“Since we’re family, I don’t want to have a falling out with you,” she exined, her tone more conciliatory. “Hand Nina to me, and we can put our differences behind us.”


    Lilian felt that challenging Jayden directly wasn’t an option, especially since they needed him to run thepany. However, she believed that by shifting her focus to Nina, she could exert influence and apply pressure on Jayden.


    Upon hearing her ridiculous words, Jayden raised an eyebrow. “And what makes you think I’ll oblige?”


    “Because my poor son is in the hospital because of you,” she continued, her eyes filled with pain and anger. “With five of his ribs broken, I can’t let this matter go unnoticed.”


    Besides the five broken ribs, his legs were also crippled. The doctors had also dered that he might not be able to use his di** in the future.


    She was actually showing kindness by asking Jayden to hand Nina over to her. Because even the lives of Jayden and Ninabined could notpensate for the immense pain and suffering that Keith had endured.


    “He deserves it,” Jayden retorted. “You should be thankful that he’s still breathing,”


    “If hisst name weren’t Luxton, you might not even have the chance to see him.”


    He added, “And trust me, given what he’s done, his fate could have been much worse.”


    “Why?!” Lilian screamed. “Just for a woman? Jayden Luxton, don’t tell me you wanna y the hero to a damsel in distress. You’re not that kind.”


    “So what if he yed with her? That whore should feel lucky that she caught my son’s attention.”


    “And does she think that by acting chaste, she can hide her dirty deeds? Didn’t she also hook up with you after spreading her legs? Sluts like her are never satisfied. Hence she changed her target and seduced Keith, too. It’s because she got caught that she turned the entire situation into an attempted ra**.”


    “Enough,”


    Jayden’s patience wore thin as he interrupted Lilian’s outburst. His face grew colder as he enunciated each word. “Nina is my wife. Whether or not you ept it is your choice. But if anyone, including you, dares to touch her, believe me, it won’t end with just broken bones and ribs.”


    However, Lilian seemed to have lost herposure. She burst intoughter, her behavior bing increasingly erratic. “Why are you so protective of her, Jayden? Have you fallen in love with her?”


    In response to Lilian’s question, Jayden remained silent.


    “So the dog I raised has finally learned to rebel?” Lilian sneered.


    Jayden’s gaze hardened as he locked eyes with her. “Yes,” he dered coldly. “So before this ‘dog’ bites, it’s best if you leave.”


    “Rick,” Jayden called for his assistant, who promptly entered. “Show her out.”


    Nodding, Rick took hold of Lilian’s arm and dragged her out of the room.


    “Don’t touch me!” Lilian protested. “Bastard, how dare you treat me this way!” Her struggle and cries of indignation continued as Rick forcefully escorted her out of Jayden’s office.


    Lilian refused to be manhandled and fought to break free from his grasp.


    Upon reaching the end of the hallway, Rick released his hold on Lilian, causing her to stumble and fall onto a nearby chair. Her appearance had be disheveled, a stark contrast to her initial entrance into thepany.


    “What are you looking at?” Lilian snapped at the employees, who were sneaking nces at her. The few employees who had been whispering to each other quickly averted their gazes, not wanting to incur her wrath.


    Despite her disarray, Lilian was quick to regain herposure. She adjusted her hair and straightened her clothes, returning to the dignified and graceful demeanor that befitted her title as Madam Luxton.


    With her head held high, she strode out of thepany.


    Lilian sat inside the car, and it soon drove away. Once settled, she retrieved her mobile phone and dialed a number. After a few rings, the call connected.


    “Sweetheart, when are you returning?” Lilian inquired in a sweet tone.


    The person on the other end said something and a bright smile appeared on her face. They exchanged a few more words before Lilian ended the call.


    As soon as the call ended, her expression changed.


    Her demeanor turned frosty, and a menacing glint shone in her gaze. “Jayden Luxton, don’t me me for being ruthless.”


    —


    Nina noticed Jayden had been unusually busy these days. With less work at thepany, she decided to have lunch with him at his office.


    After getting dressed and preparing the meal, Nina drove to thepany.


    Upon arriving, she essed the private elevator that led directly to Jayden’s office.


    As she made her way through the office, Nina couldn’t help but sense the curious and sometimes pitying gazes of the employees.


    It wasn’t her first visit to thepany, but the unfamiliarity of their stares still made her ufortable. Nevertheless, she brushed off their attention to the back of her mind.


    Nina knocked twice on Jayden’s office door before pushing it open and stepping inside.


    Upon entering the office, the opulent and luxurious ambiance of the room greeted her.


    Jayden was seated behind his desk, with his chair turned away from the door. The room was filled with the hushed rustling of papers.


    A small smile graced her lips as she approached him. “I thought we had agreed on lunch,” she said, cing the basket on a nearby table.


    However, her words were met with silence.


    Puzzled, Nina narrowed her eyes and was about to take a step closer when the chair slowly turned around. As it rotated to reveal the person seated in it, Nina froze.


    Inside his exclusive office, seated in Jayden’s chair, was a woman she didn’t recognize.


    The woman appeared to be roughly the same age as Nina.


    Her elegant facial structure,rge expressive eyes, and plump lips exuded a captivating charm. Her radiantplexion showcased her smooth and wless skin, while her long, sleek hair added to her overall allure.


    Nina had a nagging feeling that she had seen this woman somewhere before, but couldn’t quite recall where.


    However, that was not what stunned her.


    When Jayden took over as the CEO of the Luxton Corporation, he was often surrounded by female employees.


    Being the youngest and most handsome CEO, inevitably, some of these female employees had ulterior motives. Regardless of how strict the rules and policies were, these women attempted to climb into his bed, even if it was just a one-night stand.


    During that period, Jayden was deeplymitted to the business and had little patience for such distractions.


    Frustrated by their advances and determined to maintain a professional atmosphere within thepany, he fired those female employees and reced them with male staff, hoping to eliminate the potential for suchplications.


    So, imagine Nina’s surprise when she saw a female inside Jayden’s office.


    The woman simrly sized Nina up.


    Without breaking eye contact, she picked up the phone on Jayden’s desk and dialed a number. In hushed tones, she whispered a few words into the receiver.


    Within a matter of minutes, Bruce, Jayden’s secretary, entered the office.


    The woman shifted her attention to Bruce and spoke with an authoritative tone. “Bruce, has the CEO’s office be essible to just anyone these days?” she inquired, her displeasure evident in her voice.


    Puzzled, Bruce scanned the room, trying to identify the intruder mentioned by the mysterious woman. When he realized that the woman was referring to Nina as the “intruder,” he was tongue-tied.


    Nina couldn’t help but scoff at the woman’s arrogance as she acted as though she owned the ce. Crossing her arms, she retorted, “That’s right, Bruce. Can Tom, Dick, and Harry now walk into the CEO’s office and take a seat at his desk?”


    Caught in a difficult position between the two women, Bruce was unsure of how to address the situation. Both of them held significant importance in Jayden’s life, and he couldn’t afford to offend either.


    He stood there awkwardly, trying to find a diplomatic response, when the door swung open once more, and Jayden entered the room.


    As Jayden walked in, he noticed the palpable tension inside and inquired, “What’s going on?”


    The woman shook her head. “Nothing, I was just questioning Bruce about how he could let anyone enter without proper authorization.”


    As her eyesnded on Nina, she disapproved of the staff’s unprofessional behavior, given the sensitive business documents and secrets inside Jayden’s office.


    Upon hearing the underlying meaning of her words, Jayden squinted and stood beside Nina. “She’s not just anyone. She’s my wife. She can enter and leave as she pleases.”


    His deration caught both Nina and the mysterious woman by surprise.


    The woman’s smile faltered, reced with shock upon hearing this unexpected revtion.


    “Wife?” The woman couldn’t help but respond with a disbelievingugh as if she thought Jayden was jesting. Her gaze remained locked on Jayden, waiting for the confirmation that he was joking.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    However, the serious expression on Jayden’s face shattered her hopes, leaving her speechless.


    She couldn’t help but nce back and forth between Jayden and Nina before she questioned, “When did you get married?”


    “A little over a year and a half ago.”


    Realizing he had yet to introduce the two women, Jayden quickly rectified the oversight. “Sorry, I forgot to introduce you two.”


    He gestured to Nina and continued, “This is Nina, my wife.” Turning his attention to the woman, he introduced her while providing some context. “Nina, this is Emma, my business partner and… a good friend.”


    Both Nina and Emma felt ufortable with his introductions, but Jayden seemed oblivious to the tension.


    His eyes fell upon the basket of food on the nearby table, and he extended a courteous invitation. “It’s time for lunch. Emma, why don’t you join us?”


    Nina’s head whipped in Jayden’s direction upon hearing his words.


    This stupid old man. Was he f**king out of his mind?


    “You two can enjoy the lunch. I have something to attend to.” She immediately declined.


    Without a second nce at Jayden or Emma, she turned on her heel and headed towards the exit.


    Taken aback by her sudden departure, Jayden followed behind her in his long strides. He gently but firmly caught her arm, causing her to turn and face him. His piercing gaze bore into her, and he pulled her closer, narrowing the distance between them.


    “Didn’t you say you were free earlier?” Jayden’s voice was low, tinged with confusion. “Why are you suddenly leaving?”


    Nina attempted to pry his hand away. “Yes, but I don’t have an appetite now.”


    Jayden was unsure of her sudden mood swings. It wasn’t until he sensed Emma’s gaze on them that realization struck him.


    Ah!


    So, it was Emma’s presence that had made her ufortable.


    Without releasing his hold on Nina, Jayden pinched the space between his brows. “Emma isn’t a stranger, Nina,” he rified.


    It would have been better if he had said nothing. Because as soon as the words left his mouth, Nina’s temper red.


    “Did I say anything about her?” Nina asked, gritting her teeth. “What, do I need your permission now before deciding on my meals?”


    Why couldn’t this blockhead understand? It was supposed to be their private moment.


    Just the two of them.


    Why did he have to invite a third person? Was something wrong in his head?