-grandchild for the Lockwood family, she would be guaranteed to become the future lady of the Lockwood Group.