On the Day I Was Kicked Out of the Wealthy Family, I Had a Flash Marriage with a Tycoon-Chapter 186: You Don’t Need to Explain So Much
"Why?" Chloe Sterling suddenly asked. "Why can’t I be involved?"
Jasper Lockwood looked at her. "Because I don’t want you to be affected by all this chaos. I just want you to do what you love."
"But we’re married. Shouldn’t we face things together?"
Jasper Lockwood smiled. "It’s nothing I can’t handle on my own. We don’t need to face it together."
Chloe Sterling said no more.
’An image of another woman, Stella Morgan, suddenly surfaced in her mind. It seemed like she knew everything and was helping Jasper Lockwood handle certain matters.’
The car drove into the estate and stopped in front of the villa.
The two got out and entered the villa.
After a long silence, Chloe Sterling suddenly spoke again. "Are you and Stella Morgan business partners?"
Jasper Lockwood stopped and turned to look at her, a faint smile in his eyes. "We have a bit of a business collaboration, so we’ve been in contact more often lately. Once the current situation is resolved, that will change."
Chloe Sterling cleared her throat. "I was just asking casually. It’s nothing. You don’t have to explain so much."
Jasper Lockwood chuckled softly. "Mm." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮
Chloe Sterling: "..."
「The Sinclair Residence.」
Chairman Sinclair, the Head of the Rivers Family, and Serena Lockwood were discussing their strategy.
Mrs. Sinclair stormed in, furious. "What do we do now? Jasper Lockwood found out long ago! He was prepared, and he has Phoebe!"
Chairman Sinclair shot to his feet. "You’re saying Phoebe is in Jasper Lockwood’s hands? Are you sure?"
"I’m sure!" Mrs. Sinclair said. "I just came from The Lockwood Residence. Jasper Lockwood admitted it himself. Phoebe is with him, and we have no idea how she is."
With that, Mrs. Sinclair turned to Serena Lockwood. "So what do you suggest? It was your idea to go after Jasper Lockwood in the first place! Now he’s fine, but we’ve suffered heavy losses, and he even has Phoebe. What do we do?"
The Sinclair and Rivers families had been allies for generations, but the Sinclairs were more powerful. Thus, Mrs. Sinclair’s status was naturally higher than Serena Lockwood’s. In her current foul mood, she wasn’t about to be polite.
Serena Lockwood remained relatively calm. She stood and walked over to her. "Don’t panic. Jasper Lockwood wouldn’t dare do anything to Phoebe." She then guided her to sit on the sofa.
The Head of the Rivers Family said grimly, "I never thought Jasper Lockwood could be so despicable. To think he found out long ago and quietly led us into a trap."
Serena Lockwood glanced at him. "Did President Sterling say when he’d be coming over?"
At the mention of Charles Sterling, the Head of the Rivers Family’s expression darkened again. "Don’t even mention him. That man has no integrity. The moment he saw us lose our advantage, he disappeared."
Chairman Sinclair said, "His reaction is understandable. Seeing that we have no chance of winning, he’s naturally choosing to play it safe. However, the funds he promised have arrived. We haven’t lost yet."
Mrs. Sinclair said, "What’s the deal with the Nocturne Group? Doesn’t that Silas Coldwell have a grudge against Jasper Lockwood? Why isn’t he making a move at a time like this?"
The Head of the Rivers Family replied, "The man has always been unpredictable and never plays by the rules. He definitely wants to move against Jasper Lockwood; he’s probably just waiting for a better opportunity."
"Exactly," Serena Lockwood said. "They fought so intensely before. There’s no way his anger could have subsided so quickly. Silas Coldwell is probably just like Charles Sterling—waiting and watching."
Mrs. Sinclair: "So what should we do now?"
After a brief silence, Serena Lockwood’s eyes narrowed, a vicious light glinting within them. "Since they won’t make a move themselves, let’s give them a reason they have to. We might even draw in more allies."
"What reason?" Mrs. Sinclair asked.
Serena Lockwood’s lips curved into a smile. "Both the Nocturne Group and the Apex Group came to Crestfall for that Pharmacist named Lynn Chester. If we spread a rumor that Jasper Lockwood’s secret wife is Lynn Chester, do you think... they’ll still stand by and do nothing?
The number of factions who want Lynn Chester is the number of new enemies Jasper Lockwood will have. Do you think he can handle that many forces all by himself?"
Hearing this, the other three were all stunned.
Mrs. Sinclair saw Serena Lockwood in a completely new light. No wonder this woman could go from being a common orphan to the adopted daughter of the Lockwood Family, then leap to become the matriarch of the Rivers Family and enter Crestfall’s most elite circles. She was truly cunning.
"But... will they believe it?" The Head of the Rivers Family was hesitant.
Serena Lockwood continued, "This Chloe Sterling knows a great deal about pharmacology. She’s a top-level pharmacist herself and recently solved a major problem for Charles Sterling. With that kind of skill, why wouldn’t they believe it?"
Mrs. Sinclair asked in surprise, "Chloe Sterling solved a problem for Charles Sterling?"
Serena Lockwood nodded. "That’s right. Chloe Sterling is certainly capable."
The Head of the Rivers Family smiled. "Actually, it doesn’t matter if they believe it or not. They’re just looking for a top-level pharmacist. Since they can’t find Lynn Chester, if they find someone who’s supposedly just as good, they won’t let the opportunity pass."
Serena Lockwood smiled as well. "Yes, that’s exactly the logic."
After a moment of thought, Chairman Sinclair said, "Do you think it’s possible... that this Chloe Sterling really is Lynn Chester? Why else would Jasper Lockwood have married a woman like her back then?"
Mrs. Sinclair replied, "Probably not. If she were Lynn Chester, why would she have been kicked out of that minor family and holed up in a small place like The Medical College?"
The Head of the Rivers Family said, "Whether she’s the real Lynn Chester or not, for now, she has to be."
Mrs. Sinclair: "Good. I agree with this idea. When all those different powers come demanding Jasper Lockwood hand her over, let’s see how he handles it."
Serena Lockwood laughed. "Jasper Lockwood is genuinely fond of Chloe Sterling. He will never hand her over. That means he’ll inevitably clash with them. While they’re busy fighting each other, we can swoop in and reap the rewards."
Outside the door, Damian Rivers clenched his fists, then abruptly turned to leave.
The butler, approaching from the other side, called out, "Young Master."
Hearing this, Serena Lockwood’s expression changed. She quickly got up, rushed out, and called after Damian Rivers, who was striding away. "Damian, you stop right there!"
Damian Rivers stopped in his tracks.
Serena Lockwood hurried toward him. "You heard everything, didn’t you? Where are you going?"
Damian Rivers turned back, stared at her, and said slowly, "Mom, you’re quite the strategist."
"What else? What would you have me do? Just stand by and watch Jasper Lockwood destroy the Rivers Family?"
"And that means you have to destroy Chloe Sterling? What you’re doing is pushing her into a dangerous abyss! She saved Grandfather, and she saved Aunt. Mom, aren’t you being a little too cruel?"
"Me, cruel? Who do you think I’m risking all this for? Everything the Rivers Family has will be yours someday. I’m doing this for your status in Crestfall!"
Damian Rivers said in a low voice, "You’re not doing this for me. You’re doing it for your own desires and ambition."
Serena Lockwood let out a soft breath. "So, what are you going to do? Are you going to stop our plan and defy your father and me? Watch as the Rivers Family is destroyed? Lose your own status as the Heir of the Rivers?"
Damian Rivers stared at his mother and spoke slowly, "I won’t defy you. But I won’t stand by and watch Chloe Sterling get hurt either."
