<b>Chapter </b><b>630 </b>


    <b>58 </b>


    55 vouchers


    My face went red and I gave a dryugh. “Hey, I’ve got my limits. Jared’s giving me a chance to grow, so why would I say no?”


    “Yeah, I work with my ex–wife a lot too. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing,” Edward said, noticing I was feeling awkward and giving me an out.


    “Really? What does she do?” I asked, genuinely curious.


    Edward shrugged. “She owns a fewpanies and does a lot of investing. She’s usually in Aurelia, and right now, she’s still there. Nora just came over for the weekend to visit, but she flew back to Aurelia for schoolst night.”


    I was taken aback. So that’s how it is.


    Edward’s ex–wife sounded like a total powerhouse. She was probably the only one who could really match him–both at home and in business.


    Thinking about that, I lowered my gaze to my fingers, suddenly feeling a pang of envy for those women who can truly stand on their own. I was still working hard to be someone like that.


    “Why’d you go quiet all of a sudden?” Edward asked, noticing I was spacing out.


    I let out a soft sigh. “I just… don’t really know what to say. I guess I just don’t feel strong enough.”


    Edward couldn’t help butugh, and after a while, he tried to reassure me. “If women were all super strong, guys like me would never get the chance to step in and y the protector. Sometimes, being a little vulnerable gives us a reason to try.”


    I paused, a bit surprised. Honestly, there was some truth to that.


    “Mr. Jennings, I bet you’ve yed the knight in shining armor for plenty of gorgeous women. No wonder you’re such a pro at this,” Iughed.


    Edward looked out the window, totally unfazed. “Trying to get to know me?”


    I stiffened, quickly shaking my head. “Sorry, I wasn’t trying to dig into your private business<b>.” </b>


    Edward’s face fell, his tone turning cool. “Guess you must really dislike me.”


    I held my breath, too nervous to say a word.


    Edward looked like he’d just been hit with something and went quiet.


    I pressed my lips together and changed the subject. “Isabelle got sentenced to a year and a half. Thanks for taking care of that for me.”


    Edward replied in a calm voice, “Helping you is one thing. Protecting the Jennings family’s reputation is


    another.”


    <b>9:42 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>15


    <b>58 </b>


    55 vouchers


    I thought it over. He was right–Isabelle acted without thinking, and her recklessness ended up making the Jennings family lose face.


    “It’s all in the past now. Let’s not bring it up again,” Edward said quietly.


    I nodded. “Isabelle’s friends with Ryan and Miss Chambein. Now that something happened to her, do you think Ryan will look into it?”


    Edward turned to look at me. “Do you want him to?”


    I shook my head. “I hope he doesn’t. I’d rather he never finds out.”


    But Edward justughed. “Nope, he already knows. After he asked me to check on you that night, I told him about you taking those pills and ending up in the hospital.”


    “What did he say?<b>” </b>I blurted out, stunned.


    Edward’s eyes went icy. “Ryan was so mad, he could’ve strangled her. What do you think?”


    I sucked in a breath. “So, when you said Ryan wasn’t picking up Miss Chambein’s calls the next day… was that because of me?”


    Edward nodded. “Yeah, he was in a bad ce. But I asked him, and he said once he’s married, he won’t see you or contact you again.”


    I breathed a quiet sigh of relief. “That’s how it should be.”


    Edward studied my face for <i>a </i>long moment. “If you and Ryan never have another chance–ever–would you feel any regret?”


    “No,” I said softly, eyes down, twisting my fingers together. “We made this choice with a clear mind. I won’t regret it,”


    Suddenly, Edward reached over and gently wrapped his hand around my tangled fingers. “Alright, since you won’t say what you want to <b>eat</b><b>, </b>I’ll just decide for you.”


    #