On the Day I Was Kicked Out of the Wealthy Family, I Had a Flash Marriage with a Tycoon-Chapter 177: Willing to be Tormented

Chloe Sterling chuckled. "What gossip have you been hearing now?"

Maya Jacobs sighed. "Just the usual stuff. I can’t stand their attitude. Is it really that hard for them to admit someone else is brilliant?"

Chloe Sterling pressed her lips together, saying nothing. ’Some people don’t care if you’re outstanding or not. They only believe their own malicious speculations.’ She had realized that a long time ago.

"By the way, are you going to Director Xavier’s speech on Friday?" Maya Jacobs asked.

Chloe Sterling toyed with the medicinal powder in her hands. "Mhm, I’m going. To show my support."

"Hahaha, only you would put it that way. Everyone else is fighting for a chance to go."

"I heard a few big shots will be there. It’s possible... President Lockwood might come. You have to see him in person this time. He’s seriously, super, super, super handsome! I’ve never seen a more handsome man in my entire life!"

Chloe Sterling: "...Jasper Lockwood?"

Maya Jacobs: "Yeah. Who else would the big boss named Lockwood be?"

Chloe Sterling pursed her lips. Jasper Lockwood hadn’t said a word to her about it.

"I’m just guessing, of course. He did invest in The Medical College’s new project, after all. But it’s also possible he’ll send someone else instead of appearing in person."

Chloe Sterling said suddenly, "I’ve seen him in person."

Maya Jacobs was stunned for a second. "You’ve seen him?" After a pause, she suddenly remembered. "Oh, right! We saw him once when we were out to eat. He was being pestered by the eldest daughter of the Sinclair Family. Hahaha, I almost forgot."

Chloe Sterling: "..."

Maya Jacobs added, "Then let’s sit together on the day of Director Xavier’s speech."

Chloe Sterling: "Okay."

「In the afternoon.」

When Esther Sterling got home, she suddenly remembered what happened at noon and asked Rose Lynch, "Mom, who was that man you met at our school last time?"

"Your school?" Rose Lynch couldn’t immediately recall.

"Yes, the one who’s about your age. The rather handsome one."

Realizing who she meant, Rose Lynch’s expression shifted. "He’s just an old friend."

"Is he from Crestfall? What family does he belong to?"

"Why the sudden questions about him?"

"It’s nothing, I was just curious. I saw him having coffee with Chloe Sterling today at a café near our school."

"What?!" Rose Lynch shot to her feet. "He was with Chloe? Are you sure?"

"I’m sure." Seeing her mother’s strong reaction, Esther Sterling grew suspicious. "What is it? Why are you overreacting like this? Who is he, really?"

Rose Lynch quickly composed herself. ’Impossible. There’s no way Charles Sterling could know Chloe Sterling’s real identity. They must have met through Director Xavier.’

"He’s just an ordinary person. An old classmate of mine." After a pause, Rose Lynch added, "He used to have a crush on me."

Hearing he was just an ordinary person, Esther Sterling relaxed. She really didn’t want any more influential figures showing up in Chloe Sterling’s life.

Rose Lynch sat back down on the sofa, still feeling unsettled.

’Chloe Sterling’s identity must not be exposed. Warren Sterling would never forgive her, and she would never be able to hold her head high in the Sterling Family again.’

After a long moment of thought, Rose Lynch decided to meet with Charles Sterling and sound him out. She really didn’t want to see Chloe Sterling; even the thought of her gave her a headache.

「The Lockwood Residence」

The moment Chloe Sterling returned, she was surprised to see Jasper Lockwood sitting on the sofa, reading a book.

"How come you’re back so early?"

Jasper Lockwood leaned back against the sofa, lifting his gaze to her. "Nothing much going on today," he said casually. "You’re back pretty early yourself."

"I didn’t have much to do, either."

Chloe Sterling walked over and sat down. After a moment’s thought, she asked, "Are you going to Director Xavier’s speech on Friday?"

Jasper Lockwood closed his book. "I’m not sure yet. Do you want me to go?"

Chloe Sterling: "It should depend on your schedule."

Jasper Lockwood watched her for a moment. "I knew you’d say that."

Chloe Sterling: "...Then why did you even ask?"

"If you want me to go, I’ll definitely be there."

"..."

After watching him for a moment, Chloe Sterling blurted out, "Then you should go."

"Okay."

Jasper Lockwood agreed without a moment’s hesitation.

In that moment, the tension that had been lingering between them for the past few days seemed to begin to dissipate.

Feeling a little uncomfortable under his gaze, Chloe Sterling suddenly stood up. "I’m just going to my room for a minute."

Just as she was about to leave, Jasper Lockwood pulled her back, pressing her down onto the sofa. "Go later," he said, his voice raspy.

Chloe’s fingers tightened subconsciously. The man’s handsome face drew closer, and then his lips were on hers. She slowly closed her eyes, no longer caring that they were in the living room with other people around.

’These past few days of being at odds with Jasper Lockwood, she hadn’t felt right, either. She didn’t know when it started, but this man could now affect her emotions so deeply.’

’The other night, Jasper thought she was asleep. He had quietly kissed her cheek and whispered that she was sent from heaven to torment him, but that he was willing to be tormented.’

’At that moment, a storm of emotions had churned within her. He wasn’t the only one being tormented; her own heart was far from the calm she projected.’

She didn’t know how much time passed before they slowly parted. The surrounding servants had long since vanished.

Jasper Lockwood looked down at the woman beneath him and let out a low chuckle. "Why so cooperative today?"

Chloe Sterling pressed her swollen, red lips together but said nothing.

’I must be losing my mind.’

Just then, the phone on the coffee table suddenly rang. Jasper Lockwood glanced at it, then picked it up. "Hello? What’s up?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

A woman’s voice came through the phone: "President Lockwood, around what time will you be arriving? People are already starting to get here."

’He’s still going out!’

Chloe Sterling’s expression flickered, but she remained silent.

Looking at the woman beneath him, whose expression had faltered, Jasper Lockwood paused before saying, "In two hours."

"Two hours!" The woman on the line seemed to think that was a long time, but didn’t press the issue. "Okay, I understand."

After he hung up, Chloe Sterling noticed the contact name on the screen: Stella Morgan. Jasper Lockwood’s rumored wife.

"You have to go out later?"

Jasper Lockwood placed his phone back on the coffee table and explained, "There’s a gathering tonight that I really have to attend."

Chloe Sterling pushed him away and sat up. "Then you should go."

A faint smile touched Jasper Lockwood’s lips as he took her hand. "Chloe, once I’ve taken care of things, let’s go on a trip. Just the two of us, with no one to bother us."

After a few seconds’ pause, Chloe Sterling replied, "We can talk about it after you’re finished."

"Come with me later. That way... you can keep an eye on me."

Chloe Sterling glanced at him from the side. "What? Is someone sending beautiful women your way again?"

Jasper Lockwood’s lips curled into a smile. "They don’t send beautiful women to these kinds of gatherings, but there will be beautiful women present."

"...In that case, you should go and enjoy yourself. I won’t go and spoil your fun."

As she said this, Chloe Sterling started to stand up, but Jasper Lockwood, of course, wasn’t about to let her go. He pulled her forcefully into his embrace and sealed her lips with his once more.