On the Day I Was Kicked Out of the Wealthy Family, I Had a Flash Marriage with a Tycoon-Chapter 179: His Careful Protection
Jean Kensington chuckled. "But... you’re here to check up on him today, aren’t you? What, don’t you trust your President Lockwood?"
Chloe Sterling didn’t say a word, just raised her glass and slowly took a sip of wine.
Although she appeared completely nonchalant, Jean Kensington’s smile faded. She put some distance between them and sidled up to Chase Langdon.
Chase Langdon smiled. "It’s nothing."
Jean Kensington gave a mischievous smile and whispered, "It’s rare to see her like this."
「In another private room.」
Jasper Lockwood looked down at his phone, a rare, gentle smile on his face.
Beside him, Stella Morgan glanced over. She was about to speak, but the sight of this rare scene made the words catch in her throat as a sharp pain pierced her heart.
’She didn’t need to guess who Jasper Lockwood was talking to. He would never be like this for anyone but that woman. Even though she has known him for over a decade, she had never once seen him smile at her like that. In fact, she could count the number of times she had seen him smile at all on one hand. So this was the vast difference between being loved and not.’
As if noticing her gaze, Jasper Lockwood put away his phone and turned to look at her, the smile vanishing from his lips. "What is it?"
Stella Morgan snapped back to reality and said, "Oh, what did you think of the proposal I just mentioned?"
"It won’t work," Jasper Lockwood rejected it outright.
Stella Morgan’s expression faltered slightly. "Is there a problem with it?"
Jasper Lockwood concisely pointed out the issue and then explained his own ideas.
Stella Morgan nodded. "I understand. You’re right. I’ll give it more thought."
"Mm."
After a moment of thought, Stella Morgan spoke again, "Jasper, have you decided on a plan for the Rivers Family? Serena Lockwood’s moves have been getting more and more obvious these past two days."
Jasper Lockwood’s eyes darkened slightly as his thin lips parted. "She only has that one son. She’ll consider the consequences."
Stella Morgan’s pupils contracted in shock. "You kidnapped Damian Rivers, too?"
"Not yet."
"Then... should I have my people make a move?"
"No need," Jasper Lockwood said. "You don’t need to get involved in this. Just focus on the business."
Stella Morgan nodded. "Alright, I understand."
After a moment, Henry Chamberlain walked over quickly. His expression was grim; something seemed to be wrong.
"Sir..."
Jasper Lockwood glanced at him. "What’s wrong?"
Henry Chamberlain leaned in closer and said in a low voice, "The guards watching Phoebe Sinclair... got out of hand. But I’ve already taught them a lesson. They won’t dare act recklessly again."
Jasper Lockwood’s long fingers tightened around his wine glass. "How is she?"
"She’s physically unharmed, just emotionally unstable."
After a moment’s pause, Jasper Lockwood gave a low command, "Break their legs. Get new men over there."
Henry Chamberlain nodded. "Yes, sir."
Beside them, Stella Morgan overheard the conversation. The hand she had on the table unconsciously clenched into a fist. ’So Phoebe Sinclair was actually... violated by a few bodyguards. She knew Phoebe Sinclair was in love with Jasper Lockwood and would stop at nothing to marry him. The Sinclair and Rivers families had joined forces not only to strike at the Lockwood Group, but also to satisfy their daughter’s wish of getting the man she wanted. Jasper Lockwood had kidnapped Phoebe Sinclair to threaten Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair at a critical moment. His ordering Henry Chamberlain to break the men’s legs wasn’t revenge for Phoebe; it was just punishment for his disobedient subordinates. Jasper Lockwood was truly ruthless toward those he didn’t love. But it wasn’t his fault, either. After all, he hadn’t ordered it; his men had acted on their own.’
Jasper Lockwood’s sharp gaze fell on Henry Chamberlain as he said coldly, "If there are any more mistakes, you can forget about keeping your legs either."
Henry Chamberlain’s knees went weak, and he nearly stumbled. "Yes, sir."
Jasper Lockwood looked away and said no more.
’He hadn’t sent people to capture Phoebe Sinclair just to warn Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair. He knew she had gone to see Silas Coldwell, and he guessed she wanted Chloe Sterling dead. Since she dared to make such a move, she had to be prepared to pay the price. While this incident was an accident, Phoebe Sinclair had brought it upon herself.’
It was nearly eleven when the party finally broke up.
Chloe Sterling still hadn’t sent Jasper Lockwood a message.
He glanced at his phone and called Chloe Sterling directly. The call connected quickly.
"Chloe, which room are you in?"
"President Lockwood." It wasn’t Chloe Sterling’s voice on the phone, but Jean Kensington’s. "We’re in private room 8609. If you’re done, you should come over. Chloe... she’s had a little too much."
"Got it. I’m on my way."
After hanging up, Jasper Lockwood said his goodbyes and left.
...
Ever since her feelings had been exposed, Chloe Sterling had been downing one glass after another. She had even mixed two types of alcohol, and she always got drunk easily when she mixed her drinks.
Looking at Chloe Sterling leaning against the sofa with her eyes closed, Jean Kensington murmured, "What’s wrong with Chloe?"
Chase Langdon said nonchalantly, "It’s nothing. This is what she does when she gets embarrassed. She either ignores people, throws a tantrum, or just... does this. You should probably keep your distance, in case she suddenly lashes out and hurts you."
Jean Kensington was stunned. "It can’t be that bad, can it? Wasn’t she just fine a moment ago?"
"She’s just too embarrassed to face Jasper Lockwood," Chase said.
"You... seem to know her pretty well," Jean Kensington remarked.
"Of course," Chase replied. "We’ve been fellow apprentices for so many years. No one knows her better than I do."
Just then, the door to the private room was pushed open, and Jasper Lockwood strode in with Henry Chamberlain at his side.
"President Lockwood, you’re here." Jean Kensington pointed at Chloe Sterling. "Chloe’s pretty drunk."
Jasper Lockwood walked over, looked at the unconscious woman for a moment, and then said to the other two, "I’ll take her home now. Put the bill on my tab. You two can stay and have fun."
Jean Kensington smiled. "Oh, that won’t be necessary."
Chase Langdon said, "You should wake her up first. It’s cold outside; she could catch a cold going out like this." Then, he called out to Chloe Sterling, "Chloe, wake up."
"No need," Jasper Lockwood said. "Don’t wake her." As he spoke, he helped Chloe Sterling put on her coat, then wrapped his own overcoat around her before sweeping her up into his arms. "We’re leaving now."
Jean Kensington nodded, stunned.
"Be careful on your way," Chase said.
Jasper Lockwood gave a slight nod and carried her out of the private room.
Chloe Sterling was well and truly drunk. She leaned against Jasper Lockwood’s chest without the slightest sign of waking, letting him carry her through the hallway and out of the club.
Stella Morgan hadn’t left yet. She froze for a second when she saw Jasper Lockwood emerge carrying a woman, only then realizing that Chloe Sterling was also at the club.
Jasper Lockwood held the woman, wrapped tightly in clothes, close to his chest, afraid that even a sliver of cold wind might touch her. He himself was only in a black shirt, exposed to the biting cold.
Stella Morgan stood there, stunned. As the man passed by her, she murmured, "She’s... drunk?"
"Yeah. I’m leaving now," Jasper Lockwood replied, striding to his car and carefully settling the woman inside.
Watching Jasper Lockwood’s departing figure, Stella Morgan’s heart clenched in pain.
’She had always thought Jasper Lockwood was a cold-hearted person, incapable of loving any woman. So she had told herself countless times to just watch him quietly from afar and not hope for anything more. But now, seeing him so carefully cherishing another woman, she couldn’t control the ache in her heart. It turned out he wasn’t incapable of love; it was just that the one he loved had only just appeared.’
