<b>Chapter </b><b>274 </b>


    Ross‘ voice was deep and attractive. Danielle rubbed her ear and sighed in mild annoyance, “Then I’m hanging up.”


    68


    “Wait-” Ross hadn’t even finished speaking when the line went dead with a series of beep tones. He shook his head with a bitter smile, thinking about how he could ever find a chance to seduce Danielle.


    In Shermaine’s dimly lit bedroom, faint moonlight spilled through the curtains, casting shadows over the tangled sheets.


    Muchter, Joshua carried Shermaine to the bathroom, and then back to bed half an hourter. He cracked the window open, letting the fresh night air sweep in.


    Shermainey on the bed, her skin lightly flushed pink, her skin still flushed pink, her eyes heavy–lidded with exhaustion and post–passion glow.


    Yawning, she suddenly remembered and tilted her head up at Joshua, who still seemed wide awake and not the least bit tired. “Did you finish inside me


    thatst time?”


    Joshua’s throat bobbed as he nodded. He hadn’t been able to hold back thatst time. Sliding into bed beside her, he murmured, “I’ll be more careful


    next time.”


    “I’ll just take pills tomorrow<i>,</i>” Shermaine said.


    Joshua frowned, “Pills aren’t good for you.”


    “I’ll make my own form. No side effects,” Shermaine said hoarsely, her voice still husky from earlier. She studied him through half–lidded eyes. “Do you want me to have your baby?”


    She had <i>no </i>intention of getting pregnant anytime soon. If she got pregnant, it wouldplicate everything.


    A low chuckle rumbled in his chest as Joshua pulled her closer. “Not at all, I’m only invested in the process.” The pill was unnecessary anyway. The was likely in a safe window. The odds were slim.


    At thirty–one, he had zero interest in fatherhood. He and Shermaine had fought too hard to be together. A child would only disrupt that.


    Shermaine huffed lightly and shut her eyes. “Sleeping.”


    Joshua kissed her forehead and followed suit.


    In Maple Leaf Ville, Ruth listened as Jay shared everything he knew about Shermaine. Pride swelled in her chest. Her daughter, even after being lost so young, had grown into someone extraordinary. She was even more brilliant than Ruth herself had ever been.


    Jay stared at her, stunned. “You’re really Sheary’s birth mother?”


    “Yes, I am,” Ruth replied.


    Though Jay found the story unbelievable, he trusted Ruth. “Should I contact Sheary for you?”


    Ruth considered it. “I’ll return to Basterel tomorrow to reunite with her myself.” She ached to see her son, Ross, too.


    That night, Richard arrived in Maple Leaf Ville. The moment he met Ruth, he knew her memories had returned.


    Even before speaking, the guilt choked him. “I’m sorry, Juliana,” Richard whispered. “For lying to you.”


    To his surprise, Ruth wasn’t furious. “I forgive you.”


    14:29 Mon<b>, </b><b>23 </b>Jun G


    Richard hadn’te to drag her back. Doing so would’ve made him irredeemable. “If you want to return to the Jean family, I’ll help.”


    “I intend to,” Ruth said calmly. “But I know nothing of what’s happened there all these years.”


    “I’ll tell you anything you want to know.” Richard handed her a document. Every detail about the Jean family was meticulouslypiled.


    <b>68</b>%


    With her memories restored, Ruth was just as she had always been–poised, elegant, her grace undimmed by time. If anything, age had refined her beauty. At nearly fifty, she looked no older than thirty.


    The next morning, Jameson called a shareholder meeting for 1 p.m. The entire board was buzzing. Everyone wanted to know who had acquired that 15%


    share.


    But Jameson had bigger ns. Today, he intended to strip Ross of his authority within Jean Group. He had already prepared the excuse–sending Ross overseas to handle international expansion and transferring him out of headquarters to manage foreign operations.


    Ross had also received the meeting notice.


    Janice had long since transferred her shares to Shermaine. As one of Jean Group’s official shareholders, Shermaine had every right to attend the


    meeting.


    Over breakfast, Ross nced at Shermaine. “Sheary, are you going?”


    Shermaine nodded. “Absolutely.” She wouldn’t miss that uing show.


    *****


    Meanwhile, in Maple Leaf Ville, Richard’s car idled outside, ready to send Ruth back