《My CEO Wife Panicked After Our Divorce》
Wife Back 1
Chapter 1
Author: Harlow
Chris Green looked at the clock hanging from the wall for the fifth time. The hands had just reached twelve.
He looked at the spread on the table and wryly smiled. He knew she wouldn¡¯t remember today was his birthday and didn¡¯t know what he was expecting.
He stood up and was about to throw away the dishes that had gone cold. That was when he heard the sound of someone entering the passcode at the door. Chris paused.
Jessica Wilder walked in, leaving the cold wind behind her. She looked tired and was holding a bag.
After entering the house, she looked up at Chris and then ced the bag on the shoe cab. ¡°Happy birthday. Sorry foring back sote. I had to work overtime. Try and see if this fits.¡±
With that said, Jessica made a beeline to her bedroom with her head down before Chris could say anything.
Chris stood where he was for a long time before walking over to the entrance as if epting his fate.
When he saw the brand of the clothes, he couldn¡¯t help but sneer. It was a high-end custom brand from Francas. There was only one store in Cheria.
From the brand alone, Chris had to admit that Jessica had put in quite some effort.
However, he never wore clothes from this brand. He didn¡¯t even need to take the clothes out of the bag. Chris could tell from the color alone, who this set of clothes belonged to.
After standing at the entrance for a while, Chris whispered with his head down, ¡°Thank you.¡±
After that, he ced the bag back where it had been.
Jessica didn¡¯t see the dishes that had gone cold on the table. She didn¡¯t even ask whether Chris had eaten or not before walking into the bathroom. Before she did so, her phone rang, which made Chris feel exhausted deep down.
¡°Hello, Michael? Yes, I¡¯m home. What¡¯s up?¡±
At that moment, Chris felt like all the energy had been drained from him. He was exhausted.
He and Jessica had been married for five years, but the time they had been together didn¡¯t even add up to 10 days. She was either in meetings all the time, or she didn¡¯t care about him at all.
At that moment, someone knocked. Chris stood up and went to open the door. That was when he saw a familiar figure.
¡°Mom.¡± Chris¡¯s voice was very soft. He stepped aside to let Jessica¡¯s mother, Linda Jones, into the house. ¡°Jessica¡¯s back, but she¡¯s having a shower right now. Let me get you a drink.¡±
Linda saw the dishes on the table out of the corners of her eyes and her heart couldn¡¯t help but ache. She grabbed Chris¡¯s arm and led him to the sofa to take a seat.
¡°Chris, have you thought about what I said to you?¡±
The wind outside howled as the snow was blown onto the window. It was warm inside, but Chris¡¯s hands were ice cold.
Linda looked at the exhaustion in Chris¡¯s eyes. His eyes were even a little red. ¡°Mom, I¡ agree.¡±
Linda nodded. ¡°We had used our favor to ask for something in return from you, but a good thing is that it¡¯s not toote to fix the mistake.¡±
She looked at the bedroom where running water could be heard and said softly, ¡°After the divorce, it¡¯s time for you and Jessica to return to your own lives. s, it¡¯s all my fault. Why did I agree to the marriage between you and Jessica?¡±
The marriage between Chris and Jessica was more like a deal.
Back then, when Jessica hadn¡¯t graduated from university, she had been in a very passionate rtionship. She even gave up her identity as the daughter of the Wilder family for that man. She wanted to be with Michael Hall no matter what.
During their elopement, they were involved in a car ident.
Chris¡¯s mother was also one of the victims of the multiple-vehicle collision. Chris was also nearby. He ran to the scene and dragged his mother out of the car and also saved Jessica, who was trapped.
On the other hand, Michael had left a long time ago after being saved by passersby.
It was said that Michael had been caught by the members of the Hall family and sent abroad overnight.
From then on, he and Jessica had never seen each other.
Chris hadn¡¯t expected Jessica to bring up the marriage. After the car ident, Chris¡¯s mother, Shona Smith, suffered multiple organ damage. A lot of money had been spent, but she wasn¡¯t recovering.
However, the people of the Wilder family did everything they could to help Shona recover. They helped with the hospital transfer and made appointments with experts in rted fields. They also paid for all of Shona¡¯s medical bills.
The day when Jessica brought up the marriage, Shona suffered from excessive bleeding again.
Chris didn¡¯t want to ask for the Wilder family¡¯s help, so he used his schrship funds to pay for the medical bill, but it still wasn¡¯t enough.
At that moment, a hand reached out from behind him, holding a bank card. ¡°Use my card.¡±
Chris turned around and saw Jessica.
Unlike the terrible state she had been in when she was first rescued from the car ident, at that moment, Jessica was extremely beautiful. Chris said after a short pause with his head down, ¡°I¡¯ll pay you back.¡±
¡°No need.¡±
After making the payment, Jessica waited outside the operating room with Chris for four hours, until Shona¡¯s life was no longer in danger.
¡°Chris Green, number one student in the School of Medicine at the University of Askaton. Your father cheated on your mother and left with all your family¡¯s savings. Your mother has poor health and has been involved in the car ident.¡± Jessica talked about Chris¡¯s life as if she were reading it from a book.
But the next second, Jessica¡¯s eyes turned red. The hand that she grabbed Chris with was cold and she was trembling. It was as if she were putting her life at stake.
¡°Will you¡ Marry me?¡±
It was an absurd request. But when Chris saw the tears in Jessica¡¯s eyes and thought of how the Wilder family helped him, he was convinced that this was a deal. But he had lost the right to say no from the start.
Only after a long time did he find out that on that day, Michael, who had been sent abroad by his family, had gotten engaged to another daughter of an affluent family.
Thinking back now, Chris had already let go of the past.
¡°Mom, I mean, Mrs. Wilder, I¡¯ve said from the start that I¡¯ll pay you back. Marrying Jessica was my own decision. You didn¡¯t force me. There¡¯s no need to feel guilty.¡±
Over the past few years, Linda and Jessica¡¯s father, John Wilder, had treated Chris really well. They knew that their daughter was spoilt and still had feelings for Michael, so they could only treat Chris as best as they could. They could tell that Chris was a smart young man.
However, Michael came back to the country six months ago.
No one expected that the first thing Michael did after returning to Cheria was to contact Jessica. From then on, Jessica beganing homete. Sometimes, she would even stay out all night. The only exnation she had for her husband was that she was working overtime.
It was a ridiculous excuse. Jessica hadn¡¯t even bothered toe up with a good excuse.
¡°Here¡¯s 600 thousand, I¡¯ve contacted a university abroad for you. I know it was a pity that you weren¡¯t able to study for a Master¡¯s degree back then. John and I will support you.¡±
Linda had left before Jessica came out of the bathroom.
Chris didn¡¯t touch the bank card. He tidied the dining table up and then went to bed.
¡°My mom came?¡±
Chris was already half asleep, so he just nodded.
Jessica snorted. ¡°Stop epting my mom¡¯s money. They¡¯ll think I¡¯m mistreating you.¡±
After saying that, Jessica threw something beside his pillow. Chris only saw what it was the next day.
It was a bank card.
What Jessica said the previous night echoed in Chris¡¯s head.
¡°Don¡¯t always stay at home. You¡¯ve got the money, but you don¡¯t even know where to spend it. Go out and have some fun. Go visit your mom. I don¡¯t have time to go with you, so you can go by yourself.¡±
Chris went to visit his mother as he was told.
He squatted down in front of the tombstone in silence for a while before reaching out to wipe the dust off it.
He would never forget the smile that Shona had, just like the one in the picture in front of him. He then ced the card in front of the tombstone.
¡°Mom, Jessica¡¯s busy. You¡¯ve only got me this time. However, Jessica¡¯s always been generous.¡±
The tombstone couldn¡¯t talk, but even the wind seemed to feel sorry for Chris.
¡°I¡¯ve missed you, Mom. I¡¯m about to get a divorce.¡±
Wife Back 2
Chapter 2
Author: Harlow
The surroundings were silent, with only the undying longing remaining.
After a long pause, Chris spoke softly, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m getting a divorce.¡±
He silently lowered his head, tears streaming from his eyes, and only the tombstone heard his whisper, ¡°If only we had never gotten married.¡±
On the way back, he went to thew firm to pick up the divorce papers he had prepared long ago.
He had already made preparations when he first mentioned it to his mother-inw.
He thought, since Jessica had no feelings for him, separating was for the best, and it wouldn¡¯t dy her reconciling with Michael.
There weren¡¯t many of his belongings at home, as if from the very beginning he had anticipated this day, so he deliberately left no personal traces in the house.
After an afternoon of packing, he was left with only a small suitcase.
If he hadn¡¯t truly lived in that home for five years, anyone would have thought he was just a guest.
That evening, Jessica unexpectedly returned home early.
When she opened the door, it wasn¡¯t the familiar warmth that greeted her, nor the sight of Chris busying himself in the kitchen.
The inexplicable silence made her heart skip a beat, and she instinctively reached for her phone to call Chris.
Elsewhere, at the University of Askaton¡¯s medical school, Chris¡¯s former mentor, Jonathan Reed, was shocked by his changes.
Just five years of married life had turned a once high-spirited young man into someone worn down and defeated¡ªhe had been the mentor¡¯s most outstanding student!
He had also been the most promising genius.
Back then, even before he graduated from medical school, Ivy Board universities abroad had offered him full schrships, and countless hospitals had extended invitations.
Everyone thought he would choose the best path for himself, but unexpectedly, he went and got married.
And it didn¡¯t even turn out well.
¡°Chris, why¡¡± Jonathan, with trembling hands covered in wrinkles, held his hand tightly. ¡°If you¡¯re truly unhappy, then choose a different path. Do you know how many people are waiting for you to return to the operating table?¡±
As a student, he had been the only one allowed to perform surgery alongside top surgeons before graduating, his precision wless, with no one in the field able to fault him.
Chris gave a softugh and gently patted the teacher¡¯s hand in reassurance. ¡°The divorce is almost finalized. I came today to ask for your help in reinstating my student status. I¡¯ll handle the paperwork soon.¡±
When he heard this, the mentor¡¯s eyes lit up.
¡°Really?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± Chris felt a sense of rity and relief. He said softly, ¡°Five years¡ªwe¡¯re even now. From now on, we¡¯ll go our separate ways. I¡¯m signing the divorce papers tonight. I remembered you had mentioned an exchange opportunity at a medical school in Dend ¡ I¡¯m wondering if I still have a chance.¡±
¡°Of course!¡± Jonathan hurriedly rummaged through drawers and pulled out the application form Chris had left. ¡°Look, I already signed my part. It just needs your signature now.¡±
So the mentor had been concerned about him all along.
Just as he stepped out of the office, his phone rang.
When he pulled it out and saw the caller ID, it was Jessica.
He couldn¡¯t even remember thest time they had talked on the phone.
When he asionally called to ask if she would be home for dinner, it was always her secretary who answered.
¡°Where are you?¡± On the other end of the line, there was a rustling sound¡ªshe had just taken off a coat.
He paused, then said, ¡°At the university. My mentor called me back for some questions.¡±
Jessica frowned. ¡°You¡¯ve been graduated for so long. What¡¯s there to ask? Hurry up ande back home.¡±
¡°Okay.¡± His voice was as calm as ever, giving away nothing. Yet deep down, a faint sense of anticipation stirred.
His packed suitcase was in the living room; Jessica would notice it if she paid any attention.
The fingerprint lock unlocked with a beep, and when he pushed the door open, silence greeted him.
Chris nced at the suitcase in the corner¡ªit was still there, untouched.
What exactly was he expecting?
¡°I know, I¡¯m on my way. Don¡¯t worry.¡±
Jessica seemed freshly bathed, her hair still damp, her face slightly anxious.
On any other day, he would have told her to blow-dry her hair before going out. Even if she found it a hassle, he would have done it for her himself.
But today, Chris silently took out the divorce papers.
He was still standing at the entrance, hadn¡¯t even changed his shoes.
There was no need to guess¡ªthe call was about Michael.
Once she ended the call, Jessica immediately dialed her secretary. ¡°Drive over and pick up Michael and Jordan right now. Jordan has a fever. Take them to the hospital. I¡¯m on my way.¡±
With that, she passed by Chris without so much as a nce, as if he didn¡¯t exist.
He couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and directly handed her the divorce papers. ¡°Sign it.¡±
Only then did Jessica look up at him, frozen for a moment. ¡°You¡ Jordan is sick. I¡¯m going to check on her.¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Chris nodded. ¡°After the divorce, you can openly care for Mr. Hall and his child.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. I¡¯m in a rush.¡± Jessica, one hand on her phone, the other pulling on a coat, saw that he still didn¡¯t move. Irritated, she snatched the paper and pen from him and quickly signed her name.
She looked annoyed. ¡°You only show this much enthusiasm when money is involved.¡±
Chris was stunned.
Even after retrieving the signed papers, he didn¡¯t lift his head.
¡°Jessica, do you know what you just signed?¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t it the adoption papers?¡± Jessica snapped. ¡°We never had kids. My mom has been pushing us to adopt. I¡¯m telling you now¡ªI don¡¯t have the time.¡±
¡®Adoption? A child?¡¯
It did sound vaguely familiar, but Chris felt that even if they brought a child into their house, with their rtionship, that child wouldn¡¯t be happy.
He had rejected the idea.
The phone rang again, sharp and urgent.
For a moment, Chris wanted to snatch it from her hand and throw it away.
He wanted to scream. ¡®If I¡¯m nothing in your eyes or heart, then why did you say we¡¯d build a good life together?¡¯
There had been happy days between him and Jessica.
It was about a year after their marriage, when Michael¡¯s life abroad had finally stabilized, that Jessica let go of the hope he¡¯d return¡ªand started trying to live a good life with Chris.
That had been a rare, joyful time for him.
He attended sses during the day and cooked dinner at night.
The same hands that controlled life and death on the operating table, were willing to cook for her.
¡°Did Michael treat you well?¡± Chris suddenly asked. ¡°I mean back then.¡±
Jessica didn¡¯t stop walking, only turned around at the door to nce at him, her eyes cold and sharp. ¡°Stop annoying me.¡±
¡°Jessica, I¡¡±
Before he could finish, the sharp sound of the door mming cut him off.
He stood still for a few seconds, then chuckled.
What exactly had he been hoping for?
Didn¡¯t he already know how obsessed Jessica was with Michael?
If that was the case, then what more was there to say?
After all, the signed divorce papers were already in his hand.
He tightened his grip on them, walked over to the sofa, and pulled the suitcase that had been sitting there all day.
He looked around the home where he had lived for five years.
Even though he had never felt warmth there, as long as he and Jessica had lived in it, it had still felt like home.
Especially after his mother passed away.
He honestly wondered¡ªwhen would Jessica realize he was gone?
¡®Jessica, the person you don¡¯t love will leave. The person you love will return. Is that person, Michael?¡¯
Continue to read thi
Wife Back 3
He arrived at the hotel, unpacked his clothes, and copsed on the bed, falling fast asleep.
Thick curtains blocked out the setting sun, and he slept until nightfall before waking up naturally.
When he opened his eyes and saw the unfamiliar surroundings, he was momentarily disoriented.
He got up and took a quick shower.
Then he turned on hisputer and started handling matters rted to studying abroad.
Jonathan had sent over the email address of a mentor in Dend, suggesting he reach out in advance.
He only knew basic Deslian, but to live in Dend, he would definitely need systematguage study.
After thinking for a moment, he used the money in his bank ount to sign up for anguage ss and checked his bnce.
He hadn¡¯t taken a single cent from his mother-inw or Jessica.
The money in his ount was solely from his schrship, since the Wilder family had covered all his mother¡¯s medical expenses in her final years.
He knew he had to pay them back eventually, so he started considering ways to make a living.
He reopened the blog he hadn¡¯t touched in ages, where he had published a few essays.
Back in school, he was known for his writing skills¡ªmany ssmates had asked him to write love letters¡ªand he had the habit of blogging.
From the second post onward, he had charged his readers, and surprisingly, people had still paid to read.
He hadn¡¯t expected to find a considerable amount of money in his blog¡¯s backend.
He withdrew it all.
After searching for a while, he finally found his phone under the bed¡ªprobably dropped while he was asleep.
He pressed the power button a few times, but the screen didn¡¯t light up.
He plugged in the charger and turned it on.
The moment the phone was on, a flurry of messages and missed calls flooded the screen.
He thought it was Jonathan reaching out about the schrship, but to his surprise, it was all from Jessica.
Jessica. ¡°Jordan has a fever and wants oat porridge. Make some.¡±
Jessica. ¡°Where are you? Why aren¡¯t you at home?¡±
Jessica. ¡°Where¡¯s the oat kept? What kind of tantrum are you throwing? Even with a sick child, you¡¯re still being petty? Come back now!¡±
Chris stared at the messages for a few seconds and found them ridiculous.
That was Michael¡¯s child, not his¡ªwhy should he be anxious?
Besides, that house belonged to Jessica, so technically it was her home.
After five years, she didn¡¯t even know where the oat was stored¡ªwasn¡¯t that hrious?
Since they had already decided to divorce, it was better not to get too entangled.
So he didn¡¯t respond.
Unexpectedly, Jessica didn¡¯t give up.
Just as he was about to put his phone down, a call came through.
It was Jessica¡¯s younger sister, Sophie Wilder, whounched into a barrage of scolding the moment he answered.
Sophie said, ¡°How can you be so heartless? The child is sick and you don¡¯t even care. My sister told you toe back and cook! The whole family is waiting for you!¡±
Chris frowned. ¡°Who¡¯s waiting for me?¡±
¡°My sister, Michael, Jordan, and I¡ªthat¡¯s a lot of people. Come back now. Jordan wants spaghetti. Takeaways aren¡¯t healthy. Youe back and do the cooking.¡±
¡®What amanding tone,¡¯ thought Chris.
Sitting up straight, he said, ¡°First, Jordan isn¡¯t my child, so I have no obligation to take care of her. Second, if you want to wait, go ahead¡ªI¡¯m noting back. Lastly, from a medical perspective, children shouldn¡¯t eat spaghetti when they¡¯re sick. It¡¯s hard to digest.¡±
On the other end of the line, Sophie was stunned¡ªChris had actually said so much in one go?
¡°Sophie, is that Chris? Let me speak to him,¡± said Michael.
Unwillingly, Sophie handed the phone over to Michael, pouting.
¡°Hello, Chris. We haven¡¯t met yet, but I still want to apologize. It wasn¡¯t right of me toe to your house without your permission. But Jordan was sick and wouldn¡¯t cooperate. If you¡¯re upset, I¡¯ll leave with her right away. We shouldn¡¯t make you feel like you can¡¯t even go home.¡±
His words put Chris in a tough spot¡ªmaking it seem like if he didn¡¯t return, he was being cruel to a child.
His lips felt dry, and he instinctively licked them.
Over the years, he had gotten used to appeasing Jessica.
He wasn¡¯t good at arguing and didn¡¯t know how to refute this on the spot.
But he still wasn¡¯t going back.
¡°Mr. Hall, we¡¯ve never met because when I rescued Jessica years ago, you had already been taken away. But that doesn¡¯t matter. We don¡¯t really need to meet.¡±
From the side, Sophie shouted, ¡°What do you mean by his home? This house was bought by my sister! She can let anyone she wants in! Who is he to act like the owner?¡±
¡°Sophie,¡± Jessica said sternly, clearly unhappy. ¡°Enough.¡±
But Sophie remained defiant. ¡°Am I wrong? You bought the house! What does it have to do with him? He¡¯s just a gold-digging freeloader!¡±
She had always been biased against him¡ªespecially after his marriage to Jessica.
She idolized Michael and believed Chris had stolen his ce.
Even though their mother had exined many times that Michael had gotten married abroad, Sophie never listened.
There was no need for Chris to endure her baseless insults.
¡°She¡¯s right,¡± he said. ¡°That¡¯s not my home.¡±
Then he hung up and put the phone on silent.
Sophie and Michael stared at the disconnected call in disbelief.
¡°I can¡¯t believe Chris dared to hang up on me! Does he still think he¡¯s part of this family?¡±
Jessica, however, felt uneasy.
She didn¡¯t know why, but she had a strong feeling that she had missed something important today.
She had called Chris earlier in the afternoon because she wanted to make up for forgetting his birthday.
She had nned to take him out for dinner.
But it had all gone wrong.
Years of being in a high position had spoiled her temperament¡ªshe couldn¡¯t bring herself to swallow her pride and make peace with him.
The phone screen lit up with a new message.
Chris picked up his phone to take a look.
Jessica. ¡°This is yourst chance. If you don¡¯te back, I¡¯ll delete your fingerprint and change the passcode. You¡¯ll never be able to return.¡±
¡®What a threat.¡¯ Chris shook his head helplessly.
They had already signed the divorce papers. If she wanted to erase his fingerprint, so be it.
He replied, ¡°Okay.¡±
Jessica, furious, immediately called him.
He didn¡¯t answer.
His mood for writing had beenpletely ruined.
He sat in front of theputer for a long time, not moving, his body as stiff as a statue.
He couldn¡¯t understand¡ªhow had his life turned out this way?
If he hadn¡¯t agreed to marry Jessica back then, he might have already be a renowned doctor, shining with talent in the operating room.
The room was dim, with only the faint glow of theputer screen illuminating his expressionless profile.
He was undeniably handsome.
Since middle school, he had always attracted girls wherever he went.
But he had been entirely focused on studying, unwilling to waste his talent, and had ignored every girl¡¯s affections.
Until he met Jessica.
She wasn¡¯t the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
But her tears fell on his heart at a moment when he felt most helpless.
They were scorching.
So scorching, he couldn¡¯t bear to turn her away.
It had been a vicious cycle.
If he hadn¡¯t married her, his mother wouldn¡¯t have gotten the treatment she needed and might have died even sooner.
There had been no way out.
Luckily, the cycle onlysted five years.
He had reached the end and could finally start over.
His love for Jessica had already been ground to dust by day after day of despair.
What remained was only regret.
Regret that he had never won her love.
He even felt a little jealous of Michael.
The phone lit up again.
Jessica. ¡°This is yourst chance. Tell me where you are. I¡¯lle pick you up.¡±
Chris was puzzled. ¡®Whye pick him up? To bring him back and watch her and Michael y happy family?¡¯
Wife Back 4
Chris actually found it quite strange.
ording to Jessica¡¯s usual character, as long as Michael was around, how could she possibly still notice him?
The fact that she messaged repeatedly today was already rare, and in Jessica¡¯s view, if he still wanted to maintain the marriage, he should have taken the opportunity to make peace.
But now, he no longer cared about Jessica¡¯s opinion.
So he didn¡¯t reply to Jessica¡¯s message, left his phone on silent, and set it aside.
He wouldn¡¯t return to that house either, if Jessica wanted to delete his fingerprint ess, so be it.
He had thought that this was the limit of what Jessica would do. If he didn¡¯t go back, that would be it.
Since Michael was by her side, of course her first love was more important.
But unexpectedly, in the middle of the night, the door was suddenly unlocked.
Chris, groggy from sleep, sat up abruptly.
The lights in the room flicked on with a sharp click.
Under the white light, Chris saw Jessica standing at the door, her face vaguely tinged with anger. For a moment, he didn¡¯t even know where he was.
Even when they lived together, he and Jessica had been sleeping in separate rooms for a long time.
Jessica often came homete, saying she didn¡¯t want to disturb him. But in reality, ever since Michael returned, she had started preserving her chastity for him.
Chris understood and wasn¡¯t too bothered about it, so he let her be.
¡°What are you doing here¡¡± Chris instinctively pulled the nket higher over himself.
Jessica curved her lips into a smile. The fine coat she wore made her figure look even more stunning. Though her eyes still held anger and weariness, they couldn¡¯t conceal her beauty.
Five years of marriage seemed to have only worn down Chris¡¯s edges, while Jessica hadn¡¯t changed at all.
¡°Well then, learned how to run away from home now, have you?¡± Jessica took off her coat and walked over to Chris.
She stood beside the bed, looking down at him from above, then smirked after a pause.
¡°You¡¯ve been in this house for years, and now you¡¯ve learned to run away? Chris, don¡¯t you think that¡¯s pathetic?¡±
He hadn¡¯t expected Jessica to show up just to scold him.
Chris stared at her in shock, his brows furrowing tightly.
Being woken in the middle of the night with that kind of attitude¡ªanyone would be upset.
Especially considering they were in the process of getting a divorce, he had no reason to appease her anymore.
¡°If I¡¯m pathetic, what did youe here for?¡± Chris looked up at Jessica. ¡°What, did Mr. Hall leave?¡±
The moment he said that, he saw Jessica¡¯s expression stiffen slightly, and he immediately understood.
¡°I just left, and Mr. Hall moved into the house. With your dream man and a wonderful night, I really don¡¯t know what you came here for.¡±
In five years of marriage, this was the first time Chris spoke to Jessica in such a sarcastic tone. She was surprised but figured it was understandable¡ªafter all, Michael had moved in. Chris was bound to be upset, so she tried to cate him.
¡°What are you so upset about? I already said, Michael and Jordan just don¡¯t have a ce to stay for now. We have plenty of rooms in the house, it¡¯s not like they¡¯re using the master bedroom. It won¡¯t affect you.¡±
¡°Jessica, you didn¡¯t forget that you already signed the papers that day, did you?¡± Chris asked cautiously.
Jessica nodded immediately. ¡°Of course I didn¡¯t. I already agreed to adopt the child with you. What are you still making a fuss about? I asked you toe back and take care of Jordan because I hoped you could start getting used to raising a child. After all, we¡¯re going to have one of our own, too.¡±
Chris fell silent.
So that was how it was. No wonder Jessica signed so readily that day, not even reading the uses¡ªshe thought the document was an adoption agreement all along.
Seeing Jessica so confident, Chris couldn¡¯t help but sneer. To avoidplications, he didn¡¯t correct her about the divorce agreement.
¡°Let¡¯s go home,¡± Jessica said as she tugged at the nket.
But Chris replied, ¡°You can head back home by yourself. Sophie already said it¡¯s your house and has nothing to do with me. I know when to back off¡ªI won¡¯t show up where I¡¯m not wee. Besides, it¡¯s best if Mr. Hall takes care of his own child. If anything happens while he¡¯s with me, I won¡¯t bear the consequences.¡±
¡°Chris!¡± Jessica suddenly shouted, her patience wearing thin.
Chris cocked his brows and pointed at the door. ¡°If you want to yell, do that at home. Yell all you want at Mr. Hall and his child. This is a hotel¡ªdisturbing other guests¡¯ rest isn¡¯t very considerate.¡±
It was already past midnight. Jessica hade with the cold and now she left with fury.
Chris let out a long sigh of relief andy back down again.
Darkness returned to the room. He stared at the ceiling.
No wonder Jessica signed so easily and didn¡¯t even throw a sarcastic remark¡ªshe hadn¡¯t even looked at the content. Had he known, he would have snuck a few extra properties into the terms.
At that thought, Chris chuckled softly.
He didn¡¯t want anything from Jessica.
As long as he could leave her behind, he could return to a normal life. He believed that with his own ability, he wouldn¡¯t live badly.
He had thought he could smoothly leave for Dend and begin adapting to a new life. But unexpectedly, there was ast-minute issue with his passport.
Chris sighed. If fate had arranged this, he could only stay a few more days.
In the CEO¡¯s office of the Wilder Group.
Jessica stared out the window, dazed.
Chris still refused toe home.
Last night, when he didn¡¯t return to cook, Jessica had to order oat porridge from a restaurant for Jordan. After Sophie left, she had already found out where Chris was and nned to go see him.
But Michael said, ¡°Mr. Green must be upset. How about I go with you?¡±
¡°What about Jordan?¡±
¡°She already took her medicine and fell asleep. It¡¯s fine¡ªI¡¯ll go with you to exin,¡± Michael said earnestly. ¡°Mr. Green is being unreasonable. You and I are just friends¡ªwhy would he be angry? Could it be that he thinks I¡¯m a homewrecker?¡±
When she heard that, something about it didn¡¯t sit well with her.
She sensed something off in his words, but couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on it.
Wife Back 5
After thinking it over, Jessica still felt that bringing Michael along was not a good idea.
¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll go by myself. Chris has a strange personality¡ªhe might offend you. You can get some rest. Tomorrow you still have to take Jordan to the hospital for an IV. Let¡¯s not get dyed.¡±
After saying that, Jessica didn¡¯t even give Michael a chance to object and left with her car keys.
Michael stood in the living room for a long time, then turned and looked around the whole house, finally pushing open the door to Jessica and Chris¡¯s bedroom.
Jessica really didn¡¯t like Chris, did she?
When he first arrived, he had noticed that there were no men¡¯s toiletries at all, yet Jessica hadn¡¯t realized that.
Michael felt that it saved him a lot of trouble.
Because of a problem with his passport, Chris had spent several days trying to resolve it, missing the first round of exchange studies. A fire simmered quietly in his chest¡ªhe knew all of this was Jessica¡¯s doing. She was forcing him to show up.
But for the sake of a smooth divorce, he still didn¡¯t say anything.
Language sses started, and Chris spent every day either in ss or interning at the hospital.
When Jonathan heard that he couldn¡¯t go abroad, he told him to wait for the next semester. In the meantime, a hospital that had requested him long ago had hime in for work. With Jonathan making the connection, Chris started working for the first time in five years.
He moved to a different hotel. He knew very well that if Jessica wanted to find him, she would seed no matter where he went.
Work and study filled up his week. Busy and fulfilled, Chris once again felt invigorated¡ªhe finally felt alive.
He had thought he wouldn¡¯t run into Michael until the divorce was finalized, but unexpectedly, Michael showed up at the hospital where he was interning¡ªwith Jordan.
¡°You must be Mr. Green.¡±
Chris, still in a white coat and fresh off the operating table, was heading toward his office when he heard the voice and turned his head.
Michael smiled at him. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Michael.¡±
His voice matched the one on the phone, and he did indeed have the look Jessica liked. No wonder she had thought about him for so many years.
Chris instinctively looked for Jessica, but instead locked eyes with Sophie¡¯s disdainful re.
¡°What are you doing here? You didn¡¯t follow us here, did you?¡± Sophie sneered. She had known Chris wouldn¡¯t obediently leave the house. After all the fuss, here he was pursuing her sister.
Chris looked away, nodded slightly at Michael, and turned to leave.
But Michael didn¡¯t seem willing to let him go, stepping forward to block his way.
¡°Mr. Green, let¡¯s talk.¡±
Michael¡¯s fake smile made Chris ufortable.
What was there to talk about between a recently-returned first love and a cast-aside, soon-to-be-divorced husband?
Chris frowned and declined. ¡°I still have work.¡±
Before Michael could speak, Sophie hurriedly interrupted, ¡°Michael is being nice to you. Don¡¯t be so ungrateful!¡±
The noise had already drawn some attention.
If the security guards were alerted, it would only reflect poorly on him.
Chris sighed. ¡°What are you getting at?¡±
Michael said nothing, only gestured toward the fire escape.
Inside the fire escape.
The emergency exit light hung at an odd angle, and the cement floor was littered with cigarette butts.
¡°You¡¯ve moved out already?¡±
Michael crushed a cigarette butt with his shoe, dragging a long ck streak across the floor.
He said ¡°moved out,¡± clearly implying he already saw himself as the master of Jessica¡¯s home.
Chris sneered, his gaze fixed on Michael. ¡°Mr. Hall, since you already know, whye here to humiliate me?¡±
Michael didn¡¯t respond. He sucked in his cheeks, then said slowly, ¡°Mr. Green, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re trying to y hard to get¡ªtrying to keep Jessica thinking about you this way?¡±
Even Chris hadn¡¯t thought of it like that. If it worked, it would be the first time she had thought of him.
No wonder she had been so attached to Michael all these years.
Chrisughed bitterly. ¡°I¡¯ll be divorcing Jessica soon. Actually, I should already be abroad. If not for¡¡±
If he had already decided to leave, why was there still a sliver of hope buried deep in his heart¡ªhoping that Jessica would stop him?
She was so busy, and these days Michael and his daughter were always with her¡
What was he being delusional about?
Chris gave a pained smile.
¡°I don¡¯t believe you¡¯d give up someone like Jessica.¡± Michael acted as though he had heard a joke.
¡°So, in your eyes, Jessica is just a tree that gives good shade, is that it? Then her taste must be awful.¡±
After saying that, Chris pushed open the fire escape door and stepped out.
Michael gave a few sinisterughs, then suddenly pulled a fruit knife from behind and shed his own arm.
¡°Chris, you want a divorce? I¡¯ll help you out¡¡±
Chris turned back and tried to grab the knife, but it was toote.
The sharp de cut through Michael¡¯s tailored suit and left a long gash on his upper left arm.
Blood dripped to the ground.
Michael¡¯s face turned pale.
For the first time, Chris hated being a doctor.
He quickly turned and yelled, ¡°Patient in need of surgery¡ªsend him to the OR!¡±
Sophie was waiting outside the fire escape. Hearing this, she grabbed Chris¡¯s arm. ¡°What did you do?¡±
Chris kept walking.
Sophie yanked his arm again. ¡°I said, what did you do?¡±
Chris shook her off impatiently. ¡°If you¡¯re still worried about your beloved¡¯s safety, then get your ass into the fire escape!¡±
This suspicion had long taken root in Chris¡¯s heart. He had always felt Sophie treated Michael with excessive warmth.
The pampered second daughter of the Wilder family actually came to the hospital to apany Michael. In an ordinary family, maybe that would be considered care between inws. But she was Sophie¡ªborn with everything.
Her attitude toward him said it all.
Love and hate were clearly defined.
Sure enough, Sophie stared at him wide-eyed, as if he had hit a nerve.
After a moment, she snapped out of it and ran into the fire escape.
Jessica arrived quickly¡ªlikely right after getting a call from Sophie and leaving work in a rush.
Michael¡¯s wound wasn¡¯t too serious. He was cruel to himself, but his instinct still protected him. It only nicked a blood vessel.
But that was enough for Jessica to charge in with righteous fury.
So when she pushed open the office door, full of rage, Chris wasn¡¯t the least bit surprised.
¡°You stabbed Michael with a knife?¡±
Chris gave a bitter smile. ¡°Is that really what you think of me?¡±
Jessica snapped back, ¡°Isn¡¯t it true? You¡¯ve been fighting with me over him this whole time!¡±
So everything he had done these days was, in her eyes, petty jealousy over Michael.
¡°Michael cut himself.¡±
¡°You think I¡¯d believe that? Has Michael gone mad¡ªhurting himself just to frame you? You think you¡¯re worth it?¡±
Thosest words made it hard for Chris to breathe. He stared at her intently. ¡°He framed me. Jessica, why can¡¯t you just believe me¡ªjust once?¡±
¡®Just this once¡ª¡¯
If she believed him now, then maybe these five years wouldn¡¯t have been for nothing.
But every hope he had pinned on her always ended in disappointment.
¡°You¡¯d better pray he¡¯s okay.¡± Jessica flung out those final words and left the office.
Her high heels clicked crisply across the hospital floor.
Chris copsed helplessly into his chair.
In the end, she didn¡¯t even bother closing the door behind her.
In the wound-cleaning room, Jessica pulled up a chair and sat beside Michael.
The cut was long, but thankfully not deep.
Michael looked pale. ¡°Jessica, did I do something to upset Mr. Green?¡±
Jessica shook her head. She couldn¡¯t get Chris¡¯s expression out of her mind.
From what she knew of him, he didn¡¯t seem like the kind of person who would do something like that.
Had she really misjudged him?
Michael didn¡¯t get the reaction he wanted and kept pressing, ¡°Jessica, if I¡¯m really causing trouble here, I can take Jordan and move to a hotel.¡±
Oh right, Jordan was still sick.
All this drama these past two days had made it hard for the child to recover.
Things had gone too far today¡ªit was just childish.
Had she been indulging Chris too much all along?
With that thought in mind, Jessica reassured him, ¡°No, stay. You didn¡¯t do anything wrong. He hurt you¡ªI¡¯ll make sure he apologizes to you in person.¡±
Michael nodded, a faint smile ying at the corners of his mouth.
Just then, Sophie burst through the door. ¡°Jessica, you¡¯re finally here! Chris dared to stab Michael with a knife! Aren¡¯t you going to do something?¡±
¡°Well, when his passport is ready, he¡¯ll be gone anyway!¡±
When Jessica heard that, she suddenly stood up and asked, ¡°Where is he going?¡±
Sophie was startled and blinked. ¡°He¡¯s going abroad. Didn¡¯t you know?¡±
Wife Back 6
The next day, Chris checked out of the hotel. The hospital provided amodation, and he moved in with his luggage.
But while at work, he unexpectedly heard the names of Jessica and Michael.
¡°Ms. Wilder and Mr. Hall have such a great rtionship. Did you see the news back then?¡±
2
¡°Yeah, I saw it. Ms. Wilder and Mr. Hall were childhood sweethearts. They were supposed to be together, but their families broke them up. Tsk tsk, it¡¯s like a romance novel!¡±
¡°But¡ didn¡¯t I hear Ms. Wilder is married?¡±
¡°So what if she¡¯s married? Mr. Hall is too! Didn¡¯t you see his daughter¡¯s all grown up? But¡ they must be divorced now, otherwise how could they be back together?¡±
¡°Separated for years, married to other people and still reunited¨Cwhat a melodrama. But Mr. Hall does seem gentle, and Ms. Wilder, too.¡±
Chris stayed frozen at the doorway for a long time, not reacting until his roommate came back from fetching water and called
out to him.
¡°Chris, what¡¯s wrong?¡±
Coming back to his senses, he shook his head.
His roommate, seeing him holding a cup, shook the thermos. ¡°Come in, I just got some water.¡±
Chris walked stiffly back into the room. His roommate poured him a cup of water.
¡°Those young nurses just got off duty. Our hospital just received sponsorship from the Wilder Group. It¡¯s natural they¡¯d be curious about Ms. Wilder.¡±
The hospital was sponsored by the Wilder Group?
Chris slowly turned his head toward his roommate. ¡°The Wilder Group? Jessica?¡±
¡°Yeah, you¡¯ve heard too?¡± His roommate, eyes fixed on his phone while gaming, replied, ¡°The Wilder Group just donated 40 million dors worth of medical equipment. Big move!¡±
Chris took a few sips of water, feeling a little steadier. Just as he was about to head out, he heard his roommate say from behind, ¡°Hey, you¡¯re assisting with the professor¡¯s surgery tomorrow. You¡¯ve got steady hands¨Che said the files are in his office. Go grab them.¡±
The dorm for their group of intern doctors wasn¡¯t far from the back of the hospital. After thinking for a moment, Chris put on a coat and got ready to retrieve the case file.
Truthfully, he really wanted to see what Jessica looked like when she loved someone.
Even after five years together, she never loved him. Since he never got her heart, he wanted to see how she loved someone else.
He entered the hospital through the back entrance, went to the professor¡¯s office for the case file, then wandered aimlessly through the hospital.
The nurses all recognized him.
Good¨Clooking, and handpicked by the hospital
as
Someone like that received a lot of attention in the hospital.
an intern¨Cwhat other intern gets to perform surgery on day one?
¡°Dr. Green, what brings you here? Covering another shift?¡± a nurse greeted him.
Chris hesitated for a moment before walking over and saying, ¡°I came to get a case file. Can you check on a little girl named
Jordan? She probably has a fever from bronchitis. Is she still getting an IV?¡±
The nurse was about to look it up, but the moment she heard the name, she stopped and looked up at him mysteriously.
¡°Dr. Green, you heard too?¡±
Chris looked puzzled.
Leaning forward, the nurse whispered, ¡°That little girl seems to be Ms. Wilder¡¯s daughter. You didn¡¯t know? The Wilder Group invested in our hospital and donated medical equipment like it¡¯s free.¡±
She pointed with her lips. ¡°She¡¯s still in Room 512. Rich kids are different¨Cjust a cold and fever, and they¡¯re getting IVs in a private ward. Should be done in about half an hour.¡±
¡°Thanks.¡±
Room 512 was on the same floor. A turn of the corner, and he could see it.
Coincidentally, Jessica and Michael were right outside the room. Perhaps to avoid disturbing the child, the two adults were sitting shoulder to shoulder on the bench outside the private room, the atmosphere ambiguous.
¡°Here, just take it.¡± Jessica stuffed something into Michael¡¯s hands.
Michael looked a little panicked, instinctively trying to push it back. ¡°No need, staying at your ce with Jordan is trouble enough¨CI can¡¯t take your car.¡±
So she was giving her first love a car.
Chris let out a bitterugh.
As expected, different people live different fates.
Chris never worked, just stayed home, maybe went out for groceries¨Che never even needed a car. It wasn¡¯t until two years after they married that Linda gave him one, saying it was for getting around.
Seeing the concern in her mother¡¯s eyes, Chris didn¡¯t want to worry her. He couldn¡¯t refuse, so he epted it. But that same night, Jessica came home drunk and mocked him again.
¡°You¡¯re nothing but a househusband. Look at you, you¡¯re getting both money and a car. My dad drove that car for years, and you still take it? Are you a beggar or something?¡±
Jessica pulled out a card and shoved it into Chris¡¯s pocket. ¡°Stop always asking my mom for money. People will think I¡¯m treating you badly if word gets out.¡±
Wife Back 7
Chapter 7
Looking at Jessica again, Chris saw the same concern in her eyes as in her mother¨Cinw¡¯s.
¡°You¡¯re already having a hard time raising Jordan on your own. It¡¯s good to have a vehicle for getting around. Don¡¯t worry, if it¡¯s something I give, the Hall family won¡¯t dare to take it.¡±
The Hall family wasn¡¯t as powerful as the Wilder family, but they still held some influence locally. Back then, Michael had been sent abroad for an arranged marriage. Within five years, his wife grew tired of him and divorced him, leaving even their daughter behind. He returned home quietly with the child.
As for the Hall family, they considered Michael a disgrace. It was bad enough that he had eloped with Jessica, but then he ended up being kicked out by a woman. After he returned, they never let him back into the house, and they even took back the property they had given him.
Now, Jessica imed that Michael¡¯s apartment would be ready soon and he would move out¨Cbut in reality, that property also belonged to her.
Chris sighed and turned to leave.
When you truly care about someone, everything bes different. All the things he never deserved, Jessica gave away so freely
to someone else.
On the way back to the dorm, Chris sent Jessica a message.
-Don¡¯t forget to sign the papers next week.
Jessica had also just left the hospital. She had originally nned to leave with Michael and Jordan, but there were documents waiting at the office¨Cshe had to work overtime tonight.
When she saw Chris¡¯s message, she pressed down harder on the gas pedal.
Just seeing Chris¡¯s name made her feel irritable.
She had personally decided to inject capital into the hospital where Chris was interning. The board of directors didn¡¯t
understand it at all.
She had hoped to see Chris today, but after asking the nurses, she was told he wasn¡¯t on duty.
She had already gone this far¨Ctrying to give him a way to not embarrass himself, to preserve his pride as a man- and yet he still wouldn¡¯t take the hint?
As she silently cursed his ingratitude, she received his message. After reading it, Jessica curved her lips into a faint smile.
¡®Alright, looks like he found out about the hospital funding.¡®
They were a married couple after all. There would always be friction. Even if she and Chris weren¡¯t a typical couple, someone had to take the first step.
Strangely enough, even though Michael had returned to reconcile with her, and even though she had repeatedly faced the man she used to long for, she hadn¡¯t rushed to divorce Chris and build the dream family she once wanted.
She didn¡¯t know why she couldn¡¯t take that step.
Maybe it was habit.
After all, they had been married for five years. To suddenly divorce Chris like this felt unfair to him. Jessicaforted herself with that thought.
She still loved Michael. That hadn¡¯t changed. But she had grown used to Chris¡¯s presence.
His gentleness and quiet care were exactly what she needed.
+25 BONUS
Back when she was with Michael, their rtionship had been flere. Their fights made entertainment headlines, and
After too many years of that chaos, a man like Chris¨Ccalm and steady¨Cfelt
Jessica wasn¡¯t just a woman, she was also a businesswoman.
And businesspeople valued profit.
She always knew what worked best for her.
Only after returning to the office did she bother replying to Chris¡¯s message.
-Got it.
more suitable for her.
Shannon, Jessica¡¯s secretary, hadn¡¯t left work yet. Carrying a stack of documents, she followed Jessica into the office.
¡°Ms. Wilder, the Ocean Conference begins the day after tomorrow andsts a week. Your flight details have already been sent to your phone. I¡¯ll be apanying you again this time.¡±
At those words, Jessica paused.
She turned to look at Shannon.
Having worked with Jessica for years, Shannon understood her with a single nce. She immediately added, ¡°The Ocean Conference is a five¨Cnation summit. AGS International, thepany you were interested in during thest bidding, will be there. You said you wanted to partner with them.¡±
Jessica made a small sound of acknowledgement.
If the conference started the day after tomorrow, she would have to leave tomorrow. If itsted a week¡ she wouldn¡¯t be able to attend the adoption.
After thinking it over, Jessica said, ¡°Have Tinae with me. You stay here. Go with Chris next week to sign the papers.¡±
Shannon paused. ¡°Me? Sign the papers?¡±
¡°Yeah, it¡¯s nothing major.¡±
X
Wife Back 8
Jessica had always thought about adopting a child, thinking that maybe then Chris might stay home to focus on the child.
Over the past few days, while taking care of Jordan, she had started to feel that adopting a child wasn¡¯t such a bad idea after all- at the very least, it might keep Chris from wandering off.
To her, it might not be as important as a business deal, but to Chris it could be a life¨Cchanging event.
Seeing how casual Jessica was about it, Shannon didn¡¯t think much of it either and simply nodded.
But a weekter, when Shannon saw Chris standing at the entrance of the Register Office, she waspletely stunned.
¡°This¡ this is the ¡®small matter¡® Ms. Wilder mentioned?¡± she exchimed, eyes wide in shock.
Wearing high heels, she walked up to Chris and hesitantly asked, ¡°Sir, what¡¯s this about?¡±
Seeing that the person who arrived wasn¡¯t Jessica, Chris immediately felt displeased.
¡°Why are you here? Where is she?¡±
Shannon replied, ¡°She went abroadst week¨Cfor the Ocean Conference. It¡¯s a week¨Clong event, she won¡¯t be back until the weekend.¡±
As expected, his affairs were never as important as her business.
Shannon quickly took out her phone and called Jessica.
The person on the other end spoke in a difficult¨Cto¨Cunderstandnguage. Through the phone, Shannon could barely make anything out, but she could tell that Jessica sounded irritated.
¡°Ms. Wilder, do I really have to be the one to sign this?¡±
¡°If he tells you to sign it, then sign it.¡±
¡°But this¡ maybe it¡¯s better to wait for you toe back?¡±
Jessica was holding her forehead with one hand and the phone with the other. When she noticed someone writing something on a piece of paper in front of her, her attention immediately shifted.
¡°No need. Just sign it. If money¡¯s needed, just deduct it from the ount. And don¡¯t forget to pick me up from the airport this weekend.¡±
Shannon quickly switched back to work mode. ¡°This weekend is Madam Linda¡¯s birthday. Does Mr. Green still need to attend?¡±
She wasn¡¯t sure what the situation was anymore.
At this rate, Chris and Jessica were getting a divorce, so he wouldn¡¯t be Linda¡¯s son¨Cinw anymore, and attending wouldn¡¯t
make sense.
¡°As the Wilder family¡¯s son¨Cinw, if he doesn¡¯t show up, people willugh at us.¡± Jessica had just finished saying this when another question came her way, and she ended the call immediately.
Shannon gave a wry smile, while Chris, standing beside her, had heard everything.
He had thought they could part ways peacefully, but never expected Jessica wouldn¡¯t even show up in person to finalize the divorce.
Chris had already resigned himself to it¨Cthere was no future for them anymore.
Since that was the case, there was no point in wasting time.
He turned and walked inside.
Shannon couldn¡¯t keep up in her heels and carefully followed a few steps. She wanted to say something tofort him, but thinking of Chris¡¯s recent circumstances, she didn¡¯t know what to say.
As Jessica¡¯s personal secretary, Shannon naturally knew that Michel had returned to the country and that Ms. Wilder had been focused entirely on him and his daughter.
Meanwhile, Chris, as her husband, hadn¡¯t even been going home.
For a marriage of several years to end like this¨Cit was almost hrious.
When their number was called, Shannon tried once again to call Jessica to exin the situation, but she didn¡¯t pick up.
The staff at the Register Office didn¡¯t even look up. They took the documents from Chris, checked them, and quickly stamped
them.
¡°Sir, perhaps you two should discuss this more-¡±
Chris didn¡¯t respond.
The staff worked efficiently. Two copies of the divorce certificates were handed over. Chris passed Jessica¡¯s copy to Shannon.
Seeing how awkward Shannon looked, he offered some reassurance. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She signed the divorce agreement herself. This has nothing to do with you. Even if you hadn¡¯te today, I would still have found a way to collect the certificate.¡±
Wife Back 9
¡°But¡¡±
¡°I¡¯ll attend Linda¡¯s birthday banquet this weekend. Just have the suit delivered to the hospital. Thank you.¡±
After saying that, Chris politely said goodbye, leaving Shannon standing alone on the steps.
Sunlight poured down on Chris, yet it seemed to bring him no warmth at all.
Back in the car, Chris tossed the divorce certificate onto the passenger seat and let out a coldugh.
Five years of marriage had been more than just a mistake¨Cit had been a joke. Who gets a divorce handled by a secretary?
In truth, Chris believed Jessica hadn¡¯t even looked closely at the papers she signed that night¨Cperhaps she didn¡¯t even know they were divorced.
But what did that matter to him?
Jessica might be content to remain trapped in the past, unable to move forward, but he couldn¡¯t be.
He had already wasted five years he still had to keep moving forward.
Returning to the hospital, he immediately went into surgery.
The next few days werepletely filled with operations, gradually helping him rediscover his old rhythm. His mentor, who had been observing him closely, was very pleased.
¡°I¡¯ve heard of your name for years. When the hospital recruited you after your disappearance, I was a bit worried. But now, it¡¯s clear¨Ca genius is still a genius,¡± said Prof. Rane with a nod. ¡°Keep working hard, young man. Your future is limitless.¡°.
Chris sat beside Prof. Rane and nodded. He, too, was satisfied with his performance.
Although he hadn¡¯t been the lead surgeon in these recent operations, he still had plenty of time on the table and didn¡¯t feel rusty
at all.
¡°Didn¡¯t Jonathan reserve an exchange slot for you? Why didn¡¯t you go?¡± Prof. Rane asked as he cleaned his sses and put them back on. ¡°I heard from your teacher that you had agreed to go abroad.¡±
Chris replied, ¡°Yes. I was supposed to be in the first group, but there was an issue with my passport, so I couldn¡¯t leave for the time being. It worked out well¨CI got a chance to learn from you.¡±
¡°I can only teach you so much. I¡¯ve already reached the top of this field. But you¡ªyour possibilities are endless. I¡¯m old, and your journey is just beginning. Learn well. When youe back, who knows, I might end up assisting you.¡±
¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare. I¡¯ll step out first and let you rest.¡±
¡°Alright.¡±
Leaving the lounge, Chris immediately felt his phone vibrating.
Over the past few days, Jessica hadn¡¯t contacted him from abroad, but Shannon had messaged him¨Ca reminder that today was Jessica¡¯s mother¡¯s birthday.
Even though he and Jessica were officially divorced, and he was no longer her son¨Cinw, he couldn¡¯t forget the kindness Linda had shown him over the past five years.
He also had some items to return.
He took back all the bank cards he had ced in front of his own mother¡¯s grave¨Cnone of the money had ever been touched.
He had kept a mental record of everything the Wilder family had spent on him, and he nned to repay it, with interest, in time.
¡°Dr. Green, someone dropped off a suit for you. It¡¯s in your office now,¡± the head nurse said as she passed by him on her way to change bandages.
After changing into the suit, he drove to the Wilder family¡¯s residence.
He used toe here often. Jessica, busy with her business, rarely returned to care for her parents¨Cit had always been Chris who handled it.
He didn¡¯t mind, after all, Jessica¡¯s parents treated him like their own son. Since his own parents were gone, it only made sense to care for hers.
But Sophie had always looked at him with disdain.
Eventually, Chris began to visit less frequently. Instead, Jessica¡¯s mother woulde to their home.
He parked the car in the back courtyard. The butler came to open the door, smiling as he greeted him, ¡°Mr. Green, you¡¯re back.¡±
¡°Albert,¡± said Chris, taking a bag from the passenger seat and handing it to the butler. ¡°Linda mentioned your wrist painst time. I prepared some medicinal patches¨Ctry them out.¡±
Wife Back 10
hapter 10
The butler, Albert, took the bag full of medicinal patches, feeling a little emotional, and said, ¡°You¡¯re so thoughtful, Mr. Green.¡± Chris had wanted to remind the butler not to call him ¡°Mr. Green¡± anymore, but since Jessica might also show up, he didn¡¯t want to create innecessaryplications and chose to stay silent.
He simply nodded and followed behind the butler.
The butler walked ahead without saying a word¨Csuch a good son¨Cinw, yet the youngdy didn¡¯t like him, insisting instead on favoring that man from the Hall family.
The butler had been with the Wilder family since before Jessica¡¯s parents were married. It was about time for him to retire. Having watched Jessica grow up, he naturally knew all about her past with Michael.
From the very beginning, John and Linda had disapproved of Michael.
It wasn¡¯t that Michael¡¯s family background was poor¨Cit was his temperament that had been the issue.
G
In the main hall of the Wilder family¡¯s residence, influential figures from all sides had gathered¨Cthis was exactly the kind of asion Chris disliked.
He wasn¡¯t someone who enjoyedpeting for status, but in such settings, as the Wilder family¡¯s son¨Cinw, if he fell short in any way, it would bring embarrassment to the family.
So he had no choice but to hold his head high and follow the butler step by step into the hall.
¡°Hey, did you hear Michael¡¯s back?¡±
¡°Of course, of course. I always knew Jessica still liked Michael. She only married Chris out of heartbreak after Michael got engaged. If you ask me, it¡¯s only a matter of time before she divorces him.¡±
¡°But Michael brought a daughter back with him.¡±
¡°So what? It¡¯s not like Jessica can¡¯t afford to raise a child. The Wilder family could support as many kids as she wants.¡±
In one corner stood a group of Jessica¡¯s old ssmates. With their noble lineage and elite education, they naturally drew attention just by standing together.
After greeting her parents, Sophie also joined her group of close friends.
¡°I saw Michael too. Doesn¡¯t the Hall family disapprove of him? Why bring him to an event like this?¡±
The Hall family had always found Michael shameful, especially now that he had returned with a child from another woman. On asions like this, they would have preferred him to stay home and out of sight.
Yet the custom suit Michael wore and the Patek Philippe on his wrist made things a little harder to understand.
Sophie nced over with a drink in her hand.
He really was the former heir raised by the Hall family¨Ceverything Michael did still exuded the air of nobility. Even after years abroad, he showed no hesitation or difort in social settings like this.
No matter how many rumors swirled around him, he ignored them all. When someone greeted him, he smiled warmly, when no one did, he quietly stood off to the side on his own.
There was even something a little pitiful about him.
¡°Who cares if the Hall family approves or not? As long as my sister likes him, that¡¯s what matters,¡± said Sophie.
The daughter of the Lister family, Jane Lister, tugged on Sophie¡¯s dress gently and whispered, ¡°But your sister isn¡¯t divorced yet¡ what about your brother¨Cinw?¡±
¡°He just arrived.¡± At the mention of Chris, her expression turned sour. ¡°With his status, if he hadn¡¯t married my sister, he¡¯d have no business being at an event like this.¡±
A group of girls stood together, their gossip instincts ring up.
¡°Now that Michael is back, and your sister still likes him, do you think she¡¯ll get divorced and marry Michael?¡±
¡°Absolutely!¡± Sophie dered confidently. ¡°She¡¯s been saying for ages that she was sick of looking at Chris¡¯s face. They should¡¯ve divorced long ago.¡±
Just then, Chris entered behind Albert.
All eyes turned toward him, filled with scrutiny and curiosity.
He, however, remainedposed and dignified, nodding slightly as a greeting before heading straight for his mother¨Cinw¡¯s
room.
¡°Mom.¡± On a day like this, Chris didn¡¯t want Linda to feel embarrassed.
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Wife Back 11
hapter 11
The news of Chris and Jessica¡¯s divorce had not been made public yet. He didn¡¯t want to cause any disruption, so he didn¡¯t change the way he addressed Linda.
Linda had been feeling a little down, sitting quietly in her room with a somber expression. But when she saw Chris enter, her spirits lifted. She waved her hand, and Chris walked over to her.
Chris tried to cheer up Linda, taking out the carefully prepared gif
¡°I know you like this painting, so I had someone bring it back from abroad for you. Happy birthday.¡±
Linda had enjoyed collecting paintings in her earlier years, mostly works by renowned artists. However, this year, she had started to appreciate the works of newer artists. While the paintings of new artists were still expensive, they were at least affordable for Chris.
¡°Good, good. You being here makes me happy, that¡¯s enough for me,¡± said Linda.
She looked Chris over, then nced toward the door. After confirming no one else wasing in, she asked, ¡°You and Jessica¡¡±
The Divorce Reconciliation Period for their divorce had already passed, but with Jessica being abroad recently, she wondered if they hadn¡¯t divorced yet.
Linda genuinely liked Chris from the bottom of her heart.
Faced with her expectant gaze, Chris couldn¡¯t bring himself to lie. ¡°We¡¯ve already received the divorce certificates.¡±
¡°But Jessica has been abroad recently. How did you two¡¡±
Before she could finish, Linda immediately realized what had happened, her eyes turned red. ¡°You¡¯ve been wronged, child.¡±
Chris gently patted Linda¡¯s hand, ¡°Mom, I haven¡¯t been wronged. I¡¯m about to start a new life. To me, it¡¯s like a rebirth. I¡¯ve been married to Jessica for many years, and I don¡¯t feel wronged at all. I really liked her.¡±
Spending time with someone you love, even if the oue wasn¡¯t great, was still a beautiful thing.
Though they didn¡¯t end up still being together.
¡°Jessica¡¡± Linda sighed. ¡°Michael is here too. Have you met him?¡±
¡°I met him before, at home and also at the hospital where I interned. His child is ill.¡±
After saying a few more words, Linda took out a check from a nearby drawer and quietly handed it to Chris. ¡°This is my token of appreciation. I know you want to study abroad, and wherever you go, you¡¯ll need a ce to stay.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t need to do this, Mom.¡± Chris pushed the check back and took out a few cards, cing them in front of Linda. ¡°These are the cards Jessica gave me over the years. I haven¡¯t used them at all. We were married and in an equal rtionship. The cards are here. Please give them back to her.¡±
¡°You¡¡± muttered Linda.
At that moment, Jessica came out of the room next door. Her carefully applied makeup couldn¡¯t hide the exhaustion on her face.
As the CEO of Wilder Group, she was undoubtedlypetent.
She had to handlepany files even on her mother¡¯s birthday.
She knocked on the door and was surprised to see Chris sitting beside her mother, holding hands. They appeared to be getting along well.
Jessica walked over to Chris¡¯s side and ced a hand on the back of his neck.
¡°You¡¯rete.¡± Jessica¡¯s voice was calm but tinged with irritation.
They hadn¡¯t been in touch for a while. She had thought that after getting off the ne anding home, she would find Chris there. But when she opened the door, she found it still empty, with only Jordan¡¯s toys on the coffee table.
If Chris had been home, he would never have allowed the house to be so messy.
¡°I had to perform a surgery.¡± Chris subtly avoided Jessica¡¯s hand. They were divorced now, and even if they were putting on an act in front of others, it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to be too close.
¡°Then go downstairs.¡± Jessica walked to the other side of her mother, holding her hand. ¡°It¡¯s almost time.¡±
The two of them stood on either side of Linda, who had a mixture of emotions in her heart.
Wife Back 12
Linda was helped onto the stage, first expressing her gratitude to everyone who had attended, then looking at Chris.
¡°My daughter is perfect, and with such a wonderful son¨Cinw, I have no other desires. I only hope everyone enjoys themselves,¡± said Linda, aud with that, she left the spotlight.
The multiyered cake was brought over. Originally, Linda was supposed to cut the cake, but since she hadn¡¯t made a wish, the task naturally fell to Jessica.
Jessica was about to pull Chris up to the stage when she saw Sophieing from behind the crowd, holding someone¡¯s hand.
¡°Jessica, since it¡¯s such a special day, you should bring Michael along to the stage to cut the cake,¡± said Sophie, pushing Michael to Jessica¡¯s side. She smiled and added, ¡°When cutting the cake for Mom, it should be done with the most important person in your heart. Otherwise, how can they make a wish on your behalf?¡±
Chris didn¡¯t want to go on stage in the first ce, and now that someone was willing to take over, he was happy to let this task fall to the rightful person. Before Jessica could even nce at him, he directly handed the knife to Michael
¡°Better not.¡± Michael smiled and looked at Chris. ¡°After all, he is Linda¡¯s son¨Cinw. If I go up with Jessica, it wouldn¡¯t be right, with so many people watching. We can¡¯t let Mr. Green feel embarrassed.¡±
Sophie noticed that Chris¡¯s gaze wasn¡¯t pleasant.
It was as if someone knew her secret and she was worried he might expose her at any moment. Sophie said to Chris, ¡°Some people are living their lives toofortably, always trying to cause trouble for themselves. You¡¯re different, Michael. This identity should have been yours, if not for others stealing, lying, and taking it. This position wouldn¡¯t be his if it weren¡¯t for that.
There weren¡¯t many people around, so their conversation wasn¡¯t overheard by many. Jessica frowned and was about to speak when she saw Chris step back and tilt his head.
¡°She has a point,¡± said Chris, ¡°This position doesn¡¯t even belong to me. It¡¯s just cutting the cake, it doesn¡¯t mean anything. You can let anyone go up, the decision is in your hands.¡±
The knife that was supposed to be handed to Michael was now solemnly ced in Jessica¡¯s hands.
Another choice.
Actually, from the beginning, Chris knew that no matter what choice was made, he wouldn¡¯t be in it. As long as Michael was around, Jessica would always choose him. But he just couldn¡¯t ept it.
It was he who had stayed by Jessica¡¯s side when Michael went abroad. He hadn¡¯t even had the chance to enjoy the feeling of victory, yet now he was expected to give it all up. It was hard to ept.
A man¡¯s pride didn¡¯t allow him to surrender so easily, so he wanted Jessica to make onest choice.
If she chose him, maybe there was still a chance between them.
But, he knew what decision Jessica would make.
¡°It¡¯s just cutting the cake. There¡¯s no need for so much trouble.¡± Jessica frowned, turned, and walked toward the stage. Sophie nudged Chris with her shoulder, signaling him to move aside.
Michael followed with a smile, walking alongside Jessica to the stage, under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
¡°I knew it! I said, as long as Michael is here, Jessica will always choose him.¡±
¡°But her husband is still here, and she still makes such a decision. Actually, I think something about Michael has changed since he came back. Maybe it¡¯s because he¡¯s been abroad for so many years.¡±
¡°Well, they were once married. Back then, Michael had a bad temper. If anyone appeared near Jessica, he would get angry. Now
that both of them are married, and Michael even has a daughter. 1
that both of them are married, and Michael even has a daughter. He can¡¯t still be as petty, can he?¡±
Chapter 13
Wife Back 13
¡°Am I the only one who feels sorry for Chris?¡±
¡°I feel the same way. He¡¯s clearly the Wilder family¡¯s son¨Cinw, but today, Jessica is bringing another man onto the stage. Isn¡¯t that an embarrassment to him?¡±
No matter what others said, Chris¡¯s gaze remained fixed on Jessica After the cake was cut, the scene began to shift.
The lighting became much more romantic, and Chris slowly stepped back, leaving the central spot to allow the real couple space to develop.
It was unclear who handed Michael the microphone.
¡°Jessica, we¡¯ve wasted so much time. We¡¯re no longer as young as we once were. I think it¡¯s time to make a decision. Back then, I didn¡¯t intend to leave you, and now we shouldn¡¯t care about what others think¡¡±
Chris didn¡¯t have the courage to listen to the rest. He walked directly up to the second floor, entered a room, and turned on the light, only to realize that it was Jessica¡¯s room before her marriage.
It was easy to recognize¨Cthe room was filled with photos of Jessica and Michael.
He felt like an intruder, standing in the territory of a couple, looking at all the details of their once loving rtionship.
¡®I knew it from the very beginning¡ Why am I still so sad?¡® Chris asked himself inwardly.
The music downstairs changed, bing even more ambiguous than before. Through the door, he could almost imagine how ecstatic Jessica must have been, leaning into Michael¡¯s arms, disying a look he had never seen before.
Finally, it was over. The divorce certificate was in hand. Once he made it through today, he could leave cleanly and begin a new chapter.
Just as he sat on the bed, ready to rest, the door suddenly opened. He thought someone had caught him sneaking into the room, but following the light outside, he saw Sophie¡¯s face appear in front of him.
¡°Did you see that? Michael confessed to my sister, and she¡¯s already agreed to be with him. From now on, there¡¯s no ce for you beside my sister. You should leave the Wilder family and make room for Michael.¡±
¡°We¡¯re already divorced. Don¡¯t say these meaningless things.¡±
Sophie furrowed her brows. She just couldn¡¯t believe that Chris would really divorce Jessica.
¡°You¡¯re willing to divorce my sister, you must¡¯ve received quite a bit in return,¡± she said, stepping closer to him.
¡°Over the years, my sister alone gave you a lot, let alone the money my mother has given you. This time, you agreed to divorce. I can only imagine you¡¯ve received even more. Chris, you really haven¡¯t changed a bit.¡±
Chris tiredly rubbed his temples. He had drunk a couple of sses of champagne downstairs, and now the effects were kicking in, with thoughts of Jessica flooding his mind.
After all, they had been together for many years. How could he just give up?
He gritted his teeth and left the woman he once loved, only to have to watch as they became a couple and endure Sophie¡¯s mockery. Any person would find that unbearable.
¡°You know how I am,¡± he said, leaning slightly forward and staring at Sophie. ¡°If you don¡¯t want me to leave your sister soon, keep talking. I can raise the price until your sister can¡¯t bear it anymore and won¡¯t want to divorce me.¡±
¡°You!¡± Sophie red at him.
Chris leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on Sophie. ¡°You know I¡¯m a man of my
word.¡±
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Wife Back 14
+
Sophie originally thought that Chris was just trying to scare her, but the dim light in the darkness illuminated Chris¡¯s face, and ¡°Sophie saw the determination in his eyes. At that moment, she felt that what he said was true.
Sophie left in a fit of anger, leaving Chris alone, feeling somewhat weary as hey on the bed. One arm was draped over his eyes, and the sound of music from outside seeped through the crack in the door. He was separated from the bright lights and noise of the outside world.
It took him a long time, but he finally blendetl into the darkness.
He didn¡¯t know how much time had passed when he thought he heard the faint sound of someone approaching. He initially thought it was Sophieing back to try the same trick, but as he was about to get up, he smelled a strong scent of alcohol, followed by someone suddenly throwing themselves on top of him
Chris froze for a few seconds, instinctively trying to push the person off, but then he sensed a familiar fragrance.
¡°Jessica?¡±
Jessica seemed to be drunk.
¡°I¡¯ve been looking for you outside for so long. It was only when Albert saw you enter my room that I found you.¡± Jessica¡¯s whole body seemed tock strength as she copsed onto him.
She then lifted her head, her long hair cascading onto Chris¡¯s shoulder, each strand seeming to scratch at his heart.
¡°You¡¯re drunk? I¡¯ll have someone prepare some water for you,¡± said Chris, who intended to settle her on the bed before getting - up.
But he didn¡¯t seed.
Jessica directly pushed him back onto the bed.
¡°I¡¯ve been looking for you for so long, and you hid in my room without telling me.¡± As she spoke, she suddenly leaned down, pressing her red lips against Chris¡¯s face.
Chris furrowed his brows and pushed her away. ¡°Jessica, do you know who I am?¡±
¡°Chris.¡±
From her voice, it seemed that Jessica had drunk a lot, but she was blurry and kept calling his name.
¡°Do you know what we should do now?¡±
¡°Sleep.¡±
Jessica seemed impatient and began to unbutton Chris¡¯s suit. ¡°Why are you wearing so much?¡±
Chris instinctively wanted to push her away. After all, they were divorced now, and doing such things felt like crossing a boundary.
But¡
Chris was a normal man, and right now, the woman he loved was so close.
Moreover, it had been a long time since he and Jessica had been intimate. Ever since Michael returned to the country, Jessica¡¯s attention had been entirely on Michael, leaving no time for him.
They also always slept in separate rooms. Chris had assumed that Jessica was saving herself for Michael.
Plus, he didn¡¯t ce much importance on such matters, so over time, he had gotten used to it.
Jessica¡¯s hands were like mes, sparking fires all over his body. Eventually, Chris couldn¡¯t hold back anymore and rolled over,
pinning her down beneath him.
¡°Jessica, do you know who I am?¡± he asked again, and Jessica seemed a bit impatient.
¡°Chris, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± She wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, ¡°I¡¯ll never mistake someone else for you.¡±
That was true.
Jessica had never seen Chris as a substitute for Michael. They were two entirely different people.
¡®Let¡¯s indulge just this once: Let this be the final farewell.¡®
If Jessica recognized him, then it must have been her choice.
When did the banquet outside end? Neither of them knew. Chris used hisst bit of rationality to lock the door, then returned to the bed.
evend
It wasn¡¯t even dawn yet when Chris left the room quietly.
After pouring himself a ss of water, he saw a figure in the distance. He instinctively thought it was Albert and was about to approach when he saw the unfamiliar figure.
Wife Back 15
hapter 15
¡°Chris, why are you still here?¡±
It was Michael.
Like a little beast whose territory had been stolen, Michael finally showed his fangs, now that there were no onlookers.
Chris held the water cup, feeling somewhat at a loss, but slowly he came to his senses. At least he was still Jessica¡¯s ex¨Chusband, but what about Michael?
He was merely the ex¨Cboyfriend who had been sent abroad during jessica¡¯s time of injury. He had never been part of Jessica¡¯s life over the past couple of years. If anyone had their territory stolen, it should be Michael who had taken it from him.
¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be here?¡± Chris countered. ¡°After all, I am Jessica¡¯s husband and still the son¨Cinw of the Wilder family. I should be asking you, though. You have your own family abroad, and a daughter. Whye back to Cher¨ªa?¡±
Michael chuckled, gradually stepping closer to Chris in the darkness. ¡°What? Are youining about me?¡±
Chris shrugged. ¡°Not really, I just feel like your presence is a bit unnecessary.¡±
¡°After all these years, you couldn¡¯t make Jessica love you. That¡¯s your ipetence. I¡¯m just here to reim what¡¯s mine. Even if the Hall family doesn¡¯t acknowledge me, Jessica¡¯s heart still belongs to me. If you know what¡¯s good for you, you should leave now. I don¡¯t want to show too much of the other side of me in front of you.¡±
But in reality, Chris already knew exactly what kind of person Michael was. They were both men, and they understood each other¡¯s intentions all too well. He had never thought of Michael as a simple man.
Michael had gotten engaged, married, and had a daughter abroad. Even if they divorced, he could still live well abroad. Whye back now?
It was nothing more than the fact that Michael couldn¡¯t forget Jessica, and he couldn¡¯t give up the position he held in Cheria
either.
To put it simply, he wanted it all.
¡°I have no intention ofpeting with you. Jessica has made her choice, and I will ept it,¡± said Chris as he drank the water, checking the time¨Cit was about time to go to the hospital.
¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll leave the time and space to you. If Jessica wants to return to you, I won¡¯t stop her. A love that¡¯s stolen holds no meaning.¡±
After saying that, he walked past Michael and was about to leave the room.
¡°I heard you¡¯re leaving the country,¡± Michael said all of a sudden.
Chris nodded. ¡°I¡¯m just giving you space, isn¡¯t that right?¡±
¡°But if you just leave like this, what does it mean to Jessica?¡±
Michael knew all too well the regret of an unforgettable lover.
Once Chris left, he would be the next Michael.
Jessica would never forget Chris in her lifetime.
Michael would never allow such a thing to happen.
So something had to be done¡
¡°Chris, you stole my Jessica, and this is the price you must pay. Don¡¯t think you can leave so easily. I won¡¯t let you leave even the slightest trace in Jessica¡¯s heart.¡±
After saying that, Michael suddenly cried out in pain and copsed to the ground, Chris was startled.
The lights in the living room were off, with only faint light from outsideing through the window. He saw Michael clutching his abdomen as he copsed, and for a moment, he didn¡¯t react.
Then, the sound of footstepsing down the stairs echoed, and the first person to reach Michael¡¯s side was Sophie.
¡°Michael! What happened to you? Why is there so much blood?¡±
Chris stood still, frowning. He met Michael¡¯s gaze, and thetter cocked his brows in a way that Sophie couldn¡¯t see.
This was Michael¡¯s method to get rid of him,
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Wife Back 16
Soon after, Jessica appeared
she had drunk quite a bitst night and still had a headache. She was wearing a spaghetti strap long dress and quickly ran down
the stairs.
Like Sophie, she squatted in front of Michael, and when she saw the pool of blood on the floor, she instinctively searched for the other person in the room.
Jessica was a little taken aback when she saw Chris, then he shouted at him to hurry and call an ambnce
¡°It wasn¡¯t me.¡± After calling the ambnce, Chris squatted down and attempted to perform simple first aid on Michael.
Even if this was Michael¡¯s trick, as a doctor, he couldn¡¯t just watch someone die from excessive blood loss.
Just as he was about to act, Jessica pushed him away.
¡°What are you doing?¡± Jessica shouted at him. ¡°Chris, I didn¡¯t expect you to be this kind of person!¡±
¡°What kind of person?¡±
Chris stayed in ce, quietly watching Jessica. Actually, he really wanted to know what kind of person he was in his ex¨Cwife¡¯s
eyes.
¡°I was with you for five years. Did I ever hurt anyone? I know you like Michael, and I willingly gave you space by initiating the divorce. Do you think I would hurt him?¡±
¡°Divorce? What divorce?¡± Jessica suddenly seized on that point. ¡°You¡¯re divorcing me just because of Michael! And you still say you aren¡¯t jealous!¡±
Chris shook his head helplessly. The divorce certificate was already in hand, and now dwelling on this issue made no sense.
¡°He¡¯s about to lose too much blood. I need to perform simple first aid to stop the bleeding, or he won¡¯t survive until the ambnce arrives and will go into shock.¡±
¡°No!¡± Sophie was the first to object. ¡°Jessica! This man is ruthless, he definitely won¡¯t save Michael! Jessica, you should press down on his wound first!¡±
Chris watched as the two sisters fumbled to press on Michael¡¯s wound, making the blood flow even faster. Impatient, he pushed them aside and used a nket from the couch to tie a knot on Michael¡¯s abdomen. The bleeding slowed considerably, which should be enough to wait for the ambnce.
The three blood¨Ccovered individuals watched as Michael was loaded into the ambnce, and Sophie pointed at Chris, swearing
that he should be taken to court.
Jessica didn¡¯t speak, staying quietly by Michael¡¯s side.
This was what Michael had said¨Cto not leave a trace in Jessica¡¯s heart.
It was indeed a good method. Once Jessica thought he was a ruthless person, she would no longer marriage.
dre about their five years of
The living room floor was covered in blood. When the servant woke up, she was startled and thought Chris had been hurt, about to bandage him.
Chris tiredly waved his hand and went upstairs to wash off the blood.
After all themotion, Linda also woke up.
¡°Are you really not hurt?¡± Linda had seen everything in the room, though she hadn¡¯t seen Michael hurt himself.
However, she was sure that Chris wasn¡¯t the kind of person who would do such a thing. A son¨Cinw so kind¨Chearted, if he had
wanted to hatm someone, Jessica would have already been tightly held by him, and there would have been no need for a divorce as soon as Michael appeared..
Chris shook his head and casually put on a coal.
¡°I told you, this guy is no good.¡± Linda was still in her pajamas, with only a shawl on, quietly watching the nanny clean up the blood on the floor downstairs.
¡°Back then, I didn¡¯t approve of them being together because I saw that Michael wasn¡¯t trustworthy. I refused to let them be together, but I never expected it toe to this point. It¡¯s just a pity for you, wasting five years of your life.¡±
A
Chapter 1?
Wife Back 17
I¡¯m already divorced, what more can Michael slit up?¡±
+25 BONUS
¡°You don¡¯t understand these businessmen.¡± Linda shook her head saying seriously, ¡°You and Jessica are divorced now, and no one can protect you. If the Hall family decides to hold you responsible, it¡¯s bound to cause legal trouble. But right now, the Hall family doesn¡¯t care about Michael, so don¡¯t worry. Even if they really want to sue you, I will help you find awyer.¡±
Michael wouldn¡¯t take it that far, he just wanted to make himself look pitiful in front of Jessica.
When he was bandaging Michael earlier, he noticed that the knife wound had merely grazed a blood vessel, so the bleeding was severe, but with proper care at the hospital, he would recover.
People who didn¡¯t understand medicine thought a lot of blood meant serious injury.
But in his eyes, such clumsy methods were hrious.
¡°I¡¯ve already delivered the rmendation letter to the hospital. ¡®ve arranged for someone to get you a rmendation from Dend. You missed the first batch of exchange students, but make sure you don¡¯t miss the next one. As for your passport, I¡¯ll figure something out for you.¡±
Chris politely declined Linda¡¯s kindness.
¡°Since Jessica and I are already divorced, I can handle the rest myself, as long as she doesn¡¯t intervene.¡±
If Jessica hadn¡¯t tampered with his passport, he would have already been in Dend.
¡°I know you¡¯re upset, but Jessica is just like that, she doesn¡¯t listen to anyone. Is there anything else I can do to make it up to you?¡±
Chris had only one thought.
¡°When I leave, please don¡¯t tell Jessica where I¡¯ve gone. Since we¡¯ve already separated, there¡¯s no going back. I hope we can sever ties cleanly and no longer disturb each other from now on.¡±
Such a good marriage ended in such a tragic way, and Linda also felt regretful.
¡°I¡¯ll have someone check on your mother¡¯s grave regrly. You just focus on your studies abroad. I¡¯ve heard you¡¯re a genius in this field, and no one should be able to cut off your future.¡±
After emergency treatment, Michael was quickly sent out and into a private ward. Hey on the bed asleep. When the doctor came to check on him, they found it odd.
¡°The bleeding was severe because a blood vessel was punctured, but the injury wasn¡¯t that serious. He should have woken up by now, he shouldn¡¯t be sleeping like this. I¡¯ll order a test and have the nurse take him for a scan.¡±
After saying that, the doctor left with a few interns. Sophie had just finished the paperwork and came in. Seeing Michael¡¯s condition, she was infuriated. She hurriedly dragged Jessica out of the room.
¡°Jessica! This is obviously Chris being jealous! Michael got drunk yesterday, and I let him stay at our house. Who would have thought this would happen! You can¡¯t let Chris off this time, hurry up and divorce him! Michael confessed to you yesterday. Why didn¡¯t you ept?¡±
Indeed, Michael had confessed to her in front of everyone the day before.
It was the dream scenario, but for some reason, she couldn¡¯t shake the image of Chris from her mind. She med it on the habits from five years of marriage.
It was hard to cut off.
Even if she liked Michael, she couldn¡¯t ept his confession while she still had a husband.
¡°Chris and I¡ forget it, don¡¯t interfere. Stop getting involved in our affairs.¡±
Chapter 17
Jessica raised her head and said to her sister, ¡°If you keep talking like this, I¡¯ll send you abroad.¡±
R
G
Chapter 19
Wife Back 18
Not long after Jessica left, Michael woke up.
Looking at the back of Jessica as she left, Sophie was flustered. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Michael¡¯s dejected profile and quickly turned tofort him, ¡°Michael, don¡¯t overthink it. My sister still loves you the most. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have rushed to get you to the hospital. Don¡¯t worry, She won¡¯t let Chris off the hook.¡±
Michael smiled faintly, but his head drooped..
Was that really the case?
Jessica¡¯s heart didn¡¯t seem to be filled with only him.
Earlier, Jessica¡¯s expression had indeed shown panic, but when she looked at Chris, there was disbelief in her eyes. Moreover¡ Michael had clearly seen Jessica and Chrising out of the same room together.
The Wilder family wasrge and influential, with more rooms in their house than anyone could count. ording to Sophie, the two of them had no feelings for each other and had been sleeping separately for a long time. So why had they slept togetherst night?
He acted quickly because he could tell that Chris held a different position in Jessica¡¯s heart.
In order to ensure that Chris didn¡¯t be another version of him
He had no choice but to take such a step.
¡°Sophie, I¡¯m fine, you can go back now.¡±
When Jessica returned home and couldn¡¯t find Chris, she threw a tantrum. The whole family didn¡¯t dare speak up. That was until Linda came downstairs, and everyone finally saw their savior.
¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Linda, a strong woman who had ruled the business world, still exuded an impressive presence even though she had retired from the Wilder Group years ago.
She was still wearing home clothes, a shawl casually draped around her shoulders.
¡°Mom, where¡¯s Chris?¡±
Linda looked up, feeling helpless. She didn¡¯t know what kind of spell Michael had cast on Jessica. Even after so many years, and with more suitable men appearing by her side, the moment he returned, he ruined everything.
It was inevitable that Chris couldn¡¯t keep Jessica, but her smart daughter still hadn¡¯t realized her true feelings.
That was a bit strange.
¡°What do you need him for?¡± Linda asked in annoyance. ¡°Yesterday was my birthday, and you brought an unqualified person onto the stage. This morning, you caused a scene as well. Do you want me dead or something?¡±
Hearing her mother¡¯s words, Jessica immediately suppressed her dissatisfaction.
¡°He hurt Michael, I need an exnation.¡±
¡°An exnation for what?¡± Linda continued to stand by Chris¡¯s side as usual. ¡°He¡¯s your husband, you¡¯ve been with him for five years. If you don¡¯t trust him, fine, but now you want to speak up for an outsider? Don¡¯t me me for not warning you¨Cback then, Michael couldn¡¯t marry you, and nothing has changed.¡±
¡°Mom!¡±
What was she even saying?
She was already married. It wasn¡¯t as if Michael¡¯s return would make her divorce Chris.
Chapter 18
Linda hummed lightly and Albert brought her coffee. After that, he said to Jessica, ¡°Ms. Wilder, Mr. Green has already left. In my opinion, he¡¯s not the type to do such things.¡±
The whole family was speaking up for Chris, which made Jessica iritated.
The real victim was still lying in the hospital, while Chris, the perpetrator, had everyone defending him.
For a moment, Jessica thought back to when she had nned to cope with Michael.
She had always been rebellious, and now, with real power in her hands, she no longer feared anyone who might try to tear them
apart.
At the hospital, Chris had performed two surgeries early in the moming. He had just taken a brief rest when he was dragged to the conference room to discuss uing surgery ns. He was so busy he forgot all about the situation with Michael.
That was until Jessica came knocking on his door.
Chapter 19
Wife Back 19
Chapter 19
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As an investor, it was understandable for Jessica to appear at the hospital. She sat in her exclusive office and specifically requested to see Chris.
¡°Chris, Ms. Wilder wants to see you.¡± Prof. Rane looked a little troubled. ¡°She¡¯s one of our hospital¡¯s investors, and I heard her temper isn¡¯t the best. Be careful when dealing with her.¡±
Chris put down the n they had just finalized, his face full of helplessness.
He was the one who had the most direct experience with Jessica¡¯s ad temper, after all. They had spent five years together, and he knew her well.
¡°Got it.¡±
He knocked on the office door, and a single word came from inside Chris prepared himself, but the moment the door opened, something flew toward his forehead and hit him. He couldn¡¯t dodge in time, and blood immediately started trickling down from
his forehead.
He had known it would be like this, so he had purposely not asked anyone to guide him and went upstairs by himself.
The floor was empty, rarely visited by anyone. This was a separate floor for hospital management offices.
Apart from Jessica, no one else would be here. Everyone else was busy downstairs.
After a few seconds of silence, Chris entered and closed the door.
¡°Do you need something?¡±
When Jessica saw Chris like this, she was furious.
He had been hit but didn¡¯t cry out in pain orin, and blood was dripping from his forehead down to his cheek, his eyes starting to redden.
Usually, seeing Chris like this would make Jessica feel a sense of pity for him, but right now, all she could think about was Michael, covered in blood and hurt.
Compared to Michael, what was Chris¡¯s situation?
¡°Chris, what do you have against me and Michael?¡± Jessica leaned forward slightly, one hand clenched into a fist on the table, and she hit it twice. ¡°If you feel aggrieved, you can tell me. Why do you have to hurt Michael? He did nothing wrong, and he¡¯s even trying to make excuses for you!¡±
Before Chris arrived, Jessica had received a call from Sophie, saying that Michael had woken up.
And Michael, on the other end of the line, urged Jessica to stay calm, saying that Chris was just momentarily upset. The injury wasn¡¯t severe, and he asked her not to make things difficult for Chris because of him.
¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. I don¡¯t need Michael to make excuses for me.¡± Chris stood across from the desk, still maintaining his unyielding posture. There was a faint glint of tears in his eyes, but he still held his head high. ¡°I told you, I didn¡¯t hurt Michael. I don¡¯t need to exin myself.¡±
?
¡°Then how did Michael get hurt? Was it his own doing?¡± Jessica mmed her hand on the table again, her voice rising. ¡°Chris, your excuses are getting worse and worse! Are you saying that he almost lost his life just to frame you?¡±
Chris smiled faintly. ¡°Anyone with a medical license could tell that Michael¡¯s injury isn¡¯t serious. He just nicked a blood vessel. He¡¯s not that weak.¡±
¡°Chris! You¡¯re not even repenting for your mistakes! How did you be like this?¡±
He didn¡¯t want to exin, nor did he feel the need to. They were already divorced, and whether Jessica believed him didn¡¯t matter anymore. If necessary, he could be taken to court. Being in prison would be better than staying here, facing her.
With that thought in mind, Chris turned to leave.
¡°Did I say you could leave?¡± Something else flew at him and hit hit hard in the spine. He staggered forward, grunting in pain.
The crystal ashtray rolled on the carpet before stopping by Chris¡¯s feet.
Love and indifference were truly obvious. When Michael was hurt even a little, she was deeply distressed, but when it came to him, she could use something so heavy.
It was truly hrious.
¡°If Michael wants to hold me responsible, let him sue me.¡± With that, Chris opened the door and left.
Soon after, the sound of things being thrown came from inside the room.
X
Wife Back 20
Chapter 20
Michael certainly wouldn¡¯t choose to sue Chris, after all, the only gerprints on the knife that injured Michael were his own. Chris hadn¡¯t even touched It!
Upon careful thought, Michael understood how deeply ingrained he was in Jessica¡¯s heart, so he wouldn¡¯t allow Chris to have the same standing.
They were both men, and although Chris could understand Michae, he couldn¡¯t agree with him.
In two days, he would be heading to Dend. This time, the ne ticket was definitely secured, and Chris was spending every day packing in his dormitory, counting down the days.
His roommate was a recent graduate, a few years younger than Chris, and besides doing rounds with the teachers, he just yed
games.
He found it curious that Chris didn¡¯t seem to have any hobbies.
¡°I¡¯m not kidding, don¡¯t you find it unbearable to live like this?¡± His roommate had just ordered some grilled skewers, and since they were always on call for surgery, they couldn¡¯t drink alcohol, so they settled for Coke instead.
¡°Huh? Why would it be unbearable?¡± Chris, who rarely ate such things, responded.
He had almost no friends. For the past five years, he had locked himself in a small house with no one to talk to.
These few days in the dorm had been a very new experience for him.
His roommate was confused. ¡°You don¡¯t go out, you don¡¯t have any friends, you don¡¯t y games or watch films. Really, you either read books or research papers. This kind of lifestyle will drive anyone crazy.¡±
Hobbies? Friends?
He would have those.
As long as he left Jessica, he could start a brand new life, and all of that woulde to him.
¡°Although we¡¯ve only been living together for a few days, I think you¡¯re a good person. So I wish you a better future, and I hope you find something you¡¯re truly interested in.¡±
The two of them clinked their sses of Coke.
Michael had stayed in the hospital for two days and was ready to be discharged. In fact, the doctor had already warned that Michael¡¯s injury wasn¡¯t severe and that he could go home to rest once he was awake, but Sophie and Jessica didn¡¯t believe it. They insisted that Michael stay in the hospital for observation.
Sophie brought Jordan over to keep Michaelpany. She was packing up things, preparing to take Michael home.
¡°The house is renovated,¡± said Jessica as she came back from a phone call. ¡°You and Jordan can move in whenever. If you¡¯re missing anything, just let Shannon know, she¡¯ll help you arrange everything.¡±
Michael grabbed Jessica¡¯s hand. ¡°You¡¯ve been working hard these past few days. How about I cook for you tonight?¡±
¡°Sure, sure! Daddy is making food for the beautifuldy!¡± Jordan pped her hands excitedly. ¡°My daddy¡¯s cooking is amazing, Jessica! You¡¯ll never forget it once you¡¯ve tasted it!¡±
Jessica smiled. ¡°Indeed, I¡¯ll never forget it.¡±
Michael blushed as he remembered the funny moments from the past. ¡°I wasn¡¯t good at cooking before, but abroad, I had to do everything myself. Otherwise, I¡¯d be stuck eating sandwiches every day, and I couldn¡¯t handle that. Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll show you my skills.¡±
¡°Forget it.¡± Jessica gently pushed Michael¡¯s hand away. ¡°You¡¯re still recovering from your injury. Cooking and cleaning the house could cause your wound to get infected. I¡¯ll take you back home first, and then I¡¯ll go back to work.¡±
After saying this, Jessica turned to tease Jordan, while Michael turned his head and stared at Jessica¡¯s back, deep in thought.
Everyone said that Jessica still loved him, but he just felt like there was a barrier between them. Jessica had turned him down more than once.
Did she rather go back to work than stay with him a little longer?
It seemed that Chris had quite an impact on Jessica.
He needed toe up with another n.
They only drove one car. After dropping off Michael and Jordan at Cloud Bay, Sophie also hitchhiked a ride with Jessica to a friend¡¯s house.
On the way, Sophie asked curiously, ¡°Jessica, why didn¡¯t you stay with Michael?¡±
Wife Back 21
Jessica kept her eyes focused on the road. ¡°I¡¯m married, how can we be together? Things are fine as they are, I can see him anytime.¡±
¡°Marriage can be followed by divorce. Besides, Chris is gone. If you¡¯re not with Michael, does that mean you¡¯ve fallen for Chris?¡±
Sophie¡¯s question made Jessica m on the brakes, causing Sophie to lean forward.
¡°Jessica, are you crazy?¡±
¡°Chris is gone? Where did lie go?¡±
Sophie paused, surprised that her sister didn¡¯t know about this.
¡°I came home yesterday and overheard Mom talking to Chris on the phone. She asked him if he¡¯d packed for his flight today.¡±
Jessica thought for a moment. Thest time Chris was leaving, she had interfered at customs and blocked his passport. It had been over two weeks now, and his passport had been restored, so he could indeed leave.
Could he still be going to Dend?
Was he really going to be an exchange student?
Jessica frowned and asked Sophie, ¡°What time is the flight?¡±
Sophie nced at her phone, ¡°There are still two hours before takeoff. I heard Mom say Chris wasn¡¯t nning toe back. After studying abroad, he ns to stay there and develop a career. The two of you¡¡±
¡°Take a taxi by yourself,¡± Jessica said to Sophie.
¡°What?¡± Sophie looked at the bustling street. ¡°Where are you going?¡±
¡°I¡¯m going to find Chris.¡±
Who said that he could leave?
Sophie was left confused in the middle of the road. She watched as Jessica¡¯s car drove farther away. After a long pause, she finally called Chris.
At the airport, Chris was about to listen to a podcast to pass the time when he saw a call from Sophie.
He didn¡¯t want to deal with anyone from the Wilder family, except for Linda. After letting the phone ring for a while, he hung up.
Soon, his phone buzzed with a message from Sophie.
¡°Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you, my sister ising to get you. If you¡¯re leaving, you¡¯d better go quickly.¡±
Jessica wasing to find him?
Chris instinctively stood up and got ready to leave, but when he looked at the ticket in his hand, he realized he just had to board the ne. Once he escaped the country, everything would be fine.
He put on a mask and a hat, found a corner where he could see outside, and quietly waited. He was so tired he almost fell asleep, but then he saw a familiar figure.
Of course, Jessica didn¡¯te alone. A group of people followed her, several of them heading straight to the check¨Cin counter.
Jessica stood in ce and dialed Chris¡¯s number.
Chris, of course, didn¡¯t answer and turned off his phone.
In half an hour, he would be able to leave. He just had to endure thatst half hour.
Twice now, he had been stopped by Jessica when he tried to leave and he really didn¡¯t understand why she was doing this.
She clearly didn¡¯t love him, they were clearly divorced, yet she still stubbornly wanted him to stay.
When he proposed the divorce, he had thought it through. He knew that Michael had returned, that Jessica still had feelings for him, and the two of them had gotten back together after many years. He was the mistake that would never be mentioned again, just a passerby.
Chris felt a pang of urgency in his heart, and his eyes began to water..
Why couldn¡¯t she let him go?
Jessica¡¯s people spoke with the staff at the check¨Cin counter, and soon several of them came out to help look for him. Soon, they arrived at the lounge.
He kept his head down, terrified of being recognized.
¡°Are you¡ Mr. Green?¡± one of the flight attendants suddenly asked
Chris jumped up and ran.
Wife Back 22
¡°Hey, sit!¡± The night attendant was pushed aside, so he tried to steady himself against the wall. He pointed af Chris and shouted, ¡°He¡¯s here! He¡¯s here!¡±
Jessica immediately instructed her people to surround Chris.
She walked toward him, step by step, and finally stopped right in front of him.
Chris tightly held onto his ticket and passport, while Jessica only stared into his eyes. With a slight force from one hand, she snatched them away from his grasp and tossed them to a bodyguard behind her.
¡°I haven¡¯t agreed yet. Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡±
¡°We¡¯re already divorced. It¡¯s my freedom to go wherever I want. Are you going to restrict my personal freedom? I can sue you!¡±
Jessica smiled, mocking his naivety. ¡°We¡¯ve been married for five years, and you¡¯re still this cute.¡±
After that, she waved her hand, and two bodyguards immediately moved to restrain him, one on each side.
Chris didn¡¯t want to shout or act crazy, but the flight attendants, who were watching yet didn¡¯t dare act, truly caused him to feel cold deep down.
Jessica stood in ce and said to the people who had helped, ¡°Thank you for helping me find my husband. He has bipr disorder, and when he¡¯s in a bad mood, he likes to run off. Last time in Lonat, he almost drowned himself. I¡¯ll keep an eye on him. Thanks for your help.¡±
She also had someone deliver a bunch of fruit to the check¨Cin counter. ¡°Thank you for your hard work.¡±
In the MPV, the bodyguards were standing guard around the car, and Chris was alone in the cabin. He tried to get out of the car several times, but each time he was blocked. Finally, when the door opened, Jessica¡¯s cold gaze met his.
The partition went up, and the small space was instantly left with just the two of them.
¡°Trying to run again?¡± said Jessica, gripping Chris¡¯s passport. With both hands, she forcefully ripped it into pieces. ¡°How is it that you still haven¡¯t learned? Do I have to personallye to the airport to catch you? Let me think, how should I punish you?¡±
Chris felt a chill down his spine. He instinctively took a step back, but the chair¡¯s backrest blocked his path.
His cheek rested in Jessica¡¯s hand, and he could feel the pain as her long nails dug in.
He took a deep breath and tried to calmly talk to Jessica.
¡°We¡¯re divorced, but I didn¡¯t even know about it.¡± Jessica rummaged through Chris¡¯s bag and found their divorce certificate. The names on it, as well as the date it was issued, all seemed strange to her.
Chris scoffed, ¡°You had the secretary pick up the divorce certificate for us. This is the first time I¡¯ve seen how ruthless you can be.
¡±
In the past, Chris would always go along with whatever Jessica wanted, never saying such things. But now, she had gone too far, and Chris didn¡¯t want to indulge her anymore.
¡°You tricked me into signing the divorce agreement by lying to me? Looks like you¡¯ve learned quite a bit these past five years.¡±
¡°Lying to you?¡± said Chris with a hint of sadness. ¡°That day, you were in a rush to see Michael. I said I wanted a divorce, and you signed without saying a word. How is that lying?¡±
Jessica squinted her eyes. ¡°Chris, weren¡¯t we getting along? Why did we have to bring up the divorce? Or is there something else out there that¡¯s attracted you?¡±
¡°I brought up the divorce so you and Michael could have some space.¡±
He hadn¡¯t managed to leave, and the ne had already taken off. Chris finally exploded with anger. ¡°Jessica, why can¡¯t you just
Chapter 22
let me go? I just wanted a divorce! I don¡¯t want anything you¡¯ve given me, and I don¡¯t want you either!¡±
Chris!¡±
Thatst sentence hurt Jessica deeply. She suddenly moved forward, grabbing his arm and pulling him close. ¡°You¡¯d better take that back. Between us, I¡¯ve always been the one in charge. It¡¯s never been your ce to decide whether or not you want me.¡±
Wife Back 23
Chapter 23
¡°We¡¯re already divorced. Why are you still putting on this act?¡± Chis lowered his gaze, quietly staring at her fair hand. He was actually surprised at how strong Jessica was as a woman. He asked in return, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me, you really fell in love with me?¡±
¡°L¡¡±
¡°Jessica, this is hrious.¡±
A person who hadn¡¯t fallen in love in five years suddenly realized they love someone after a divorce? What was even more ridiculous was the fact that her first love was still openly living in her house.
Was that even love?
If it was, then it would truly cheapen the word.
Jessica endured the sarcasm and ridicule, tilting her head to look al Chris for a long time, as if she was meeting this sharp- tongued Chris for the first time.
Q
In the past five years, she had grown ustomed to Chris¡¯s submissiveness, even his somewhat weak willingness to be at her beck and call.
But now, something had changed.
He had be prickly since Michael¡¯s appearance, unwilling to let go.
¡°Are you jealous?¡± Jessica, as if she had discovered a delightful truth, released her grip on him and adjusted his cor. ¡°I told you, I¡¯m done with Michael. Forget about him.¡±
Chris furrowed his brows. ¡°Jessica, I¡¯m leaving. Let me go.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t say that again.¡± Jessica impatiently nced at her phone. It had been vibrating continuously since earlier, but her attention had been entirely on Chris, leaving no room for anyone else.
Shannon had called several times, and senior executives at thepany were constantly ringing in.
What was going on?
Jessica sat beside Chris, holding his hand in one of hers and returning the phone call with the other.
¡°Ms. Wilder, you finally answered! Our lines have exploded with tons of calls. You need toe back quickly.¡±
¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±
There was a pause on the other end of the line before Shannon said softly, ¡°Ms. Wilder, you might want to take a look at the trending news online, about you.¡±
As the CEO of Wilder Group, making the trending topics was nothing new. Being a woman in charge of such amercial empire often brought doubts from others, but Jessica didn¡¯t care about that.
After taking over Wilder Group in less than two years, she had multiplied thepany¡¯s market value several times over. Her strength had proven her position.
Since then, Jessica had be a regr on Twitter¡¯s hot searches.
Even though she could tell from Shannon¡¯s voice that it was urgent, Jessica didn¡¯t take it to heart.
¡°Breaking news! The Wilder Group¡¯s CEO, Jessica, had an affair during her marriage!¡±
¡°The Wilder Group¡¯s CEO¡¯s secret husband. Who is he?¡±
¡°Jessica¡¯s ex¨Clover returns to the country! Is there a rekindling of old love?¡±
Chapter 23
There were a lot more.
This time, Jessica paused, and her beautiful brows furrowed. Who Had leaked her information?
It wasn¡¯t a secret that Michael had returned to the country. The people in the circle had known about it for a long time, but they had kept it quiet, without making it a public issue.
She answered the phone again. ¡°What¡¯s going on at thepany now?¡±
¡°Some shareholders are making a fuss, iming that you¡¯ve brought negative attention to thepany.¡±
¡°So what?¡± Jessica leaned back in her seat, feeling a bit weary.
At that moment, Chris tried to pull his hand away from Jessica¡¯s firm grip, but she still held on tightly, refusing to let go.
Shannon asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going toe and check?¡±
¡°What¡¯s there to see?¡± Jessica retorted. ¡°Let them go downstairs and see thepany sign for themselves, Even if I¡¯ve brought negative attention, thepany will still be called the Wilder Group. There¡¯s no need for them to make a fuss about it.¡±
¡°What about you?¡±
¡°I need to head back home. Oh, and go to the hospital where the Wilder Group has invested, and help my husband resign.¡± Chris sat up and grabbed Jessica¡¯s arm. ¡°I¡¯m not resigning!¡±
Wife Back 24
Jessica had already hung up the phone. She nced at Chris¡¯s bloodshot eyes, then casually instructed the driver to go to the pany.
Who could have leaked this information?
During Michael¡¯s time back in the country, he had kept a low profile. If it hadn¡¯t been for Jordan getting sick, he probably wouldn¡¯t have even left the house. So who would want to use Michael to target her?
The target had to be her. Michael was no longer of use to the Hall family, and with the child, who would go after Michael?
Except for Chris.
Thinking of the person beside her, Jessica was still angry.
Twice, he had almost left.
¡°Stop thinking about it, just stay at home and behave yourself,¡± said Jessica.
Chris tried to grab the bag, wanting Jessica to take a good look at their divorce certificate. Even though she didn¡¯t know, they were already divorced.
The car stopped in front of the Wilder Group¡¯s office building. Chris didn¡¯t make any move to get out. Jessica sat beside him for a long time before saying, ¡°Even though we¡¯re divorced, my mom treated you well, didn¡¯t she? The Wilder Group is my mom lifelong effort. Can you really bear to watch the Wilder Group get attacked?¡±
Jessica knew how to make Chris soften.
She could tell that Chris was a soft¨Chearted person. When others treated him well, he would repay them a hundred times over. So if she dragged Linda into this, Chris would definitely not refuse
It was obvious that Chris hesitated.
¡°How about this? We¡¯re already divorced, but you don¡¯t need to pay back the money my mom spent on your mother back then.¡±
¡°What do you want?¡± asked Chris.
Jessica stared into Chris¡¯s eyes. ¡°I want you to put on an act with me, pretend we¡¯re still married. With this kind of negative news spreading, the Wilder Group¡¯s stock will definitely fluctuate. The foolish shareholders will take the opportunity to attack my shares. I need you to help me stabilize the situation.¡±
Having been married to Jessica for five years, Chris had yed the role of a couple many times. If it was just acting, and it could give him freedom and help Linda, he was willing to do so.
After giving it some thought, Chris nodded.
¡°Get out of the car.¡±
There were still many reporters gathered at the entrance of thepany. They had obviously just received the news and rushed over to grab an exclusive. Jessica¡¯s car stopped at the entrance, and a group of reporters immediately surrounded them.
From the headlines, it was clear that Jessica and Michael appeared to be quite close. For a woman, any physical interaction with someone other than her husband would definitely attract criticism
The bodyguards opened the door, and Chris had already adjusted his facial expression. He followed Jessica.
They stood side by side, with Chris¡¯s hand resting on Jessica¡¯s shoulder. He showed no sign of nervousness in front of the cameras. Once, everyone had said that Chris was unworthy of Jessica, but if you just looked at their appearances, Chris and Jessica were indeed a perfect match.
¡°Ms. Wilder, is it true that you and Mr. Hall are in the trending searches?¡±
¡°Ms. Wilder, you came to thepany with your husband right af
¡°Mr. Green, do you know about the interactions between Ms. Wild with Ms. Wilder is essentially over and that you¡¯ve been separated state?¡±
Facing these reporters, Chris wanted to yell at them several times, whatever she wanted with Michael. He wasn¡¯t the one wearing a g
But what about Linda?
Jessica had a sharp eye and knew that Chris would never stand and Linda to pressure him.
G
?
¡°Ms. Wilder, you came to thepany with your husband right after the news got out. Is this to prove that you ! haven¡¯t cheated?
Mr. Green, do you know about the interactions between Ms. Wilder and Mr. Hall? Some people are saying that your marriage with Ms. Wilder is essentially over and that you¡¯ve been separated for a long time. Is that true? Are you still in a legally married state?¡±
Facing these reporters, Chris wanted to yell at them several times. He and Jessica were already divorced. Jessica could do whatever she wanted with Michael. He wasn¡¯t the one wearing a green hat and didn¡¯t care about what these people were saying.
But what about Linda?
Jessica had a sharp eye and knew that Chris would never stand and do nothing as the Wilder Group was attacked, so she used Linda to pressure him.
Chopter
Wife Back 25
With that thought in mind, Chris smiled, reaching out to pull Jessica tighter into his arms.
¡°No, my wife and Mr. Hall¡¯s past rtionship is already a thing of the past. We have a good rtionship now. I kindly ask everyone not to spread rumors,¡± he said.
¡°Does Mr. Green know that Ms. Wilder apanied Mr. Hall and His child to the hospital?¡± a reporter asked.
Chris replied, ¡°Of course I know. Didn¡¯t you know I work at that hospital? Jessica also invested in that hospital, so naturally, would take Mr. Hall¡¯s child there.¡±
Jessica furrowed her brow slightly.
she
She had nned to have Shannon help Chris resign, but now that Chris had mentioned working at the hospital on camera, he couldn¡¯t resign anytime soon.
Otherwise, it would look staged.
So, this was Chris¡¯s counterattack?
She had thought that Chris was easy to control. Over the years, he had always been obedient, docile, and followed all her suggestions. But recently, Chris seemed like a porcupine, full of spikes, making it impossible to get close.
It was only then that Jessica realized how smart Chris was.
It was their marriage that had made Chris hide his sharp edges.
He had willingly stayed at home, ying the role of a househusband.
Some reporters, however, weren¡¯t giving up. They wanted to dig into Jessica¡¯s past with Michael.
¡°I think anyone with a bit ofmon sense wouldn¡¯t bring up my ex¨Cboyfriend in front of my current husband. My rtionship with Michael is in the past, and my marriage with Chris is very stable. No matter whoes back, it won¡¯t affect our rtionship,¡± said Jessica.
She held Chris¡¯s hand, and their wedding rings sparkled on their fingers.
The reporters still wanted to probe deeper, but just then, a group of people emerged from thepany, pushing the media aside. Shannon and Sophie appeared, and as Jessica was about to walk forward, a child suddenly ran out and hugged her leg.¡±
Mommy.¡±
This shout felt like a thunderp, and everyone was stunned.
Even Jessica froze for a moment. Not wanting to make too much of a scene and upset Jordan, she gently pressed her shoulder to push her away, squatting down and saying, ¡°Jordan, that¡¯s not how you should address me. I¡¯m not your mommy. I don¡¯t have any children yet.¡±
Jordan blinked, as if looking back at Michael for a moment, then turned to Jessica and said, ¡°But I want you to be my mommy.¡±
On the steps, Sophie looked on, seemingly watching a show, disdainfully staring at Chris.
At an asion like this, Jessica would never embarrass Michael.
She cared about Michael the most.
As long as she could get Jessica to admit in front of the media that she still loved Michael, Chris would definitely be out of the
game.
Shannon was anxious and had tried several times to step forward to pull Jordan away, but she couldn¡¯t be sure of Jessica¡¯s intentions.
Michael had been brought to thepany by Sophie. When the media wer
downstairs, the office area was in chaos, and
Chapter 25
Shannon didn¡¯t have the time to handle everything. Who knew the child would run up and call the CEO ¡°mommy¡°?
¡°Jordan, just because you want me to be your mommy doesn¡¯t mean I can be. I¡¯m not your daddy¡¯s wife, so I can¡¯t be your mommy,¡± said Jessica, speaking logically to a child. It felt almost absurd.
Chris let go of Jessica¡¯s hand but didn¡¯t seem to be in a hurry to help. His gaze shifted over the crowd andnded on Michael.
Michael¡¯s lips curved slightly, clearly trying not to cover his nervousness.
He hadn¡¯t expected Jessica to bring Chris along, so that was why he told Jordan to call Jessica mommy.
Wife Back 26
Chapter 26
Chris hadn¡¯t expected to be dragged into such a situation. Just a moment ago, they had been a deeply affectionate couple, but the next second, with Jordan¡¯s sudden appearance, it only made him feel more embarrassed.
The show had gone on long enough, and Jessica was starting to feel anxious. She gave Shannon a look, and thetter quickly came over to pull Jordan away.
¡°You¡¯ve all seen it. This child is not mine but Michael¡¯s. My marriage with my husband is still intact, and we haven¡¯t done anything illegal. Michael came here to prove our innocence. Meeting in the hospital was just a friendly gesture of mutual help. My husband was also there. Do you have any more questions?¡±
In truth, Jessica had no idea Michael was going to show up.
At that moment, Jessica had been slightly stunned, and instinctively grabbed Chris¡¯s hand, afraid that if she let go, he would disappear.
The rification in front of so many eyes forced Michael to speak up.
¡°Yes,¡± said Michael, struggling. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect such public spection. Jessica and I¡ have long since gone our separate ways. We both have families now, and we would never betray our families.¡±
The dispute at thepany¡¯s entrance quickly died down. Shannon led the way, and Jordan returned to Michael¡¯s arms. The group entered the elevator.
¡°Who brought Michael here?¡± asked Jessica.
Shannon didn¡¯t dare hide anything. ¡°It was Miss Sophie.¡±
Sophie still didn¡¯t realize she had done something wrong and continued to mock Chris. ¡°Why are you still here? Can¡¯t you leave cleanly? You¡¯re still here causing trouble. If it weren¡¯t for you, my sister and Michael could have confirmed their rtionship. Then the Hall family wouldn¡¯t look down on Michael. This is all your fault!¡±
They walked into the office in silence, and Shannon temporarily took Jordan away. Only a few adults were left in the CEO¡¯s office.
It was definitely not the right environment for a child.
Sophie didn¡¯t stop and continued her taunting, asking Chris why he didn¡¯t leave more decisively, wondering if he was ying hard to get just to make her sister chase after him.
Chris couldn¡¯t be bothered to respond to Sophie¡¯s foolishness.
He found a ce to sit, and just as Sophie came over, Jessica was by his side. Before Sophie could say anything else, jessica grabbed her arm and pped her.
The p stunned both Sophie and Michael, but Chris found it normal.
It was true that Jessica cared deeply for Sophie, and maybe she still loved Michael in her heart, but nothing could outweigh the importance of thepany and its interests.
Whether it was family or a lover, once they affected her business, they would be taught a lesson.
¡°Jessica, why did you hit me?¡± Sophie was dazed, one hand covering her face, tears falling from her eyes. ¡°Jessica, it¡¯s all Chris¡¯s fault! Why did you bring him here? Don¡¯t you love Michael? I was just trying to give you two a chance. What did I do wrong?¡±
Jessica sat in arge chair, silently watching the wronged Sophie.
¡°What did you do wrong?¡±
¡°Jessica, Sophie didn¡¯t know. She didn¡¯t expect so many reporters to be present. It was all my fault. I failed to teach Jordan manners. It¡¯s my fault, don¡¯t me Sophie.¡±
Chris nced down at his phone. Several teachers had messaged him, asking if he had managed to catch his flight.
Chapter 26
He helplessly replied that he couldn¡¯t go to Dend for now. As for the exact reason¡ well, the news tomorrow would exin everything for him.
¡®Michael, don¡¯t say anything,¡± Jessica still had a cold expression on her face. ¡°My mom and I have been working hard to maintain thepany. And you, not only are you unskilled, but you also bring me such trouble. Sophie, your life has been too easy so far, hasn¡¯t it? Do you know how much thepany¡¯s market value will evaporate after this mess tomorrow?¡±
ÏÂ
Wife Back 27
Chapter 27
Sophie froze for a moment, clearly not understanding all of what Jessica had just said.
¡°I just wanted these people to acknowledge Michael as my brother¨Cinw. I didn¡¯t do anything that would harm thepany¡¯s image!¡±
¡°As the CEO, if I had an affair while married, my personal reputation alone would cause many business opportunities to slip away from us. Sophie, what happens between me and Chris is not for you to meddle in. If it weren¡¯t for Chris today, I would have to bear the shame of having an affair during my marriage. Tomorrow, thepany¡¯s shareholders could demand my resignation. Do you want to destroy the Wilder family with your actions?¡±
A string of questions came pouring out, and Sophie was stunned, unable to cover her face anymore. Instead, she looked at Chris in silence.
¡°But¡ but you two are already divorced. As long as you admit that you¡¯re divorced, you and Michael could be together!¡± she said.
¡°That¡¯s my business.¡±
Jessica was never a woman who could be easily manipted, nor was she foolish. Thinking it over carefully, she realized who was truly behind all of this.
¡°Michael, I know the Hall family is pressuring you. After your divorce and bringing Jordan back, the Hall family has never acknowledged you. I¡¯ll find a way to handle it. Sophie¡¯s suggestion isn¡¯t suitable for you. You shouldn¡¯t be without a career.¡±
Chris felt a pang in his heart when he heard this.
If Michael wasn¡¯t supposed to be a man without a career, was he supposed to be? Was he supposed to just stay at home, do nothing, and be a useless man? If he hadn¡¯t mentioned working at the hospital in front of the media today, perhaps tomorrow he would have been confined in the house again.
¡°Jessica, I don¡¯t want to make things difficult for you and Sophie. I¡¯ll handle things with the Hall family. Jordan caused you trouble today, and I¡¯ll have her apologize to you,¡± said Michael as he got up to bring the child over.
But Jessica waved her hand. ¡°It¡¯s fine, you can go. There¡¯s still a lot to handle.¡±
Sophie didn¡¯t want to leave. Michael whispered a few words in her ear and pulled the teary¨Ceyed Sophie away.
¡°Today¡¡± Jessica lowered her head, her hands pressing on her temples. ¡°You don¡¯t need to resign from the hospital for now, but you¡¯d better bnce your work and family. If one day Ie home and don¡¯t see you, I will immediately have someone fire you.¡±
Chris straightened up.
Finally, some peace and quiet. He could have a proper conversation with Jessica.
¡°First, we¡¯re divorced. I¡¯m an independent adult. We have no rtionship anymore, so it¡¯s not up to you to fire me. Second, that¡¯s your home. I¡¯m noting back. If you need me to y along at thepany, contact me. Otherwise, there¡¯s no need for us to meet.¡±
Jessica lifted her head and stared at Chris.
¡°I didn¡¯t think you were this kind of person.¡±
¡°Really? Maybe I loved you so much that I didn¡¯t want you to see this side of me.¡±
When the word ¡°love¡± was mentioned, Jessica¡¯s previously tense body rxed a little. She sighed. ¡°I know you love me. Can¡¯t we just live a good life together?¡±
¡°What about today? Are we just going to let it go?¡±
Jessica thought for a moment. ¡°I¡¯ve already found a school for Sophie abroad. She should start learning to do something for
Chapter 27
herself, It¡¯s my fault and my mom¡¯s fault for spoiling her so much.
¡°Jessica, stop pretending. I don¡¯t believe you didn¡¯t notice Michael¡¯s role in all of this. Or are you just unwilling to ept such a fact?¡±
Jessica wasn¡¯t a fool.
Wife Back 28
Actually, Jessica had figured it out in the car.
¡°Michael is in a tough spot himself.¡±
Chris nodded. Since it was the Wilder family¡¯s reputation on the line, and he and Jessica were just partners, he didn¡¯t need to get angry on Michael¡¯s behalf.
Since that was the case, he stood up and was about to leave, but Jessica quickly stepped forward to stop him.
¡°There are so many journalists outside, and there must be some near the front gates as well. If they don¡¯t see you returning home with me, they¡¯ll definitely specte. During the coboration phase, you need to stay with me.¡±
¡°You!¡±
He frowned at Jessica, and she smiled lightly. ¡°It¡¯s just a coboration. Are you scared?¡±
What was there to be scared of? He was a man, and it wasn¡¯t he who was going to suffer.
So, Jessica started dealing with work, while Chris was ordered to stay in the office. He made a few phone calls to some teachers, starting with an apology.
¡°Chris, the exchange program in Dend is precious. They can¡¯t keep waiting for you. Is there something going on over there? How about I give you a hand?¡±
His trouble was still dealing with her problems at work. Chris nced at Jessica and lowered his head. ¡°No need, I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just some family matters, nothing to worry about. What did the hospital say?¡±
¡°They¡¯re happy for you to stay at the hospital. Besides, the Wilder Group invested in the hospital because of you. If you stay, it¡¯s like that the funding will continue. They said if youe back, you won¡¯t be on probation anymore. They¡¯ll directly promote you to attending physician. What do you think?¡±
¡°Anything is fine. I¡¯ll follow your arrangements.¡±
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll tell them.¡±
There weren¡¯t many medical geniuses, and Chris, being one of the best, had hospitalspeting for him before he even graduated. The sry and benefits were excellent. However, Chris had married Jessica without a second thought, and wasted these years.
Even if he couldn¡¯t go abroad, he still needed to stay far away from Jessica.
During the meeting, all the shareholders were attacking Jessica¡¯s private life, even bringing up her being a woman.
¡°What? At least I haven¡¯t betrayed my husband. Today, Chris showed up to prove it for me. Did you not like to see that? I think you know more about a messy private life than I do, Mr. Hickey.¡±
¡°You!¡±
The man who had been the harshest in his criticism was Mr. Hickey.
Jessica smiled faintly. ¡°I know what you¡¯re all thinking, but don¡¯t forget, this is the Wilder Group. Even if you kick me out, it would only mean my mother continues to run the Wilder Group, and at worst, my sister can take over. Even if my entire family were wiped out, there¡¯s still my husband. As for you? You can stop dreaming.¡±
¡°Yes, this is the Wilder Group, but it¡¯s also the result of our lifetime of effort. We can¡¯t just watch it get ruined in your hands. What exactly is going on with you and that He family kid?¡± Mark Light was still being objective. He cleared his throat ar id, ¡± In our position, it¡¯s inevitable that we have to y some games. Even if you have something going on, it¡¯s none of our bless, but thepany¡¯s interests must be considered!¡±
Jessica waved her hand irritably. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think. There¡¯s nothing between me and Michael.¡±
Mr. Hickey wouldn¡¯t let it go. ¡°Because of your personal issues, thepany lost several business deals. What do you have to say about that?¡±
Say?¡± Jessica gave Mr. Hickey a humorous look, then raised her hand. Shannon immediately ced a folder into her hand.
¡°You haven¡¯t been home recently, have you?¡±
¡°What?¡±
ere also confused. Jessica looked at the document and said, ¡® Seeing that Mr. Hickey didn¡¯t understand, the other shareholders You bought a vi in River Crescent. That¡¯s where you¡¯ve been living recently. But from what I know, Mrs. Hickey is staying at Imperial Bay. The security guards have said repeatedly that you¡¯re living with your wife. I¡¯d like to ask, which wife are they talking about?¡±
¡±
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2
¡±
Wife Back 29
Chapter 29
tearing the mention of River Crescent, Mr. Hickey¡¯s expression immediately darkened, and the other shareholders turned their gazes toward him.
People like them having some secrets wasn¡¯t unusual, but they hid them well and never used their own names to buy properties. They would usually use the names of their spouses or family members.
Jessica hadn¡¯t expected her to have such great skills to actually find out about it.
¡°How did you¡¡±
There was still much more behind the file, but Jessica was in a good mood after catching Chris¡¯s attention. She didn¡¯t want to continue discussing it and just wanted to quickly go back with him she closed the file, cing it on the table and pressing down
with her hand.
¡°I know a lot more, not just about Mr. Hickey.¡± She leaned back, her whole body rxing as she spread her arms out. ¡°You ali can try to bring me down, but my mother¡¯s methods will be even harsher than mine.¡±
Over the years, she had tolerated the shareholders¡® small tricks in their positions. She turned a blind eye to them because everyone loves money. Small amounts didn¡¯t bother her.
But she would never allow anyone to develop ambition.
Ambition that was too big would lead to danger.
After the meeting, everyone¡¯s face was grim. Jessica had made a clear and open warning. The matter with Mr. Hickey was a direct warning to them.
¡°The little girl has a lot of tricks up her sleeve,¡± Mr. Hickey cursed angrily as he returned to his office. Harry Watkins followed him in, closed the door, and sat down across from him. ¡°What¡¯s going on? How could Jessica find out about the woman you¡¯ve been keeping outside?¡±
Mr. Hickey had a furious look on his face. ¡°How could that happen? I¡¯ve kept it hidden so well! Damn it, it looks like we need to get rid of that youngdy!¡±
¡°No, didn¡¯t you hear what she said? Even if she¡¯s dead, there¡¯s still Mrs. Linda. You know what Mrs. Linda is capable of. If youy a hand on her daughter, do you think you¡¯ll survive?¡±
¡°What should we do then?¡±
¡°Let¡¯s wait and see.¡±
Back in the office, it was very quiet. Jessica couldn¡¯t find Chris and was about to go out to search for him when she noticed the door to the lounge was open out of the corner of her eye.
She often workedte at thepany, and the office was connected to a small lounge where she asionally rested.
The lounge door was open, and there was a dim light inside. Jessica walked over quietly.
Chris was already lying on the bed, fast asleep.
She sat on the edge of the bed, raising her hand to trace his brows and eyes. She had known for a long time that Chris was very handsome, always so gentle with a face that made people feel at ease when facing her.
She just hadn¡¯t expected that the normally cold¨Cfaced Chris would look so handsome.
¡°Don¡¯t make a fuss, let¡¯s live a happy life,¡± said Jessica as she bent down and kissed his cheek. ¡°Stay by my side.¡±
Chris didn¡¯t know when he woke up, but there was a small body next to him. He shifted slightly and realized it was Tassica.
She had fallen asleep beside him,pletely unguarded.
After a long silence, Chris got up and walked outside.
What was this?
Over the past two years, they hadn¡¯t spent much time sleeping in the same bed. But now, after their divorce, they were lying together again.
Chris felt exhausted and wanted to go out for a cup of coffee.
However, when he entered the tea room, he saw Shannon..
¡°Mr. Green?¡± Shannon was holding a coffee cup and was about to leave when she turned and saw him.
He nodded. ¡°You haven¡¯t left yet?¡±
Shannon sighed. ¡°There¡¯s online public opinion to deal with, and the PR department is all working overtime. I need to keep an eye on things. Is Ms. Wilder in the office?¡±
¡°She¡¯s asleep.¡±
Wife Back 30
Chapter 30
Shannon sighed as she looked at how tired Chris was. She took the coffee cup from his hand and personally made him a fresh cup of coffee..
¡°Ms. Wilder may not be as gentle as other women, but¡ Ms. Wilde still cares about you. Every time you wanted to leave, Ms. Wilder got really anxious. It was only after Mrs. Linda¡¯s birthday banquet that Ms. Wilder find out about¡¡±
Shannon cleared her throat lightly. ¡°Only then did she find out that you two had divorced.¡±
Actually, Shannon was even more curious about how Ms. Wilder lil signed the divorce agreement. Given how much she cared for Chris, if she had seen the agreement in person, she definitely wouldn¡¯t have signed it. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have stopped Chris from going abroad so many times.
So how did she end up signing it?
The fragrance of coffee spread throughout the office, and Shannon handed the cup to him, her voice soft. ¡°Ms. Wilder has been in this position for so long that she¡¯s bound to have some tendencies of someone in power. You¡¯ve lived with her for many years, so you must know. As long as you go along with her, she won¡¯t make things difficult for you.¡±
Indeed, over the years, Chris had been amodating Jessica, and life had gone on like that. If it weren¡¯t for Michael¡¯s return to the country, maybe Chris would never have brought up the divorce:
Shannon still had work to do. Chris finished his coffee alone in the tea room and then returned to the lounge, ready to wake Jessica up so that he could head home. Just as he was about to enter the room, he saw the door open from the inside.
¡°You!¡± Jessica looked a bit flustered and still had the sleepy look of someone who hadn¡¯t woken up properly.
¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡±
There were cameras at thepany, and Chris didn¡¯t want to argue with Jessica there. He took the initiative to hold her hand. After all, he was a man. Shannon was right¨Cuntil he got the result he wanted, it was best to just go along with Jessica.
Due to the online public opinion, Jessica had been busy every day, but somehow she still managed to personally arrange for someone to change the locks of Michael¡¯s new house.
It was said that someone had tried to pick the lock in the middle of the night. The thief thought there would be plenty of valuable items in the newly renovated house, but before he could steal anything, the security guard found him, and the man was
immediately taken away.
Michael wasn¡¯t affected much, but Jordan got even more terrified, worsening her condition.
Chris had learned all of this while at the hospital.
Unable to go abroad, Chris settled some of his belongings in a dormitory, still with his old roommate. Jake came out of the bathroom, saw Chris, and was startled, thinking he had mistaken something.
¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be in Dend? I was nning to ask how you¡¯re doingter.¡± Jake still had droplets of water on him and casually wiped them off as he walked over to Chris.
Chris smiled bitterly, unable to answer.
Who would believe that he was actually trapped by his ex¨Cwife and couldn¡¯t leave?
¡°Hey, this morning when I went on rounds with my mentor, I saw Michael in the news again. He looked quite haggard, bringing his daughter to get an IV. But this time, Ms. Wilder wasn¡¯t with him.¡±
Chris took a sip of water. ¡°It¡¯s just a fever, hasn¡¯t she recovered?¡±
¡°No, I heard a thief broke into his house and scared the child.¡±
Chris was rendered speechless.
Chapter 30
This kind of melodramatic plot was happening to Michael? With the online public opinion, it was hard for Chris not to suspect that Michael had staged it himself. But if Jessica was willing, others had no say in the matter.
He had thought that he and Jessica would be fine, and the online public opinion had been mostly suppressed. Thanks to the maniption of online influencers, there were fewerments about Jessica¡¯s infidelity. Instead, many people now called Chris weak and ipetent.
As a man, he had been cuckolded and still couldn¡¯t bring himself to divorce his wife.
Naturally, ¡± ¡°¡®Kept man,¡± ¡°Cuckold,¡± and other simr remarks.
g
Wife Back 31
Chris hadn¡¯t cared much about It. Fortunately, the footage of him getting out of the car with jessica that day had been handled. It
mostly showed side profiles and back views, so no one at the hospital knew about his rtionship with her.
That day, Chris finally had a rare break. After several consecutive days of surgeries, he had been so exhausted that he could barely keep his eyes open. While Jessica went to thepany, he had nned to catch up on sleep in the dormitory.
He had barely fallen asleep for an hour when the phone rang.
¡°Honey,¡±
Upon hearing that word, Chris had jolted awake,pletely dazed He had instinctively replied with ¡°Yes?¡± and had just been about to ask Jessica what was wrong when his brain finally rebooted and reminded him that they had already divorced.
¡°Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d bring me lunch this afternoon? Are you on your yet?¡±
Last night, Jessica hadin beside him, sounding tired, and told him to go to thepany the next day.
a
Apparently there had been a business partner visiting thepany to discuss coboration, and the other party had brought up personal questions about Jessica, possibly out of concern it might affect the brand image. Jessica had exined that her rtionship with her husband was very good.
Clearly, it had been a performance.
Chris had gotten out of bed, holding his head. ¡°I¡¯m heading out now. Wait for me at thepany.¡±
¡°Okay, honey.¡±
Jessica had hung up, fully satisfied.
There had been no time to go back and cook, so Chris had changed clothes again, gone out, and found a private kitchen restaurant to order a few of Jessica¡¯s favorite dishes. He had packed them into lunchboxes.
He had figured she wouldn¡¯t be able to tell the difference anyway.
When he had arrived at thepany entrance, the receptionist had been a neer and didn¡¯t recognize him, so she had stopped him from going upstairs.
Chris had been exhausted and hadn¡¯t wanted to make things difficult for the neer, so he called Jessica.
¡°Honey, I¡¯m downstairs. I still have to go back to the hospitalter¨Ccould youe down and pick up the food?¡±
His voice had been gentle and patient. The receptionist had stared at him, dazed, wondering who had such good luck to have a considerate husband like Chris.
In the end, Shannon hade downstairs with Jessica, followed by quite a few people.
¡°Honey!¡± Jessica had immediately run toward him the moment she saw him, throwing herself into his arms.
Chris had frozen on the spot.
He had wanted to push her away, but couldn¡¯t bring himself to do i
¡°You¡¯rete,¡± Jessica said in a coquettish tone, like a girl in love¨Cnothing at all like the tough businesswoman she usually was.
¡°Sorry, there was traffic.¡±
Jessica had pulled Chris over to introduce him to the business partners.
¡°This is my husband.¡±
Chris had reached out to shake hands with a few of them. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Chris.¡±
Chapter 31
¨C
¡°You two seem really close. My wife hasn¡¯t brought me lunch in years. Ali, anyway, we¡¯re heading to the factory now. Ms. Wilder, looking forward to our cooperation.¡®
Thank you for your trust in us.¡±
After sending the partners off at the door, Chris had stuffed the lunchbox Into Shannon¡¯s hands and turned to leave. But Jessica hadn¡¯t let go. ¡°You¡¯re already here, and I can¡¯t finishra, this by myself. Stay and eat with me.¡±
¡°No.¡± Chris frowned, worried others might notice, so he hadn¡¯t dared push her away. ¡°I have work at the hospital,¡±
Jessica had refused to back down. She had wrapped her arms around his and dragged him into the elevator. ¡°No matter how important work is, you still have to eat, right?¡±
As the elevator doors had closed, Chris had realized he was out of options.
Anyway, it had been his day off.
Once inside the office, Shannon had gone to organize documents, leaving just the two of them.
Wife Back 32
Jessica¡¯s smiling face disappeared in an instant. She watched as Chrisid out the food on the table and poured water for her, gentle and attentive as always.
If she hadn¡¯t already known that Chris had the day off, she might Bave thought he had made a special effort for her.
The two sat in silence, facing each other. Chris didn¡¯t have much of an appetite and put down his cutlery after only a few bites. Jessica, on the other hand, ate a little more.
When she got to the roast pork, she suddenly paused and looked up at Chris.
¡°Did you make this yourself?¡± she asked.
Chris didn¡¯t respond.
Jessica suddenly became angry and mmed her cutlery on the table. ¡°Chris, is it really that hard for you to cook a meal for me? We agreed on this yesterday¨Cyet you still went out and bought it?
For a moment, Chris was surprised that she could tell.
Seeing his confusion, Jessica pointed at the roast pork. ¡°You always add an extra spice when you cook this dish. One bite and I knew it wasn¡¯t your cooking. Did you really think I¡¯m too stupid to notice?¡±
Stanned, Chris lowered his head and smiled. Habits really were hard to break.
Jessica loved roast pork, and his habit when making the dish had always been to add an extra spice.
He had assumed she wouldn¡¯t notice.
These little details in daily life had never seemed to matter to Jessica. She often readpany contracts even while eating. Even when the two of them sat at the same table, they rarely exchanged more than a few words.
¡°I forgot,¡± Chris exined calmly. ¡°I¡¯ve been overwhelmed with surgeries these past few days. It was quitete when you told me about itst night¨CI was already half asleep. If you hadn¡¯t called me, I probably wouldn¡¯t havee.¡±
The office was quiet, and only their heartbeats could be heard. Jessica stared into Chris¡¯s eyes for a long time, trying to find even a trace of the warmth he used to show her¨Cbut she was disappointed.
¡°What exactly do you want me to do?¡± she asked.
Chris didn¡¯t understand why she was so upset over this. It was just for show¨Cthe business partners wouldn¡¯t know the food wasn¡¯t homemade.
¡°Our partnership is just an act. The clients didn¡¯t suspect anything, so I¡¯ve done my part.¡±
¡°Chris, are you pretending not to understand?¡± Jessica stepped closer, grabbed his cor, and forced him to look at her.
¡°I kept you by my side¨Cdo you really not know what I meant by that?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t, and I don¡¯t want to know,¡± Chris replied calmly. With no one else around, he used a bit of strength to push Jessica away and straightened his cor. He said, ¡°We¡¯re already divorced. I¡¯m only ying along because I don¡¯t want all of Madam Wilder¡¯s hard work to go to waste. Jessica, I¡¯ve made myself very clear.¡±
They parted on bad terms that day.
Even after Chris left, Jessica remained seated in her chair, unmoving.
It wasn¡¯t until Shannon came in and saw the half¨Ceaten food on the table that she realized they had argued again.
Shannon had worked with Jessica for many years. She was not only a colleague but also somewhat of a friend.
¡°Ms. Wilder, you¡¯re pushing him too hard.¡±
Chapter 32
¡°What do you want me to do then? The moment I loosen my grip, he wants to leave the country. What else can I do? Why does he care so much about Michael anyway? I never wanted to break up with him!¡±
Shannon cleaned up the mess on the table. ¡°You should really think carefully about what it is you want. You¡¯ve been married to him for five years, but it was always lukewarm between you two. I remember a few years ago he brought you lunch, and didn¡¯t you throw it away? He never brought you food again after that.¡±
Those things had happened so long ago that Jessica couldn¡¯t even remember.
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Chapter 33
Wife Back 33
Chapter 33
In her memory, Chris rarely came to thepany and didn¡¯t like to appear by her side.
She had thought Chris simply didn¡¯t enjoy interacting with strangers, and disliked those kinds of shy, superficial asions
even more.
¡°Mr. Hall¡¯s house locks have been changed, and a new batch of security guards has been assigned,¡± said Shannon, cing the trash aside and standing in front of the desk. ¡°You see, you¡¯re trying; to hold onto Mr. Green, and at the same time, you¡¯re taking care of Mr. Hall. Splitting your focus like this is too exhausting.¡±
Shannon spoke in a tactful manner, hoping Jessica would understand the message.
That night, Chris slept in the dormitory. Without Jessica by his side for once, he slept very soundly. Jake had gone home, so he was the only one in the dorm.
Later that night, Chris sensed someone approaching him. He thought it was a night shift workering to get something and didn¡¯t pay much attention.
But a few minutester, someone slipped into his nket.
Chris was instantly startled awake.
¡°Who is it!¡±
A soft, boneless hand covered his mouth. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡±
Bathed in the moonlight from the window, he recognized the person in front of him.
¡°Jessica?¡±
Jessica seemed to have been drinking. Once she saw that Chris recognized her, she let go of his mouth and copsed directly into his arms. ¡°Why didn¡¯t youe home?¡±
Her soft, fragrant bodyy in his embrace, and Chris was so stiff he didn¡¯t dare move.
¡°Why are you here?¡±
¡°You didn¡¯te home, so of course I came to find you.¡± Jessica tilted her head and asked again, ¡°Why didn¡¯t youe home?¡±
Chris swallowed. ¡°We¡¯re already divorced. That¡¯s not my home anymore.¡±
¡°Chris¡¡± Jessica wrapped her arms around his neck, her warm breath brushing his ear. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you.¡±
Chris¡¯s entire body trembled.
Just as Jessica leaned closer and her lips were about to touch his neck, her phone suddenly rang.
In an instant, Chris sobered up and gently pushed her away.
Jessica didn¡¯t want to answer it, but the name on the phone screen lying on the bed clearly showed, ¡°Michael¡°.
The two froze for a short while.
Jessica didn¡¯te closer, nor did she continue.
Chris quietly watched, then asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to answer it?
Jessica let go of him and picked up the phone. ¡°If he¡¯s calling at this hour, it must be important.¡±
¡°Hello?¡±
¡°Jessica, Jordan has a high fever again. I¡ªI gave her medicine but it¡¯s not working. She¡¯s been crying, saying she wants to see you. I¡ I didn¡¯t know what else I could do, so I called you.¡±
As he spoke, Michael brought the phone closer to the child.
Jordan¡¯s cries sounded hoarse, as if she had been crying for a long time. She sobbed and said, ¡°Ms. Wilder, why haven¡¯t youe see me recently? I miss you.¡±
Jessica immediately stood up, grabbed the clothes from the table. I¡¯ll have someone pick you up and bring you to the hospital. I¡¯m already at the hospital.¡±
On the other end of the line, Michael frowned slightly. She was still at the hospital at this hour?
¡°The Summit Infirmary?¡±
¡°Yes, I¡¯ll send someone to get you.¡±
Michael looked at Jordan lying on the bed, remained silent for a moment, and finally said, ¡°No need. I¡¯ll drive her there myself. Is Chris with you?¡±
¡°Yes, he¡¯s with me.¡±
Chris was still in his pajamas, showing no sign of getting up, while Jessica had already put on a coat and was ready to head out. After ending the call, Jessica turned back and looked at Chris in surprise. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you changed yet?¡±
Chris frowned. ¡°I¡¯m not a pediatrician. The emergency department has doctors on duty. Just tell Michael to take the child there.¡±
¡°You¡¯re not even going to take a look?¡±
¡°I told you¡ªI¡¯m not a pediatrician.¡±
Wife Back 34
Chapter 34
In the end, Jessica threw the clothes onto Chris and forcefully demanded that he go with her.
+25 BONUS
He slowly followed behind Jessica. From a distance, he could already hear the sound of crying. Jessica was in a hurry and even started jogging,
There were still a few children sitting in the emergency department, all lying quietly in their parents¡® arms¨Cexcept for Jordan, who was crying fiercely.
Michael stood nearby, clearly overwhelmed. When he saw Jessica, it was as if he had seen a savior. But when he saw Chris walking in behind her, his expression immediately changed.
Just for a moment, Michael returned to his usualposure and apologized to Jessica. ¡°Jessica, I¡¯m sorry for having caused you trouble. I didn¡¯t mean to.¡±
Jessica picked Jordan up. The little girl immediately stopped crying the moment she was in her arms. Instead, she raised her head and red at Chris as if he were the viin who had taken away her favorite toy.
¡°I just happened to be at the hospital. How has Jordan been sick for this long? Why don¡¯t we run a full check¨Cup tomorrow?¡±
Michael immediately replied, ¡°No need!¡±
Realizing he had refused too quickly, he added, ¡°It¡¯s just that the break¨Cin two days ago scared her. The doctor also said that too many tests aren¡¯t good for her health.¡±
He lowered his head. Jordan clung to Jessica¡¯s arm and began to act cute. ¡°As long as Ms. Wilder visits me more, I¡¯ll get better
that really soon. Ms. Wilder, I missed you so much. Why haven¡¯t youe to see metely? Was it because I called you mommy day? Did I make you mad?¡±
Jordan¡¯s question was pitiful, and after crying, her voice was hoarse. The soft, childish tone was impossible not to feel moved by.
If Chris hadn¡¯t caught the nce exchanged between Michael and Jordan, he almost would¡¯ve believed it.
¡°No, no, I wasn¡¯t angry. I¡¯ve just been very busy with worktely.¡±
Jordan looked timidly at Chris. ¡°Ms. Wilder is with the bad man who hurt my daddy. Ms. Wilder, why are you with him? He hurt my daddy. Did you forget? Daddy had a really big wound because of him!¡±
Hearing this, Chris was a little stunned.
That incident had indeed ended inconclusively. Public opinion online was much harsher than the actual situation. Jessica had been too busy to deal with such a minor dispute.
Sophie had insisted on using Chris of intentional assault, but Chris had shut her up with one sentence. ¡°Check the surveince footage.¡±
Michael had tried to appease both sides¨Ctelling Jessica it was just an ident, and telling Sophie it was no big deal and that he probably deserved it.
Chris stood with his arms crossed, watching this ¡°happy little family¡± unfold in front of him.
¡°Mr. Green, I¡¯m really sorry. What are you and Jessica doing in the hospital at this hour?¡± Michael¡¯s tone was gentle, but Chris clearly heard the implication behind the words.
Jessica didn¡¯t say anything. If it weren¡¯t for that phone call, she might have managed to convince Chris intoing home with
her.
She hadn¡¯t missed that sh of hesitation in Chris¡¯s eyes just moments ago. After five years of being married, sh -knew that he had a soft heart.
As long as she acted sweet, she could usually get what she wanted.
ew him well
So this was a struggle between males?
Chris had no interest in fighting Michael. He and Jessica liked each other, and if they ended up together, he had no problem stepping aside.
But this man kept dragging him into the act, always casting him as the viin¨Che wasn¡¯t about to let Michael have such an easy time.
Right then, Chris nodded. ¡°Yes, I didn¡¯t go home tonight. Jessica is afraid of the dark when she¡¯s alone, so she came looking for me.¡±
Michael¡¯s face darkened slightly as he cocked his brows.
Jessica turned back and looked at him. ¡°Can you not say such things in front of the child?¡±
Chris spread his hands and countered, ¡°Isn¡¯t it true? If it weren¡¯t for that phone call, you would¡¯ve already had your way with me. Weren¡¯t you the one who clung to me and wouldn¡¯t let go?¡±
X
Chapter 35
Wife Back 35
Jessica immediately understood¨CChris was trying to provoke Michael.
¡°Fine then, count it as me saying the wrong thing. You two carry on, I¡¯m going back to sleep. I still have work tomorrow.¡± After saying that, Chris turned around and walked off without hesitation
Jessica quickly let go of Jordan and ran after him, pulling him aside Her expression was slightly cold. ¡°Do you really have to say those things in front of Michael and Jordan?¡±
¡°Did I say something wrong?¡± Chris asked with a mocking smile. Actually, I¡¯m really curious¨Cif it weren¡¯t for that phone call, what did youe to me for? Did you really miss me? Or¡ did you just want someone to keep youpany?¡±
Chris¡¯s sharp tongue left Jessica speechless for a moment. She didn¡¯t want him bringing up these things in front of Michael.
What Shannon said earlier was right¨Cshe really needed to think about what she wanted, or rather, who she wanted.
Since Chris was doing everything he could to get divorced, if she made her choice, there was no need to keep clinging to him.
But until she figured it out, she couldn¡¯t let Chris leave.
¡°Go back to sleep.¡± Jessica turned and walked away. ¡°I¡¯ll get Jordan hospitalized. Bring them breakfast tomorrow morning. Jordan wants milk.¡±
The next morning, Chris changed straight into his doctor¡¯s overall and headed to the office.
This time, he skipped the internship period entirely. Several patients were already waiting outside early in the morning¨Che wasn¡¯t going to waste time on Michael.
He just didn¡¯t expect the first person to walk in would be the one he least wanted to see.
When Chris saw Michael¡¯s name, a headache immediately struck.
¡°Where do you feel unwell?¡± Chris asked out of routine.
Michael rested one hand on the desk and stared at Chris in silence for a long moment before finally speaking. ¡°Why do you keep haunting me like a ghost?¡±
¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be the one asking you that?¡± Chris replied with sarcasm. ¡°If you really had what it takes, you would¡¯ve kept Jessica by your side. I wouldn¡¯t keep getting dragged back by her. If you can¡¯t do it, stop acting tough in front of me.¡±
¡°You think¡ I can¡¯t?¡±
Chris was growing impatient. ¡°Do you actually have a medical issue or not? If not, get out. I¡¯ve got a lot of patients waiting.¡±
Michael stood up and suddenly leaned closer. Chris instinctively stepped back.
Michael¡¯s eyes burned with intensity, and in them, Chris could already see a sh of murderous intent.
¡°Chris, you forced me into this.¡±
¡°What, you¡¯re gonna kill me now?¡±
Even after Michael left, Chris remained disturbed by that look. He had to admit¨CMichael¡¯s expression, full of hatred, really caught him off guard.
How had things ended up like this?
He had originally thought that after all these years, Jessica still couldn¡¯t forget Michael. The two of them must still love each
other.
If he just got divorced and stepped aside, everything would fall into ce.
He would start a new life. Jessica and Michael would reunite after five years¨Cwhat a beautiful picture that would be.
Even Jessica not wanting kids wasn¡¯t an issue¨CMichael could just bring a daughter with him.
Everything was perfect.
So how had ite to this?
Chris massaged his temples and called for the next patient.
Around nine o¡¯clock, Jessica finally left the hospital. She had stayed up the whole night and looked exhausted.
The moment Shannon saw her, she knew she hadn¡¯t slept. The smell of disinfectant on her clothes made her think Jessica had gone to find Chris.
¡°So? Did you go see Mr. Green? Did you two have a talk?¡±
Jessica nced at her. ¡°Jordan had a fever. I stayed with her all night.¡±
Shannon¡¯s expression stiffened. Why was Michael involved again?
X
Wife Back 36
Chapter 36
Originally, after work yesterday, Shannon noticed Jessica was in a bad mood and suggested they go for a drink.
The smell of alcohol on Jessica was picked up while she was drinking with Shannon.
Under the influence of alcohol, her mind was filled with thoughts Chris.
After just a few drinks, Shannon coaxed her into going to find him
Everything that followed happened naturally¨Cif it hadn¡¯t been for Michael¡¯s sudden phone call, perhaps by now¡
Jessica held her forehead with a headache, feeling utterly exhausted, unable to speak for quite a while.
It was Shannon who finally reacted.
¡°I mentioned before that I would help Mr. Hall find a nanny. I¡¯ve already started screening candidates. If someone¡¯s there to take care of him and Jordan, you won¡¯t need to keep monitoring things personally, and you can rx a little.¡±
Upon hearing that, Jessica lifted her head and nced at Shannon
¡°Shannon,st night Chris and I¡¡±
Shannon¡¯s full name was Shannon Harvey. In private, when they weren¡¯t working, Jessica called her by her name.
¡°There are still two meetings this afternoon. Since you¡¯re already at the office, try not to overthink things. Let¡¯s get the current tasks done first. Things are still in a stalemate between you and Mr Green. You can¡¯t push too hard¨Che¡¯s a man, after all, and he¡¯s bound to have a temper. If you push too hard, it could backfire.¡±
After thinking for a moment, Jessica reached out and took the documents.
Judging fromst night¡¯s situation, Chris clearly still had feelings for her¨Cit was just that he refused to admit it.
Chris had already failed twice in his attempt to go abroad. Feeling a bit dejected, he decided that if he couldn¡¯t leave the country, he should at least focus on work.
His mentor had already made arrangements, but it was toote to apply to study abroad. He would just have to wait for another opportunity in the future.
On the phone, his mentor scolded him repeatedly, saying Jessica had already held him ack for five years¨Cwas she still going to hold him back now?
After a full day of work at the hospital, the busier Chris got, the more fulfilled he felt.
It was as if his capabilities had finally found an outlet, and he no longer needed to pace restlessly in that tiny apartment.
After work that day, he packed up, ready to return to the dormitory
That afternoon, he had thought that if he truly wasn¡¯t going abroad, he should find a proper ce to stay. The hospital dorms were for newly graduated interns, and it wasn¡¯t ideal for him to upy a spot.
During his lunch break, he had arranged to view a property with an agent at six.
He changed into casual clothes and checked the time on his way out. Thest patient had taken longer than expected, so he was runningte.
In a rush, he hurried out without even looking where he was going
Losing his footing, he stumbled forward in rm.
¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡±
Someone caught him firmly around the waist.
Looking down, he saw Jessica had run up to him¨Cher hair was slightly messy.
¡°What are you¡¡± Chris steadied himself and instinctively reached out to hold her.
¡°I came to pick you up for dinner. Why were you in such a hurry?¡±
Chris didn¡¯t respond.
Afterst night, he had already sensed Jessica¡¯s true feelings.
Whether Michael was back or not, Jessica clearly didn¡¯t want a divorce.
What troubled Chris the most was his own feelings.
Even though he knew Jessica was still entangled with Michael, he couldn¡¯t help but soften every time she tried to win him over. ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯ve got something to do,¡± said Chris, trying to stay calm. He politely pushed her away and headed for his car. Jessica frowned. ¡°You¡¯re off work¨Cwhat else could you be rushing off to?¡±
¡°I have an appointment.¡±
¡°With who?¡±
Chris stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her. ¡°Do I really need to repeat myself? We¡¯re already divorced. I don¡¯t owe you any exnation about who I¡¯m meeting.¡®
¡±
Hearing that, Jessica, who was already on high alert, lunged forward and forcefully shoved Chris toward his car.
Wife Back 37
Chapter 37
¡°We¡¯re still in a partnership. I just managed to suppress the trending searches. If you meet someone you shouldn¡¯t and negative news breaks out again, what will happen to the Wilder Group? Chr, you can¡¯t be this selfish.¡±
Chris, who had just been shoved into the car within seconds, was about to open the door when Jessica got in from the other side and locked it.
In the cramped space, only the two of them remained.
Chris turned back, a trace of anger in his eyes, and looked at Jessica with growing coldness.
¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be perfect if I caused a scandal? You could announce the media that I cheated, then conveniently reveal our divorce. Not only would the Wilder Group¡¯s image be preserved, but your rtionship with Michael wouldn¡¯t attract as much attention. If I remember correctly, that was the original n from lie Wilder Group¡¯s PR team, wasn¡¯t it?¡±
Jessica was stunned.
It was true the most effective way to deflect public attention was to create a bigger distraction.
The PR department had initially suggested leaking a scandal about Chris.
But Jessica had refused.
She hadn¡¯t expected Chris to know.
¡°So you knew everything from the beginning?¡± Jessica leaned back. ¡°You knew I pulled you into this fake partnership as a cover, and you still went along with it. Chris, how dare you say that you don¡¯t love me anymore.¡±
Chris looked somewhat drained. He didn¡¯t rush to leave. Instead, he simply texted the real estate agent to reschedule their appointment.
¡°I love you.¡± He turned to face Jessica. ¡°Jessica, I¡¯ve always loved you. It¡¯s just that this love hassted so long, I¡¯m exhausted. And with everything else¡ forget it. At this point, we¡¯re already divorced. There¡¯s no point in saying more. What I¡¯ve never understood is¨Cif you still have feelings for Michael, and we¡¯re already divorced, why not just be with him?¡±
He had asked this many times, and still couldn¡¯t understand.
Jessica had no answer.
That evening, she still took Chris out for dinner.
For once, the two of them didn¡¯t argue.
Chris was unusually quiet, while Jessica kept paying attention to his expressions.
Even when she got a phone call halfway through, she hung up immediately.
Shannon had said that what Chris cared about was her attitude.
Whether or not she had figured things out, she needed to act like his wife in front of him.
Maintaining a long¨Cterm rtionship really was exhausting. Jessica realized this far toote.
Shannon had found a nanny for Michael¨Csomeone to take care of his and Jordan¡¯s daily needs.
This nanny even had a medical license, so she could immediately respond to Jordan¡¯s illnesses.
?? ? ??
But she wasn¡¯t just a nanny¨Cshe was also Shannon¡¯s nted informant.
Shannon was no ordinary woman.
She graduated from a top university and was discovered by Jessica even before Jessica inherited the Wilder Group.
In the industry, no one could rival her.
She even knew all about Jessica and Michael¡¯s history.
That was exactly why she realized Michael wasn¡¯t so simple.
¡°I got it. Just keep watching him. Be careful with any moves the Hal family makes. Michael has always been the heir of the Hall family. Even the arranged marriage was for their benefit. There¡¯s no way he¡¯d be kicked out that easily. I think something¡¯s off.¡±
After hanging up the phone, Shannon nced at the empty secretary¡¯s office and sighed.
Love really made people stupid.
How could Jessica only now start seeing such an obvious problem?
She gathered her things and went to find Jessica.
They had a dinner arrangement that evening, and it was time to head over.
Wife Back 38
Chapter 38
Everything is ready. The contract for tonight has been prepared revise it immediately. Legal will have someone on¨Csite, so even if depends on whether we¡¯ve pushed the price low enough.¡±
two copies. No matter what the other party requests, we can anges are needed on the spot, it¡¯ll be in time. Now it just
Sitting in the car, Jessica had her eyes closed. For once, she wasn¡¯t frowning and even looked a little rxed.
Lately, Chris had been quite well¨Cbehaved¨Ceating and sleeping at home.
However, his luggage was still at the dormitory, and even when it came to sleeping, he insisted on staying in the guest room
alone.
He was only forced back to the master bedroom after Jessica casually remarked that Michael had once slept in the guest room, which disgusted him enough to leave.
Watching Chris stand dumbfounded at the guest room door before angrily turning to go back to the master bedroom, Jessica tradughed at the doorway.
She had never noticed before how vivid and amusing this side of Chris could be.
So he did have a temper¨Che could get mad.
Compared to the way he used to silently endure everything with gentlepliance, this was far more interesting.
Shannon had been talking for quite a while. When she turned her head, she realized her boss wasn¡¯t even listening¨Cresting her head on one hand, smiling to herself for who knew what reason.
¡°I said ¡°Shannon waved the documents in front of Jessica. Thetter finally came back to her senses.
Work matters were settled, and light personal talk before a dinner meeting was a good way to rx.
¡°Chris¡¯s been sleeping at hometely? Haven¡¯t
seen you going to the hospital these past few days.¡±
Jessica nodded. ¡°Yeah, hees home after work. Still reluctant about cooking, but definitely better than before.¡±
¡°I told you, it¡¯s not that Chris doesn¡¯t have feelings for you. On the contrary, he has very deep feelings. For the past five years, it was you exhausting them.¡±
Jessica nced at her phone.
There had been no chats between her and Chris recently.
Even if she sent him something, he¡¯d reply with only a few dismissive words.
She actually found it kind of funny.
But then there was Michael.
It seemed Jordan had used Michael¡¯s phone to message her, calling her ¡°Mommy¡± and asking why the she hadn¡¯t visitedtely.
There was even a voice message.
Jessica tapped it, a bit slow to react.
Jordan¡¯s childish voice called out, ¡°Mommy.¡±
Shannon immediately frowned.
Jessica didn¡¯t reply. She simply turned off the screen.
¡°I put Jennifer Bundred by Michael¡¯s side. Didn¡¯t you suspect the overseas business in recent years had been undercut by the Hall family?¡±
In the dirn light, Jessica¡¯s lips curved slightly.
How could the CEO of the Wilder Group be some love¨Cstruck fool?
Even if she had loved Michael five years ago, she wouldn¡¯t have beenpletely unguarded.
Back when she was with Michael, even though her mother disliked him, she never openly opposed the Hall family¨Cfor her sake.
But the Hall family, ungrateful as they were, took it as a green light
They assumed her mother had approved of the son¨Cinw and use the Wilder Group¡¯s name to do quite a few shady things. After she inherited thepany, Jessica had indeed still held some feelings for Michael.
But it wasn¡¯t just because he was her first love.
More importantly, she had sensed that the Hall family, through Michael¡¯s overseas marriage alliance, might be building a force of their own.
After Michael divorced and returned to the country, the woman he had married abroad dered bankruptcy not long after he left.
Herpany was taken over by
a
small, unknownpany.
There was no way that was a coincidence.-
¡°Jennifer just got back to Cheria and was used as a pawn¨Cshe¡¯s not happy about it. She said that Jordan has a temper and throws tantrums at home. She wants to know how you n to repay her.¡±
Jessicaughed and nodded. ¡°Wasn¡¯t she back in the country for some guy? I¡¯ll try to find him for her. Even top hackers can¡¯t locate him, I can just do my best.¡±
Wife Back 39
Chapter 39
Jennifer¡¯s connection with Jessica dated back to four years ago.
At that time, the Wilder Group had just established its IT department and was recruiting top IT talent from around the world.
Jessica was quite knowledgeable in this area, even considered highly proficient.
While most of the elite hires came from casting a wide, there was one person she specifically targeted, Dr. Y.
An unrivaled name in the industry.
ording to the information Jessica received, this mysterious Dr. was actually a woman.
And so, her first meeting with Jennifer came to be.
The two initially crossed paths in a digital battle and eventually agreed to meet at the Wilder Group,
That marked Jennifer¡¯s first time meeting Jessica, the legendary business prodigy and famously powerful woman.
Jennifer stood at the entrance for a moment.
The receptionist looked at her as if a wife had caught her husband with the mistress.
After a slight pause, Jennifer turned to leave.
¡°I suggest you at least let Ms. Wilder know I was here,¡± she said in parting, already walking out of thepany¡¯s front doors.
Under the zing sun, Jennifer clenched a small white porcin vial in her hand.
Then, worried she might damage something that could never return again from within that vial, she loosened her grip.
She lowered her head and looked at the polished marble floor.
Just then, her phone beeped twice.
[Location has been decrypted.]
Jennifer cocked her brows, pulled out her phone, and ran a counter¨Ctrace.
In less than five seconds, the other party¡¯s IP address appeared on her screen.
She nced back with interest.
This was getting interesting.
¡°Pretty quick,¡± she muttered, pocketing her phone and walking across the street to a nearby cafe. ¡°Saves me the trouble.¡±
Watching Jennifer walk away, the receptionist sneered. ¡°Like I¡¯d ever tell Ms. Wilder you were here!¡±
She immediately turned around and called the secretary¡¯s office to report.
By the time Jessica and Shannon came downstairs, the call was still ongoing.
Jessica wasn¡¯t the type to eavesdrop on employees¡® privacy.
But answering personal calls during work hours at the front desk showed poor professionalism.
She walked up and knocked her fist against the counter.
The receptionist looked up and realized it was Ms. Wilder, and immediately hung up in a panic.
¡°Ms. Wilder?¡±
¡°Who was just at the front desk?¡± asked Shannon.
The receptionist¡¯s heart skipped a beat.
She stammered, ¡°N¨Cno one¡ There was no appointment with Ms. Wilder today. No one came.¡±
Hearing this answer, Jessica squinted her eyes slightly.
Behind her, Shannon took out her phone to continue checking the tracking signal.
Just a few minutes ago, the person had been right here.
Now¡ it seemed they were across the street.
Shannon tapped Jessica on the shoulder and leaned in to speak in a low voice.
¡°She didn¡¯t go far. She¡¯s right across the street.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±
The person hadn¡¯t gotten far.
The receptionist hadn¡¯t even let out a full breath before Jessica¡¯s voice followed.
¡°Using a personal phone during work hours¨Cminus twenty from your performance score.¡±
Jennifer carefully ced the porcin vial in her bag.
With one hand ying with her phone, she watched the tracking signal creep closer and closer.
Then, in the next moment, she masked her location.
At the same time, Shannon, who had just reached the cafe entrance, was surprised to see the tracking vanish.
[Tracking address has expired.]
Jennifer had already spotted her target.
She rested her chin on her hand, smiled slightly, and sipped water through a straw.
Her gaze brazenly sized up Jessica.
Gics really were powerful¨Chow could someone look so simr?
If Jessica wanted tech assistance, Jennifer was willing to help.
It key was whether Jessica could offer what Jennifer wanted.
The doorbell jingled clearly as the cafe door opened.
Shannon had already put away her phone.
Wife Back 40
Shannon had been careless and didn¡¯t notice Jennifer sitting inside, only roughly nced at the spot.
¡°The position before she disappeared was there.¡±
Unlike Shannon, Jessica immediately spotted the woman wearing light blue long dress sitting by the window, smiling, at her phone.
That scene was as beautiful as a painting, and to Jessica, it seemed familiar from somewhere.
Her mind ached like a sharp needle prick, but soon calmed down, along with the turmoil inside her heart being suppressed.
Jennifer waited for her prey to approach step by step, finally stopping beside her.
¡°You want to see me.¡± Jessica¡¯s tone was very certain, not even a question.
With the disappearance of the IP location and the anti¨Ctracking end page deliberately left on the phone screen, Jessica was sure Jennifer was the person she had just located the legendary Dr.
¡°What would you like to drink?¡± Jennifer was not formal, pulling the lemonade closer to herself and saying casually, ¡°I was originally going to yourpany to find you, but your receptionist didn¡¯t seem very happy to see me. And from what I can see, you¡¯re not her only boss.¡±
Shannon stared in disbelief as Jessica sat down.
Jennifer said, ¡°If I hade today to discuss cooperation, you¡¯ve already lost my technical support, all because of your receptionist.¡±
Jessica silently looked at Jennifer for a few seconds, then turned to Shannon and said, ¡°No need to deduct performance points.
Fire her. Now.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Shannon obviously hadn¡¯t caught up with their pace, but Jessica was decisive.
She immediately took out her phone and called the front desk manager.
¡°Two coffees, no sugar, no milk,¡± Shannon called
to
the waiter.
Jennifer nced at Jessica and said softly, ¡°Change those to sodas for her, coffee can cause acid reflux.¡±
¡°What¡¡±
Jessica didn¡¯t care what to drink.
Her eyes were intense as she stared at Jennifer.
¡°Did youe today to talk about cooperation?¡±
Jennifer shrugged, ¡°Actually, no. I came as an individual, but the receptionist stopped me. I didn¡¯t expect you to track my
location.¡±
There wasughter and admiration shining in her eyes,
¡°You¡¯re the first person to sessfully locate me, even though I noticed immediately.¡±
If it weren¡¯t to catch a big fish, no one could find her at all.
¡°So, what do you want?¡±
¡°You want my technology ¨C simple. I want to join the Wilder Group¡¯s IT research and development department, and I wantplete freedom to develop independently, no one interfering.¡±
Shannonughed after hearing that.
1/2
Chapter 40
She rested one hand on the table and tapped it lightly, drawing attention.
Her tone was deep, ¡°Miss, your tone is quite bold. Do you know the market value of the Wilder Group¡¯s IT department?¡±
Jennifer was not anxious either.
¡°I know IT far better than you and want the Wilder Group to be the number one IT leader in the country even more. My ambition is nothing to you, but you should think carefully.¡®
She tilted her head and smiled at Jessica.
¡°Without my technology backing, the Wilder Group will need at least ten more years to win in IT. So it¡¯s not me begging you for a job it¡¯s you who need me to join.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t be so confidently.¡±
After hearing those words, Jennifer casually used one hand to operate her phone.
Then Shannon¡¯s angry voice rang out.
Only then did Jennifer coolly lift her eyelids and say, ¡°Shannon, your car is about to be towed.¡±
Wife Back 41
¡°What?¡± Shannon was momentarily stummed by thepletely rted conversation.
Jenniferughed and pointed outside the window. ¡°A new model Porsche, all Blue Star Diamonds, only one in the country. I think I won¡¯t mistake the car for someone else¡¯s.¡±
Shannon tilted her head and immediately stood up. ¡°No way!¡±
Someone really was having their car towed right outside the Wilde Group?
Thinking about her own car being towed, Shannon felt a wave of embarrassment.
Jessica suddenly remembered she hadn¡¯t told Chris about tonight¡¯s dinner arrangement, so she quickly made a phone call
Actually, Chris also had a date that evening.
Recently, his rtionship with Jessica had stabilized, resembling their early days of marriage, which pleased Jessica very much. but Chris felt ameasy.
Seeing someone you haven¡¯t forgotten every day could easily make you fall in love again.
Besides, Jessica now waspletely different from before she cared about his emotions and even found joy in some of his expressions, paying more attention to him than all the past five yearsbined.
If this had been before, Chris would have been overjoyed.
But now, as a divorced couple, Chris only worried.
¡°Roy!¡±
Before Chris reached the private room, he saw someone standing at the door making a phone call.
He happily called out, and the other person raised a hand in acknowledgment.
¡°Alright, got it. Keep an eye on it, don¡¯t act rashly.¡±
After hanging up, Roy Felton walked over and sized up Chris, tapping twice on his head. ¡°You haven¡¯t changed these years, just look less energetic. What, did getting married make you age?¡±
Roy and Chris were childhood friends, living in the same courtyard as kids.
Later, Roy got into the police academy while Chris went to medical school.
There was even a time Chris considered switching to forensic medicine just to help Roy.
At the Cosmos, a private dining restaurant, only ten tables were avable every night for privacy, all in private rooms.
Many people liked to do business there because the food was good and it was discreet.
Roy had just returned from handling a case abroad.
¡°Don¡¯t me me, Roy.¡± Chris felt a bit embarrassed.
¡°You stayed abroad for half a year and got so tanned. Why did youe back now?¡±
¡°The case abroad was hard to solve. It¡¯s actually not fully closed yet. The suspect escaped.¡± Roy lit a cigarette and watched Chris carefully, sensing he was avoiding something, his eyes flickering slightly.
He cocked his brows and asked, ¡°Is there something you want to tell me?¡±
The two were very close, meeting almost every month in Cheria, Jessica didn¡¯t know about Chris¡¯s meetings with Roy.
Back then, Jessica didn¡¯t care about him or want to know his friends
Several times Chris wanted to invite Roy home to introduce his neighbor to his wife, but never got the chance.
NOW.
Chris smiled bitterly, nothing really escaped Roy¡¯s eyes.
¡°I got divorced.¡±
Roy frowned, ¡°That woman from the Wilder Group? Didn¡¯t you like her a lot? Why get a divorce all of a sudden?¡±
Come to think of it, Roy had noticed recent news about the Wilder Group, rumors about that woman having an affair during marriage.
Could it be?
Seeing Roy¡¯s sharp look, Chris quickly exined, ¡°No, I divorced Jessica because¡ there was no love left. Roy, I don¡¯t like Jessica anymore. She only got in touch with that man after we divorced. It¡¯s alright.¡±
Royughed angrily at his anxious exnation.
Wife Back 42
Chapter 42
¡°Man, I hadn¡¯t even said anything yet, but you¡¯re already defending her.¡± Roy waved his hand. ¡°Getting a divorce is nothing. You rushed into marriage back then, I didn¡¯t approve either. You had a chance to study abroad, but because you married her, you gave it up. Forget it, why not continue your studies?¡±
Chris nodded. ¡°I¡¯m currently working at the Summit Infirmary.¡±
¡°That¡¯s good. A man should have his own career.¡±
The waiter brought the dishes while Chris and Roy continued talking.
Over the years, Roy faced many dangers abroad, and now that he was back, the Felton family didn¡¯t want him risking his life anymore.
The Felton family, like the Wilder family, was an affluent family in the city, with generations of merchants. Only Roy was a police officer, who also followed the right path, so the Hall family didn¡¯t interfere much. ¡°What about Nina? Haven¡¯t heard news about Nina for a while.¡±
Roy had a younger sister named Nina Felton, who managed tthe Hall family¡¯s entertainment business.
She was rarely seen in public, but several times when Chris and Jessica attended dinners, Nina was also there. ¡°She¡¯s attending a conference abroad, probably won¡¯t be back until next month.¡±
While eating, they chatted about childhood memories.
Coincidentally, Jessica was also doing business at the Cosmos, in a private room at the end of the corridor.
There, toasts were made freely, and both sides drank quite a bit.
This private room was personally managed by the
manager.
When he saw Jessica, he remembered Chris in the other room.
He recalled recent news and knew about Chris and Jessica¡¯s rtionship.
Taking the chance to rece Jessica¡¯s te, he lowered his voice and said, ¡°Your husband is also at the Cosmos, in private room 230.¡±
Jessica wiped the corner of her mouth with a tissue and looked at the manager upon hearing this.
Few people knew the Cosmos was a Wilder family enterprise.
Since Jessica took office, she had expanded the entertainment and dining empire.
Opening the Cosmos was partly to gather insider information.
To the public, the owner was someone from out of town, and only the manager Ethan watched the store daily.
Only Ethan knew Jessica was the real boss.
¡°Who is he with?¡±
Ethan had never met Roy and was unsure, only feeling he looked familiar.
¡°A man. He came early and waited in the private room. Judging by his demeanor, he might be in politics.¡®
Chris knew people like that?
After a short silence, Jessica nodded, indicating she understood.
Both sides brought professional PR teams, which did all the drinking.
Jessica and Shannon worked in harmony, the contract was nearly done. During the meal, the legal team could revise the contract terms as needed.
The team from the Wilder Group was always cutting¨Cedge and precise. While the dishes were changed, severaldies went to do their makeup.
Indya Greyson, Director of the Wilder Group¡¯s PR Department, took a hangover pill and touched up her lipstick in the mirror.
¡°The bid for the Fame Group was settled long ago. If no one meddles to inte prices, it wouldn¡¯t have dragged on. Ms. Wilder, do you have someone in mind?¡±
Jessica leaned against the marble edge of the sink, focusing on her phone.
She had sent Chris several messages but hadn¡¯t received a reply.
Knowing Chris was at the Cosmos, she wanted to go check on him
¡°There are a few candidates, but none seem likely. Calum is looking into it.¡±
Indya said, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? A few days ago I saw the Hall family¡¯s nephew, Luke Hall, secretly meeting with someone from the Fame Group.¡±
Upon hearing this, Jessica turned around, cing one hand on the counter. ¡°No.¡±
Wife Back 43
Indya paused, then tapped her head. ¡°I¡¯ve been drinking too muchtely. It came upst week. It was at one of the PR circle¡¯s dinners. I went with Irene. From a distance, I saw someone who looked like Mr. Hall. I wanted to go over and check, but he disappeared.¡±
After dragging several investors around for a few rounds of drinks they finally learned that the person was Michael¡¯s cousin, named Luke.
Luke now managed both of the Hall family¡¯s investmentpanies.
Again, it was the Hall family.
Shannon came out of the restroom, and while washing her hands, he told Jessica, ¡°Jennifer said Mr. Hall went out and even brought a thermos, saying he make something to help you with the hangover.¡±
¡°Did you asked Jennifer toe back?¡±
dya asked in surprise.
Shannon shrugged helplessly and pulled out a tissue to dry her hands.
She said, ¡°What else could we do? Ms. Wilder has just been divorced! If Jennifer doesn¡¯te back, I¡¯m afraid Ms. Wilder won¡¯t even be able to find anyone.¡±
Thinking of Chris also being at the Cosmos, Jessica frowned slightly and reminded Shannon, ¡°That¡¯s enough. You all head back first, I¡¯ll go to room 230.¡±
Since Shannon had been nearby, she had heard Ethan say Chris was in room 230.
Chris and Roy hadn¡¯t been drinking, one was going back to the Felton family, and the other to his ex¨Cwife¡¯s ce, so drinking wasn¡¯t suitable.
While they were talking, there was a knock at the door.
¡°Come in.¡±
When the door opened, Jessica leaned against the doorway, her gaze first locking on Roy, then she smiled at Chris.
She asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say you were having dinner here?¡±
Chris was surprised and didn¡¯t expect Jessica to find her way here.
Jessica was even more surprised to see the other person in the room. It was a member of the Felton family.
¡°Finished?¡± Jessica walked over and sat beside Chris, directly taking his hand.
She said, ¡°I still have some things to do. You should go home first.
At this, Roy felt confused.
¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were divorced?¡±
Jessica¡¯s gaze darkened, a moment of chill passing through her.
Chris didn¡¯t know how to exin and could only turn to ask Jessica ¡°You¡¯re here for business too?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± Jessica looked up at Roy across from them.
She asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to introduce us?¡±
Helpless, Chris said, ¡°This is my childhood friend, Roy. This is my wife, Jessica.¡±
Since Jessica was there for business, and there might be business partners outside the door, he couldn¡¯t say she was his ex¨Cwife.
Jessica was certain Chris wouldn¡¯t call her an ex¨Cwife, so she nodded to Roy and said, ¡°Hello.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve heard about you. When you got married, I was out of town, and only my sister attended the wedding. You should know her, Nina.¡±
The three exchanged some polite but hollow greetings.
Chris took Jessica¡¯s hand and led her out into the empty hallway.
Jessica grabbed Chris¡¯s chin, and before he could speak, kissed him
Jessica had only had a little to drink, and she smelled warm and fragrant.
Chris waspletely sober
¡°Why didn¡¯t you reply to my messages?¡± Jessica took control, trapping Chris with no room to escape.
Chris nced around nervously, afraid someone might approach.
¡°My phone died.¡±
He hadn¡¯t lied.
During the day at work, he rarely used his phone, and soon after arriving at the private room, he realized the phone was switched off.
He thought Jessica would bete returning since she had business arrangements to attend to and didn¡¯t worry about it. She huffed, released his hand, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him again.
¡°I¡¯m in room 260. Wait for me and we¡¯ll go home together.¡±
¡°We¡¯re almost done here. How long are you going to take?¡±
¡°You¡¯re not allowed to leave anyway. By the way, is Roy really your childhood friend? I don¡¯t remember you mentioning him.¡±
Wife Back 44
Chapter 44
Chris felt a bitter sadness in his heart.
He hadn¡¯t mentioned it because he never had the chance, and Jessica never cared about the people around him.
Seeing Chris remain silent, she seemed to notice something and cleared her throat.
She said, ¡°The Felton family and the Wilder Group have are working together in a lot of areas, you two can meet more often in the future.¡±
Jessica was in a good mood and was about to lean in for another kiss when footsteps were heard.
¡°Jessica?¡±
It was a man¡¯s voice, gentle but filled with surprise¨Che hadn¡¯t expected to see such a scene.
Upon hearing the voice, Jessica felt uneasy and turned around hastily.
Sure enough, it was Michael.
His face was pale, and he held a thermos, standing at the end of the corridor looking somewhat lost. ¡°Michael? Why are you here?¡± Jessica took a step back.
Chris chuckled lightly, he already knew that as long as Michael appeared, Jessica wouldn¡¯t continue.
In fact, he felt a bit relieved¨Chaving Michael see this scene would surely b be a shock for him.
Michael nced at Chris hesitantly, then approached Jessica with a wronged expression.
He said, ¡°I heard you were here for diner and made you some soup to help with the hangover. I didn¡¯t expect¡ Chris to be here taking care of you too.¡±
¡°No, he¡¯s just eating here.¡± Jessica quickly distanced herself.
She didn¡¯t want Chris involved in her business circles.
¡°Oh, I see. Here¡¯s the soup.¡± Michael brightened a bit when he heard they weren¡¯t together, stuffing the thermos into Jessica¡¯s hand. ¡°Have you finished eating? Are you still hungry? How about cook something for you to fill your stomach?¡±
This warm and touching scene was something Chris could no longer watch.
He was about to turn and go back to the private room when Roy kicked the door open, one hand holding the doorframe.
The loud bang of the door hitting the wall startled several people outside,
Chris remained calm, Roy¡¯s temper had always been bad, and he couldn¡¯t stand anyone bullying him¨Che had been like this since childhood.
No matter what his rtionship with Jessica was now, they had still called each other husband and wife at the table moments.
ago.
Then a man appeared offering soup and showing concern anyone could tell who Michael was.
Seeing Roy, Jessica rxed.
She couldn¡¯t openly confront Michael, but no one in the Felton family could control Roy.
Even when the Hall family was at its peak, they still had to listen to the Felton family, let alone Michael.
Michael had spent little time in the country these years and obviously didn¡¯t recognize Roy.
He was only startled by the kick and instinctively tried to hide behind Jessica.
+25 BONUS
Roy smiled, showing his white teeth, and stared at the thermos in Jessica¡¯s hand.
He said, ¡°Yo, Jessica, have you hired a male nanny? Someone is even bringing you soup at a drinking party. Being the boss really does get different treatment.¡±
Jessica said nothing.
Michael¡¯s face flushed at being called a male nanny, and he retorte, ¡°I¡¯m not a nanny, I¡¯m¡ I¡¯m Jessica¡¯s friend.¡±
¡°Friend?¡± Roy walked over, grabbed the thermos, and swung it in the air a few times.
¡°Then I don¡¯t get it. You¡¯re not a nanny, so why are you so
are both here. What are you doing here?¡±
eager to bring soup? Jessica is here for business, my good friend and I
Intimidated by Roy¡¯s presence, Michael dared not continue and could only turn wronged toward Chris.
He said, ¡°Chris, I mean no harm. Jessica said that you were staying at the hospitaltely and I was just worried that if she drank too much, no one will be there to take care of her.¡±
He subconsciously covered a previous injury.
Chris lowered his eyes and nced at him, silently admiring Michael¡¯s performance.
Wife Back 45
Chapter 45
Chris smiled and shook his head, snatching the thermos back from Roy¡¯s hand and tossing it to Jessica.
¡°If you want to take care of her, go ahead. I won¡¯t disturb you.¡±
He pulled Roy back into the private room and closed the door.
Meanwhile, with Roy¡¯s help, Jessica was in a good mood.
She hadn¡¯t brought Michael to the drinking party, it was better that the head of the Fame Group didn¡¯t see Michael.
Before things were settled, all the Hall family members could only put on a polite front.
Besides the private rooms, there were some scattered tables on the first¨Cfloor, usually serving a few walk¨Cin customers at noon, but only up to ten tables.
At that moment, all were empty.
The two found a ce to sit, and Michael asked the manager for a bowl.
He seemedpletely unfazed by the earlier sarcasm, smiling with red¨Crimmed eyes as he helped Jessica serve the soup.
Jessica lowered her head and took two sips, not daring to drink more.
¡°The guy just now was Chris¡¯s friend? He looked like he had a bad temper and even misunderstood your rtionship with me. Hopefully, he won¡¯t make Chris think too much.¡±
Now she secretly hoped Chris would think more, better than having no thoughts of her at all.
¡°That¡¯s Roy.¡±
Jessica raised her head and saw the shock in Michael¡¯s eyes, then deliberately asked, ¡°Do you know him? He was originally the heir of the Felton family, but he chose a career inw enforcement, not business.¡±
Michael was greatly shocked deep down.
He wondered how Chris could know someone like that.
¡°Oh, that¡¯s Roy? I¡¯ve heard of him but never met him. I haven¡¯t been back to the country in years and don¡¯t know much about the domestic situation. They look very close¨Clike brothers.¡± Michael sounded jealous. ¡°You and Chris have clearly divorced, yet you still have to pretend for the Wilder Group¡¯s sake..¡±
¡°Alright, alright. What¡¯s there to be jealous about?¡± Jessica acted coy like they just started dating, holding Michael¡¯s hand. ¡°It¡¯s all for the Wilder Group. I can¡¯t just watch my mother¡¯s lifelong effort copse like this. Michael, I¡¯m lucky to side.¡± 19
ve you by my
¡°What¡¯s the matter with you?¡±
After closing the door, Roy forcefully pushed Chris into a chair, his voice turning cold
¡°Didn¡¯t you say you divorced? Who¡¯s that man? Looks like a homewrecker to me.¡±
Chris couldn¡¯t help butugh and poured Roy a cup of tea.
¡°You seem to know quite a lot.¡±
Roy wouldn¡¯t let Chris change the subject.
¡°Hurry up and tell me. Don¡¯t make me find out myself.¡±
He knew Roy¡¯s skills¡ªif he wanted to look into something, it wouldn¡¯t take an hour.
¡°Alright, alright. He¡¯s Jessica¡¯s first love. Back then, it was because he went abroad that Jessica, heartbroken, married me. We
really are divorced. Recently, there was online gossip about her cheating. It doesn¡¯t affect her image, but the Wilder Group was founded by her mother, and Mrs. Wilder treats me well. We are working together as partners now.¡±
Roy didn¡¯t expect things to be soplicated. He clicked his tongue twice.
¡°You¡¯re too naive, not suited to mix with the business world. I think Michael wants to take your ce, are you going to just let him?¡±
Chris took a sip of tea himself.
¡°What else could I do? I can¡¯t really turn down the divorce and remain as Jessica¡¯s husband, can I? Would that disgust them or me? Forget it¨CI¡¯ve already wasted five years.¡±
¡°Have you really thought it through? Why didn¡¯t you go for the exchange study in Lonat then?¡±
Roy knew about that matter just as Chris had expected.
Chris didn¡¯t hide anything either.
¡°The Wilder Group happened to be in trouble. Once it¡¯s settled, I¡¯ll leave. The internship opportunity at the Summit Infirmary is rare, and I want to gain experience. It¡¯s good for me.¡±
Roy stared intently into Chris¡¯s eyes, as if trying to see his true feelings.
Wife Back 46
When Chris went to pick up Jessica, the drinking party had already ended.
Most of the the Fame Group people had left, only a few the Wilder Group staff remained to clean up.
¡°The contract has been signed. The rest will be handled by the project team. Shannon, find someone to keep an eye on it.¡± Jessica rested her head on her hand, her side profile slightly flushed, as if she had drunk quite a bit again.
¡°Okay, got it. I¡¯ll call the driver to send you home.¡±
Shannon reached for her phone, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw Chris standing at the door and quickly put the phone
away.
¡°Mr. Green is here¨Cthat¡¯s perfect. Ms. Greyson and the others also drank a bit, there aren¡¯t enough cars. Mr. Green, you can take Ms. Wilder home.¡±
Chris was speechless. If he hadn¡¯t overheard the driver being called outside, he might have really believed it. Shannon had been with Jessica for many years and truly cared for her. She also knew who the right person was. Hearing Chris¡¯s name, Jessica tried to stand but staggered, nearly falling. Shannon quickly caught her. Looking down, Shannon saw Jessica squinting her eyes, clutching her hand firmly, clearly not drunk. It was only then did Shannon realize that Jessica was pretending to be drunk.
She felt that it was a good thing that Chris wasn¡¯t someone to overthink things.
Chris came over and pulled Jessica into his arms.
¡°I¡¯ll take care of her. You all be careful on your way back.¡±
¡°Okay.¡±
Seeing Jessica¡¯s unsteady steps and how hard it was for her to walk, Chris didn¡¯t hesitate and simply carried her in his arms.
Indya had really drunk quite a lot, she was sitting and drinking tomato juice silently, just watching the two figures.
¡°Tsk, I told you, Jessica¡¯s taste can¡¯t be that bad. Five or six years ago, she liked someone like Michael¨Cthat was one thing. But after seeing someone like Chris, how could she still go back to an old me?¡±
Shannon wasn¡¯t in a hurry to leave either. She called the manager in and ordered some more food.
At drinking parties, people usually didn¡¯t eat enough. A few random dishes got cold quickly, they drank while pushing forward contract progress, always tense and never feeling hungry.
Shannon snorted. ¡°Everyone thinks Jessica was deeply in love with Michael. Even Michael himself believes it. If it doesn¡¯t look convincing, how will the aftermath be handled?¡±
¡°So you all even called Jennifer back and made her act as a nanny? say, that¡¯s a bit too much effort, right?¡±
¡°The Hall family bought an ITpany abroad. Tracking and monitoring devices are useless, for high¨Cend technology, you need an even stronger opponent. Who would¡¯ve thought the hacker was right inside their own home?¡±
Indya smiled and clinked her tomato juice with Shannon¡¯s lemonade.
¡°Why do women have to make things hard for each other? It¡¯s so tough for women to survive in this circle. Didn¡¯t you see how those the Fame Group¡¯s men acted? They¡¯d love to tear us apart.¡±
Everyone struggled, life was never easy.
Chris took Jessica home, smelling of alcohol.
She had to shower and change into pajamas.
Chris frowned and held back his irritation for a long time before finally removing Jessica¡¯s outer coat.
When only her underwear remained, Jessica suddenly wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
Her red lips, now faded without lipstick, revealed only a soft pink.
She opened her eyes and smiled at Chris.
¡°Chris, am I pretty?¡±
Chris¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple moved, but he said nothing.
Jessica was naturally beautiful¨Cnot like ordinary beauties.
She was the kind who stunned at first sight, growing more captivating with age, her beauty bold and wild, sharp and edgy.
Five years of marriage hadn¡¯t faded her beauty, it only added charm.
¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡±
Jessica¡¯s red lips neared his ear and gently bit his earlobe.
¡°Chris, we¡¯re husband and wife. You can do whatever you want.¡±
Wife Back 47
Everything that followed happened naturally.
Chris was a man, and in front of him was the wife he loved.
Even though they were divorced, she hade to him willingly.
Chris had no reason not to be moved.
However, afterward, Jessica was so exhausted that she fell into deep slumber.
Chris sat alone in the living room, lost in thought.
He was a doctor and rarely smoked, but when his mind was restless, he would asionally light up a cigarette to calm himself.
There were no cigarettes at hand¡ªonly empty moments and loneliness.
By now, if he still didn¡¯t understand Jessica¡¯s actions, then he truly would be a fool.
Jessica wanted to reconcile, to get back together, to make changes, and was trying hard to salvage their rtionship.
Chris was not a hard¨Chearted man, he indeed had feelings stirring inside.
But Michael was still a thorn in his heart.
After pondering for a moment, he took a deep breath.
Since that was the case, he decided to take things step by step.
If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, it was Jessica who was now pursuing him.
So the one who should be troubled wasn¡¯t him¨Cbut Michael.
Sophie was indeed sent to an overseas academy.
She cried and yelled, refusing to go, but it was useless.
This time, Jessica was determined to teach her a lesson and had someone supervise her onto the ne.
¡°Has Sophie left?¡±
Jessica signed a few pages, closed the document, and handed it to Shannon.
Shannon nodded, ¡°Miss Sophie made a scene and refused to get on the ne no matter what. Before leaving, she called Mr. Hall, asking him to plead for her. After hearing whatever Mr. Hall said, Miss Sophie suddenly agreed, hung up, and boarded the ne immediately.¡±
Jessica paused, somewhat surprised.
¡°Is Michael at home? Have Jennifer send over the recording.¡±
¡°No.¡± Shannon shook her head.
¡°Recently, Mr. Hall has been taking Jordan out during the day and only returning in the afternoon.¡±
Taking Jordan out?
Jessica felt a little suspicious.
¡°Have someone check what Michael has been up totely. Also, the woman Michael married, Wendy Shaw¨Ctrack her whereabouts. Once I find her, I can uncover the Hall family¡¯s secrets.¡±
¡°Understood.¡±
Shannon noticed Jessica was in a good mood and didn¡¯t rush to leave.
¡°The day after tomorrow is the 50th wedding anniversary of the Chairman and his wife of Crimson Engineering. I¡¯ll attend with Chris. Have someone prepare dresses and suits, deliver them to thepany¨Cwe¡¯ll go together.¡±
¡°Okay.¡±
Crimson Engineering was a rare leader in the chemical industry within the circle, and it was a state¨Cowned enterprise.
The chairman and his wife had started the business together when they were young, and now they had reached their 50th wedding anniversary.
Back when she was still with Michael, they had also attended the chairman¡¯s wife¡¯s birthday party and had admired the young couple¡¯s rtionship.
She had even told Michael that they should be like the chairman and his wife of Crimson Engineering, being together from youth to old age.
Time had changed things¨Cpeople around them had either changed or their hearts had changed.
Jessica opened a drawer, inside was a diamond ne.
It was a birthday gift Michael had given her in their second year together, and she had kept it all along.
She used to wear it before their marriage, butter Chris also gave her a ne.
Although she didn¡¯t wear his, from that day on, she took off the ne Michael had given her.
Loyalty to marriage was also something she had been taught, even if at the time she hadn¡¯t yet fallen for Chris.
Now things were different,
She loved Chris.
Not just loyalty.
She pressed the inte, connecting to the secretary¡¯s office.
¡°Order a pair of rings¨Cmy size and Chris¡¯s.¡±
Wife Back 48
The banquet venue chosen by Crimson Engineering was the Rose Manor, where the Wilder Group had also held their anniversary celebrations years ago.
Inside the huge iron gates, roses spread everywhere, of all kinds.
As soon as one got close, the strong fragrance of roses could be smelled.
Besides that, the wine here was exceptional¨Cit was a privately owned manor, and without some connections, renting it was impossible.
This alone proved the Chairman of Crimson Engineering¡¯s status in the business world.
On the day of the party, Chris only epted one surgery.
His mood had been goodtely, and it was rare to feel Jessica¡¯s care for him, he even felt a bit relieved that he hadn¡¯t left back then.
Jake was apanying the mentor on rounds and was just about to finish work when he happened to see Chris smiling at his phone and pushed the door open toe in.
¡°Well, you¡¯re in a good mood! You were looking so down a few days ago, I thought something happened to you.¡±
Jake was casual and pulled out the chair opposite to sit.
At this time, all of Chris¡¯s appointments had been called, leaving only the two of them.
Chris twirled the pen in his hand, replied to Jessica¡¯s message, and put the phone aside.
¡°Not bad. You were second assistant in this afternoon¡¯s surgery. How did it feel?¡±
¡°Pretty good. Jonathan guided me hand in hand. I really envy you your hands are so steady. I¡¯ll go back and keep practicingter. Are you going back to the dorm tonight?¡±
¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡±
Jessica arrived at the hospital on time to pick him up.
She checked the time and, while Chris hadn¡¯te out yet, called Michael.
Today was such an important day¨CMichael mustn¡¯t cause trouble.
Lately, Michael had been going out more often and frequently taking Jordan with him.
If he were negotiating with the Hall family, he definitely wouldn¡¯t bring the child along.
Jennifer said that every time Michael returned home, his face was dark, and Jordan didn¡¯t seem very happy either.
Michael could still put on a show in front of Jennifer, but Jordan was a child.
In the past few nights when she brought milk, she had heard Jordan throwing a tantrum at Michael, saying, ¡°I don¡¯t want to see her anymore.¡±
Who was this ¡°her¡°?
The Hall family held many secrets, and Michael bore many burdens.
Jessica wanted to dig them all out, but without alerting Michael or really fall out with him.
She felt sorry for keeping Chris in the dark.
This matter involved too much, Chris¡¯s ignorance was actually a term of protection.
With that thought in mind, the call was answered.
¡°Jessica.¡±
Michael¡¯s voice was as gentle as ever, as if five years had left no trace on them.
Jessica was momentarily stunned, then quickly responded, ¡°Are you home?¡±
¡°Yeah, I¡¯m watching TV with Jordan. By the way, Jessica, about sendling Jordan to school, I thought about it, and I think should listen to you.¡±
Jessica breathed a sigh of relief.
¡°Okay, I¡¯ll have someone make the preparations right
They spoke for a while, confirming Michael was home and
go out today before she felt at ease.
When Chris came out, she hung up with a tender look, but her expression quickly changed.
She sent a message to Shannon.
Shannon, who was still preparing at thepany, saw the enrollment documents.
¡°You¡¯re early.¡±
message and quickly contacted people to prepare Jordan¡¯s
Chris rarely initiated conversation with Jessica, but in the past two days, things had started to ease up a little.
Jessica smiled, walked over, and hugged Chris and held his hand.
¡°You rarelye out this early. You would usuallye out aste as possible.¡±
Things were different now.
Inside the Rose Manor, sses clinked and drinks flowed.
No one here would spoil such a day.
Crimson Engineering was the leader in the field, and no one dared offend them.
Recently, rumors had spread that the Hall family was going to cooperate with Crimson Engineering.
All the details had been negotiated, and now only signatures were left.
Wife Back 49
Jessica also came with a purpose.
She just didn¡¯t expect to run into Roy here.
¡°Roy?¡±
Jessica was talking with a business partner, while Chris wandered around bored.
In a corner, he unexpectedly saw Roy in a suit looking bored and restless, Roy was on the phone, seeming quite annoyed.
Roy usually didn¡¯t attend such asions, but since the chairman of Crimson Engineering had invited them, the Felton family couldn¡¯t skip it.
Nina was still abroad and hadn¡¯t returned, Roy¡¯s parents were traveling overseas, so Roy was the only one from the Felton family with the status to attend.
Roy wasining on the phone to a colleague.
Upon hearing Chris¡¯s voice, he turned around and quickly ended the call with a few words.
Roy stood up and came over holding a ss of wine.
¡°You¡¯re here too.¡±
Their sses clinked together.
Chris nced back at Jessica and said, ¡°ying along with the Wilder family.¡±
¡°Then you¡¯re a reallypetent actor.¡±
Outside, the scenery was beautiful.
Leaning against the balcony railing on the second floor, they could see a vast field of roses.
Under the night sky, it looked eerie yet beautiful.
Chris took a sip of wine, feeling quite happy.
In five years, he had never felt this happy.
Jessica approached and gently hugged him from behind.
Chris didn¡¯t push her away.
In that posture, he pointed to a spot and said, ¡°Look there, that rose field is rare in the country. Seems the manor owner put a lot of effort into it.¡±
Jessica stood beside him, resting her arms on the railing.
She was silent for a long time before saying, ¡°Yeah, you bought the same roses for me before.¡±
¡°You still remember.¡±
Actually, Jessica didn¡¯tpletely forget what Chris had done.
If she didn¡¯t care at all, why would she agree to divorce, and why would she be reluctant to see him leave?
¡°I still have some things to doter. I see Roy is here too. Stick with him, don¡¯t wander off alone.¡±
Jessica held Chris¡¯s hand, and their wine sses clinked again, the reddish liquid swirling inside. Under the night¡¯s enchantment, Jessica looked stunningly beautiful.
+25 BONUS
Chris stared and got distracted.
Jessica was the first to react.
She stood on tiptoe and ced a slightly wine¨Cscented kiss on Chris¡¯s lips.
¡°You¡¯ll get a good look when we get home.
As Jessica was about to leave, Chris suddenly grabbed her.
¡°Jessica, you¡¡±
Suddenly, the noise outside grew louder.
It seemed the gift¨Cgiving time had arrived.
Jessica and Chris went out together.
The first to present gifts was indeed the Hall family.
Today, the Hall family sent Luke again.
¡°Looks like what Indya said was right. Right now, the one who calls the shots in the Hall family is this Luke. Let¡¯s see what kind of gift he¡¯s bringing.
Shannon slipped away from a group of peers, tidied her long hair, and said to Jessica, ¡°I heard the Hall family spent a lot on this cooperation, picking the highest¨Cpriced jewelry from an auction overseas.¡±
Luke resembled Michael quite a lot.
Chris lowered his head to look, but saw Jessica watching Luke somewhat obsessively.
Chris¡¯s heart turned bitter and hard to bear.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, Jessica suddenly reached out and intertwined her fingers with his.
¡°He looks a lot like Michael when he was younger.¡±
Jessica tilted her head and smiled, ¡°Back then, I didn¡¯t even know you.¡±
Was she exining?
Chris moved his hand but found it being held tightly. He couldn¡¯t break free without hurting Jessica.
Chris stared and got distracted.
Jessica was the first to react.
She stood on tiptoe and ced a slightly wine¨Cscented kiss on Chris¡¯s lips.
¡°You¡¯ll get a good look when we get home.¡±
As Jessica was about to leave, Chris suddenly grabbed her.
¡°Jessica, you¡¡±
Suddenly, the noise outside grew louder.
It seemed the gift¨Cgiving time had arrived.
Jessica and Chris went out together.
The first to present gifts was indeed the Hall family.
Today, the Hall family sent Luke again.
¡°Looks like what Indya said was right. Right now, the one who calls the shots in the Hall family is this Luke. Let¡¯s see what kind of gift he¡¯s bringing.¡±
Shannon slipped away from a group of peers, tidied her long hair, and said to Jessica, ¡°I heard the Hall family spent a lot on this cooperation, picking the highest¨Cpriced jewelry from an auction overseas.¡±
Luke resembled Michael quite a lot.
Chris lowered his head to look, but saw Jessica watching Luke somewhat obsessively.
Chris¡¯s heart turned bitter and hard to bear.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, Jessica suddenly reached out and intertwined her fingers with his.
¡°He looks a lot like Michael when he was younger.¡±
Jessica tilted her head and smiled, ¡°Back then, I didn¡¯t even know you.¡±
Was she exining?
Chris moved his hand but found it being held tightly. He couldn¡¯t break free without hurting Jessica.
Wife Back 50
¡°Congrattions to Mr. and Mrs. Wayne on your golden wedding anniversary. This painting was something I happened to acquire overseas. It symbolizes a perfect marriage. After much thought, I believe it suits you two the best,¡±
Jessica cocked her brows slightly ¨C it was indeed valuable.
Such a painting wasn¡¯t just rare in foreign auction houses, even in the country, it would be worth hundreds of millions.
To give it away so easily for a business cooperation showed that the Hall Group was determined to win this deal.
Mr. Wayne was also shocked.
Ordinary people might prepare gifts that cost tens or hundreds of thousands, but who would give away a jadeite screen worth over a billion?
That item could be considered a national treasure. He didn¡¯t dare to ept it.
After refusing several times unsessfully, in front of everyone, Luke¡¯s secretary lifted the red silk cover from the painting.
¡°It really is top¨Cquality painting.¡± Chris nodded.
¡°You know about paintings?¡± Jessica asked.
Chris said, ¡°Back in college, my roommate was pursuing a girl and dragged the entire dorm to sign up for an art course. He didn¡¯t win her over but I thought, since we signed up, I might as well attend.¡±
What he didn¡¯t say was that his teacher praised him for having a good understanding in this area.
So although the painting looked beautiful, valuable, and magnificent, a careful look would reveal the details were too perfect beyond what could have been produced at that time.
Therefore, the painting was a fake.
¡°The painting¡¯s good, but it¡¯s not the original,¡± exined Chris.
Jessica looked at Chris with more admiration and anticipation.
He had many talents that were fun to discover one by one.
¡°Oh, I see,¡± Jessica smiled and turned back.
¡°Luke spent a lot of money on a fake and used it as a gift for Crimson Engineering. That¡¯s quite bold.¡±
Chris didn¡¯t understand much about business, but he knew Jessica was in a great mood.
Learning it was a fake seemed to make her even happier.
Afterward, no matter how valuable the gifts everyone else presented were, none couldpare to the painting, Nowadays, very few people disyed such expensive paintings at home, such an item was meant for collecting.
When it was the Wilder Group¡¯s turn, Jessica held Chris¡¯s hand and walked over.
Shannon carried a gift box and handed it to Jessica before stepping back.
¡°Mr. Wayne, this is some nourishing medicine my parents brought back from the south. It¡¯s not as precious as the others¡® gifts, but I heard Mrs. Wayne was sick recently, so this should be helpful.¡±
Jessica¡¯s gift was not valuable but practical.
After seeing so many gems and watches earlier, Mr. Wayne was truly pleased this time.
He hurried to store it away and kept praising Jessica repeatedly.
Then he nced at Chris and said, ¡°Chris, thest time I saw you was two years ago. You don¡¯t oftene out with Jessica.¡±
Chris responded with a few polite words.
¡°Mr. Wayne, there¡¯s something you don¡¯t know. Mr. Green and Ms Wilder are undergoing a divorce. It¡¯s all because of that cousin of mine.¡±
A voice came from behind, not loud but enough for nearby people to hear.
At a golden wedding anniversary, all the attendees were proper couples.
Even if there were some rumors, they wouldn¡¯t bring them here.
Now someone exposed that Chris and Jessica¡¯s affection was fake and dragged Michael down with them.
It was easy to guess who it was.
Jessica and Chris turned their heads simultaneously, seeing Luke smiling but with malice barely concealed in his eyes.
¡°Is his personality the same as Michael¡¯s from back then?¡± Chris lowered his voice and asked Jessica.
Wife Back 51
Jessica snorted and pinched his hand. ¡°Jealous again?¡±
After hearing that, Chris immediately tried to let go of her hand, but Jessica didn¡¯t allow it.
¡°Is that so?¡± Mr. Wayne¡¯s voice grew a bit heavier.
Jessica quickly turned around. ¡°Mr. Hall, what you said is nonsense. I never became your sister¨Cinw back then, and it won¡¯t happen now. My husband is right here. Stop talking nonsense.¡±
Many people nearby were watching themotion.
It was heard that over the years, Luke was about to rece Michael as the next heir of the Hall family.
But since Michael had returned to the country with the child, even if the Hall family despised them, they couldn¡¯t sever their family ties.
Recently, Michael had been frequently visiting the old the Hall family mansion, suggesting their rtionship was easing
The Hall family¡¯s reputation was originally built by Michael¡¯s parents.
Luke¡¯s parents were just branchpany employees, and no matter how hard they tried, they couldn¡¯t enter the mainpany.
Luke was anxious to ruin Michael¡¯s reputation so that he could never return to the Hall family.
Mr. Wayne was a bit displeased with Luke¡¯s remarks but still patiently waited as Jessica leaves.
Roy was still drinking alone in the corner.
Seeing this scene, he was about to stand up, but Jessica had already smoothly handled the situation.
¡°That woman really has some skill, no wonder Chris likes her,¡± muttered Roy.
The banquet ended shortly after ten o¡¯clock.
After the guests dispersed, Jessica and Chris, both having drunk some wine, were naturally driven home by a driver.
As the car just left the estate, they saw Roy standing beside his own car, apparently making a call to his driver.
Jessica thought for a moment and rolled down the car window. ¡°Roy, it¡¯s still early. Want to find a ce to sit for a while?¡±
Roy¡¯s gaze passed over Jessica and looked at Chris beside her.
Chris had drunk quite a bit and was a little dizzy. Hearing ¡°Roy,¡± he forced himself to stay alert.
¡°Where to?¡± Roy calmly got into the car.
After some thought, Jessica chose to go to the Cosmos¨Cit was the safest ce.
It waste, and since they had been drinking, everyone was a bit hungry.
The manager ordered dishes that Jessica and Chris liked and asked about Roy¡¯s preferences.
¡°If you¡¯re treating me to a meal, there must be a reason,¡± Roy said robustly, sipping half a cup of tea. ¡°Although I don¡¯t like you much, Chris likes you. If you want to ask something, just ask.¡±
Roy had naturally earned his current position by his own merits, not just relying on the Felton family.
Chris sat in the middle to mediate the atmosphere, Jessica on the left, and Roy on the right.
¡°Roy, you¡¯re being too formal. You¡¯re Chris¡¯s friend, so naturally you¡¯re my friend too. I¡¯m just treating you to a meal.¡±
Roy raised his hand to interrupt. ¡°Chris probably never told you about my personality. I hate beating around the bush the most.¡±
Since that was the case, Jessica went straight to the point.
¡°I heard you investigated a case abroad for half a year. Is it rted to Aitairy?¡±
Roy frowned. ¡°You¡¯ve heard about it?¡±
¡°More than heard. The overseas investment in Aitairy was from me.¡±
Jessica lowered her eyes, sipping tea for a while, then nced at Roy and smiled.
¡°What, when you uprooted them, you didn¡¯t find the Wilder Group?¡±
This time, Roy was unusually serious.
He straightened his posture.
¡°You invested in Aitairy? Impossible. Why didn¡¯t my people find that?¡±
¡°You see, that¡¯s why I invited you here today. You probably didn¡¯t just fail to find me, but also didn¡¯t find the Hall family.¡±
Neither the Wilder Group nor the Hall family appeared on the list, and Roy was sure of it.
¡°Did pull strings?¡±
Wife Back 52
Just from Roy¡¯s tone, it was clear he was angry.
Chris was about to speak, but Jessica directly admitted it.
¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. It was me.¡±
¡°Do you know this is obstructing justice!¡± Roy mmed the table and spoke harshly to Jessica.
Jessica smiled slightly and patted Chris¡¯s hand. He quickly poured tea for Roy. ¡°Roy, calm down. Let Jessica finish.¡±
Roy nced at Chris and forced himself to remain calm. ¡°Alright, go on.¡±
¡°Actually, from the beginning, I was the one sending you information. Otherwise, how could you have found out about Aitairy so quickly? I erased both my name and the Hall family¡¯s from the records to help you screen for suspicious insiders.¡±
¡°You mean¡¡±
¡°There¡¯s a mole among you.¡±
The whole private room fell silent for a long moment.
Roy was shocked and didn¡¯t react to the hot tea until it slid down his throat, causing him to gasp sharply from the burn.
¡°Hey, don¡¯t be so anxious!¡± Chris was startled and tried to pour more tea but saw Roy coughing and hurriedly grabbed the juice on the table. ¡°Drink slowly, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡±
Jessica sat calmly and waited until Roy stopped coughing before continuing, ¡°There¡¯s another reason I erased myself and the Hall family¨Cto avoid alerting the enemy.¡±
Chris couldn¡¯t understand much about business, but Roy, unusually serious, listened to Jessica for a long time.
When the manager and staff brought in the dishes, Roy still hadn¡¯t fully reacted.
¡°Chris, who the hell is she?¡±
Roy wasn¡¯t surprised now that Chris couldn¡¯t control Jessica.
Roy sighed deeply and cursed inwardly at his men. They werepletely fooled by a woman. They thought the Aitairy case was settled smoothly, but the evidence was handed over by Jessica, and she did a lot more than he expected.
¡°What do you intend to do?¡± asked Roy.
Chris interrupted them both.
¡°All the dishes are here. Let¡¯s eat while talking.¡± Chris didn¡¯t even bother to eat himself and took care of both sides.
Jessica felt even happier when Chris personally picked dishes for her. In a good mood, she was naturally more gentle with Roy.
If not for Chris¡¯s face, she wouldn¡¯t have told Roy these matters. Lately, she had been pursuing Chris, so pleasing Roy was also pleasing him.
After the meal and drinks, Jessica didn¡¯t reveal too much. She just told him to pay her and Chris a visit at home
Michael couldn¡¯t attend the golden wedding anniversary banquet. He began sulking at home with Jordan. Normally, he would pretend to be gentle in front of Jennifer, but now, he couldn¡¯t be bothered to put on an act. Recently, he had been smashing things quite frequently.
Many vases bought for the house were broken.
Jennifer called Jessica toin.
¡°If he breaks them, just buy new ones. It¡¯s not like you can¡¯t afford them.¡±
Jessica was reviewing a contract. The legal counsel sitting across was revising terms.
Upon hearing this, the counsel nced up at the rich and powerful jessica, then quickly looked down again.
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¡°I¡¯m serious, how did you fall for someone like him back then? He¡¯s a useless wretch. I saw some documents on his study desk. The prices were so high, that he¡¯s not making any money. If the Hall family business falls into his hands, it might be done for.¡±
Jessica paused. ¡°What contract?¡±
Relying on memory, Jennifer named a few parties.
Jessica immediately searched for information and discovered those contracts were from business partners Luke had been negotiating recently.
The branchpany¡¯s affairs had nothing to do with Michael, so why did he have draft contracts?
Wife Back 53
¡°Take a close look at the details, mainly the prices.¡±
Jennifer was in the kitchen. Michael wasn¡¯t around. Jordan was watching TV. Jennifer took herputer from a cabpartment and held it while talking to Jessica.
¡°Recently, Michael had been spending more time in the study, so it was hard for me to get in. Oh, andtely there have been callsing in. As soon as they hear my voice, they stop talking. But if Michael or Jordan answers, they talk for a long time.¡±
¡°Keep an eye on it.¡±
It seemed the people behind Michael wouldn¡¯t stay hidden much longer.
Near the end of the workday, Jessica closed herputer and was about to pick up Chris, but unexpectedly, Michael called first, saying he was already waiting downstairs at thepany. Jordan insisted on eating with her, so Jessica had no choice but to agree.
However, Chris had already arrived at thepany lobby ahead of them.
He had gone to a lecture at school earlier, which ended some time ago. After talking with a teacher at the hospital, he came to the Wilder Group. He didn¡¯t go upstairs, not wanting to be the center of attention, so he waited downstairs. Recently, Jessica had been picking him up after work, and this was supposed to be a surprise for her.
The surprise didn¡¯t work out and instead made him feel ufortable.
¡°Jessica.¡±
¡°Ms. Wilder.¡±
Michael held Jordan¡¯s hand as they entered. Jordan happily jumped into Jessica¡¯s arms. Jessica smiled and hugged the child, gently pinching her cheek.
Just as she turned her head, she saw Chris standing up, stunned.
Why was Chris here?
Jessica felt a little flustered and didn¡¯t know how to exin, but she couldn¡¯t let Michael notice anything unusual.
Michael saw Jessica freeze and turned his head to notice Chris¡¯s unpleasant expression.
¡°Chris is here too? Why don¡¯t we all go together then?¡± Michael said politely.
But Jordan didn¡¯t give Chris a chance to respond. She grabbed Jessica¡¯s hand and said, ¡°No, I don¡¯t want the bad guy to go. The bad guy will hurt Daddy! I want Daddy to go with Ms. Wilder!¡±
Jessica couldn¡¯t exin, so she just held Jordan still.
Chris smiled wryly. ¡°Fine, I¡¯m just passing by. You guys go ahead. I won¡¯t bother you.¡± Then he turned and left.
He had expected Jessica toe after him likest time, but after waiting a long time in the car, he only saw the ¡®family of three
get into Jessica¡¯s car.
Sure enough, whether or not Jessica was interested in him, Michael would always be the first choice.
Forget it, he didn¡¯t want to go back today, so he floored the elerator to Roy¡¯s office. Since he couldn¡¯t get inside, he parked nearby and called Roy.
Roy was still busy with a case but made time toe out and see him.
¡°Roy, do you really think women are that good at being pretentious?¡±
After thest incident, Roy hade to understand Jessica a little more.
Plus, with the Aitairy case involving the Hall family, he could also understand why Jessica maintained her rtionship with
Michael.
Still¡
Roy looked at Chris.
Jessica didn¡¯t tell Chris, maybe it was to protect him. The situation was tooplicated, and Chris was innocent, so he shouldn¡¯t get involved. Roy didn¡¯t dare say more.
¡°After all, she¡¯s the one you like. You should trust her.¡±
That was all Roy could say
Trust?
One was a first love, and childhood sweetheart.
The other was someone who she finally developed feelings for after five years.
Who would end up the loser?
Chris wondered if he would always be the loser.
¡°Are you going to be a pushover? Can¡¯t you be more confident in yourself?¡±
Wife Back 54
After having dinner with Michael, Jessica gave him and the child a lift home. She was even invited into the house for some tea. Jennifer brought over a pot of tea and ced it in front of Jessica with a bright smile. ¡°Good evening, Ms. Wilder.¡±
¡°So you¡¯re the nanny Shannon picked. Come to think of it, this is the first time we¡¯ve met.¡± Jessica took a sip and was hit by the overwhelming sweetness¨Cit almost knocked her out. There was too much sugar in it.
From the corner of her eye, she caught Jennifer¡¯s seemingly sweet smileced with hidden malice. This woman had definitely done it on purpose!
¡°Yes. Although my sry is paid by Ms. Wilder, I handle all work matters through Miss Harvey.¡±
¡°Keep up the good work. The New Year¡¯sing¨Cthere¡¯s a bonus at the end of the year.¡±
¡°Okay.¡±
Jennifer turned and walked away.
Michael continued chatting with Jessica for a while, subtly steering the conversation toward Crimson Engineering.
¡°I heard my parents scolded Luke pretty badly. Apparently, he said something inappropriate in front of Mr. Wayne and his wife.
A project that was about to be signed is now in limbo. The expensive painting that my father had given to Mr. Wayne was for nothing now as well.¡±
Jordan happily bounced upstairs for her bath, leaving Michael and Jessica alone, discussing business unexpectedly.
Who said Michael was no longer involved with the Hall family? The connection seemed very much alive.
That incident had only just happened, and Michael already knew about it.
¡°Mr. Wayne is indeed unhappy.¡± Jessica looked helpless. ¡°You know about me and Chris¡ Bringing him along was just to stabilize the Wilder Group¡¯s stock price. Those shareholders are watching me like hawks, hoping I¡¯ll slip up. And now with Luke¡¯s big mouth, all my efforts have gone to waste.¡±
Michael immediately looked remorseful and held Jessica¡¯s hand.
¡°I¡¯m really sorry. This is all Luke¡¯s fault. But I honestly can¡¯t say anything right now. You know I¡¯ve lost all say in the Hall family. Luke still manages several subsidiarypanies, but I¨CJessica, I really want to help you.¡±
His head was lowered, but there was a glint of light in his eyes. Jessica finally understood why Michael
effort.
Michael wanted to return to the Hall family.
gone through all this
Jessica coaxed him for a long while before finally leaving. From beginning to end, Jennifer had only exchanged a few words with Jessica and didn¡¯t even make eye contact. Michael didn¡¯t notice anything unusual.
Once inside her car, Jessica immediately called Chris¨Cbut he didn¡¯t answer.
She let out a sigh.
All the effort she had put into winning him back was undone the moment Michael showed up. She was so close to winning Chris back.
She hadn¡¯t expected Michael toe looking for her at thepany. With all the scrutiny on him right now, he should¡¯ve beenying low at home¨Cat the very least, he shouldn¡¯t havee to the Wilder Group and stirred things up for her.
Even more unexpected was that Chris had shown up too.
Sighing wouldn¡¯t help. She needed to resolve these issues quickly if she wanted to be with Chris properly.
What surprised her even more was how much Michael had changed in just five years.
Back then, the Hall family had also tried to take advantage of her rtionship with Michael. But Michael hadn¡¯t wanted her to be put in a tough spot and never asked her for anything.
Now, it was different.
Michael wanted to return to the Hall family, to regain power, and he made his desires known outright.
The Hall family. Michael.
She was getting closer and closer to the heart of the secret.
When she got home, she had expected darkness¨Cbut as soon as she opened the door, a warm yellow light greeted her. She walked in, surprised.
Chris was sitting in front of the sofa, watching an auction. He turned around when he heard the door.
¡°Wee home,¡± he said, smiling at Jessica.
That left her momentarily at a loss. She dropped her keys in the entryway. ¡°You¡¡°¡±
Based on his personality, Chris should¡¯ve just gone back to his dorm at the hospital. He was likely to be mad for a couple of days
so why had hee back?
Chris smiled and took her coat to hang it up. ¡°Are you hungry?¡±
Wife Back 55
Jessica shook her head slightly, looking a bit hesitant.
¡°I¡¯ve prepare some chicken. I¡¯ll go make some roast chicken for you,¡± said Chris, without asking a single question about what Michael and Jessica had done or eaten that evening. He simply walked into the kitchen.
He was dressed in home clothes, carrying with him the warmth and woody scent of their home. At that moment, Jessica¡¯s heart softened.
It turned out, her feelings for Chris had long been obvious.
Once out the door, the world besplicated¨Copen threats were easy to defend against, but hidden ones were much harder. Whether for outsiders or within thepany, she had to stay vignt with no room to let her guard down.
Only by Chris¡¯s side did Jessica feel no need to defend herself.
He was herst safe haven.
So no matter what, she wouldn¡¯t let Chris go. Even if he misunderstood her rtionship with Michael. Even if they were already divorced. She absolutely could not let Chris leave.
Other than Chris, no one else could give her this kind of peace.
Though Chris still felt bitter inside, what Roy had said made sense he was a man, and a man couldn¡¯t give up so easily.
He wasn¡¯t blind. From their interactionstely, he could tell that Jessica had feelings for him.
He and Michael werepletely different people. Since Jessica had feelings for him, why should he back out? Why should he admit defeat?
Even if it was just for the five years he had spent with her, he absolutely couldn¡¯t give up now.
He could still choose to leave when things reach to the point of no return.
Though, he hoped that day would nevere.
While he made the roast chicken someone hugged him from behind.
Chris chuckled, feeling like Jessica was acting like a child. ¡°Stop messing around. Go wash your hands and get changed. It¡¯s almost ready.¡±
Jessica stood on tiptoe and kissed the back of his neck¨Cher lips soft and light, brushing then pulling away.
¡°Please don¡¯t leave me, Chris.¡±
Hearing those words, Chris almost couldn¡¯t hold back his tears. His eyes turned red instantly.
The onions he was preparing made his eyes water.
But he didn¡¯t let Jessica notice.
Only after she left for the bedroom to change did he lift a hand to wipe his eyes.
So this was how it felt¨Cto finally receive what you had been hoping for. It hurt.
But if she didn¡¯t want him to leave, then what was going on with Michael?
At dinner that night, Roy uncharacteristically said a few good things about Jessica. He didn¡¯t even refer to her as ¡°that woman.¡±
Roy said Jessica was a strong woman, and strong women often couldn¡¯t say everything out loud. The business world wasn¡¯t simple. You had to trust the one you loved.
Trust
Could he and Jessica really rebuildplete trust between them?
Normally, when they had dinner face to face, Jessica would either be looking at her phone or reviewing contracts.
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Buttely, Jessica had been more attentive to Chris¡¯s emotions. She even talked to him about matters in the business world.
Chris wasn¡¯tpletely clueless.
He was smart. He could read between the lines easily.
¡°Don¡¯te to where I work for now,¡± said Jessica while drinking her soup, raising her eyes to nce at him.
Chris paused, then looked down and gave a soft ¡°mm.¡±
Using the other end of her cutlery, she lifted Chris¡¯s chin and, unsurprisingly, saw that his eyes were already slightly red.
Jessica¡¯s heart ached immediately.
¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. Lately, I need to stir up some rumors¨Cones involving Michael. I don¡¯t want you to feel upset seeing it, and I don¡¯t want you facingpany gossip. You¡¯re not good at handling that sort of thing. Just leave it to me.¡±
¡°Jessica, 1¨Cactually, I¡¯ve been thinking about going abroad for further studies.¡±
This was the first time Chris had openly mentioned leaving the country to Jessica.
No longer sneaking off on his own¨Cthis time, he brought it up directly.
Wife Back 56
Jessica was just about to put down her cutlery in anger, but she held it in.
She could feel that Chris had changed. If it had been right after the divorce, after what happened today, Chris might have secretly bought a ne ticket and quietly left, instead of sitting down to talk with her like this.
¡°Chris, I know what your dream is, but don¡¯t you think our rtionship hasn¡¯t fully healed yet? If you leave now, wouldn¡¯t it be bad for both of us?¡±
Chris remained calm. ¡°The reason our rtionship hasn¡¯t healed isn¡¯t because of me. Going abroad to study won¡¯t change me one bit. It¡¯ll only give you the to really think.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this for now.¡± Jessica looked away and added a serving of potatoes to Chris¡¯s te. ¡°Let¡¯s eat first, Chris. I don¡¯t want to argue with you.¡±
Fine¨Cafter so many failed attempts to leave, it seemed Jessica still couldn¡¯t ept the idea of him going to study abroad. New really wasn¡¯t the right time.
Thinking of this, Chris smiled slightly.
In the days that followed, Jessica acted as if she feared Chris might run off. She stopped going to social events, came straight home after work for dinner, and even brought Shannon home with her.
On Saturday, when Chris had the day off, Jessica went to the office early for overtime and told him she would bring Shannon back for dinner in the afternoon. Chris quickly went out to buy groceries.
¡°Michael wants to return to the Hall family, but it won¡¯t be easy.¡±
Dinner hadn¡¯t even started yet. The two sat at the table.
¡°Yeah, he¡¯s really given me a problem,¡± Jessica scoffed. ¡°As always.¡±
Resting her chin on one hand, she watched Chris¡¯s busy figure thoughtfully. ¡°What kind of terms do you think the Hall family gave Michael?¡±
¡°It can¡¯t be marrying you, right?¡± Shannon tilted her chin toward Chris. ¡°The Hall family already knew you were married to Chris. They even showed up at the wedding. Cried their eyes out right in front of Chris, saying their son and you were the real match, and look how things turned out.¡±
Whenever the past was brought up, Jessica felt guilty toward Chris
They had invited the Hall family to the wedding out of politeness, never expecting them to actuallye.
Back then, Madam Wilder forbade them from dating, and truthfully, the Hall family hadn¡¯t liked Jessic Ich either. They thought she was too strong and would follow in Madam Wilder¡¯s footsteps. Their son wouldn¡¯t be able Landle her.
So when the car ident happened, the Hall family had immediately taken Michael away.
Who would¡¯ve thought they¡¯d cry at the wedding?
Michael had already been engaged. He was the one who wronged Jessica first.
Jessica¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯ll give Michael a little hope. But in truth, I think he¡¯ll be easier to control if he returns to the Hall family. Luke is arrogant and impulsive¨Cit¡¯s clear that Thomas Hall and his wife, Lynsey Hall, are using him as a smokescreen. No matter how disappointing Michael is, he¡¯s still their biological son.¡±
The dining table wasn¡¯t far from the open kitchen, and they weren¡¯t trying to avoid Chris while talking. He kept busy in the kitchen, but his ears were clearly paying attention.
These were all secrets in the world of business.
Shannon¡¯s phone suddenly lit up with a few messages. She nced down and cocked her brows.
¡°That woman¡¯s been found.¡± Shannon looked up. ¡°Just as you The Cloud Hotel was a luxury chain under the Hall Group. Even a Chris didn¡¯t understand what was going on he simply kept ser
Shannon, however, seemed distracted.
¡°If she¡¯s in the country, that means Michael spared her life. Nos lottely, and they never look happy when they returned home.¡±
¡°That woman¡¯s been found.¡± Shannon looked up. ¡°Just as you gused¨Cshe¡¯s still in the country, at the Cloud Hotel ¡± The Cloud Hotel was a luxury chain under the Hall Group. Even a basic room cost tens of thousands a night.
Chris didn¡¯t understand what was going on¨Che simply kept serving food for the two of them and reminded them to eat.
Shannon, however, seemed distracted.
¡°If she¡¯s in the country, that means Michael spared her life. No wonder Jennifer said Michael and Jordan have been going out a lottely, and they never look happy when they returned home.¡±
Q
Wife Back 57
A woman who held leverage had appeared¨Cit would have been strange if anyone was happy about that.
This woman, Jessica was determined to get.
That night, Jessica curled up in Chris¡¯s arms. Half¨Casleep, she suddenly mumbled, ¡°I¡¯m sorry about the wedding back then.¡±
Chris held her tighter. ¡°I¡¯ve already forgotten.¡±
But she knew Chris hadn¡¯t forgotten.
Even if he hadn¡¯t been in love with her yet, a once¨Cin¨Ca¨Clifetime wedding wasn¡¯t something he would forget so easily.
Jessica nuzzled against Chris¡¯s chest. ¡°When everything settles down, let¡¯s have another wedding. Or, like Mr. Wayne, we could just throw a simple banquet.¡±
There would never be any the Hall family members again.
Never again.
Chris only smiled. He didn¡¯t really believe that day would evere.
As expected, there were a lot of rumors about Michael and Jessica.
People said the two came and went together at the Wilder Group. Others imed Jessica and Chris had already divorced because
of Michael¡¯s interference. The looks directed at Michael were full of contempt, as if he were a homewrecker.
No matter how mild¨Ctempered or good at pretending Michael was, he still looked troubled.
Every time he went home, he would lose his temper.
Through recordings from Jennifer, one could almost hear the rage in Michael¡¯s voice.
¡°Why hasn¡¯t Jessica made the news of her divorce from Chris public? Why does she want me to carry the me as a homewrecker?¡±
Indya had recently attended several drinking parties, where people kept asking her for gossip. She yed her role dutifully and, ording to Jessica¡¯s instructions, described her rtionship with Michael in the most ambiguous terms.
Thanks to the fast spread of rumors at these events, public opinion online red up once again.
This time, Jessica didn¡¯t pull Chris into the act.
She didn¡¯t want him to be insulted.
Love or not¡ªat this point, the line was clear.
¡°Michael¡¯s about to reach his limit. But fortunately, Thomas gave him some incentives. There are more contracts piling up on his desk now, while several projects handled by Luke have all fallen through for different reasons.¡±
Shannon crossed her legs and spun her chair with a smile. ¡°Michael really is ruthless. On one hand, he clings to Jessica and uses the Wilder Group¡¯s support to return to the Hall family. On the other, he sabotages Luke¡¯s projects, making their parents think Luke is ipetent and that they can only rely on him.¡±
¡°Men can be so ruthless,¡± Indyamented.
Then Shannon added, ¡°Calum is keeping an eye on that woman at the Cloud Hotel.¡±
¡°Watch her closely. Don¡¯t let her escape. I have a feeling Michael won¡¯t let her live much longer either.¡±
Indya looked stunned. ¡°No way¨Cshe¡¯s still the biological mother of his daughter. Would he really go that far?¡±
In a marriage without love, even the presence of a child couldn¡¯t stop their separation.
Michael had never been the merciful type.
¡°Get ready to go to Tesalfield for a one¨Cweek joint medical consultation. This round is very important. The patient is under two years old¨Ccases like this are rare even within the industry. The files have already been sent out. Go over them during your free time. Once we arrive, we¡¯ll finalize the surgical n, and the procedure starts the very next day.¡±
The consultation list included Prof. Rane, Chris, and Jake.
Prof. Rane was the lead surgeon for the second operation. Chris would assist. Jake, as an intern, would observe and learn. There were also many senior specialists listed. Both hospitals were taking this very seriously.
It was said that the child had a powerful background¨Cone that couldn¡¯t even be mentioned.
That evening, Chris told Jessica he would be on a business trip. He thought she would be upset, but unexpectedly, she only reminded him to rest well.
¡°You¡¯re not angry?¡±
Wife Back 58
Jessica saw how cautiously he was speaking and couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Why would I be angry? I didn¡¯t want you going abroad because our rtionship still wasn¡¯t stable. Once we remarry, if you want to pursue further studies, I won¡¯t stop you. But this is just a business trip¨Cit¡¯s a job assignment, I can understand that.¡±
It was rare to see Jessica so understanding. Lately, she had changed so much that even Chris barely recognized her.
Chris felt relieved and finally smiled.
In truth, Jessica thought the timing of the trip was perfect.
Thanks to their efforts, the Hall family had finally agreed to let Michael return home¨Cand they were even holding a birthday party for his daughter. The invitation had already been delivered to the Wilder Group.
The card specifically requested Jessica to bring her husband along.
But Chris obviously wouldn¡¯t want to see the Hall family. If she intentionally left him out, it would seem like she and Chris had serious problems.
Chris going on a business trip was the perfect excuse.,
Jessica quietly let out a sigh of relief.
¡°No need to prepare Mr. Green¡¯s suit¨Che¡¯s going on a trip. He¡¯s leaving tomorrow.¡±
After entering the study, Jessica video¨Ccalled Shannon. ¡°He¡¯ll be gone for ten days, just enough to miss the Hall family¡¯s banquet. Pick a good gift for Jordan¨Cmake sure it¡¯s expensive and shy, but ultimately impractical.¡±
¡°Got it.¡± Shannon was browsing gift options. ¡°I saw a diamond princess dress, all the diamonds are hand¨Ciid. It¡¯s priced at 600 thousand. Sounds exactly like what you¡¯re looking for. expensive and shy.¡±
Jessica didn¡¯t hesitate at all and nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the one.¡±
If she was going to send a gift to the Hall family, she wouldn¡¯t hold back. The more expensive it was, the more it would look like she cared about Michael and Jordan.
The banquet was that night¨Cand some very important guests were expected to appear.
Chris had felt Jessica agreed a little too quickly and even seemed a bit happy. He didn¡¯t understand why and didn¡¯t bother to ask. He went to the kitchen, poured himself a cup of tea, and just as he reached the study door, he hea essica speaking in her video call with Shannon.
¡°Yes, I¡¯m worried Chris will overthink it. I also don¡¯t want him to meet members of the Hall family¨Cnone of them are decent. They ruined our wedding, and now they¡¯re still trying to humiliate him. His business trip is perfect¨Csaves me the trouble of making up excuses.¡±
¡°Charge the 600 thousand to my personal ount, not thepany¡¯s.¡±
Chris stood there for a while before finally understanding why she had agreed so quickly.
But Jessica was right¨Che truly didn¡¯t want to see the Hall family.
Once the conversation inside stopped, he knocked and entered.
¡°Go to bed early. My flight¡¯s in the morning¨CI¡¯m heading to sleep now.¡±
¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go back now.¡±
Jordan¡¯s birthday party also served as proof of Michael¡¯s return to the Hall family¡ªit was bound to be grand.
What Jessica hadn¡¯t expected was that the entire the Hall family would stand at the entrance greeting guests, just like at a wedding ceremony.
As soon as she arrived, they pulled her up to stand at the entrance, forcing her to meet a long stream of people alongside them
Michael didn¡¯t say a word. He just stood beside her, smiling.
¡°A den of wolves and tigers.¡± Indya chuckled, arms crossed as she stood shoulder¨Cto¨Cshoulder with Shannon. ¡°Isn¡¯t this jour another way to make Ms. Wilder publicly acknowledge her rtionship with Michael?¡±
Shannon was on her period and had been craving sweets. She had eaten several pieces of cake before the banquet even started.
Her mouth was full of cream.
¡°Knew it was all a trap. She had toe. What did Calum say?¡±
Indya replied, ¡°Said the woman hasn¡¯t left the hotel since early morning. Didn¡¯t even order breakfast. But yesterday afternoon, she went to the international shopping center and bought a dress
¡°Michael isn¡¯t ruthless enough. If it were Jessica, that woman would never have made it back to the country.¡±
¡°You think everyone¡¯s like our boss?¡± Indya sighed. ¡°The only weed she ever left behind was Michael¨Cand now he¡¯s back to haunt her.¡±
Wife Back 59
Shannon actually thought it wasn¡¯t a bad thing.
If Michael hadn¡¯t shown up, Jessica and Chris might have continued to waste time. Chris wouldn¡¯t have taken the initiative to leave, and Jessica wouldn¡¯t have realized how important Chris was to her.
So in her opinion, Michael was actually a bonding agent between the two of them.
A temporary separation didn¡¯t matter.
What mattered was that something had changed.
Jessica finally managed to slip away. Rubbing her wrist, red from being grabbed, she returned to Shannon¡¯s side. Thetter handed her a juice with a grin of gratitude. ¡°The ¡®bride¡® finally has time toe back.¡±
Jessica gave her a re. She thought, if her mother ever found out about this, who knew how furious she¡¯d get.
Thankfully, her mother disdained the Hall family and wouldn¡¯t attend their banquet.
Her wrist had been gripped for quite a while, and it took a long time for the redness to fade. Jessica stood quietly in a corner the whole time, shielded by Indya and Shannon to avoid being spotted by the Hall family.
¡°Has that woman left the hotel?¡±
Indya nced at a message and shook her head.
The banquet was about to begin¨Ccould it be she really wasn¡¯ting?
The Hall family had built their current status through marriage alliances. After they seeded, they kicked her aside, and Michael had quickly returned to Cheria with his daughter.
A woman who was chosen for a political marriage couldn¡¯t be simple. How could she possibly allow the Hall family to bleed her dry and walk away unscathed?
Jessica wasn¡¯t too worried. She firmly believed that woman would appear,
Besides, she had given her the opportunity.
Originally, the Cloud Hotel was owned by the Hall family, so Jessica couldn¡¯t nt anyone directly inside. Instead, she quietly booked several rooms on the same floor and arranged for Calum to stay there.
Thomas took the stage with his wife¨Cthe banquet was about to begin.
When Chris arrived in Tesalfield, his mind waspletely focused on the joint consultation.
He didn¡¯t even have time to message Jessica. From morning till night, he was busy. As soon as he changed at the hotel, he was called out to dinner.
¡°No wonder he¡¯s a senior professor,¡± said Jake. ¡°Did you see today¡¯s surgical n? It¡¯s a bit risky.¡±
¡°The child is too young¨Cany n is risky. But there¡¯s no choice. Without this surgery, the child won¡¯t even be able to get out of bed in the future. He¡¯s only two.¡±
Jake was very curious. ¡°Who is this child¡¯s family, anyway?¡±
Chris had heard his mentor mention it briefly¨Capparently, he was the grandson of the Goldman Group¡¯s CEO.
The Goldman Group was a long¨Cestablished name in the building materials industry. Even now, over 70% of construction materials still used their products. That showed just how powerful they were in real estate.
The grandson of such a CEO would naturally have a prestigious identity.
¡°Rich people really are different. Even old specialists who hadn¡¯t operated in years were called back. Money can make ghosts turn millstones.¡±
¡°Money opens doors in many things. But as doctors, we should treat everyone equally.¡±
The two of them were eating at a restaurant near the hotel. Tesalfield cuisine leaned sweet, which Chris actually liked, but Jake found too heavy and barely ate.
Just then, loud arguing erupted from the table next to them.
As the shouting escted, several wine bottles were thrown. One of them smashed against the wall right behind Chris, and a shard of ss shed across his neck¨Cblood immediately started seeping out.
¡°Hey!¡± Jake shot to his feet, pointing angrily at the other table. ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡±
He rushed to Chris¡¯s side and turned his chin to check the wound. ¡°It¡¯s bleeding a lot¨Chold on, I¡¯ll grab some tissues.¡±
The fight grew worse. Someone was punched to the ground and began foaming at the mouth.
But Jake, focused on treating Chris¡¯s wound, didn¡¯t notice that someone had copsed.
Wife Back 60
Chris was the first to notice the man on the ground.
He ignored his own wound and quickly rushed over, squatting down to examine the situation.
¡°Sir, sir, how are you feeling?¡± he asked urgently.
The man who had been punched clutched his chest and struggled to breathe. His lips had turned a deep shade of purple.
Chris immediately recognized the signs of a heart condition and began searching the man¡¯s body for medication.
But after searching for a long while, he couldn¡¯t find anything. He turned to Jake and said, ¡°Call an ambnce.¡±
He also asked the restaurant owner to call the police.
The ambnce arrived with a wail of sirens. Chris and Jake rode along with the paramedics.
At the scene, Chris had performed emergency treatment, but by the time they were in the ambnce, the man¡¯s breathing was still faint.
¡°Coming on a business trip and running into this kind of situation..¡± Jake sighed. Then he nced at Chris¡¯s face and added, ¡° You should get that wound on your face disinfected.¡±
Chris raised a hand to touch his face. Only then did he notice the slight sting. He shook his head and said he was fine.
The man¡¯s family arrived quickly and heard the full ount from the restaurant staff.
Seeing that everything was in order, Chris and Jake left.
He thought it was just a minor incident. The man who had caused the disturbance was even taken into custody.
Chris focused all his attention on the joint consultation.
But two days before they were due to return, Jake suddenly rushed out of the bathroom holding his phone.
¡°Look online, quick! That day when you saved that guy¨Cit¡¯s gone viral!¡±
Doctors saving people and ending up online wasn¡¯t new.
Chris was on a call with Jessica and just nced briefly, not expecting the headline to read:
#Irresponsible Doctor Causes Death Through Excessive Emergency Treatment!#
#Should This Kind of Doctor Be Allowed to Keep Practicing?#
#Tesalfield Doctor¡¯s On¨CSite Treatment Leads to Fatality#
¡°Hello? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jessica asked when Chris suddenly went silent. She immediately started searching for Tesalfield news
as well.
Chris frowned deeply.
Every step of his emergency care had followed correct procedure.
The man had suffered a heart attack because of the assault, and doctors had simply failed to save him. An official exnation had already been issued.
Why would someone still upload that online?
On the other end of the line, Jessica called out to him a few more times.
¡°It¡¯s nothing¡ my mentor¡¯s calling me. I¡¯ll call you backter.¡±
With that, Chris hung up the phone.
Jessica, having also seen the trending topic, immediately instructed Shannon to find out what was going on.
The next day, Chris was supposed to perform surgery.
But the growing public outrage and the deceased man¡¯s family causing a scene near the hospital forced the medical team to remove Chris from the final operation.
Jake was furious.
¡°I think these people are just trying to extort money,¡± he said, pacing in the dorm and ring at the flood of online hate. He looked like he was about to grab a mic and start shouting back.
¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. My treatment waspletely professional¨Cthere¡¯s absolutely no issue.¡±
A man with a clear conscience didn¡¯t fear shadows. Chris wasn¡¯t worried at all.
After a moment, Jake let out a heavy sigh.
¡°You¡ you really don¡¯t understand how vicious online opinion can be. Let¡¯s just see what the professor says.¡±
There were still some rational voices online.
Medical students analyzed the surveince and video angles, and concluded that Chris¡¯s technique had been highly professional. That level of pressure couldn¡¯t have caused death.
But that wasn¡¯t the kind of answer the gossip¨Chungry public wanted.
Those voices of reason were quickly drowned out.
Bang!
Jessica hurled something across the room again.
Shannon stood outside the door, looking helpless. She turned to Maggie and said, ¡°Go get another ashtray. Don¡¯t go in for now
Maggie turned and left immediately.
When the room finally went quiet, Shannon knocked and entered.
¡°Have you found out anything?¡±
Jessica stood by the massive French window, smoking. From the doorway, her expression waspletely hidden. It was rare for a woman like her to smoke.
12
Wife Back 61
Shannon walked over and stood in front of the desk, her hands crossed in front of her.
¡°We found out. The doctor¡¯s conclusion was that the man died of heart disease. ording to the information I got from the local police, the man had a congenital heart condition and was supposed to carry medication with him. But I watched the video ¨C Mr. Green didn¡¯t find any medicine on him, so he had to start emergency treatment. Indya has already started deploying PR teams.¡±
After a moment of silence, Jessica turned around, her expression dark.
¡°Thoseizens who are pushing the narrative¨Ccollect evidence on each one of them. Tell the legal department to preparewyer¡¯s letters. I¡¯m suing every single one.¡±
¡°Okay.¡±
Jessica tapped on the desk, remembering the helpless tone in Chris¡¯s voice during the phone call. Her heart ached a little.
¡°Book me a flight. I¡¯m going today.¡±
Shannon n?dded and turned to leave.
After Chris was removed from the final surgery, he was left alone in the dormitory.
He didn¡¯t want to worry Jessica by calling her, so he could only curl up under the covers and try to sleep.
By around four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, the surgery had long since ended, and Jake came rushing in, flustered.
¡°Something¡¯s wrong, Chris. The dead man¡¯s family is making a scene. They¡¯re demanding that the hospital hand you over.¡± Jake pulled Chris to his feet.
Chris was groggy, his movements mechanical as he got dressed.
Only when Jake led him outside and he heard the shouting in the hospital lobby did Chris realize how serious the situation was.
Someone quickly recognized him, and the hospital security surrounded Chris to prevent the deceased¡¯s family members from getting close.
¡°It¡¯s all your fault! If it weren¡¯t for you, my husband wouldn¡¯t be dead!¡±
¡°You¡¯re a quack! Do you even have a medical license? You killed someone!¡±
¡°You get your patients killed!¡±
A group of people surrounded Chris, hurling insults.
No matter how calm his mindset had always been, he still felt humiliated in that moment.
Jake stood protectively in front of him, keeping the angry crowd at bay.
Soon, a representative from the hospital stepped forward.
¡°ording to our investigation into Dr. Green, his emergency treatment was correct. The responsibility does not lie with Dr. Green. The patient was still breathing when he was ced in the ambnce. The entire surgery process afterward was recorded on video. We offered to show it to you at the time, but you refused,
¡°We don¡¯t care about that. It¡¯s all lies! You¡¯re all liars!¡±
¡°You¡¯re just protecting that doctor!¡±
The air was thick with shouting and usations.
Chris stood there as if he were some animal in a zoo, being gawked at and judged.
Just then, arge group of people appeared behind him, separating the deceased¡¯s family from the crowd of onlookers.
Chris turned around in confusion.
Jessica stood at the entrance.
She had arrived in a rush.
The ck dress clung to her frame, and a zer was loosely draped over her shoulders.
She had just removed her sunsses.
The first thing she saw was the exhaustion written all over Chris¡¯s face.
¡°Jessica.¡±
Chris hadn¡¯t felt wronged before, but the moment he saw Jessica, His heart skipped a beat.
Saving lives had always been his dream, and he had poured everything into it.
When he rushed to save that man despite his own injury, he never imagined he¡¯d be used like this.
Jessica had already walked up to him and taken his hand.
¡°Howe you¡¯re here?¡± he asked.
¡°I¡¯ve missed you.¡± Jessica didn¡¯t hide a thing as sheced her fingers with his.
She turned to face the deceased¡¯s family.
¡°The police are right outside. Ourwyer is here as well. For your nder and false usations against my husband, I¡¯ve chosen to pursue legal action.¡±
The people who had been shouting the loudest immediately went quiet.
They had thought Jessica was only bluffing.
Wife Back 62
¡°You¡¯re just a woman what do you know? My brother is dead, and it¡¯s all your husband¡¯s fault! What now, you¡¯re refusing to pay, is that it?¡±
They had finally gotten to the real reason.
Jessica raised her hand slightly, and the police andwyers entered immediately.
At the sight of the police, the deceased¡¯s family members were startled.
The deceased¡¯s brother was the first to react. He pointed at Chris and shouted, ¡°Officers, arrest him! He¡¯s the one who killed my brother! Arrest him now!¡±
The officer in charge walked directly up to them.
¡°Regarding the online rumors circting recently, after our investigation, we¡¯ve concluded that they are false usations We have video and surveince footage as evidence. Mr. Green¡¯s emergency procedures were not at fault. The ambnce¡¯s recorder confirms the deceased was still breathing and even thanked Mr. Green. You¡¯ve fabricated stories and caused public disturbances. You¡¯reing with us.¡±
The entire group was taken away.
The legal representative arrived just a moment toote and walked up to Jessica¡¯s side.
Jessica said, ¡°Go after every single person online who incited public opinion¨Cdon¡¯t let any of them off the hook.¡±
¡°Understood.¡±
The troublemakers and the onlookers dispersed, leaving only the hospital staff behind.
They were surprised by Jessica¡¯smanding presence, but once they heard she was Chris¡¯s wife, they said nothing more and left quietly.
However, Jake had been staring in a daze ever since seeing Jessica
He had seen her before at the hospital and naturally recognized her as a major benefactor.
He never expected that Chris was actually Jessica¡¯s husband!
The one that people said Jessica had cheated on!
¡°No way¡ you¡¯re that Wilder family¡¯s son¨Cinw?¡± Jake pointed at Chris, jaw nearly dropping.
With Jessica at his side, Chris felt much more grounded. He smiled and nodded.
Jake bumped his shoulder yfully. ¡°Unbelievable! I told you so many rumors, me dinner!¡±
Since Jessica hade, Chris naturally had to stay with her.
¡°We¡¯ll talk about it when we get back.¡±
and you didn¡¯t even tell me the truth! You owe
Once they got into the car, Jessica reached out and turned Chris¡¯s head to face her as soon as he got into the car.
Back when she saw him from outside the crowd, she had already noticed the wound on the side of his face. But with so many people watching, she had to deal with the situation first.
¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you were injured?¡± Jessica frowned.
The wound was still red, and on Chris¡¯s face, it stood out starkly.
¡°It¡¯s nothing serious:¡± Chris held her hand, trying to distract her. You came all this way just because of such a small matter?¡±
To Jessica, anything involving him was never a small matter.
At some point, something inside her had changed.
She quickly caught herself and began ming him for not telling her.
¡°I knew something was off from your voice that day. Tell me why didn¡¯t you say anything? You were hurt, falsely used, and you kept it from me?¡±
¡°I¡¯m a man. I have my own ways to handle things. Besides, that family just wanted money, and I didn¡¯t have any. If it came down to it, I wouldn¡¯t mind going to court. The hospital knew I did nothing wrong.¡±
Chris spoke with conviction, just as he always did. But by not telling her, it meant he didn¡¯t trust her.
To Jessica, this was something that could have been resolved in a single sentence.
With just a word, the legal team and the police could have cleared his name.
Instead, he had chosen to bear it all on his own.
The Summit Infirmary team wasn¡¯t leaving until the next day, so Jessica also nned to stay the night.
Shannon booked a hotel for her.
After dinner, Chris didn¡¯t get the chance to return to his dorm.
¡°Come on, I should really head back¨CI still need to pack,¡± he said.
But Jessica clung to him tightly, refusing to let go.
¡°I let you go on one business trip and you get yourself injured and dragged into a scandal. Looks like I can¡¯t let you go on business trips anymore.¡±
Chris¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly exined, ¡°It was just an ident!¡±
Wife Back 63
Seeing his panic, Jessica let out a cold snort. ¡°You had an ident and didn¡¯t tell me how can I feel at ease like that?¡±
What she truly wanted was for Chris to tell her everything.
But Chris stubbornly refused to open up.
¡°Jessica, legally speaking, we¡¯re divorced. I can make my own decisions.¡±
In truth, the moment Chris said that, hr regretted it. The atmosphere had been good, and he shouldn¡¯t have brought up the divorce to upset Jessica.
Sure enough, Jessica became angry and suddenly let go of his hand ¡°Are you really trying to provoke me right now?¡±
After a moment of silence, Chris reached out to grab Jessica, but she brushed him off.
He knew Jessica¡¯s temper too well. After repeatedly bringing this up, it was no surprise she felt ufortable.
¡°It was my fault, but it¡¯s still the truth.¡±
Back at the Summit Infirmary, the matter regarding Chris was finally resolved.
Under interrogation, the deceased¡¯s family admitted they were attempting extortion. They were also responsible for spreading the rumors online but hadn¡¯t anticipated the consequences would be so severe.
Chris took two days off.
After upsetting Jessica the day before yesterday, he nned to cook and bring lunch to her office.
That was when he saw the flood of online apologies.
Only then did he learn that everyone who had incited public opinion or insulted him online had been served legal notices with preserved evidence.
Now they were all begging for forgiveness, hoping Chris would be lenient.
It turned out that Jessica had done all of this for him.
Chris felt a pang of regret. He shouldn¡¯t have said such hurtful things to her¨Cespecially not after she hade all that way just to help him, only for him to bring up the divorce and upset her.
The lunch he made was filled with Jessica¡¯s favorite dishes. Hopefully, it would help ease things a little.
After attending two meetings in the morning, Jessica didn¡¯t return to her office until nearly noon.
She hadn¡¯t even had a sip of water when she was informed that Michael had already arrived in the lounge.
¡°What¡¯s he doing here?¡± Jessica became instantly irritated upon hearing Michael¡¯s name.
Shannon reminded her, ¡°You forgot? The Hall family assigned Michael to manage their entertainmentpany. He¡¯s here to discuss the endorsement deal for our jewelry line.¡±
Jessica paused, then sighed and rubbed her forehead. She really had forgotten.
She was genuinely exasperated with Chris.
That night in Tesalfield, they had parted on bad terms. Chris had gone back to his dorm, while Jessica had stayed alone in the hotel, sulking.
After returning, she found out that the person who had hired online trolls and incited public opinion¡ was none other than
Michael.
Shannon had been quick. Before Michael could distance himself from the matter, he had already been exposed.
Jessica close to remain calm and walt,
¡°Got it. I¡¯ll head over now.¡±
When Chris arrived at thepany, the front desk recognized him and sent him straight up to the CEO¡¯s floor via the elevator. Jessica and Michael were still in the lounge discussing business, with Shannon present.
When the front desk called in, Maggie answered the phone.
¡°Sir.¡± Maggie had a sleek bob haircut, a sharp and professional look with tailored cks, heels, and perfectly painted red lips. Chris smiled politely. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m here to bring Jessica her lunch.
Maggie instinctively nced toward the lounge, her gaze quickly flickering away. ¡°Then please wait in the office, sir.¡±
Naturally, the CEO¡¯s office was luxurious and full of natural light.
Chris ced the food on a small table and even brewed tea for Jessica.
Inside the lounge, Michael and Jessica appeared to be having a sentimental conversation, but each had their own hidden agenda.
¡°Only the entry¨Clevel line? Jessica, that¡¯s not a good deal. I thought you¡¯d assign me the luxury line. After all, this is my first project since returning home,¡± Michael said with a pitiful tone, but in truth, he was dissatisfied with Jessica¡¯s arrangement.
Today¡¯s Bonus Offer
Wife Back 64
Chapter 64
Michael was greedy and never satisfied.
Jessica sneered coldly in her heart but kept a calm expression on her face.
¡°Michael, you know the entertainmentpany under the Hall family isn¡¯t top¨Ctier in the industry, while the Wilder Jewelry ranks in the global top five. I¡¯m a businesswoman¨Cgiving you the entry¨Clevel line is already generous. The luxury line was decided long ago.¡±
Seeing Jessica¡¯s displeased expression, Michael quickly said, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I just hope to make more achievements so I can help you in the future. Since that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll follow your arrangement.¡±
Today was only to settle details, not to sign a contract, so Jessica wasn¡¯t in a hurry.
¡°Do you have a meeting at noon? Let me treat you to lunch,¡± Michael asked with a smile.
Jessica didn¡¯t answer. Maggie knocked and came in, first ncing at Michael, then turning to Jessica. ¡°Mr. Green is here. He said he brought lunch for you, Ms. Wilder, and is waiting in the office.¡±
¡®Chris is here!¡® Jessica¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡®Looks like he knows to apologize now.¡®
Jessica was very pleased.
But in front of Michael, she still had to keep up appearances. She frowned and asked impatiently, ¡°Why is he here again?¡±
Michael naturally yed the good guy and hurriedly grabbed Jessica¡¯s arm. ¡°Calm down. Aren¡¯t you guys in a partnership? ying along won¡¯t hurt, we can¡¯t let the shareholders see any problems. You go ahead, I¡¯ll head back now.¡±
With that, Michael picked up hisptop and left.
Jessica didn¡¯t rush back to the office.
¡°How¡¯s the investigation going? Where did the woman who didn¡¯t show up that day go?¡±
From a distance, the moment Michael¡¯s figure disappeared as the elevator doors closed, Jessica¡¯s expression instantly turned
cold.
Originally, she was here to watch the show. She thought that Jordan¡¯s mother would definitely make an appearance, but she didn¡¯t see the woman even after the end of the banquet.
Only after asking Calum did she learn the woman had indeed left the hotel, but no one knew where she went.
Now the person had vanished right under their noses¨Cthey had to find her quickly.
¡°We¡¯re searching,¡± Shannon said softly, fearing to anger Jessica. She probably knew Michael was going to act, so she ran away that day. As long as she¡¯s alive, we¡¯ll find her.¡±
Jessica stood at the door staring toward the office, her fingers twitching slightly. ¡°As soon as possible. The dead are no use to us.¡±
¡°Yes, Ms. Wilder.¡±
¡®ed, so he
While Jessica was away, Chris helped tidy up many things on her desk. Usually, Jessica was busy and didn¡¯t like the cleaning staff to move her things around, documents and pens were scattered everywhere. Chris wasn¡¯t afraid of getting sc took the chance to organize.
One documenty open in the center. Chris picked it up to close it and saw his own name.
It was the report Shannon had investigated about Michael hiring online trolls, clearly stating Michael targeted Chris
deliberately to escte the situation.
He quietly read for a while, then closed it and set it aside.
+25 BONUS
Actually, he wasn¡¯t surprised.
Michael¡¯s hostility toward him was already quite obvious¨Cjust buying online trolls, not going as far as trying to kill him was somewhat merciful.
Chris nced at the time, then took out the food and set it up.
When Jessica came in, she immediately saw his gentle profile and her heart softened. The anger she had held two days ago also faded quite a bit.
But she still walked in with a dark face.
¡°Why are you bringing me lunch?¡± Jessica asked as she sat down.
Chris smiled and handed her the cutlery. ¡°I know you¡¯ve had meetings all day and probably didn¡¯t have time to eat. I¡¯ll have lunch with you and then leave.¡±
Jessica snorted, but her body was honest¨Cshe picked up the cutlery and began to eat.
She had only drunk a cup of coffee that morning in a rush, and after several meetings, her head was a bit dizzy. If she didn¡¯t eat soon, she would probably faint in the afternoon.
Wife Back 65
¡°You¡¯re still angry?¡± Chris asked tentatively.
Jessica lifted her eyelids and looked at him. ¡°Does it matter if I¡¯m angry? I¡¯m a divorced ex¨Cwife, you probably don¡¯t care about my feelings anyway.¡±
Chris was rendered speechless.
This was quite troublesome.
Both of them ate the meal somewhat impatiently.
Chris grabbed the empty lunch box and left thepany. He buckled his seatbelt, but the car window was suddenly tapped on.
He turned his head to look.
It was Michael.
Remembering the document he had just seen, Chris frowned slightly.
¡°Mr. Green.¡± Michael leaned against the car window. ¡°You really are a ghost who never leaves. I thought after you divorced Jessica, you¡¯d be gone. Howe you¡¯re still showing up?¡±
Chris replied, ¡°I¡¯m nothingpared to you. You left five years ago. You can still show up now. I have to say, Jessica is quite a sentimental woman.¡±
¡°I¡¯m different from you,¡± Michael said confidently. ¡°Youe to thepany cooking and delivering food like a woman. I¡¯m here to talk business. I¡¯m the one who really suits Jessica.¡±
So that was it.
Jessica had clearly found out it was Michael who hired the online trolls, yet she still chose to cooperate with him.
Seeing Chris¡¯s face stiffen a bit, Michael was in a good mood.
For a moment, Chris recalled what Roy had said.
¡°You have to trust your lover.¡±
Since Jessica did not choose to reconcile with Michael but struggled with him instead, it meant she had feelings for Chris.
If Michael¡¯s ce in Jessica¡¯s heart was truly that important, she wouldn¡¯t have traveled so far to clear Chris¡¯s name,
He couldn¡¯t feel inferior.
¡°Mr. Hall, I think you¡¯re like a woman,¡± said Chris, tapping his hand on the steering wheel a few times. ¡°If you¡¯re a man and like someone, just openlye and fight for her. Don¡¯t use women¡¯s tricks, doing sneaky things behind other¡¯s backs. Buying online trolls isn¡¯t a skill. If you¡¯re so capable, why don¡¯t youe knock on her door and fight for her?¡±
Michael was stunned for a moment.
¡°You!¡±
Chris retorted, ¡°Want to know how I found out? You can¡¯t have forgotten my rtionship with Roy. When was insulted online, my friend wouldn¡¯t just stand and watch. Everyone receivedwyer¡¯s letters. I think you haven¡¯t received yours yet¨Cshall I send it to you now?¡±
This time, Michael was caught off guard and couldn¡¯t respond.
He stood up straight, gripping the car door tightly. ¡°Don¡¯t think you¡¯ll be arrogant just because Roy is backing you up. Your good days won¡¯tst. As long as I get a firm foothold in the Hall family, Ill be a perfect match for Jessica.¡±
¡°So what?¡± Chris tilted his head and smiled, thinking of Mrs. Wilder.
Mrs. Wilder had disliked Michael from the start and obstructed their rtionship. That wouldn¡¯t change just because five years had passed. Moreover, it was clear that she liked Chris more.
In the end, it still came down to leveraging his mother¨Cinw¡¯s favor.
Chris asked, ¡°Did Mrs. Wilder agree?¡±
Mrs. Wilder was always the difficult obstacle for Michael.
¡°Right now, the Wilder Group is controlled by Jessica. Mrs. Wilder has already retired. If I want to be with Jessica, I don¡¯t need anyone¡¯s approval.¡±
Chris pushed Michael¡¯s hand away and started the car. ¡°Then I wish you sess.¡±
On the way, Chris thought about how long he and Jessica had struggled, yet he had never visited Mrs. Wilder. With so many troubles at the Wilder Group, Mrs. Wilder must be anxious.
He pretended to act with Jessica in public, but deep down¡ his determination to leave Jessica had indeed wavered. Since Jessica didn¡¯t have time to visit her mother, it was fine for him to do it instead.
Taking advantage of a rare day off, Chris bought some supplements and drove straight to the Wilder family¡¯s residence.
Mrs. Wilder truly liked Chris.
Wife Back 66
Chapter 66
After Mrs. Wilder stepped down, she often spent time at home tending to her flowers and nts, or went out to attend various exhibitions.
She basically didn¡¯t involve herself much inpany affairs..
For example, when Jessica¡¯s scandal broke out due to her affair, Mrs. Wilder only asked a few questions.
Quite a few shareholders came to her with gossip andints, But Mrs. Wilder knew her daughter¡¯s temperament very well.
Since Jessica had chosen thfs path, there must be a reason behind
The butler came to open the door and was very surprised to see Chris.
He happily invited him inside.
¡°Mrs. Wilder, look who¡¯s here.¡±
A few days ago, someone had brought Mrs. Wilder a cat.
Jessica was busy with thepany and rarely had time to visit home, so the house felt cold and empty.
They brought a cat aspanionship.
Its eyes were gemstone blue, and it was unusually gentle.
Mrs. Wilder liked it very much and had been holding it often these days.
The butler called out, and Mrs. Wilder came over holding the cat.
¡°Mom.¡± Chris held some supplements in his hands, all things Mrs. Wilder often took.
¡°Oh, Chris, you¡¯re here!¡± Mrs. Wilder was very happy.
She came over, freed one hand, and pulled Chris close.
¡°Why did you have time toe today? Lia, make some tea!¡±
Originally, Chris was supposed to go abroad on the day Michael was stabbed, but when Mrs. Wilder saw the news online that Jessica had brought Chris to thepany, she knew Chris must not have left.
Later, she called Chris twice, once he was in surgery, and the other time he picked up and had a casual conversation.
Lia, the new maid, wasn¡¯t very familiar with Chris yet and made Mrs. Wilder¡¯s favorite Earl Grey tea.
¡°Today¡¯s my day off. Jessica is in a meeting at thepany, so I happened to have time toe see you. Why did you get a cat?¡± Chris casually stroked the cat twice.
The cat obediently rubbed itself against his palm, then wriggled free from Mrs. Wilder¡¯s arms, shook its fur, and ran off.
Mrs. Wilder wore silk clothes, so cat fur didn¡¯t stick much.
She patted herp and smiled. ¡°The house is too empty and lonely. I raise a cat to pass the time when I¡¯m bored. Are you going to have dinner at here tonight?¡±
Thinking about it, recently he and Jessica seemed to be giving each other the silent treatment again.
Even if he went home, he wouldn¡¯t know what to say.
Since that was the case, it was better to eat at his mother¨Cinw¡¯s house.
Mrs. Wilder and Jessica probably had some business to discuss.
With this thought, Chris nodded.
Mrs. Wilder was very pleased and immediately called someone to prepare the ingredients.
She also asked the butler to notify Jessica toe over.
Michael was indeed provoked by Chris¡¯s words.
It was no secret that Mrs. Wilder didn¡¯t like him.
Back then, Mrs. Wilder despised him for all kinds of reasons, and that hadn¡¯t changed.
Thest few times Michael saw Mrs. Wilder, she never gave him a good face.
He thought that bringing Jordan would make the olddy happy, but when they metst time, Mrs. Wilder was indifferent and even disdainful of Jordan¡¯s attempts to please her.
He really didn¡¯t know what Chris had that made Mrs. Wilder like him.
However¡
Michael stood beside his car, looking at the Wilder Group building
As long as Jessica¡¯s heart was still with him, what did it matter whether Mrs. Wilder liked him or not?
Jessica sat in front of herputer, watching thepany entrance surveince.
She saw Michael talking to Chris and saw him angrily curse twice.
¡°Chris is definitely acting tougher than before,¡± Jessica sipped her coffee.
But it was only toward outsiders, he was still as considerate to her as always.
That day at the hotel, Chris had deliberately said something he shouldn¡¯t, causing their mood to shift suddenly.
It was obvious that Chris didn¡¯t actually feel indifferent, and even knew to cook to ease the tension.
Wife Back 67
As long as his heart was with her, that was enough.
¡°Weren¡¯t you curious about what Michael said to Chris?¡± asked Shannon while sitting opposite, binding documents, then looked up at Jessica.
¡°Chris¡¯s temper had gotten worse. He even went through a divorce with you and ran off abroad.¡±
Jessica leaned back in her chair, rare to have a half¨Chour break, but she still had meetings to attendter.
¡°Michael just said some of our past to provoke Chris. There was no way around it, the past was the truth, and Chris knew it too.¡± ¡°Are you really not going to tell Chris about your n? I don¡¯t think he¡¯s that weak. He wouldn¡¯t be scared away.¡±
Jessica thought for a moment and shook her head.
¡°It¡¯s different. I know Chris won¡¯t be afraid, but the business world isplicated. It¡¯s not like his usual surgical system, you can¡¯t just treat it with the right medicine. Each profession has its specialty, so better not let him get a headache over it too.¡±
Seeing Jessica¡¯s insistence, Shannon didn¡¯t say anything else, only sighed.
The Jessica Chris saw now was actually under a lot of pressure.
the Wilder Group was carrying enormous risks, and the case Roy was handling overseas was one of the major issues.
Michael returning to the Hall Group was just the first step.
Next, he would slowly swallow up the Wilder Group.
He wouldn¡¯t seed easily, he had to use his rtionship with Jessica.
¡°Make sure Jennifer keeps a close watch. Recently, whenever Michael goes out, someone must follow him.¡±
Thinking of the missing woman, Jessica frowned again.
¡°A perfectly good person went missing. What use are you all?¡±
Having made a mistake, Shannon didn¡¯t dare say more and quietly went out to arrange things.
During the meeting, the butler called to inform Jessica toe back to the the Wilder family¡¯s residence for dinner.
It was Maggie who answered the call and only passed the message after work. Looking at the time, Jessica decided to buy Mrs. Wilder¡¯s favorite dessert.
¡°By the way, Roy came by this afternoon but didn¡¯t say he wanted to see you.¡±
Shannon knew Roy¡¯s identity and knew Jessica had met him privately before.
At this, Jessica paused, turning to look at her.
She said, ¡°Although he didn¡¯t say he wanted to see you, Maggie said you were going to have a meeting for several hours, and he left right away. I guess he came looking for you.¡±
What did Roy want with her?
Other than that one time in the restaurant, they hadn¡¯t met privately.
At Rose Manor, they only briefly crossed paths.
Jessica¡¯s eyes shifted as a faint answer formed in her mind.
¡°Got it. Let¡¯s get off work.¡±
She didn¡¯t have Roy¡¯s number, so she still had to wait to hear from Chris to get in touch.
On the way, she bought Mrs. Wilder¡¯s favorite dessert and drove home, feeling a little excited.
Before, she had only med Chris for asking her mother for money.
Later she found out those funds were never even used by Chris, he had even returned them before preparing to leave.
Actually, even if Chris had spent the money, she wouldn¡¯t have minded.
Those words had hurt a lot.
Now thinking back, Jessica felt she had been excessive.
She would make it up to Chris properly in the future.
She would never say things like that to hurt the one she loved again.
Near the doorstep, her phone rang.
The central control screen showed Michael¡¯s name.
She mmed the brakes and stopped by the roadside.
¡°Jessica, I cooked your favorite dishes. Want toe eat?¡± Michael¡¯s voice was excited.
Jessica held her forehead, irritated but spoke apologetically.
¡°My mom asked me to go home.¡±
Michael was silent for a moment.
He had been attacked with Mrs. Wilder by Chris that afternoon, and now hearing about Mrs. Wilder, he was pissed.
Wife Back 68
After a pause, Michael on the other end of the phone eximed,,se Then you should go bark and keep herpary. When you have time, I¡¯lle back with you I haven¡¯t properly visited your morn yet. It¡¯s really rude. Last time at home, something happened, I guess your mom must have been scared
Michael deliberately mentioned the incident when Chris injured f
¡°Alright then, I¡¯ve got to go now.¡±
Jessica was eager to see Chris and really didn¡¯t want to deal with Michael
But she was curious what could make Michael so happy.
The entertainment cooperation between the Wilder Group and the Hall Group hadn¡¯t officially signed a contract yet, and Michael hadn¡¯t found a suitable endorser.
Just as she entered the house, Jessica nced at a message from Indya and instantly understood Michael¡¯s excitement.
Michael¡¯s parents¡® disappointment in him was clearly just a front.
Right after Michael talked to her about the cooperation, another top artist from the Hall family¡¯s other entertainmentpany was transferred to Michael¡¯spany.
It was clearly to back Michael up and to forcibly boost his status through the poprity of that artist.
Michael was very dissatisfied with only being able to endorse the Wilder Group¡¯s low¨Cend jewelry line but didn¡¯t dare to reveal too much in front of her.
The implied meaning was that he wanted a higher price.
Indya: [The artist transferred to Michael¡¯spany was Jason William, an A¨Clist male artist whose recent films and TV dramas had been hits.]
His value was indeed exceptional, making him one of the hottest neers in the entertainment industry and the most valuable male artist of the Hall family.
Jessica handed the dessert box she carried to the butler and looked down to reply to the message.
¡°I¡¯m back.¡±
Chris was still wearing the same outfit from earlier in the day, sleeves rolled up, apparently helping in the kitchen.
As usual, Jessica lowered her head to reply to messages and handed clothes to Chris.
This familiar action made Chris¡¯s heart ache, but the next second Jessica leaned over and kissed him.
¡°What made you want toe home for dinner?¡±
Chris¡¯s sadness instantly dissolved.
There was still a difference.
Jessica was no longer cold and distant. Compared to work, she seemed to care about him more.
¡°Mr. Hall said he wanted toe back with you to visit Linda. I thought it¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve been back, so I might as welle early to visit.¡± Chris¡¯s eyes gleamed slyly.
It was the first time he openly mentioned Michael to her, also a way to challenge her.
He was testing her feelings.
Jessica responded with a hum, ¡°He won¡¯t be able toe.¡±
She pulled Chris inside.
My mom never liked him to begin with. So he won¡¯t being for now.¡±
Only when they reached the sofa did she notice a cat lying there.
Jessica didn¡¯t like such creatures much.
Since taking over the Wilder Group, she barely had time to care for herself, had almost lost her husband, let alone take care of a soft, delicate pet requiring careful attention..
¡°Why did you start keeping a cat?¡± Jessica frowned, clearly displeased.
Mrs. Wilder came down from upstairs.
At home, she naturally dressedfortably in silk pajamas, wore no jewelry, but her hair was pinned up.
The usual sharp coldness in her eyes had softened considerably.
¡°You don¡¯te home, and you won¡¯t even allow something to keep mepany?¡± Mrs. Wilder sat directly in the main seat.
¡°The house is so empty and lifeless, not a bit of warmth at all.¡±
Usually, when they returned to the Wilder family¡¯s residence, Mrs. Wilder sat in the main seat, and Jessica and Chris sat opposite each other on either side.
But today, Chris had just sat next to Mrs. Wilder when Jessica smoothly sat beside him and even took half a cup of tea from his hand to drink.
Seeing this scene, and looking at the renewed love shining in Chris¡¯s eyes, Mrs. Wilder couldn¡¯t hide her happiness.
Wife Back 69
It seemed her daughter wasn¡¯t foolish enough to lose someone who truly loved her.
As long as their rtionship eased, she felt relieved.
Her tone softened a little. ¡°I heard from Chris that you¡¯ve been very busy recently, still working on the resort project? Didn¡¯t that settle a long time ago?¡±
Before the main course, Lia brought the soup, small bowls ced in front of the three of them.
Jessica took a sip of the soup to soothe her upset stomach before speaking. ¡°Not just that, the resort project has already started progressing, plus there are other projects. The shareholders were unhappy about my recent scandal, so I have to find some profit for them. They keep bothering me every day.¡±
Mrs. Wilder snorted. ¡°It¡¯s because you went too far.¡±
The atmosphere between mother and daughter had been like this for years, and Chris had gotten used to it, always trying to smooth things over each time.
¡°By the way, Roy came to thepany looking for me today,¡± Jessica lowered her head to drink soup without looking to the
side.
Chris was surprised.
¡°What¡¯s it about?¡±
Jessica shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know. After you left, I was in meetings all day. Maggie said he came to thepany but didn¡¯t say he wanted to see me and left when he didn¡¯t find me. I guess he must have some case that needs my help.¡±
¡°Then call himter, don¡¯t dy important matters,¡± said Chris.
Mentioning Roy made Chris more anxious than anyone.
Mrs. Wilder wasn¡¯t very familiar with this ¡°Roy¡± they mentioned and guessed he was probably Chris¡¯s friend.
Roy indeed had a tricky case andcked enough professionals on hand.
He wanted to borrow Jennifer¡¯s help since such a top hacker¡¯s time wasn¡¯t often avable.
After dinner, they didn¡¯t hurry to leave.
Since there was a room at home, they nned to stay for a day.
Jessica and Mrs. Wilder went into the study to discuss work.
Chris took a shower and sat in the living room watching TV, asionally checking messages in the hospital group chat.
Most were gossip shared by the nurses, and he quickly scrolled through and closed it.
Lia brought a ss of milk over.
¡°Sir, here¡¯s some milk.¡±
That afternoon, the butler had instructed Lia that Chris and Jessica were husband and wife, though currently divorced, but with the possibility of remarriage.
He had to be treated with respect.
Chris smiled at Lia. ¡°Thank you.¡±
Lia blushed and quickly turned to leave.
In the study, Mrs. Wilder asked Jessica what their current situation was.
¡°If you really like Chris, then don¡¯t let Michael appear again. The previous troubles were all caused by Michael. I absolutely won¡¯t let a person like him set foot in the Wilder family.¡± Mrs. Wilder still held the dominant position with strong momentum Jessica leaned back in the soft chair, closed her eyes, and gave a nonmittal hum.
¡°I heard you want to cooperate with the Hall family, and the shareholders liaveined to me, saying you¡¯re abusing your power for personal gain.¡±
Hearing this, Jessica opened her eyes and looked at her mother with amusement.
Sure enough, Mrs. Wilder¡¯s next sentence was, ¡°I know you won¡® Your feelings for Michael won¡¯t interfere with business. Even if you give Michael money for a car or house, you won¡¯t usepany affairs to help him.¡±
¡°Ah, a mother that really understands me.¡± Jessica leaned forward resting her elbows on the table and her chin in her hand.¡± These shareholders just like telling you gossip. They¡¯re acting like women.¡±
The woman in front of her tapped the table.
¡°So, you¡¯re not really still fond of Michael, are you? I told you years ago, Michael¡¯s not a decent person. You didn¡¯t believe me, went around in such a big circle, and dragged Chris into this misery with you.¡±
Wife Back 70
Jessica didn¡¯t like hearing that and frowned.
¡°What do you mean by ¡®misery¡®?¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡±
Thinking of the mental pressure Chris might have endured before and everything Michael did to him after returning, Jessica swallowed the words she wanted to say but still weakly replied, ¡± be good to him.¡±
¡°Do as you see fit.¡±
That night at the Wilder family¡¯s residence, the two of them had behaved themselves and didn¡¯t do much.
Chris felt their rtionship was strange, recently, their intimate contact was more frequent than all the yearsbined before their divorce.
And almost all of it was Jessica taking the initiative.
Before, Jessica would often say she was tired, working overtime every day at thepany, and basically slept separately when she came home.
Sharing a bed with Jessica and even actively talking about funny things at work, was something Chris wouldn¡¯t have dared to imagine.
Roy couldn¡¯t contact Jessica through Chris, so he had toe to thepany again and again.
The second time, Roy finally met Jessica.
¡°Roy, you can just call me directly.¡± Jessica was polite, asking Shannon to make coffee. ¡°If you check, you¡¯d find my contact info easily.¡±
Roy coughed. ¡°It¡¯s not very appropriate. I¡¯m looking for your help, so I should be more formal. I don¡¯t want Chris to know about this either. You think so too, right?¡±
Jessica nodded, ¡°Of course.¡±
Since that was the case, he could onlye in person.
Shannon knocked and brought coffee in. Just as she was about to leave, Jessica called her back,
¡°Contact Jennifer and tell her that Captain Felton asked for her help and when Captain Felton asks, she can¡¯t refuse,¡±
¡°Okay.¡±
Roy felt uneasy. Jennifer was truly talented but had a strange temper.
He really didn¡¯t understand how Jessica managed to recruit such a person and even had the power to control her.
¡°If Roy has any matters in the future, just call me directly. Thepany will be busy near the end of the year.¡± Shannon returned but stayed at the door without entering
¡°Ms. Wilder, Jennifer is ready and avable anytime. Mr. Hall came and is waiting with Jason in the lounge.¡±
Hearing Michael¡¯s name, Jessica instinctively nced at Roy.
Sure enough, Roy frowned and looked more scrutinizing.
In front of Shannon, Roy didn¡¯t say anything.
¡°Got it.¡±
The office door closed again, and Roy¡¯s tone remained unpleasant,
¡°You and Michael¡¡±
¡°It¡¯s just a work rtionship,¡± exined Jessica, which was rare for her to do so.
Just kidding, Roy was close with Chris and yed a big role in his reconciliation.
Besides, she would meet Roy often in the future, and she didn¡¯t want Michael to make Pory unthayyy
She knew clearly which side mattered more.
Roy¡¯s brow didn¡¯t rx, obviously still worried about his useless younger brother.
Roy had already told Chris a lot and didn¡¯t know if he¡¯d listen.
425 80A8/S
¡°You know Chris¡¯s temperament. You¡¯re already divorced. If you back down, Chris will walk away in an instant. I won¡¯t speak well of you then.¡±
Jessica smiled with relief. ¡°That won¡¯t happen. I still need your help. After all, what I¡¯m doing aligns with what you want to pursue. If I can help you, I hope you can also help me in my love life¡±
Roy was rendered speechless. This woman really left no gaps.
He couldn¡¯t argue with a businessperson and left quietly.
Passing by the lounge on the same floor, the door was open.
From the corners of his eyes, he saw a man sitting next to Michael who looked quite handsome.
It should be the artist Shannon mentioned, though Roy didn¡¯t watch TV and knew little about the entertainment circle.
Wife Back 71
Chapter 71
The Pelton family held considerable influence in the entertainment industry.
Their subsidiary, Neb Entertainment, was one of the toppables in the field.
Nina probably knew more about it.
Taking advantage of the elevator door not yet closing, Roy secretly took a photo and sent it to Nina.
Nina was puzzled.
Roy. [Who is this?]
Nina looked carefully at the photo for a long time, finally recognizing some features from the blurry image.
Nina. (It seems to be Jason, an artist under the Hall family. He¡¯s currentlypeting with Adam Jones. Why, did you poach him? I don¡¯t want him!]
Roy. (The hell I did¡]
From across the ocean at a meeting, Nina looked at those words and didn¡¯t immediately understand what her brother meant. Chris¡¯s work at the hospital was going more smoothly.
He thought that even if he couldn¡¯t study abroad, living like this was still good.
But learning never ended, and he knew he still had shorings.
As a doctor, there could be no mistakes, not even the slightest one.
To improve further, studying abroad was imperative.
Jake frequently came into his room to rest.
¡°Hey, tell me, why is that man¨Cchild looking for your wife again??
During lunch, Jessica didn¡¯t reply to messages, probably at a lunch meeting.
Chris didn¡¯t dare call and just ate something casually with Jake at the hospital cafeteria.
Jake held her phone up to his face,
¡°How can this person be so persistent? Is being a man¨Cchild homewrecker that enjoyable?¡±
Calling him a ¡°homewrecker¡± was really blunt.
After returning from Tesalfield, Jake had been pestering Chris to tell him the whole story about him and Jessica, down to every detail, even that they were already divorced and that Michael was the first love returning from abroad..
So the ¡°homewrecker¡± Jake referred to could only be Michael.
¡°How am I supposed to look at this?¡± Chris smiled, gently gripping Jake¡¯s wrist and pulling him back.
Entertainment news headlines appeared.
Jessica and Michael were leaving the Wilder Group building together, chatting andughing as they got into a car.
Judging by the time, they were probably having lunch together.
No wonder she hadn¡¯t replied, she was with Michael.
Chris picked up his phone and looked again, but still no reply.
In front of her first love, she certainly couldn¡¯t reply to her ex¨Chusband¡¯s messages.
That day when Mrs. Wilder came to rescue her hero, those worried eyes really didn¡¯t look like she was indifferent.¡± Jake chewed on cabbage, his mouth full, eyes fixed on the phone screen
¡°If she has feelings for you, then the rtionship with Michael mest be just a fling!¡±
Chris said, ¡°It¡¯s not that simple. Michael is the first love, after all.
¡°So what?¡± shouted Jake, then was pulled by Chris and lowered her voice,
¡°Everyone¡¯s been blind at some point! Look at them standing shoulder to shoulder but still with a big gap between them. Clearly, Ms. Wilder doesn¡¯t want physical contact with him!¡±
Was that really the case?
Chris opened the photo and looked.
Indeed, there was quite a distance.
Thinking of Jessica¡¯s recent nightly initiatives and intimacy, Chris¡¯s face actually flushed red. It was rare for a man react in such
a way.
¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Jake noticed Chris¡¯s odd expression.
¡°What¡¯s that face for?¡±
Chris pushed the phone back.
¡°Hurry and eat. Jonathan is taking you to surgery this afternoon, so save some time to review the surgery n.¡±
While the two were chatting, their phones pinged several times simultaneously.
At the same time, the hospital broadcast also sounded.
Chapter 72
Wife Back 72
Chapter 72
The emergency broadcast sounded.
Chris and Jake exchanged a nce, then both put down their cutlery and rushed toward the operating room.
They hadn¡¯t expected the emergency to be a child.
But why did the child look somewhat familiar?
Getting closer, they saw the child covered in blood on the legs and unconscious¨Cwasn¡¯t this Jordan?
It turned out to be Michael¡¯s daughter.
But the woman who had just brought the child was someone else!
¡°Car ident! Quickly get the scans!¡± A group of people hurriedly pushed the child to the imaging room for scans, while others located the wound from the child¡¯s bleeding spot.
The woman who had brought the child stood nervously at the door
A nurse came out and asked, ¡°Does the child have any allergies?¡±
The woman looked panicked, ncing around as if hiding from someone.
Hearing the nurse¡¯s question, she hesitated, then shook her head and said, ¡°No. She¡¯s lived abroad since birth and only came back this year. No allergy history.¡±
The nurse carefully recorded the information, then asked again, ¡°Any drug allergies?¡±
This time the woman seemed genuinely unsure.
The nurse grew anxious, ¡°We¡¯ve already found the bleeding site and need to operate quickly. If we don¡¯t know drug allergies, we¡¯ll have to do skin tests one by one, which will waste a lot of time. Does the Hall family know?¡±
Seeing the woman stammering and unable to answer, the nurse became suspicious, ¡°What is your rtion to the child?¡±
This time the woman raised her voice, ¡°I¡¯m her mother, her biological mother.¡±
¡°A biological mother wouldn¡¯t be unaware of her child¡¯s drug allergies. Are there other family members? If you can¡¯t answer, I¡¯ll call the police!¡± The nurse threatened to take out her phone to call.
Chris, standing in the adjacent observation room, saw this scene.
This was Jordan¡¯s biological mother.
Since Michael brought the child back, they had never mentioned this woman.
Jordan had always wanted Jessica to be her mother, almost as if she had forgotten her real mother.
After giving it some thought, Chris called Jessica.
After all, this involved Michael, and since he and Michael were at odds, it had nothing to do with the child.
¡°Jessica,¡± said Chris as he connected the call, his gaze still fixed on the woman.
He felt the woman was somewhat guilty, though he didn¡¯t know why.
¡°What¡¯s up? Missed me?¡± Jessica was in a good mood.
The most difficult project had progressed smoothly, and she could free up a lot of time to be with Chris.
She even nned to go away for a couple of days, and maybe when she returned, they could remarry.
*25 BORUS
But what Chris said next made jessica¡¯s expression grow serious, and her smile story faded.
¡°You¡¯re saying that Jordan was taken by a woman? What does the bok like?¡±
The woman was looked like she was mixed¨Crace, and spoke good Cherian, tad didn¡¯t seem to know much about her daughter
¡°Walt for me. I¡¯ming now.¡±
After hanging up, Chrisughed at his own saintly impulse.
Clearly, this woman was a rival, yet he still called his ex¨Cwife to inform her.
Jessica sounded anxious and didn¡¯t wait for him to say the child was fine before hurriedly hanging up.
She really cared.
He was a little curious if he and Jessica had a child, would she be like this too?
But before marriage, Jessica had said they were only in a contractual marriage and would not have children.
To preserve Jessica¡¯s reputation, Chris had to say it was his unwillingness to have children.
In the end, many people guessed Chris had health issues and couldn¡¯t father children.
Jessica handed the phone to Shannon, who quickly went to the hospital.
¡°How did Jordan end up in Helen¡¯s hands?¡±
Jordan¡¯s mother¡¯s real name was Helen Jills,
After the Hall family immigrated abroad, she seemed to have changed her name as well
Chapter 73
Wife Back 73
Chapter 73
¡°I don¡¯t know. Where was Jennifer? Jordan wasn¡¯t at home and she didn¡¯t notify you?¡± asked Jessica.
The two of them hurriedly rushed out without even having time to call the driver.
Shannon drove, and Jessica sat in the back.
She took out her phone and nced at it.
Shannon said, ¡°I was training the new staff earlier and didn¡¯t check my phone. Jennifer said that about two hours ago, Jordan was picked up by a woman: Jordan said she knew her.¡°.
¡°She¡¯s a nanny, did she not inform Michael?¡±
¡°She did. Michael said it was fine.¡±
It seemed Helen still had contact with Michael.
Since she didn¡¯t appear at Jordan¡¯s birthday party, it was probably because they hade to some agreement.
Jessica said, ¡°This time we definitely have to catch this woman. Roy needs her too.¡±
The Aitairy case was also connected to the Jills family, and the Jills family was the source.
Roy hadn¡¯t caught anyone abroad and suspected that someone had helped them escape back to the country, which was why he returned.
¡°Back then, your car ident was no coincidence. Aitairy was at its peak then, and Mrs. Wilder was in their way, so they wanted to kill you to threaten her. But unexpectedly, Mr. Green appeared and saved you. Michael was sent abroad at the same time.¡±
That was right.
Jessica only discovered this huge mystery left by her mother after taking over the Wilder Group.
For years, a mysterious force had been obstructing the Wilder family¡¯s development.
At first, Jessica didn¡¯t suspect the Hall family, but she kept running into members of the Hall family and gradually felt
something was wrong.
Moreover, Aitairy had already been declining abroad.
The Jills family married into the Hall family to save Aitairy.
Then the Hall family merged the Aitairy branchpany, and Roy wiped them all out.
Jessica had long suspected the car ident was no ident.
She was always very careful when driving.
Even if they had run away to elope, they would never have caused such a big stir.
¡°Find Helen, and everything will be clear.¡±
Shannon nced at Jessica through the rearview mirror and hesitated before saying, ¡°Actually, you¡¯re upset because of Mr. Green, aren¡¯t you?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve always been indifferent to Chris over the years because I was afraid that the mastermind would not my concern for him and try to reach out to Chris. Butst year¡¡±
Last year, Chris had an incident.
Chris stayed at home every day but was still set up.
At that time, Chris was making sp for Jessica and urin
When Jessica and others rushed back home, they found hirm coo
The kitchen gas was still on, and the entire house was filled with Orton monen
Chris had fallen into aa, but they couldn¡¯t break down the doct, even a spark cold case an explosion,
Back then, Jessica was abroad and was supposed to return the next day ording to her original schedule
But she wanted to surprise Chris and changed her flight.
When she couldn¡¯t contact Chris afternding, she sensed something was wrong and used a code to open the door and rescued
him.
If she hadn¡¯te back, she would have returned the next day to find Chris dead
Someone reaching out to Chris was something Jessica couldn¡¯t tolerate.
She could eptpetition in business and had even sabotaged others¡® projects openly and secretly.
But she never used lives as threats.
If someone had gone over the line she naturally fought back.
Since then, Jessica had be increasingly cold toward Chris.
If Chris was smart and careful enough, he would understand the key point.
Shannon said, ¡°Later, they found sedative ingredients in Mr. Green¡¯s tea. At that time, your rtionship with him was good, and he didn¡¯t need to take any medicine.¡±
X
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Chapter 74
It had been long time, but Jessica still felt a lingering fear.
If she hadn¡¯t changed her flight, would Chris already be dead?
If someone had broken by force, she might not have even seen Chris¡¯s body.
Later, she asked Chris if he had taken sleeping pills, but Chris sald be rarely took medicine.
There was only one bottle of sleeping pills at home, and it belonged to Jessica, he had never touched it.
So someone had tampered with Chris¡¯s tea and drugged him before he returned home.
This person knew the password to the house.
After thinking it over, the only person who knew the password beskles her mother and Shannon was¡ Michael!
Back then, Jessica didn¡¯t suspect Michael so much and found it hard to believe.
As the investigation progressed, Michael¡¯s life abroad was quite interesting and not as miserable as he imed.
After marrying Helen, Michael basically took over all of Helen¡¯s business dealings.
He was actually the owner of Aitairy.
Wanting to take a life was no problem
at all.
¡°Don¡¯t worry. Michael is right by your side now. It won¡¯t be easy for him to harm Mr. Green. Plus, since you and Mr. Green are divorced, he basically isn¡¯t in Michael¡¯s way. He probably won¡¯t try anything anymore,¡± Shannon said.
Jessica massaged her temples and sighed. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. I don¡¯t allow Chris to leave my side. Michael might still see him as a threat, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t have tried to frame Chris by stabbing himself. Only Sophie, that little fool, didn¡¯t realize it. By the way, how¡¯s Sophie doing abroad?¡±
¡°The people at the branch said she¡¯s either been obediently attending sses, or going out shopping with ssmates. ording to your orders, we haven¡¯t stopped giving her money.¡±
After all, Sophie was her younger sister, Jessica couldn¡¯t be too harsh.
¡°Be careful. Don¡¯t let her have any more contact with Michael. I could tell back then that Sophie had some feelings for Michael too¡ I just didn¡¯t expect she¡¯d still haven¡¯t forgotten after all these years.¡±
At the hospital, Jessica looked very anxious as she hurried to the operating room door.
The head nurse saw the investor and quickly came over to exin Jordan¡¯s condition.
The injuries weren¡¯t severe, but the child was too young and needed time to recover.
The surgery was still underway and would take another half an hour.
¡°Who brought Jordan here?¡± asked Jessica.
Seeing her attitude, the head nurse thought she hade to catch someone cheating.
She pointed to the anxious woman waiting by the operating room door.
¡°That¡¯s her. She looks like a foreigner. She said she¡¯s the child¡¯s biological mother, but she couldn¡¯t answer any questions. We were about to call the police.¡±
Jessica raised her hand to stop her.
She looked carefully for a while and confirmed it was the woman in the photo.
¡°She is Jordan¡¯s biological mother. The reason she can¡¯t exin that she hasn¡¯t been with the child these past years. You can go now.
¡®Okay.¡±
Jessica whispered a few words to Shannon, who then walked toward the observation room, while Jessica stayed beside the
woman.
Helen sensed someone nearby and looked up.
Seeing Jessica, a trace of disgust appeared in her eyes.
Then she turned her head away, pretending not to recognize her.
¡°Helen, you know me, right?¡± said Jessica.
¡°Who are you?¡± asked Helen. ¡°I don¡¯t know you.¡±
Jessica smiled calmly and sat down beside her.
¡°Helen, former chairman of the Giga Group, gone bankrupt two years ago, Michael¡¯s ex¨Cwife, Jordan¡¯s biological mother, and Aitairy¡¯s¡¡±
¡°What do you want!¡±
The mention of Aitairy suddenly made Helen alert.
Jessica shushed her and pointed at a few people in the distance who were getting treatment but kept watching them.
She faintly smiled, as if she had this womanpletely under control.
Wife Back 75
¡°Lower your voice,¡± said Jessica, looking into the distance without even ncing at Helen. ¡°After you returned to the country, you hid all over the ce, staying at the Cloud Hotel, thinking no one knew?¡±
¡°What exactly do you want¡¡± Helen gritted her teeth. ¡°I have already divorced Michael. Now the Giga Group belongs to Michael. If you have any issues, go to him. I only wanted toe back to see my daughter. Why are you clinging to me so tightly?¡±
¡°Were you really just here to see your daughter?¡± Jessica looked toward the operating room where the light was still on, speaking earnestly. ¡°Or did youe back to get Michael to take care of you? You hold evidence against Michael, don¡¯t you?¡±
These words frightened Helen, and for a moment, she didn¡¯t know how to respond.
Jessica feigned exaggeration and smiled at her.
¡°Otherwise, why did your parents die after your family went bankrupt, and only you survived? Because you ran away, taking Michael¡¯s evidence with you. Helen, you are much smarter than your parents.¡±
News of her parents¡® deaths had never been reported back home, otherwise, Michael marrying that girl and causing a family¡¯s ruin would have tarnished his reputation.
The Jessica in front of her was the person Michael had been thinking about for five years since his marriage¨Cnot just her, but also the Wilder family.
Helen had thought Jessica would be the next version of herself, but now it seemed this woman was no pushover.
Inside the observation room, Shannon easily found Chris.
He was not a pediatrician, and he did not need to perform this kind of surgery.
He only stayed a bit longer because the patient inside was Jordan.
¡°Mrs. Green,¡± Shannon¡¯s voice came from behind.
Chris was momentarily stunned, then turned around to see Shannon standing behind the chair, businesslike, with her hands crossed in front of her.
Chris stood up and took Shannon to the changing room.
¡°Why are you here as well?¡± asked Chris.
Shannon said, ¡°Ms. Wilder wants me to tell you that you shouldn¡¯t go out yet. That woman outside is best avoided.¡±
Chris sighed, uninterested in getting involved.
¡°I know. Since she ims to be Jordan¡¯s biological mother, then she must be Michael¡¯s ex¨Cwife. It has nothing to do with me.¡±
Seeing Chris misunderstanding again, Shannon couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Ms. Wilder is protecting you!¡±
For five years of marriage, except for the first year when Jessica was indifferent, Chris was almost constantly under her protection.
Not letting Chris go to work was also to prevent anyone from sabotaging him through his job.
Thest incident with the victim¡¯s family was an example.
Chris frowned. ¡°Protecting me?¡±
Shannon realized she had said too much, cleared her throat, but still stood straight and said, ¡°Anyone connected to Mr. Hall is best avoided by you, sir. Ms. Wilder won¡¯t even be going home for dinner today.¡±
¡°I understand.¡±
Chapter 75
¡°Lower your voice,¡± said Jessica, looking into the distance without even ncing at Helen. ¡°After you returned to the country, you hid all over the ce, staying at the Cloud Hotel, thinking no one knew?¡±
¡°What exactly do you want¡¡± Helen gritted her teeth. ¡°I have already divorced Michael. Now the Giga Group belongs to Michael. If you have any issues, go to him. I only wanted toe back to see my daughter. Why are you clinging to me so tightly?¡±
¡°Were you really just here to see your daughter?¡± Jessica looked toward the operating room where the light was still on, speaking earnestly. ¡°Or did youe back to get Michael to take care of you? You hold evidence against Michael, don¡¯t you?¡±
These words frightened Helen, and for a moment, she didn¡¯t know how to respond.
Jessica feigned exaggeration and smiled at her.
¡°Otherwise, why did your parents die after your family went bankrupt, and only you survived? Because you ran away, taking Michael¡¯s evidence with you. Helen, you are much smarter than your parents.¡±
News of her parents¡® deaths had never been reported back home, otherwise, Michael marrying that girl and causing a family¡¯s ruin would have tarnished his reputation.
The Jessica in front of her was the person Michael had been thinking about for five years since his marriage¨Cnot just her, but also the Wilder family.
Helen had thought Jessica would be the next version of herself, but now it seemed this woman was no pushover.
Inside the observation room, Shannon easily found Chris.
He was not a pediatrician, and he did not need to perform this kind of surgery.
He only stayed a bit longer because the patient inside was Jordan.
¡°Mrs. Green,¡± Shannon¡¯s voice came from behind.
Chris was momentarily stunned, then turned around to see Shannen standing behind the chair, businesslike, with her hands crossed in front of her.
Chris stood up and took Shannon to the changing room.
¡°Why are you here as well?¡± asked Chris.
Shannon said, ¡°Ms. Wilder wants me to tell you that you shouldn¡¯t go out yet. That woman outside is best avoided.¡±
Chris sighed, uninterested in getting involved.
¡°I know. Since she ims to be Jordan¡¯s biological mother, then she must be Michael¡¯s ex¨Cwife. It has nothing to do with me.¡±
Seeing Chris misunderstanding again, Shannon couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Ms. Wilder is protecting you!¡±
For five years of marriage, except for the first year when Jessica was indifferent, Chris was almost constantly under her protection.
Not letting Chris go to work was also to prevent anyone from sabotaging him through his job.
Thest incident with the victim¡¯s family was an example.
Chris frowned. ¡°Protecting me?¡±
Shannon realized she had said too much, cleared her throat, but still stood straight and said, ¡°Anyone connected to Mr. Hall is best avoided by you, sir. Ms. Wilder won¡¯t even be going home for dinner today.¡±
¡°I understand.¡±
Chapter 75
After saying this, Shannon checked on Jordan¡¯s condition, gave Chris a profound look, and left the observation room.
The changing room was left with only him.
He sat on a chair, lost in thought.
He didn¡¯t understand the business world and didn¡¯t know what Jessica¡¯s coldness toward him meant as protection.
He only knew that Jessica¡¯s rtionship with Michael wasn¡¯t as simple as it seemed.
He had always been trapped in his own imagination, unable to break free, and only recently had started to wake up.
If Jessica didn¡¯t love Michael so much, then everything she did must have a reason.
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Chapter 76
He couldn¡¯t figure out the reason for now, so Chris didn¡¯t make things harder for himself.
It wasn¡¯t yet the time to talk to him, so he decided not to ask.
Jordan¡¯s surgery finished quickly.
The doctor came out and said the operation went well, but she needed to stay in the hospital for observation and rest for a few
days.
¡°After the child wakes up, she will feel pain and might cry, but you need to control it. If she is in pain, painkillers can be given, but constant crying is not good for the wound. Please have the Hall family watch her closely.¡±
The old surgeon didn¡¯t know who the investor was and didn¡¯t recognize Jessica, so he said a few words and left.
However, a nurse who saw Jessica looked like she was watching a spectacle.
¡°Shannon, please arrange for a caregiver to look after Jordan and transfer her to a single room,¡± Jessica ordered.
¡°Yes, Ms..Wilder.¡±
At that time, Jordan was still sleeping, so some things couldn¡¯t be said in front of the child.
Before Michael arrived, Jessica and Helen sat for a while in the cafe
¡°What do you want to know?¡± Helen asked straightforwardly.
Jessica took a sip of lemonade and looked out the window at the anxious family membersing and going.
Suddenly, she remembered the day Chris was trapped at home and she rushed back to take him to the hospital, anxiously praying outside the operating room that he would be okay.
The mastermind behind all this probably wasn¡¯t the woman in front of her.
Helen wouldn¡¯t be so heartless.
Otherwise, Michael wouldn¡¯t have gotten everything he had now.
¡°I just want to protect your safety,¡± Jessica said to Helen, who cocked her brows in disbelief.
¡°You protect me? Don¡¯t be ridiculous. Weren¡¯t you Michael¡¯s first love? Over all these years, Michael never stopped thinking about you, even having a child couldn¡¯t hold him back. If you two are meant to be, what does that have to do with me?¡±
Here came another ¡°Chris.¡±
All were poor souls kept in the dark.
¡°You¡¯re not safe by Michael¡¯s side. He fears your evidence now and agrees to your demands. But as long as Michael stands firm
in Cheria, the evidence you hold will be your death warrant. Helen, I advise you to work with me.¡±
Roy invited Chris out for dinner, and Nina, who had just returned, came along.
Knowing Jessica wouldn¡¯t be home tonight, Chris agreed.
¡°Chris,¡± Nina came over and hugged Chris.
¡°Haven¡¯t seen you in ages! You look much more energetic than before. Roy said you¡¯ve been downtely.¡±
Roy hits his sister¡¯s head hard, and Nina yelped, covering her head as she went aside.
Tonight¡¯s dinner was Lakesouth cuisine, Roy¡¯s favorite.
Chris wasn¡¯t picky.
¡°What¡¯s going on today?¡± Roy observed Chris, clearly sensing something was on his mind.
Chris hesitated a few seconds before saying that Jordan was brought to the hospital by fielen.
Roy suddenly straightened up.
¡°Are you saying¡ Michael¡¯s ex¨Cwife?¡±
¡°Probably. I haven¡¯t met her, only know she¡¯s mix¨Crace. I saw the surgery form, the name signed was Helen.¡±
Roy narrowed his eyes, his tone turning dangerous.
¡°Helen really came back to the country? I¡¯m currently after her. Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?¡±
Chris felt helpless.
¡°How would I know who you¡¯re after? But Jessica saw her and said she wouldn¡¯t being home tonight. Are you and Jessica¡ on the same side?¡±
¡°Something like that,¡± said Roy, taking a sip of tea.
He still had to work overtime tonight and couldn¡¯t drink.
¡°Someone is plotting against the Wilder family, and the mastermind is the murderer I¡¯ve been tracking for years. We share amon goal.¡°.
Chapter 77
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Chapter 77
So that was it.
Over the years, Jessica had devoted herself wholeheartedly to the Wilder family, and no shareholder could do anything to her. No one expected that even though Jessica appeared so glorious, there were still people willing to make a move against her. Chris said, ¡°You were one step toote. The person is in Jessica¡¯s hands now. You probably won¡¯t find her.¡±
There was even a hint of a sneer in his voice.
Roy red at him, ¡°Who¡¯s side are you on?¡±
¡°I¡¯m in the middle,¡± replied Chris.
Nina hurried to add, ¡°Chris, I heard that after Michael came back to the country, you and Jessica often argued and even talked about divorce. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessary. Michael¡ won¡¯tst long. The Hall family is also one of my brother¡¯s investigation targets.¡±
They didn¡¯t mean to say too much, just to reassure Chris.
Seeing how cautiously the siblings were trying tofort him, he smiled.
¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not that fragile now. Besides, we are already divorced. I haven¡¯t left yet because I¡¯m unwilling. Someone I like so much was just easily taken away from me.¡±
¡°Really divorced?¡± Nina was surprised.
Chris nodded.
¡°Just divorced, not separated. Our rtionship¡ is a bitplicated.¡±
Nobody knew when Helen had left.
When Michael arrived at the hospital, only Jessica was there.
Michael first looked anxiously at his daughter who was still unconscious in bed.
¡°What exactly happened? Didn¡¯t H¡ my friend take Jordan? How did they end up being a car ident?¡±
Michael looked at Jessica cautiously.
¡°Did you see my friend?¡±
Jessica frowned and pulled Michael to a small lounge outside to talk.
¡°No, I came and signed the papers. The nurse was quite anxious, said someone dropped the child off at the hospital and ran away, they even thought the person was the perpetrator. They wanted to ask if we should call the police when you arrived.¡±
¡°No!¡± Michael¡¯s tone was urgent and panicked as he stopped her.
Seeing Jessica didn¡¯t understand, he exined, ¡°It really was my friend. I was busy today, so I asked her to look after Jordan. I didn¡¯t expect a car ident. It¡¯s not her fault. No need to call the police.¡±
After a while, seeing Jessica still worried, Michael asked again, ¡°You really didn¡¯t see anyone?¡±
¡°No, why?¡±
¡°Nothing, nothing.¡±
Michael still wasn¡¯t convinced.
While stepping out to ask the doctor about the injuries, he grabbed a few nurses to question.
$
But all, following Jessica¡¯s instructions, said they hadn¡¯t seen anyone and that only jessica had signed the papers
Even the surgery form had a supplemental sheet added afterward with Jessica¡¯s name on it.
It seemed Jessica hadn¡¯t seen Helen.
Michael stood in the fire escape corridor, a cigarette pinched between his fingers.
The Hall family¡¯s situation wasn¡¯t stable yet.
He couldn¡¯t do anything to Helen, but he absolutely couldn¡¯t let Helen appear in front of Jessica, or else that evidence would surely end up in Jessica¡¯s hands..
He wasn¡¯t a fool, he could see Jessica¡¯s changed attitude toward him.
After five years, even if Jessica still had feelings for him, they were mixed with interests.
That was why Jessica never agreed to give him the endorsement contract for the high¨Cend jewelry.
Mrs. Wilder also interfered behind the scenes.
After finishing the cigarette, Michael stood in the fire escape for a long time to let the smoke clear.
Only after he was sure no smoke lingered did he start walking back
He stood by the hospital room door, one hand gripping the handle, silent for a long time before finally making up his mind.
Even if he couldn¡¯t marry Jessica, at least he had to get the Wilder Group¡¯s help.
It seemed he had to get rid of Mrs. Wilder.
He pushed open the door, changed his expression to one of concern, and walked toward the bedside.
Chapter 78
Wife Back 78
He pretended to be busy, but Jessica wasn¡¯t idle.
First, she gave instructions to the nurse on how to take care of the child, then mentioned several things to watch out for regarding the baby.
Michael heard all of this as soon as he came in.
¡°Jessica, I really owe you. The nurse said if you hadn¡¯te in time to sign for the child, things might have been dangerous.¡±
Michael looked at Jessica with a fragile, helpless look on his face.
¡°Sorry for bothering you. I¡¯m here now, so you can head home for now.¡±
After Jessica finished speaking to the nurse, she turned to look at Michael.
¡°It¡¯s nothing. If something happened to the child, I wouldn¡¯t just stand by. Don¡¯t worry.¡±
Before they knew it, it was the evening.
Michael saw Jessica out and noticed a familiar figure nearby with his peripheral vision.
Actually, he wanted Jessica to stay a little longer.
Jordan was still asleep, and as soon as Jordan woke up and started crying, Jessica would definitely choose to stay with the child
But since that person hade, he absolutely couldn¡¯t let Jessica see her.
¡°Be careful on your way back. If you¡¯re busy tomorrow, you don¡¯t have toe visit Jordan. Work is the most important.¡±
¡°What are you talking about? You and the child are the most important,¡± replied Jessica before getting into the car.
Shannon had long gone back to thepany to handle things, leaving her alone at the hospital.
Recently, the shareholders were unhappy with her frequent absences from thepany.
If they found out she came out again because of Michael¡¯s child, they would definitely cause trouble.
Fortunately, several projects had already started progressing, so those old¨Cfashioned people had no time to watch her closely.
Money was more important to them than her.
The car stopped at a corner, and Jessica leaned forward, almost lying over the steering wheel.
Sure enough, she saw that Michael hadn¡¯t gone back.
The hospital entrance was blocked by a lot of greenery.
From behind the tall and lush nts, a woman appeared.
It was Helen, still wearing the same clothes as in the morning, probably hadn¡¯t left at all.
¡°Why are you still here?¡±
Michael saw Helen and looked impatient.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her to a corner with no one around
¡°You were the one making a fuss to see the child. Now look at what you¡¯ve done. You were supposed to take care of Jordan not to hospitalize her!¡±
Helen felt a bit guilty and said softly, ¡°Jordan was the one who insisted on finding you. Didn¡¯t you have something to do today? I didn¡¯t want Jordan to disturb you, but she broke free from me and ran into the street, then got hit by a car. Has Jordan woken up
yet?¡±
Not yet,¡± Michael said impatiently.
¡°Don¡¯te here again recently.¡±
Helen sneered. ¡°You don¡¯t want me here because your first love wants to see Jordan, right? I know, Jordan keeps calling her Ms. Wilder¡® and feels that she¡¯s better than me. Today, I finally met the so¨Ccalled CEO of the Wilder Group. The rumors are true, but now, you don¡¯t deserve her.¡±
Michael¡¯s pride was trampled on the ground, and of course, he couldn¡¯t take it.
He pushed Helen.
¡°What do you mean by ¡®don¡¯t deserve¡®? We grew up together and were meant to be!¡±
Helen still looked down on him, scrutinizing him from head to toe.
¡°You? She is CEO of the Wilder Group now. What are you? Besides, Jessica is already married. You¡¯re delusional if you think you can get back together with her.¡±
¡°Go back to the hotel. Don¡¯te out again.¡±
Michael couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and drove Helen away.
Before leaving, Helen pointed at Michael and said, ¡°Don¡¯t forget your promise to me. I¡¯m waiting for your news at the hotel.¡±
After saying that, she walked toward the road.
Jessica, who had been watching them from the corner, didn¡¯t miss the malicious and murderous look in Michael¡¯s eyes.
It seemed that Michael had wanted to get rid of Helen for a long time but was currently unable to act.
Wife Back 79
The Hall family and Luke were still watching closely, like hungry wolves.
If Michael made one wrong step, he could bepletely kicked out of the game.
He was surrounded on all sides now.
No wonder he insisted on securing cooperation with the Wilder family, even if it meant letting Jason take over the low¨Cend jewelry line.
Such a drastic drop in status was rare in the entertainment industry.
Jessica started the car and drove onto the main road, heading toward the hotel where Helen was going
¡°Just stay quietly at the hotel. I¡¯ll take care of the rest for you,¡± said Jessica, looking straight ahead, unfazed by Helen¡¯s anger. Helen turned her head to nce at Jessica.
She felt that Jessica was really beautiful, no wonder so many people liked her.
She still remembered that when she married Michael, she had briefly loved him too, thinking a marriage alliance with some mutual affection was a good thing.
Later, she realized that Michael was good at putting on an act, all his tenderness was just to gainpany shares and to kick her
out.
But in Michael¡¯s heart, there was always someone he thought about.
His first love, Jessica.
After learning this, Helen had also searched for news about Jessica online.
She found out that Jessica had quickly married Chris, and from videos and photos, Jessica was a wless beauty from every angle.
Who wouldn¡¯t be attracted to such a woman?
¡°I advise you not to get too close to Michael. Whatever you want to look into, you won¡¯t find anything, and Michael will turn around and bite you back. I¡¯m a perfect example.¡±
Jessica sneered. ¡°I¡¯m not as stupid as you.¡±
Helen¡¯s anger was useless, she really was foolish, foolish enough to risk thepany and her parents¡® lives.
Before getting out of the car, Helen stood outside the passenger door, holding the door and leaning down to look at Jessica.
¡°Remember you promised me you¡¯d help avenge my parents.¡±
Jessica cocked her brows and tilted her head.
¡°Revenge is your own business. I¡¯m just giving you the chance. Whether you take the chance depends on yourself.¡±
¡°I will make Michael pay the price!¡±
Back home, Chris was indeed out.
Jessica was a bit angry.
Although she wasn¡¯ting home for dinner today, he didn¡¯t have toe back thiste, did he?
Meanwhile, Chris was having a long meal and talk with Roy.
Chris didn¡¯t want to be the one kept in the dark.
Today, Shannon said Jessica had always been protecting him, but he was a man¡ªwhat kind of man was he if he had to rely on a woman to protect him?
He wanted to know everything and wanted to help Jessica.
After pestering Roy for a long time, Roy finally started talking about the feud between the Wilder and Hall families.
¡°It¡¯s not just these small matters. The Wilder and Hall families have had problems since the previous generation,¡± Nina, who knew quite a few secrets, said.
She was touching up her makeup in the mirror, then looked past the vanity mirror at Chris.
¡°Do you know why Mrs. Wilder never agreed to let them be together?¡±
Chris shook his head.
Nina puts away her makeup mirror and said calmly, ¡°It¡¯s rted to the death of your Jessica¡¯s father.¡±
¡°What?¡± Chris was shocked, his hand on the table clenched unconsciously.
¡°It¡¯s actually still a secret in the industry. I only found out through my brother.¡±
Jessica¡¯s father had died in an ident when she was six or seven.
The police ruled it an idental death, but her mother didn¡¯t ept that.
Back then, the Wilder Group and the Hall Group were openly hostilepetitors, fighting over business and clients without
mercy.
There had even been fatalities involved.
¡°The exact details are now unknown. Just remember, as long as Mrs. Wilder is around, she will never allow Michael and Jessica to be together.¡±
In a sh, Chris¡¯s mind filled with Michael¡¯s sinister face.
Wife Back 80
Knowing Michael¡¯s temper, he naturally wouldn¡¯t want anyone to block his way after returning to the country, he might even make a move against Mrs. Wilder.
Chris suddenly picked up his phone and turned to leave.
¡°Hey, where are you going?¡±
¡°Home!¡±
Roy and Nina exchanged a nce, both feeling a bit helpless.
¡°Why are you telling him so much?¡± Roy sighed and served some food for Nina.
¡°Jessica doesn¡¯t want to talk about it.¡±
Nina casually ate two bites of sd and was full, no matter what, she refused to eat more.
She rested her chin on one hand, looking at the door.
¡°I¡¯ve always thought Chris was great. It¡¯s just that Jessica got to him first. Since someone else took him, they should at least treat him well.¡±
¡°Pift!¡± Roy spat out water, staring at his own sister in shock.
¡°You¡ like Chris?¡±
Nina rolled her eyes, really unsure if her brother was smart or dumb.
Back when they were neighbors, she¡¯d often run over to Chris¡¯s house¨Cwas it really just because the food was good there?
He hadn¡¯t even noticed.
With her brother¡¯s straightforward, typical male personality, it was probably unlikely she¡¯d get a sister¨Cinw anytime soon.
¡°Forget it, I won¡¯t say more. I think Chris was right¨Che¡¯s a man, there¡¯s no reason for him to hide behind a woman. Jessica kept things from him because she was afraid he¡¯d be in danger. I think letting him know the truth is the real way to protect him.¡±
Jessica had just gotten home not long ago and was working in the study when a beep came from the door.
Chris rushed in like a gust of wind.
He hadn¡¯t even changed clothes and directly pushed open the study door.
¡°You¡¯re back.¡±
Jessica kept typing with both hands on the keyboard and didn¡¯t lift her head when she heard the noise.
Chris quickly walked over and stood protectively behind her.
Jessica paused.
¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± Jessica smiled and reached back to hold him, her eyes warm and gentle.
She looked up at his chin and brushed her finger against it.
¡°Miss me? Or are you angry because you didn¡¯t see me at the hospital today?¡±
Chris shook his head and rubbed Jessica¡¯s head with his chin, messing up her hair.
Jessicaughed and pushed him away.
Chapter 80
¡®Stop messing around. There¡¯s a meeting soon.¡±
¡°I did miss you.¡±
Every time he confessed like this before, Jessica would push him away.
+25 BONUS
He had thought she didn¡¯t need his affection, but after Nina¡¯s words, he felt Jessica¡¯s protection had started long ago.
It seemed like after that time she was drugged at home, Jessica had deliberately distanced herself from him, even starting to sleep in separate rooms.
The feud began in the previous generation and had reached an irreconcble stage between the Wilder and Hall families.
Even without Jessica and Michael, the feud would never end.
Since that was the case, he could only find a way to reassure Jessica
¡°Thank you for protecting me,¡± Chris said softly, like he was coaxing her.
Jessica froze for a moment, subconsciously feeling Chris might know something.
She looked at him curiously.
¡°Who did you have dinner with tonight?¡±
¡°Roy.¡±
She knew it.
Chris didn¡¯t have many friends, the Jake she had metst time at the Tesalfield Hospital was just a colleague.
If you asked about friends, he only really had Roy.
Theputer beeped, and Shannon reminded him it was time for a meeting.
Chris released her and lightly kissed her on the top of her head.
¡°I¡¯ll go wash up and change first. I¡¯ll make you some milk with bird¡¯s nest.¡±
¡°Okay.¡±
Theputer screen turned on, showing Shannon in pajamas.
Since it was an internal meeting, appearance wasn¡¯t very important.
Indya and a boy logged in, the boy looked very simr to Indya¨Calmost like a male version of her.
The other participant was Jennifer, who had her camera turned off
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Chapter 81
Ms. Wilder, sorry for losing track of the personst time. It won¡® Calum apologized to Jessica over the mic.
happen again, this time, I will follow Helen the whole way,¡±
Jessica raised her hand to interrupt, ¡°With Michael¡¯s help, it¡¯s still easy to evade your surveince. Don¡¯t let your guard down Michael seems to have leveled up these years abroad.¡±
Indya shouted, ¡°Calum, I told you, just call her Jessica. Ms. Wilder unmediately chills out, she likes that cute vibe you have.¡± Even in the internal meeting, there weren¡¯t that many rules. Knowing Jessica¡¯s personality, they could still joke around a bit.
Calum remained silent.
Shannon spoke up over the mic, ¡°Helen settled in another hotel. Michael visits every three or four days. Helen is still very cautious¨Cshe doesn¡¯t use anything Michael brings and just throw them away.¡±
11
The hotel was still under the Hall family¡¯s ownership. Helen didn¡® dare tell the front desk, fearing Michael would get word, so she had to speak everything out to dispose of it.
¡°Staying alert is a good thing.¡±
¡°The name of Aitairy¡¯s headquarters in Cheria hasn¡¯t been found yet. The He parents have been at the headquarters these past two years, there¡¯s no news they visited otherpanies. What¡¯s noteworthy is Luke¨CI suspect make a move
ke ns against Michael.¡±
Right now, Michael had returned to the Hall family, and Luke¡¯s position was precarious. He was eager to kick Michael out. ¡°Then let¡¯s wait and see. Michael won¡¯t just sit back and ept defeat.¡±
Chris entered carrying soup. The meeting wasn¡¯t over yet. Jennifer, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke up.
¡°Jordan has been hospitalized these days. I¡¯ve been going back and forth with meals. Roy even asked me to help. Do I look like someone who can clone myself? Can you guys consider my feelings?¡± Jennifer opened the mic with a string ofints.
Chris stood by the door, hesitant toe forward, unsure if he could hear her.
Jessica saw him, smiled, waved, and patted the chair beside her, inviting him to sit down.
The others noticed the man¡¯s coat corner and all called out, ¡°Mr. Green.¡±
Chris felt a little awkward being treated like that and shyly replied ¡°Hello, everyone.¡±
Jessica didn¡¯t mind Chris¡¯s presence at all, she ate the soup while praising his cooking skills.
Everyone looked on enviously.
¡°Ah, having a family makes a difference¨Cworking overtime and someone cooks for you. We¡¯d be lucky to get a sandwich,¡± Indya joked.
Chris rarely saw Indya at thepany. Usually, the secretary department handled receptions.
As the director of public rtions, Indya mostly handled business outside thepany and didn¡¯t need to clock in, he went to thepany whenever he felt like it.
He didn¡¯t even know the only boy present.
But Calum immediately recognized him as Ms. Wilder¡¯s ex¨Chusband caught at the airport.
Calum didn¡¯t dare say anything.
¡°Alright, let¡¯s leave it at that for now. Jennifer, go help Roy first. We can¡¯t let serious matters be dyed. Michael won¡¯t bother you recently. I¡¯ll have the doctor arrange for Jordan to stay in the hospital a few more days to make things easier for you.¡±
Chapter 81
Okay, life¡¯s really tough.¡±
Hearing Roy¡¯s name, Chris nced sideways.
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During the meeting, Jessica lifted one leg and rested it on the chal drank half a bowl of soup, then fed Chris a spoonful.
¡°What are you thinking about? What did you talk with Roy about to ?¡±
¡°About you.¡±
Chris didn¡¯t hide it.
¡°Roy said you¡¯re amazing. Nina said you¡¯re protecting me. I don¡¯t know who to believe.¡±
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Chapter 82
Jessica paused, nced sideways at Chris, who wore a smile, as if waiting for an exnation.
Jessica felt frustrated inside, knowing Roy couldn¡¯t keep secrets ether. She regretted telling Roy anything in the first ce. Setting down the bowl, Jessica said to Chris, ¡°There are some things I didn¡¯t want to tell you. They¡¯re all nasty business matters and have nothing to do with you.¡±
¡°How could they not?¡± Chris held her hand. ¡°I¡¯m your husband. Anything rted to you is rted to me.¡±
The room had a faint fragrance, though no one knew where it came from. Upon closer sniffing, it seemed like the scent of Jessica¡¯s body wash.
Chris hadn¡¯t cared much about such things before, but recently, as their rtionship eased and they shared the same bed every day, their scents had almost merged.
This was the kind of love he had once begged for but never gotten. Now moved.
it
was right in front of him, and he couldn¡¯t help but be
Hearing this, Jessicaughed, broke free from Chris¡¯s hand, and pinched his cheek.
¡°Now you admit you¡¯re my husband? Wasn¡¯t it you who wanted a divorce? Last time in Tesalfield, didn¡¯t you say we were already divorced? Does it not matter anymore?¡±
¡°That was said out of anger,¡± Chris quickly apologized. Jessica was known to hold grudges.
No one dared mess with her in the business world, it was only at home that she threw little fits at Chris.
Jessica snorted, unsure how to begin.
¡°You already know about me and Michael¡¯s past. It was just a rtionship, nothing like I had to be with him no matter what. If my mom hadn¡¯t stopped me, and if I hadn¡¯t gotten rebellious, it wouldn¡¯t have ended like this. Part of why I got tangled with Michael was because¡¡±
Jessica¡¯s expression grew serious as she spoke about her father¡¯s death¨Ca wound for both her and her mother.
¡°Nina said the business rumors im my father¡¯s death was rted to the Hall family. Could that be true?¡±
Jessica knew exactly who Nina was¡ªher family¡¯s status in business was no less than the Wilder family, and with Roy¡¯s connections, it wasn¡¯t surprising they had heard such things.
Jessica nodded, ¡°Yes, both my mom and I have suspected that. But there¡¯s still no evidence. My dad probably knew some secrets, which led to the ident. I¡¯m still investigating. That¡¯s why I¡¯m willing to cooperate with Roy, as long as he helps me find out the truth about my father¡¯s death.¡±
This was the secret Jessica had carried for many years. Chris had never known.
Looking at Jessica, his heart ached. He pulled her into his arms.
¡°We¡¯ve been together five years, and you never told me.¡±
Jessica nestled into his embrace, feeling warmth and the same scent as herself.
Her voice was muffled, like a child who could never let go¨Cunable to escape the nightmare without the truth.
¡°It¡¯s not that I didn¡¯t want to tell you, but I was afraid you¡¯d worry!
At that moment, the secret between husband and wife was finally revealed. Chris thought of his own mother and felt there was nothing left to hold onto. ¡°Jessica, when I said at the airport that you didn¡¯t understand anything¡¡±
Jessica sat up and looked at him. His eyes were red, and he seemed misure where to begin.
I haven¡¯t visited my mom in a long time. Are you free to go with me tomorrow?¡±
Jessica nodded, ¡°I have no secrets from you. From now on, wherever we go or whatever we do, I¡¯ll tell you. Roy said you¡¯re smart, not as fragile as I thought. You can¡¯t always be protected by me. As husband and wife, we should trust each other.¡±
Wife Back 83
The next day, Chris got up very early and prepared quite a few things, even buying a bouquet of fresh flowers.
Jessica drove, intending to navigate directly to Chris¡¯s mother¡¯s residentialmunity, but Chris changed his mind and gave a
different address.
Jessica could see quite a few things in the back seat from the rearview mirror.
Now that Chris had a job, and a stable one with a good sry, he could afford anything he needed, yet he insisted on saving money and taking responsibility for the household expenses.
After all, it was a man¡¯s pride.
The car turned left and right, climbing up the mountain, and finally stopped at the entrance of a cemetery.
Jessica sat silently in the car for a long time, not speaking until Chris took her hand to get out.
But Chris was very happy.
He didn¡¯t me Jessica for not knowing that his mother had already passed away, previously, he had always alone to see
his mother.
Today, atst, he brought his now¨Cdivorced wife along. Chris felt d.
They walked the familiar path to the gravestone, and Chris put down all the items one by one carefully, while Jessica held the bouquet in her arms.
Chris wiped the photo on the gravestone clean and smiled, saying, ¡®Mom, your daughter¨Cinw came to see you. How are you doing? Are you happy? Every time, it was just meing here alone. This time, I finally brought your daughter¨Cinw. You can¡¯t say I¡¯m not doing well now, right?¡±
Jessica¡¯s heart ached, and after several deep breaths to hold back tears, she squatted down beside Chris, cing the bouquet neatly and looking at the kind woman smiling in the small photo.
¡°Mom.¡± Jessica spoke with a choked voice, and after a long moment, she suppressed her emotion, ¡°Mom, sorry for onlying to see you now.¡±
¡±
This was what Chris had meant when he said she didn¡¯t understand.
As a daughter¨Cinw, she had not even known when her mother¨Cinw had passed away.
Every time Chris went to see his mother, she only knew to give him a card and never apanied him.
Five years had passed, and only after the divorce was she brought here to see her once.
Jessica held Chris¡¯s hand, her voice trembling a little, ¡°It¡¯s my fault. These years, Chris has suffered a lot, and I couldn¡¯te to see you either. But don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t happen again. I will take good care of Chris ande to see you more.¡±
They stayed by the gravestone for a long time.
The weather grew colder, and Chris worried Jessica might catch a cold.
He said goodbye to his mother and took Jessica back to the car.
This time, Jessica couldn¡¯t hold back and hugged Chris, crying outright.
¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me? Every time you went home before, was it always here?¡±
Chris hummed in response, his emotions steady, gently patting Jessica¡¯s back to soothe her.
¡°It¡¯s okay. This is my home too. Wherever Mom is, that¡¯s my home as well.¡±
Chapter 83
¡°When did it happen?¡±
Actually, Chris¡¯s mother had passed away not long after he married Jessica..
It had nothing to do with anyone else, simply that his mother¡¯s health was too poor, her body systems deteriorated, and she could no longer be treated.
So he had never med anyone.
Without any other rtives, Chris handled his mother¡¯s funeral alene and ultimately chose this ce.
A small, overly quiet cemetery.
This was all the money Chris could afford at the time¨Cit came from his schrship, not a single cent from the Wilder family.
After crying, Jessica sniffled and immediately called Shannon.
Wife Back 84
¡°Mrs. Wilder, why haven¡¯t you arrived yet? The wholepany¡¯s waiting for you for the meeting. What time is it already?¡± Shannon rambled nonstop as soon as the call connected.
Jessica, however, kept her temper, suppressing the sobs in her vole.
¡°Chose the best spot next to my father¡¯s grave and get someone to move my mother¨Cinw over. I¡¯ll send you the current cemetery addresster.¡±
Chris wanted to stop her when he heard this, but Jessica didn¡¯t give him the chance.
On the other end, Shannon was stunned.
Her hand paused, holding the pen ready to take notes, and slie asked uncertainly, ¡°Ms. Wilder, your mother¨Cinw? Your husband¡¯s mother? She passed away?¡±
No one knew.
When did it happen?
Jessica nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll exin when I get back. For now, find someone to pick the date. It has to be the best spot, preferably next to my father so it¡¯s convenient for visits.¡±
¡°Understood, I¡¯ll get right on it. Company meeting?¡±
¡°I¡¯ll head back now.¡±
Today, Chris had a day off and didn¡¯t need to go to the hospital, but for Jessica, it was still a workday.
On the way back, Chris tried to stop Jessica.
¡°The person is gone. It doesn¡¯t matter where she¡¯s buried, as long as you have the heart to visit.¡±
Jessica disagreed.
¡°My mother¨Cinw must have the best of everything. It¡¯s my fault I didn¡¯t know before. From now on, on every holiday, I will visit her with you.¡±
What Chris really wanted was just her attitude, not to change anything.
Seeing that stopping her was useless, Chris didn¡¯t argue.
He sent the address for his mother¡¯s grave to Shannon, who offered some condolences.
Though many yearste, it was enough for those still alive.
e
Chris thought of what Jessica had said to his mother today¨Cthat she wouldn¡¯t let him bear anything alone¨Cand he smiled.
He thought, after so many years, he finally got everything he had hoped for.
Jessica drove straight to thepany.
Chris wanted to take a taxi home, but Jessica held his hand tightly and took him straight upstairs.
As Jessica was about to bring him to the meeting room, he said, ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit inappropriate? You¡¯re having a meeting. There¡¯s no need for me to be there.¡±
¡°It concerns you today.¡±
¡°Me?¡±
They opened the meeting room door.
Chapter 84
Besides Shannon and Indya, two familiar faces, Roy and his colleagues were there too.
The young man beside Roy stood up to greet them, but Roy himsel stayed seated.
¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a long time,¡± said Roy.
Jessica replied, ¡°Sorry, I went to visit my mother¨Cinw today, so¡¯m a bitte.¡±
Roy nced at Jessica, even he knew Chris¡¯s mother had passed away, so visiting his mother¨Cinw meant paying respects at
the grave.
There was nothing much to say about honoring the dead.
¡°I still have people at my bureau waiting. You said today you wanted to investigate the incident when Chris was nearly killed years ago. Do you think it¡¯s connected to yourpetitors?¡±
Chris sat beside Jessica, a little shocked.
Years ago, he had almost suffered carbon monoxide poisoning at home.
After investigation, they found that his tea had beenced with sleeping pills.
Chris never figured out when he had taken those pills, and Jessica Hadn¡¯t shootout de s
growing colder toward him from that point.
Now, after two or three years, she actually wanted to look into it.
any intention to investigate back then, only
¡°Yes, I suspect it¡¯s rted to the Hall family. If possible, please merge the
cases and investigate them together.¡±
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Wife Back 85
Roy held a pen in his hand and didn¡¯t say much upon hearing this
Shannon recounted the situation once more.
At that time, Roy was still working in another province and wasn¡¯t very familiar with what was happening here, but he had always been in contact with Chris.
When Chris mentioned he was sick, Roy hadn¡¯t paid much attention.
Now he learned that Chrisd narrowly escaped death, and if Jessica hadn¡¯t changed her flight back at thest minute, he would probably have been reduced to ashes by now.
¡°I understand the situation, but so many years have passed. It¡¯s not easy to merge the cases for investigation. You need to provide concrete evidence, otherwise I can¡¯t establish a special task force.¡±
Shannon already had a lot of materials, not only regarding Chris but also concerning Jessica¡¯s father¡¯s case.
Roy and his colleagues flipped through the documents for quite a while.
Finally, Roy looked up at Jessica and said, ¡°You¡¯ve done quite a bit of investigation. Your evidence is about the same as what we have.¡±
¡°Know your enemy and yourself, and you will never lose a battle. I won¡¯t talk about my rtionship with Michael. The Wilder family and the Hall family have beenpetitors for many years. If I didn¡¯t have some evidence, as a woman, I¡¯d have long been devoured by the Hall family.¡±
Roy handed the documents to his subordinates and told them to leave.
¡°I don¡¯t know about others, but you¡¯ve never been a simple person Nina also said she really admires you.¡±
Jessica smiled and took a sip of coffee.
¡°Nina has a say in the Felton family. You and Nina have supported each other to get this far. I know many branches of the Felton family are stirring trouble to bring you and Nina down. Now we¡¯re allies, so mutual help is still possible.¡±
¡°What are you nning to do?¡±
¡°We should put some pressure on the people behind the scenes.¡±
The meetingsted more than an hour.
Roy left with his subordinates, but Jessica pulled Chris to work overtime with her, refusing to let him go home no matter what.
Jessica knew the pain in Chris¡¯s heart and didn¡¯t want him to be alone.
¡°There¡¯s a senior executive¡¯s position open at the Summit Infirmary. I want you to take it.¡±
At noon, Shannon arranged for a private meal to be delivered to the CEO¡¯s office.
Chris and Jessica sat facing each other.
When Chris heard this, he choked on his food, and Jessica quickly put down her cutlery to rub his back. Seeing Chris¡¯s flushed face, Jessicaughed, ¡°Is it really that bad? Can such a small thing scare you?¡±
Chris took a sip of water.
¡°No, I¡¯m just a doctor. Isn¡¯t it supposed to be someone from the board of directors who fills a vacancy?¡±
Jessica raised an eyebrow.
cboard Doesn¡¯t that mean I decide who goes? Actually, I have a personal reason
Chapter 85.
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for wanting you to take the position. Altairy has been hidden among major hospitals in Che. I want you to help me.¡± Aitairy imed to be a stic surgery hospital, but in reality, it was closely rted to pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. The Wilder family had never been involved in those businesses. Investigating forcibly would easily raise suspicion.
Fortimately, after Chris and Jessica divorced, he went to work at the hospital.
With Chris, Jessica could invest under his name and quietly extend her influence into the hospital¡¯s gaps.
If Chris could reach a high position in the medical field, he might be able to help a lot..
Hearing this, Chris didn¡¯t rush to refuse.
¡°But I still want to work on the front lines.¡®
Jessica said, ¡°That¡¯s easy. The vacant board seat is an honorary chairman. You¡¯ll just get a title, and you can see patients as usual.¡±
Wife Back 86
¡°That¡¯s actually a good idea,¡± said Chris. ¡°I¡¯ll leave everything to you.¡±
¡®Actually, the more important thing is that once you be chairman, I can see you anytime, anywhere. Whenever the board meets, you¡¯ll have toe even if you don¡¯t want to.¡± Jessica squeezed Chris¡¯s hand. ¡°I want to see you anytime, even at the hospital.¡±
¡°Stop fooling around.¡±
When she mentioned this, Chris remembered that Michael¡¯s daughter had been in a car ident and was still hospitalized. These past few days, Chris hadn¡¯t gone to work and didn¡¯t know how Jordan was doing.
That day when Jessica left the hospital, she originally nned to visit Jordani every day for a while, but thepany got busy, and it was dyed until now.
¡°If you hadn¡¯t mentioned it, I¡¯d have forgotten,¡± Jessica wiped her mouth and
¤°
called Shannon in.
¡°Go check on Jordan¡¯s condition. If she needs anything, send it over directly. Also, get the board members ready. I¡¯ve already found someone for the honorary chairman position. Submit Chriss name and let them review it.¡±
Shannon nced at Chris.
¡°Understood.¡±
From this, it was clear that Jessica and Chris no longer kept secrets from each other.
Jessica no longer just protected him but pulled him into the game together.
When husband and wife worked as a team, troubles were fewer.
The honorary chairman position spread around the Summit Infirmary, and many recognized Chris¡¯s abilities.
However, some doctors who couldn¡¯t get the positionined, saying Chris got it because of his looks or connections.
Chris ignored suchments entirely.
When Jonathan heard Chris agreed to be chairman, he called him over for a talk.
¡°Chris, didn¡¯t you want to study abroad? But now that you¡¯re honorary chairman, you definitely can¡¯t leave anytime soon. Have you thought this through?¡±
Chris nodded.
¡°Thank you for your support, teacher. My skills aren¡¯t refined enough yet. If I get the chance in the future, I¡¯ll definitely study abroad more. But for now, I want to help my wife.¡±
Jessica and Chris¡¯s rtionship was no secret among the higher¨Cups, so Jonathan naturally knew.
Looking at Chris¡¯s appearance, Jonathan sighed.
¡°Just make sure you think through your situation. Marriage takespromise. You look much better than before, so I guess you¡¯ve found the key. I won¡¯t say much more. Just manage your work and family well.¡±
¡°Thank you for your concern, Prof. Rane.¡±
Chris still had some things in his dormitory.
He usually rested there during night shifts.
That afternoon, after his rounds had soaked his sleeves, Chris went back to the dorm to change his shirt
Jake was sitting on the bed.
Chapter 86
¡°Hello, Chairman,¡± Jake joked.
¡°Wow, I¡¯m actually sharing a dorm with the chairman. I¡¯in so lucky! When one rises, all others rise with him. Don¡¯t forget me when you be sessful, Chairman.¡®
Chris changed his clothes without looking up.
¡°What are you talking about?¡±
¡°You earned that chairman position with your own ability. I respect your skills. By the way, Dr. Wilson hasn¡¯t been very happytely. I heard he put in a lot of effort to get the honorary chairmant role and even treated the former chairman to dinner.¡±
Jake sat up straight and made a number gesture to Chris.
¡°He spent that much on gifts, but in the end, you got the position pr. Wilson has been unhappy these days, saying nonsense in the hospital. Don¡¯t mind it.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t care. Whether I get the chairman position or not doesn¡¯t matter I¡¯m in that seat. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t want it,¡± Chris said.
Jake raised an eyebrow.
¡°So, Ms. Wilder really pulled some strings for you?¡±
¡°We¡¯ll talk about thatter.¡±
Dr. Ben Wilson was a senior at the hospital.
to me. I just want to help the people I love while
He had worked at the Summit Infirmary for over 20 years and was always diligent.
He was promoted to director more than 10 years ago.
Wife Back 87
Originally, the chairman position didn¡¯t concern him much, but he thought that retirement was only a few years away. Retiring while holding the chairman position could bring in a bit more money, so he decided to have someone arrange things. He gave money and gifts, but in the end, the position went to Chris
Ben, of course, was unhappy about it.
In the past few days, he had been giving Chris a cold face whenever they met at the hospital.
Chris was the kind of person who never cared about others¡® opinions.
He wasn¡¯t familiar with Ben, and they rarely interacted, not even sharing rounds together.
But enemies¡® paths often crossed, and recently there was a consultation patient that required their two departments to meet frequently.
Even in the elevator, Chris and Ben would often run into each other.
¡°Yo, Mr. Green, didn¡¯t you already get your appointment letter? Why are you stilling to meetings?¡± Ben said sarcastically, scrutinizing Chris through the elevator doors.
Chris was still wearing a simple shirt and white coat, one hand in his pocket, the other holding his phone replying to Jessica¡¯s message.
¡°It¡¯s in the office. The consultation still needs to be attended. Chairman is just a title,¡± Chris replied politely.
Ben rolled his eyes, hands in pockets, sizing Chris up and down.
¡°Ah, just as I thought, you young people really are different. Ms. Wilder just came to inspect a few days ago, and today your
appointment letter is already out. Whether male or female, being good¨Clooking is the real way.¡°?
Hearing that, Chris frowned and was about to respond when the elevator doors opened.
Many nurses and doctors rushed in, and Chris was pushed to the back, with many people between him and Ben, so he swallowed
the rest of his words.
¡°The surgery definitely needs to be done. Conservative treatment can no longer achieve the best effect. But since the patient is quite old, postoperative care will require attention from the nursing staff. The surgical n has been sent to everyone. Dr. Green will still be the lead surgeon for the initial operation. After tumor removal, orthopedics will take over. Dr. Wilson, do you have any opinions?¡±
Ben casually nced at the materials, then threw them onto the table, leaned back, and looked toward Chris.
¡°What opinions could I have? Dr. Green is the lead surgeon. Of course, orthopedics will cooperate. I just hope Dr. Green doesn¡¯t get too excited over good news and have shaky hands.¡±
Everyone could tell Ben was being sarcastic.
The department head quickly joked, ¡°Yeah, right. Dr. Green¡¯s appointment letter has already been issued. We should congratte Dr. Green.¡±
The elder professor sitting at the front nced at Ben but paid no mind to his cold sarcasm.
¡°Chris, everyone here is your senior. After the surgery, you should treat us all to a meal and thank your seniors for their care,¡± the elder professor said, acting as Chris¡¯s mentor and guiding him through hospital politics, giving him a way to not embarrass himself.
¡°Professor is right. After tomorrow¡¯s surgery, at the Cosmos,¡± Chris replied.
Ben had no intention of dining with Chris.
Chapter 87
He tossed his pen forward and said, ¡°Dr. Green really isn¡¯t short of money, inviting us to the Cosmos. That ce is too expensive for juntor doctors like us. A pot of tea costs hundreds of dors.¡±
No one could calm Ben¡¯s temper, so they simply ended the meeting.
The elder professor and department head stayed behind to talk with Ben.
Wife Back 88
Chapter 88
After work, Chris was still picked up by Jessica, but the car stopped on the street ahead instead of directly at the hospital
entrance.
Chris felt it was too conspicuous.
Elders like Ben inevitably hadints, but Chris didn¡¯t pay thugh attention.
Actually, thinking it over carefully, the hospital also knew Ben¡¯s Intentions.
They wouldn¡¯t let someone close to retirement sit in the chairman position.
Choosing a younger person was normal.
The Summit Infirmary originally had many young doctors, the others were mostly re¨Chired elder professors.
People like Ben were not the majority.
No one really had much to say about Chris bing the chairman.
Once in the car, Jessica was a bit displeased.
¡°Howe, now that you¡¯re chairman you¡¯re avoiding suspicion? You won¡¯t even let me go to the hospital?¡±
Chris and Jessica sat in the back seat.
Once the driver confirmed the route, the partition was raised.
¡°It¡¯s not that. The appointment letter just came today. We have to put on a bit of a show. It¡¯ll settle in a few days. Oh, by the way, there¡¯s a surgery tomorrow. After it¡¯s done, I want to treat the hospital colleagues to dinner. I¡¯m thinking of booking the Cosmos. Do you want toe?¡±
Jessica propped her chin on her hand, watching him.
This was the first time Chris had brought her to meet colleagues and friends, she never had this chance before.
She really wanted to go.
¡°I want to, but I can¡¯t. I have a business trip tomorrow. There¡¯s some operation stopped over in Lonat, and the deputy director of the branch can¡¯t find the source. Shannon and I have to go. It¡¯ll probably be about a week. Since you just took office, if anythinges up, go to Maggie or Indya at thepany. They¡¯ll handle it?
Chris said, ¡°Be careful. I¡¯ll pack your things before you go. It¡¯s just a dinner. If you don¡¯te, it¡¯s fine.¡±
Jessica was a bit unhappy, ¡°I want to go with you so everyone knows you¡¯re my man.¡±
She reached out and pinched Chris¡¯s chin, making him look at her.
¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know, all the little nurses at the hospital like you.¡±
It was rare to see Jessica jealous, and Chris liked this little yfulness.
He grabbed her hand and pulled it down.
¡°Everyone knows I¡¯m married.¡±
The custom¨Cmade ring wasn¡¯t ready yet, and Jessica thought she needed to hurry and remarry, so no one could keep staring at Chris like that.
Before the divorce, she hadn¡¯t realized Chris attracted so much attention, it was better to keep him firmly by her side. The Cosmos heard Chris was treating, so they reserved thergest private room and asked about dietary restrictions.
Chapter 88
Since it was the first time Chris was taking the Initiative to treat, everything had to be perfect.
The next morning, Chris drove Jessica to the airport, then turned to the hospital.
After bing chairman, besides having a title at the board, nothing really changed.
He went on rounds on time and waited for surgery.
¡°Yesterday the director and professor talked with Dr. Wilson for quite a while.¡± Jake came over.
Today¡¯s surgery, Jake was second assistant and was quite excited operate alongside Chris.
He looked both sides to confirm no one was around, then said, ¡°I Heard they parted on bad terms. Dr. Wilson even threatened to resign. The department head persuaded him for a long time.¡±
Chris washed his hands calmly, ¡°He won¡¯t resign.¡±
Ben was about to retire anyway.
Being chairman was partly about the retirement pension.
Actually, Ben¡¯s surgical skills were average, so he wouldn¡¯t be rehired.
Retiring was basically the end for him.
No hospital wanted him after retirement.
In other words, Ben didn¡¯t dare resign.
¡°The elder professor said the same thing. Ben can make all the fuss he wants. By the way, since you¡¯re treating tomorrow, do I get an invite?¡± Jake smiled and asked.
Wife Back 89
Chapter 89
Chris shook his hands and raised both of them.
¡°I don¡¯t have any friends at the hospital, only you. If you don¡¯t go,¡®ll be bored to death alone. Even if you have something to do, I¡¯ll drag you along.¡±
This time, the patient was an elderly person from their hospital who had beening for five or six years and had never reached the surgical criteria.
This time, because Chris joined and worked with the elder professor, the sess rate of the surgery could be increased to 70%, so they chose to operate.
As long as the surgery seeded, the patient would no longer have to endure the pain of illness and could live a few more years at least.
The patient¡¯s family waited anxiously outside.
Chris was still very serious during the surgery, quite different from other doctors who chatted and joked during operations.
He was fully focused, all his attention on the patient, cutting off all sources ofplications.
By the time he finished his part of the surgery, three hours had passed.
Chris was drenched in sweat, both his inner and outer clothes were soaked.
¡°The first part of the surgery was very sessful. We have to wait for orthopedics to finish before starting the suturing. You can wait for the suturing. I¡¯ll step out first,¡± Chris said to his assistants.
They were all students trained by the elder professor, and the suturing would be carried out under the elder professor¡¯s supervision.
As the chief surgeon, Chris hadpleted his task perfectly.
After changing clothes, since he had no scheduled cases in the afternoon, he decided to go rest in the office prepared for him by
the board.
He hadn¡¯t been there before.
The previous chairman had retired and taken all his belongings.
Jessica didn¡¯t want Chris to use what was left by someone else, so the desk, chairs, and decorations were all reced with new ones arranged in Chris¡¯s style.
When he pushed the door open, Chris almost thought he hade home.
He sat down on the chair, on the desky a lot of materials about the hospital and personnel matters.
These were things he needed to review after bing chairman.
Having just finished surgery, his mind was full of bloody scenes, not suitable for working.
Chris couldn¡¯t concentrate and pushed away from the desk to rest his head on it.
After intense mental tension, rxing like this made it easy to fall asleep.
Chris was awakened by a sudden urgent phone ringing.
He sat up and paused for a moment, taking several seconds to realize the phone was ringing.
He took out his phone and nced at it.
It was the professor.
¡°What¡¯s wrong, Professor?¡±
Come back, we need you. Ben made surgical mistake. Ite hit a blood clot that wasn¡¯t removed, and the blood vessel ruptured Now the patient is bleeding severely with no way to stop it. Blood pressure and oxygen levels are dropping. We need you back here!¡±
Chris immediately stood up and ran downstairs.
¡°On my way. Tell them to prepare adrenaline first, I¡¯ll inject it as soon as I arrive.¡±
Ben¡¯s attitude and emotions indeed caused trouble.
During the surgery, the elder professorforted him nearby.
Ben was resentful and identally tore a blood vessel while exerting force.
The patient was an elder, with already unstable blood pressure and oxygen levels.
Now, the heavy bleeding had put the patient¡¯s life on the line.
Ben performed a simple emergency treatment, but it was useless.
By the time Chris changed clothes and arrived, the patient¡¯s ECG was already a tline.
Chris paused for only one second, then went up to the operating table and exchanged positions back to back with Ben.
Ben¡¯s face was pale, and he was sweating all over.
It was his mistake, all monitoring data recorded it, and the elder professor standing beside him was a witness.
If the patient could not be saved, his career¡
Everything would be over.
But he was unwilling to ask Chris for help aloud and could only watch helplessly as Chris took over and calmly arranged the adrenaline injection.
Chapter 90
Chapter 90
Wife Back 90
Thebined surgery, which was originally expected to finish in five hours with a sess rate as high as 71%, extended to nine hours because of Ben¡¯s mistake.
In the end¡ the patient still couldn¡¯t be saved.
Ben¡¯s body went weak, and he nearly copsed in the operating room.
Chris remained silent and quietly stepped down from the table.
This time, no one could save Ben anymore.
expectedly
The elder professor took Ben out to announce the patient¡¯s death, while Chris sat in the changing room, having already washed the fresh blood from his hands, feeling utterly exhausted as he sat in the chair.
The fatigue from several consecutive hours of surgery lingered without fading.
He hadn¡¯t expected that Ben¡¯s resentment toward him would cost life.
Actually, after Chris finished his part of the surgery, it had almost guaranteed the patient¡¯s sess, the orthopedic surgery was just a small portion.
Unexpectedly¡
Jake also came in and stood behind Chris.
¡°The patient¡¯s family is crying and causing a scene outside the operating room.¡±
¡°After today, Ben can no longer stay at the hospital.¡±
How the surgery failed must be told to the patient¡¯s family, but it absolutely could not be revealed that Ben¡¯s personal emotions caused it.
The hospital began to find reasons from the patient¡¯s side¨Cnot to shirk responsibility, but because if people found out a doctor¡¯s personal emotions killed a patient, their hospital would have to close down.
The first meeting after Chris¡¯s appointment came quickly.
Chris was extremely tired, sitting in the chairman¡¯s seat, with familiar colleagues on both sides.
Each department began to state their opinions.
¡°Ben¡¯s emotional state really makes him unsuitable to stay at the hospital, but he¡¯s been here at the Summit Infirmary for so many years. Just firing him directly¡ how about transferring him to logistics? Then he wouldn¡¯t have to perform surgeries anymore.¡±
The elder professor mmed the table. ¡°That¡¯s a human life!¡±
The anesthesia department also said, ¡°Well¡ Actually, after the first half of the surgery, it was basically dered sessful. This old man had beening to the hospital for five or six years, always having his daughter¨Cinw bring snacks for everyone. I think we can¡¯t just let this slide.¡±
There was much debate, and eventually, someone looked toward Chris.
¡°What does the chairman say?¡±
The elder professor pushed up his sses.
¡°The whole surgery process was monitored. It truly was Ben¡¯s responsibility. The Summit Infirmary can¡¯t bear that responsibility, but Ben¡ he definitely can¡¯t escape it.¡±
¡°No need to transfer him to logistics anymore.¡± Chris¡¯s voice was cold, carrying a chill.
+25 BONUS
He lifted his eyelids and looked at everyone who spoke up for Ben
¡°We are doctors. From the moment we stand at the operating table we bear a life in our hands. Under no circumstances are we allowed to treat life like grass. Fire Ben.¡±
There were still many procedures to follow for dismissal, even needing to notify Jessica.
Having missed a proper meal, Chris returned home and felt uneasy facing the darkness in the house.
He had only been at the Summit Infirmary a few months and was very familiar with the patient, but he had heard from colleagues that the man was kind and gentle, never troubling anyone.
He also never troubled the nurses at night.
Such a good person¨Che had clearly opened a path for life, allowing him to peacefully spend hister years.
So why? Why such an ending?
His personal grudge with Ben shouldn¡¯t have involved others, and certainly shouldn¡¯t have caused the death of such a good man.
At that moment, Chris suddenly felt that sitting in this position wasn¡¯t bad after all¨Cat least it would prevent mistakes from continuing.
During the meeting, many people said Ben had no great merits but had put in effort at the hospital, transferring him to logistics to do some small tasks was enough.
He only had a few years left before retirement, so there was no need to be
Wife Back 91
Chris really wanted to curse, but his upbringing didn¡¯t allow it.
He only said, ¡°Did that old man deserve to die?¡°.
¡°Are you home?¡± Jessica¡¯s voice was very soft, with the sound of wind in the background. It seemed she had just finished work and hadn¡¯t returned to the hotel yet.
Jessica had learned about today¡¯s events from the hospital and called Chris tofort him.
¡°You did nothing wrong. No one should pay for his mistakes. Don feel pressured,¡± Jessica said.
Chris supported his head, feeling a bit ufortable.
¡°I don¡¯t feel pressured. I just made the right decision. I just didn¡¯t expect it would cause an old man to pass away. From what my colleagues said, he was a very good person.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not your fault either.¡±
Jessica stood under the hotel, gestured to Shannon to go upstairs first, then stood near the flowerbed making a call.
¡°Not in a good mood? Didn¡¯t go out to eat?¡±
Chris said, ¡°After something like this happens, no one has the mood. I canceled the meal at the Cosmos.¡±
¡°Well, you still have to eat. I¡¯ve already approved the dismissal procedures for Ben. Don¡¯t think too much.¡±
After talking with Jessica on the phone for a long time, the room was still dark.
He didn¡¯t turn on the light, letting himself slowly drift into sleep in the familiar environment.
He was so tired that he fell asleep on the sofa.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, waking him up.
He nced at his watch, it was just past eleven. He had slept less than half an hour.
Rubbing his eyes, he got up to open the door, curious who it could be.
When he opened the door, it was Ben standing there.
Originally, Chris didn¡¯t want to argue with Ben. Even if Ben was being sarcastic, he always showed good temper and a good face.
But now,
Chris¡¯s face was cold as he tried to close the door.
¡°How did you know where I live?¡±
Ben carried quite a few things in his hands, seemingly gifts to try to smooth things over.
Ben smiled in a ttering way, no longer with the cold expression from before.
¡°I¡ I asked in the rtions department, I¡¡±
Ben stepped forward trying to bring the medicine inside, but Chris, tall and long¨Clegged, stood at the door, not stepping aside.
¡°If you have something to say, just say it.¡±
Ben¡¯s face was a bit stiff, but he still put all the things on the floor.
¡°At my age, if I get fired by the hospital, no one will want me. I¡ I know it was my fault. I ept the surgery failure. I can pay thepensation to the family myself. Can you not fire me? I¡¯m willing to transfer to logistics. It was all my fault before. Mr. Green,
I¡¡±
Chapter 91.
Chris raised his hand to interrupt and didn¡¯t continue listening.
Your dismissal procedures have already been approved. You¡¯ll receive the papers In a few days. How you negotiate with the family members is your business, but the hospital cannot keep you anymore.
Ben¡¯s face darkened, and the hallway lights seemed to dim as well
¡°Mr. Green, please show some mercy, okay?¡± said Ben.
Chris sneered and leaned against the doorframe.
¡°What, you¡¯re threatening me now?¡±
Ben shook his head.
¡°Not really a threat. I just think it¡¯s unreasonable for someone your age to be chairman. If I send a file to court asking them to look into you, do you think you¡¯llst long in this position? Better we settle this now, so no one troubles the other.¡±
It seemed that Ben still hadn¡¯t realized his mistakes.
Chris remained indifferent, kicked the gifts out with his foot.
¡°Go find a ce to sue me then.¡±
Wife Back 92
Chapter 92
Originally, Chris was already in a bad mood after what had happened, and then seeing Bene with gifts made Chris feel even more annoyed.
Seeing Ben¡¯s unrepentant attitude, Chris lost his sleepiness, took a shower, changed clothes, and started reading. After bing the honorary chairman, Chris truly felt that time was really insufficient.
Besides seeing patients who registered every day, he also had to handle many misceneous matters, including the issue with Ben.
It seemed that Ben didn¡¯t just bring gifts to Chris, for several consecutive days, people came to see Chris, trying to persuade the hospital to let Ben off.
After all, the patient¡¯s family no longer pursued the matter, and the hospital had paid Ben a considerable humanitarianpensation.
The patient¡¯s family had indeed spent quite a lot on the old man¡¯s treatment over the years.
Now that the hospital had paidpensation, they said nothing more and took the old man¡¯s body home.
Some people thought that since the patient¡¯s family no longer minded, as long as Ben was not allowed¨Cback on the operating table in the future, they could let this one slide.
But Chris refused to relent no matter what.
This time, even those who originally had no objection to Chris¡¯s appointment now thought he was heartless, whispering endlessly behind his back.
Jake had long heard what those people were saying and had even argued with a few of them.
But he was only an intern doctor and still needed guidance from the elder professor.
If a fight broke out, it would definitely end up reported to the school, and Jake didn¡¯t dare to go too far.
He was just very upset.
¡°All right, I didn¡¯t take it seriously. What are you guys doing?¡± Chris smiled.
That meal at the Cosmos wasn¡¯t eaten.
Today, only a few doctors and nurses who were on good terms and regrly interacted were invited, including the elder
professor.
The elder professor was the mentor of several intern doctors and often met with Chris.
¡°I agree with Chris¡¯s view. People like that absolutely cannot stay in the hospital. Who knows what trouble he might cause in the future,¡± the elder professor said.
He hadn¡¯t drunk alcohol and had hot tea in front of him.
The dishes at the Cosmos were definitely everyone¡¯s favorites, served ording to each person¡¯s taste.
Ethan personally served the dishes, giving Chris a lot of face.
Jake and the other young people were visiting such a ce for the first time.
After a while, the elder professor said again to Chris, ¡°I heard Ben came to see you? Trying to smooth things over? Ben is just like that. When he wanted to be chairman, he brought me gifts, but I thought the council probably wouldn¡¯t want a retiring old man, so I didn¡¯t help. And now this happens.¡±
Actually, many people could see clearly, but Ben just couldn¡¯t figure it out.
He insisted that Chris sabotaged his chance at bing chairman
¡°He dide, but I didn¡¯t let him in,¡± said Chris.
+25 BONUS
The elder professorughed, knowing Chris¡¯s temper, and wasn¡¯t surprised that he didn¡¯t even let him inside.
¡°What would hee in for? I don¡¯t ept gifts, and I have nothing to say to Ben,¡± said Chris.
Jake added, ¡°Dr. Wilson always had a bad temper. Many people in orthopedics said that after he failed to be chairman, he threw his temper around every day and was even less patient with patients than before.¡±
Since Ben was definitely not staying in the hospital, Chris didn¡¯t care what those people said about him.
Jessica returned from her business trip abroad and brought many gifts for Chris.
If it had been before, Jessica wouldn¡¯t have cared much about Chris
She would just have Shannon buy some expensive gifts, and the items would be stored in the collection room, never brought out.
But this time was different.
Jessica cared about Chris.
She also remembered when Chris wanted toe study in Lonat, but she had stopped him quite a few times.
This time, the gifts she brought back were quite novel.
Wife Back 93
¡°I¡¯ve been receiving a lot of gifts recently,¡± Chris said with a smile seeing the driver cing all the items inside the house. ¡°But none of their gifts came inside except yours.¡±
Jessica stood at the door and cocked her brows.
¡°What, are you going to keep me out too?¡±
After the driver left, Jessica wrapped her arms around Chris¡¯s neck and acted coquettishly.
¡°What gifts did you get? Tell me, did anyone bring you a beauty?¡±
¡°I told them that I had a fierce wife at home.¡±
Jessica pinched him hard andughed.
¡°I¡¯m going to the hospital for a meeting tomorrow. The higher¨Cups know about our rtionship, but the normal employees don¡¯t. Once I¡¯m there, it¡¯ll be all business. Anyway, Ben definitely has to be fired. It has nothing to do with you. No medical ethics means no use keeping him.¡±
After letting go, Jessica took Chris to unwrap the gifts.
They were all small packages, thergest no bigger than an A4 sheet but very thick.
¡°What are these?¡±
All the gifts were carefully wrapped.
Chris opened them one by one, his eyes cooling.
They were original text books!
These kinds of medical books were hard to find domestically and not sold anywhere, only Lonat had them, and you had to go to specialized medical schools¨Cordinary people couldn¡¯t get them.
It was obvious Jessica had spent the entire day just to find these books for Chris.
¡°Did you look for them one by one?¡± asked Chris.
Jessica nodded, standing beside him with her hands on the table, pointing at two of the books.
¡°These few can¡¯t be bought at bookstores. You have to go to the medical school. I found some students about to graduate to take me to see professors, and after getting official permission, I was able to buy them.¡±
This was the first time Jessica had prepared a gift with such care.
Unlike those expensive clothes and jewelry, Chris truly liked this.
Jessica¡¯s thoughtfulness meant more than anything.
And besides, it was exactly what Chris needed most.
¡°I really like the gifts you gave me, but you don¡¯t have to work so hard next time. I just want to see you sooner. I¡¯ve simmered the soup, we can eat soon.¡±
Shannon went to thepany first to put her things down, then came to eat with Indya.
¡°I¡¯ve heard for a long time that Mr. Green is a skilled cook, but this is the first time that I¡¯ve tasted his cooking. It¡¯s much better than the Cosmos,¡± said Indya,plimenting the dishes after a few bites.
Jessica served Chris some food and nced at Indya.
¡°You can¡¯t shut your mouth even when eating.¡±
¡°Mr. Green only cares about you. No matter how much I praise, it won¡¯t work,¡± Indya joked.
Shannon also served Indya food and talked about the trip to Lonat
She said someone had stopped their car in the street¨Cit was an employer fired from the branchpatry.
¡°How much do you think what he said is credible? The source of the problem with the goods was the higher¨Cups. It¡¯s been solved for now, but since they couldn¡¯t catch anyone, it will definitely happen again.¡±
Jessica said, ¡°Catching people is the police¡¯s job. We already reported it and warned them.¡±
¡°We¡¯re too for away, and the head office is so distant. Even when you went personally, almost no one listened to you. Looks like this acting director is done for.¡±
Chris took care of the threedies by serving them more food.
After the meal, he prepared some fruit and ced it on the coffee table, then sat aside flipping through the original textbooks. Seeing that Chris truly liked the gifts, Jessica breathed a sigh of relief, feeling her efforts were not in vain.
¡°Don¡¯t do anything to them yet,¡± said Jessica. ¡°Let¡¯sunch another investigation. Send the personnel information to Roy.¡±
192
Wife Back 94
Chris closed the book.
¡°If I had known, I would have invited Roy over for dinner today. You all could¡¯ve chatted together¨CI forgot.¡±
Before Jessica could speak, Indya interrupted abruptly.
¡°No, no, no. I have nothing to say to Roy. If you invite him, I won¡¯te.¡±
Chris was puzzled.
Was there some grudge between Roy and Indya?
Hearing this, Shannonughed.
A few years ago, when Indya had just joined thepany, the PR team wasn¡¯t fully formed yet, so he handled many things personally.
Several times during business dinners, someone had made unwanted advances toward him.
Indya¡¯s couldn¡¯t tolerate it, so she fought back.
Coincidentally, Roy was involved in those incidents.
¡°That¡¯s not right¨CRoy is in the major crimes unit. This kind of thing shouldn¡¯t be his business!¡±
Mentioning this, Indya¡¯s face darkened further.
¡°It¡¯s because every time I called the police, Roy was investigating a nearby case¨Calways a homicide. Roy said it was rted to me and insisted I was leaking information. He even detained me for 48 hours for investigation.¡±
These were all things from years ago, unknown even to Chris.
That was why Indya had no good feelings toward Roy.
Just hearing his name gave her a headache, and she even rolled her eyes.
A few days ago, Roy went to thepany for a meeting.
Indya was supposed to attend, but when he saw people through the door crack, he turned around and left thepany immediately.
Chris felt like he had just heard some juicy gossip and took out his phone to ask Nina.
Roy certainly wouldn¡¯t talk, but Nina would tell everything.
¡°Tomorrow I¡¯m going to the Summit Infirmary for a meeting. After the New Year, the Summit Infirmary ns to go public, so everyone has to prepare. Next year, we¡¯ll be out in the open. It will be tough.¡±
When Ben heard that investors wereing to the hospital, he cried and begged to see Jessica.
In front of Jessica, he said that Chris was involved with someone on the board of directors¨Cand the other party was a man.
It was said that this person had insisted on Chris bing the chairman despite opposition.
The person whose name was mentioned nced at Jessica without much guilt, but afraid the boss would get jealous, quickly ordered someone to drag Ben away.
This person was someone Jessica had ced early in the Summit Infirmary.
Otherwise, why would Michael and Jordan alwayse here when they were sick?
Jessica had long wanted to develop hospital¨Crted work but feared being too conspicuous.
If it weren¡¯t for Chris¡¯s help, it wouldn¡¯t have been this easy.
¡°I agreed to your dismissal,¡± Jessica sald slowly, watching as security dragged Ben to the door.
¡°I also reviewed the surveince footage. If it weren¡¯t to protect the hospital¡¯s reputation, I would have handed you directly to the patient¡¯s family instead of letting you cry injustice here.¡±
Ben¡¯s face turned pale, but he still refused to give up.
¡°I also know about Mr. Green¡¯s appointment, I signed the appointment letter myself. Based on the information from the school and hospital, I believe Dr. Green is absolutely capable of this position. Dr. Wilson, as an ordinary person, you probably don¡¯t know what the title of a genius means, right?¡±
Ordinary people would never understand how smooth Chris¡¯s path had been.
Of course, they wouldn¡¯t see his hard work either.
After Jessica said that, Ben had nothing more to say and was directly taken away.
¡°Next year the Summit Infirmary will be listed, and the board will have a heavy stake. Everyone should prepare.¡±
After the meeting ended, Chris was about to leave but sneaked a nce at Jessica.
He was caught by her gaze and couldn¡¯t move at all.
Wife Back 95
Chapter 95
Jessica smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Green, please stay. Regarding the matter about Ben, I need you to prepare a report. Stay behind and tell me the real situation. Leave theputer as well.¡±
Everyone looked at Chris with sympathetic eyes, but no one knew how pleased he felt inside.
¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen you handle work like this,¡± Chris said as he walked directly over to Jessica, lifted a strand of her long hair to his lips, and kissed it. ¡°Very sexy.¡±
Jessica was pleased by Chris¡¯s straightforwardness and smiled as she hugged him tightly.
¡°Otherwise, why do you think I pushed you into this position?¡± said Jessica, resting her arms on Chris¡¯s shoulders.
Chris reached out, grabbed her knees, and with a bit of strength, lifted her up and ced her on the table.
Chris instinctively looked up toward the surveince camera in the corner.
Jessica turned his head back, saying, ¡°Focus. I already turned off the surveince.¡±
¡°Ms. Wilder, I thought you put me in this position because you recognized my talent, not because of¡¡± He leaned close to her ear and whispered, ¡°whispers in bed.¡±
They rarely flirted like this, and Jessica actually felt a bit regretful.
Because of the Hall family, she could only hide her love for Chris in her heart or let it bloom just between them.
She really wished everyone knew they loved each other.
¡°Just as good.¡± Jessica smiled at him. ¡°Your talent is as good as your whispers in bed.¡±
Chris went downstairs to begin his ward rounds.
Jessica had left the hospital at some unknown time.
After getting into the car, she reapplied her lipstick in the mirror, her smile never fading.
Jessica was very satisfied with the current situation.
If they could sessfully remarry, it would be even better.
But¡
Thinking of Michael, her expression darkened.
Michael was an extreme person.
Previously, he thought Chris was blocking his path and, at the Wilder family¡¯s old mansion, he was willing to harm himself just to frame Chris.
People targeted by someone like that rarely have a good ending.
She could not put Chris in the eye of the storm.
The car started moving.
Just after leaving the hospital car park, Jessica said, ¡°Go to the Twilight.¡±
The Twilight was a private VIP club that only epted members.
The primary qualification to be a member was having a worth exceeding 2 million dors.
Getting a membership card required a financial check.
The waiters at the Twilight were very perceptive.
All members¡® photos were reviewed in advance, and having a photographic memory was a basic requirement.
Moreover, each member¡¯s car was also recognized to provide better service.
The car stopped at the entrance, and the valet politely opened the door and helped Jessica out.
¡°Mrs. Wilder.¡±
¡°Which private room?¡± Jessica asked as she walked inside.
The waiter gestured politely, ¡°She¡¯s waiting for you in room 111. She arrived ten minutes ago.¡±
After leading her there, the waiter knocked on the door and stepped back.
All guests here demanded privacy and did not require on¨Csite service, so the door would never be opened for anyone else.
Jessica pushed open the door.
Inside the spacious private room, only one person was looking at aputer.
¡°Does it have to be this extravagant?¡± asked Jessica.
The woman at theputer didn¡¯t look back, focused intently.
¡°What else can I do? The tail has been following me for several days now. I lost them nearby and happened toe in under your name. They probably wouldn¡¯t suspect our rtionship.¡±
Looking up, Jennifer smiled.
Wife Back 96
Seeing that Jennifer still had things to do, Jessica wasn¡¯t in a hurry
After all, there was nothing much going on at thepany today, and Shannon could handle it.
So she asked for a pot of tea and sat nearby scrolling through her one, asionally chatting with Chris.
¡°Why are you drinking tea now, old¨Ctimer?¡±
Jessica said, ¡°Chris said coffee hurts my stomach. I haven¡¯t eaten get today, so I don¡¯t want coffee.¡±
Jennifer clicked her tongue a few times.
¡°You, huh? Now you like it so much, but what were you doing before? I thought you can¡¯t live without coffee.¡±
Saying this, Jennifer sat up and stared at Jessica for a long time.
¡°You¡¯re actually just as extreme as Michael when you¡¯re in love, it¡¯s fiery and passionate, when you don¡¯t, you want to send people to jail. Woman, you¡¯re dangerous.¡±
A waiter knocked and came in, bringing Jessica¡¯s favorite tea.
She thought it would be just the tea, but then a group of people came in behind, cing many dishes on the table. The dishes were arranged like an assembly line.
The table was so big it was almost overflowing, the dishes were stacked on top of each other.
After the waiter left, Jessica almost wanted to pull Jennifer over and give her a beating.
¡°Is Michael not paying your sry? Doesn¡¯t he care if you eat?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve heard the Twilight¡¯s food is top¨Cnotch. Since I rarelye here, I have to try it,¡± said Jennifer, stuffing a piece of pork into her mouth.
¡°Besides, Michael¡¯s been so busy these days he hasn¡¯t had time toe home. Oh, by the way, did you see that Michael got involved in a scandal?¡±
Jessica hadn¡¯t had time to look, but she did know about it.
Michael had just taken over the Hall family¡¯s entertainmentpany.
He was definitely busy at the start, and scandals were normal.
And she knew because Michael had personally called to exin.
¡°The entertainment world is deep and messy, but the female celebrity involved in the scandal with Michael has been pretty poprtely. Two of her dramas are doing well, and I even found time to watch. She acts very well,¡± Jennifer praised Michael¡¯s eye for talent.
Michael called to calm Jessica down so she wouldn¡¯t get angry about the scandal.
But she only wanted tough when she got the call.
Entertainment news was all about grabbing attention, so they exaggerated everything.
They said the actress often came and went from Michael¡¯s house and even looked after his daughter.
Then someone tried to rify Michael¡¯s rtionship with Jessica.
So the scandal was fake, but the close rtionship between Michael and Jessica was real.
In the end, the target was still Jessica.
Because of this, she disliked it even more.
I found something,¡± Jennifer said after eating a sandwich. She pushed herputer forward and sighing deeply.
¡°You sold me out. The person Roy wants to catch knows a bit about IT and covers their tracks perfectly.¡±
Even she had spent two days looking for this person.
Speak of the devil¡
Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Roy walked in wearing a white T¨Cshirt and jeans.
Jennifer sized Roy up.
¡°Captain Felton, heir of the Felton family and leader of the criminal investigation team, how can you dress so shabbily? This outfit¡ probably costs less than 100 bucks, right?¡±
Roy frowned, looking very annoyed.
¡°Why do you care what I wear?¡±
Jennifer closed herptop.
¡°I don¡¯t care what you wear, but then don¡¯t make me find people for you.¡±
Roy was rendered speechless.
He looked at Jessica, hoping she would say a good word for him.
Jessica shrugged helplessly.
¡°She¡¯s a free agent. She never listens to me.¡±
Finally, Roy apologized resignedly, ¡°Next time Ie see you, I¡¯ll wear a full custom suit, won¡¯t embarrass you. Fid you find the person yet? Three people have been killed. If I can¡¯t find them soon, I really have to go inherit the family business!¡±
Wife Back 97
Chapter 97
You make sound like you¡¯re in quite a difficult spot,¡® thought Jenifer.
She pointed at theputer.
Roy pulled it over and nced at the screen.
The screen was ck except for a small red dot.
After a few minutes, the red dot flickered and moved to a different position, and all the surrounding streets on the map slowly appeared.
Roy immediately knew this was the criminal¡¯s location.
He picked up theputer and was about to leave.
¡°Thanks.¡±
¡°Asking me to track down someone isn¡¯t cheap!¡± Jennifer called after him.
Roy¡¯s steps paused slightly.
He stood at the door and didn¡¯t leave immediately. ¡°I know. I¡¯m helping you find the person.¡±
Jennifer¡¯s expression darkened, and her voice softened a lot.
¡°Thanks.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve been looking for so long and still haven¡¯t found them. You¡¯re pretty persistent,¡± said Roy.
Jennifer started sipping her tea.
¡°A person has to be a little persistent, right?¡±
¡°Bye.¡±
Roy came quickly and left quickly.
The two women left behind were not in a hurry.
They leisurely enjoyed their afternoon tea in the private room.
¡°Do you know who Roy is trying to catch?¡± asked Jennifer.
Jessica shook her head.
Thest time they met, Roy said he wanted Jennifer¡¯s help.
She agreed.
That same night, Jennifer hacked into the entire criminal investigation team¡¯sputers.
She even upgraded their firewall and changed Roy¡¯sputer desktop to a photo of a beautiful woman.
Roy was so angry he almost called to scold her.
Roy didn¡¯t say anything.
She found all the case files on theputer herself, read their analysis files, and started tracking the target¡¯s location.
Of course Roy recognized Jennifer¡¯s skills.
But even such a powerful and free¨Cspirited woman was trapped by one person.
Chapter 97.
¡°I looked at the case files on Roy¡¯s If I¡¯m right, this is rted to the Hall family case. I suspect this person might be a hitman hired by the Hall family.
I checked his bank transactions and spending records and found a car registered under his name.¡±
Roy took theputer with him.
Jennifer could only use her phone.
She pulled up the license te number and handed it to Jessica.
Jessica only nced at it but immediately straightened up.
She would never forget that license te number.
It was the car that had hit and killed her father.
Jessica turned to look at her.
¡°You mean this person is connected to the one who killed
Jennifer told Jessica not to get too emotional yet.
my dad?
It wasn¡¯t necessarily this man, but they definitely had a connection
The criminal was the first owner of the car.
He had owned it for less than two months before selling it to someone else.
Not long after, the car was stolen.
That same month, her father was hit and killed.
This couldn¡¯t be a coincidence.
There were simply no coincidences like this in the world.
¡°So that¡¯s why you took the case and helped Roy search for so long¡± Jessica realized.
Jennifer put away her phone.
¡°I know this has always been a knot in your heart. It¡¯s not just you even Mrs. Wilder feels it. I wanted to help.¡±
Jessica didn¡¯t know what to say.
They didn¡¯t need to thank each other.
After a long pause, Jessica said, ¡°What else do you want to eat? I¡¯m paying.¡±
Jennifer smiled.
¡°Then thank you, Ms. Wilder, for the treat.¡±
Actually, with the sry Jessica paid Jennifer, she could easily afford a membership here.
But Jennifer wasn¡¯t impulsive about high spending.
She traveled around often, so if she could get a free ride, she would
No need to get her own membership.
Chapter 98
Wife Back 98
Chapter 98
This matter had weighed heavily on Jessica¡¯s mind for a long time and she didn¡¯t know when it would ever be fully investigated.
She knew it wasn¡¯t something that could be done overnight, so she never pressured anyone.
¡°So you ced Chris in the Summit Infirmary because that hospital treated your father as an injured patient back then, but they insisted on issuing a certificate stating he died on the spot. You¡¯ve always had doubts about that,¡± she said.
In fact, many things revolved around the people nearby.
Jessica wasn¡¯t a fool.
But Michael treated her like an ordinary woman, always thinking he could keep things from her.
So she had to make Michael understand that the person he was facing was never ordinary.
As the heiress of the Wilder family, Jessica had never been underestimated.
¡°The investigation still needs to proceed slowly. Don¡¯t be too anxious. Now that Chris has be the honorary chairman, cing him in that position is also for the convenience of thoroughly investigating these matters. Have you already told Chris about this?¡±
Jessica shook her head.
She was still hesitant about whether to drag Chris into this mess.
Earlier, Roy had said that Chris was never a weak man.
She shouldn¡¯t treat him like a pushover or hide him behind her.
That so¨Ccalled protection was just a shackle.
After a while, Jessica¡¯s phone vibrated.
She looked down and sure enough, it was a message from Chris.
She smiled softly, then said, ¡°But I think I know how to face all of this now.¡±
Chris still had many things to handle at the hospital.
He only left after finishing all the tasks and didn¡¯t eat dinner with Jessica that night.
Instead, he dined with several hospital senior executives.
These kinds of social interactions didn¡¯t require Chris before, but now things were different.
¡°Ben¡¯s temper just isn¡¯t suitable for being director. Before, when you wanted to promote him, I didn¡¯t say anything. How¡¯s it now? Fortunately, Ms. Wilder didn¡¯t pursue the matter,¡± the elder professor said to another director.
That person took a sip of wine and sighed.
¡°There¡¯s no way around it. Ben is an old hand at the hospital. You know our hospital. After so many incidents before, having one veteran isn¡¯t easy. We have to rely on Ben.¡±
Ben¡¯s medical skills were average, so he rarely performed surgeries.
This time, the huge scandal was impossible for others to cover up.
¡°But Mr. Green, this matter originally had nothing to do with you. Ms. Wilder didn¡¯t say anything to you about it tonight, did she?¡± the director asked, tilting his head.
Chris shook his head, saying no.
Chapter 98
When he returned home at night, Jessica was already resting.
She had been exhausted ¨Cbusiness trips and busy hospital matters wore her out.
Chris wanted to handle everything independently and resolve the issues, but as the newly appointed chairman, he clearly wasn¡¯t as capable as Mrs. Wilder.
After taking a shower, he got into bed and gently held Jessica in his arms.
Jessica drowsily woke up and hugged Chris..
¡°Why are you only back now? What¡¯s there to talk about with them?¡±
¡°They¡¯re all senior executives. You have to maintain rtionships sometimes. If you¡¯re tired, just go to bed. Don¡¯t wait up for me,¡± said Chris, holding her and kissing her softly.
Jessica had things on her mind and couldn¡¯t fall asleep for a long time.
Just as she was about to drift off, Chris came back.
¡°I have something to tell you.¡± Jessica tried to sit up, but Chris pressed her back down.
¡°Tell me when you wake up. Not now.¡±
Since that was the case, Jessica obediently fell asleep in Chris¡¯s arms.
Wife Back 99
Chapter 99
The rumors about Michael and the celebrity had spread wildly, and many people knew about it.
The Hall family even sent someone to inquire, afraid that Michael night lose) Jessica as his wife.
Jessica was at thepany and received several calls from Michael every day.
Sometimes, when she was in meetings and someone else answered, Michael would still call back.
Jessica even felt she might have been a bit blind at first¨Chow had he ever been attracted to Michael?
She felt somewhat confused.
Jessica said, ¡°From now on, Michael¡¯s calls should be directly transferred to the secretarial department. I won¡¯t answer them anymore.¡±
Shannon nced at her, nodded, recorded the matter, and then asked, ¡°The cooperation with the Hall Group has started recently but hasn¡¯t been officially signed. Michael has asked several times about setting the time to sign the contract and also about holding a press conference. What are your thoughts?¡±
Indya was always very bold and didn¡¯t wait for Jessica to respond.
She said directly, ¡°That entertainmentpany of the Hall family? Our PR department is not going to y house with them. If they want a press conference, they can hold it at their ownpany. I don¡¯t care.¡±
The people below looked at Indya, then waited for Jessica to speak
Jessica looked at the messages on her phone.
Michael kept sending one message after another like a barrage.
It gave her a headache.
She threw her phone to Shannon and told her to handle it ording to what Indya said.
After the meeting, many people left, leaving only a few of them in the office.
¡°Are you not going to keep pretending anymore?¡± asked Shannon
Indya also said, ¡°What¡¯s the point? There¡¯s no point in ying games with someone like Michael. I think we should justy our cards on the table. The Hall family can neverpare to you.¡±
But Jessica shook her head.
¡°We still have to pretend, just be a bit distant with Michaeltely. After all¡ we¡¯re not together. We can¡¯t let Michael think I¡¯m his possession. If he keeps causing trouble every day, Chris will get angry. Also, the rumors.¡±
The rumors did make Jessica feel strange.
Michael had never cared about others¡® opinions before, but this time he was involved in a scandal.
Jessica found it suspicious and wanted someone to look into it.
¡°How¡¯s Calum? Is he still with Helen?¡± asked Jessica.
Indya nodded and told Jessica thetest news about Calum.
¡°They say Helen hasn¡¯t gone out at all. After Jordan¡¯s car ident, she wanted to visit, but ording to your instructions, she stayed indoors.¡±
That was good¨Cotherwise, Helen might have died before Jessica could do anything.
Jessica was actually more curious about what evidence Helen held that made the Hall family and Michael so afraid and even
Chapter 99
spared H¨¦len¡¯s life.
Everyone in the Jills family had died abroad, and their graves were not in the country.
Helen waspletely alone.
The only person she could rely on was an enemy.
Such a life was really meaningless.
¡°Let¡¯s leave it at that for now. The cooperation with the Hall family should be put on hold. The real focus should be on cooperation with the Tourism Bureau and the Summit Infirmary¡¯s PO. We need to hurry. Next year it must get on track, or else Mr. Green will lose legitimacy.¡±
¡°Ms. Wilder.¡± Maggie knocked and came in. ¡°Ms. Felton is here.¡±
¡®Ms. Felton?¡®
Jessica didn¡¯t immediately realize who it was.
Roy had always been called Captain Felton, so Ms. Felton must be Nina.
¡°Take her to my office. I¡¯ll be right there.¡±
Wife Back 100
Chapter 100
Nina and Jessica rarely met and had no personal rtionship, at most, they would see each other at business banquets, nodding and sharing a drink in polite acquaintance.
This time, Nina hade to thepany proactively to meet, probably because there was something important.
The Felton family was a powerhouse in the entertainment industry and their entertainmentpany was far beyond anything the Hall family could ever match.
So, it was obvious to anyone who should be given the endorsement of the Wilder Jewelry line if both the Hall and Felton families wanted it.
¡°Ms. Wilder.¡± Nina sat down and replied to messages without turning around when she heard movement at the door. ¡°A few days ago, I had dinner with Chris and we talked about you. My brother rarely praises anyone, but he spoke of you in glowing terms. Chris even got a little jealous.¡±
At the mention of Chris, the conversation shifted from business to personal matters.
Jessica nced at Nina from the side.
It was said they had been neighbors before, and Nina called Chris¡¯s name in a way that sounded less like a sibling and more like¡ someone she liked.
So, had Nina once liked Chris?
Jessica felt a chill run down her spine, grateful that she had acted quickly, otherwise, Chris might not have even been her¡ ex- husband.
Jessica turned around and sat down, smiling as she said to Nina, ¡°Is that so? I often hear Chris mention you too. He said you were quite mischievous as a child and not as pretty as you are now. Look at you¨Cjust like the celebrities in yourpany.¡±
Nina put down her phone and looked at Jessica.
¡°We don¡¯t need to exchangepliments. You know why I¡¯m here. I think we¡¯re on the same side.¡±
¡°Huh?¡± Jessica pretended not to understand and waited for Nina to exin herself fully.
Nina didn¡¯t mind and knew Jessica¡¯s character well.
Beforeing, her brother had told her many times at home not to act like a spoiled youngdy because Jessica was also the daughter of an affluent family, and if both were headstrong, how would the business work?
Nina assured her that Roy need not worry, she had controlled the Felton family for so many years, and no branch dared to oppose her.
Her ability was clear, and she would never act rashly.
¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll be straightforward¨Cwe should work together.¡±
Jessica nodded with satisfaction.
¡°That¡¯s right, working together is fine, but I have one question.¡± She leaned forward and looked at Nina. ¡°Do you like Chris?¡±
Nina was rendered speechless.
Many had said that Jessica didn¡¯t really like her husband at home, and it was rumored they had divorced because Jessica had cheated with her first love, Michael.
Nina had constantly criticized Jessica behind her back for having poor taste in men.
But now it seemed Jessica truly cared about Chris.
Nina nodded generously. ¡°Yes, I like Chris. I liked him a lot when we were young. I thought we would be together, but¡ after I went abroad to study and came back, he had already be your husband. But don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t do anything else. Since Chris likes you, I just treat him as an ordinary friend.¡±
Jessica hadn¡¯t expected Nina to be so open¨Cminded, and she had nothing to hide either.
Since she was Roy¡¯s sister, she naturally knew about the investigation Roy was conducting.
¡°I¡¯m sorry to speak so inly, but I believe we will have a pleasant cooperation in the future.¡± Jessica extended her hand to Nina.
Nina smiled and shook it back.
¡°I believe so too.¡±
¡°There aren¡¯t many women in business, and they are often looked down upon.¡± Jessica released her hand and leaned back. 1 ¡°Does Michael think that I¡¯m a fool? Does he really think that a little sentiment is enough for me to forget the.Hall family¡¯s schemes against the Wilder Group? This time, we¡¯ll let them watch closely how women operate in the business world.¡±
X
Wife Back 101
¡°Okay.¡±
Michael had brought Jason to the Wilder Group several times, but nothing had been finalized.
Yet Nina only came once and was able to secure the top celebrity, Zack Linton, as the ambassador for the Wilder Jewelry¡¯s high¨Cend line.
That was the difference between heaven and earth.
Chris saw the trending news while still at the hospital. He hadn¡¯t expected the first to make headlines would be the Felton family rather than the Hall family.
After some thought, Chris sent a congrattory message to Nina.
Nina replied, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you, Chris. If it weren¡¯t for your influence, Ms. Wilder wouldn¡¯t have worked with me.¡±
Chris responded, ¡°The Felton family has always been at the top of the entertainment industry. Jessica isn¡¯t someone who acts purely on personal feelings¨Cit¡¯s all because of your own talent.¡±
Nina. ¡°Jessica even asked me today if I liked you. I told her you¡¯re just like a brother to me. She got jealous. I should¡¯ve just said I liked you.¡±
Chris was shocked and quickly replied. ¡°Don¡¯t say that. Jessica has a stubborn personality.¡±
Nina. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t interfere in your marriage. Anyway, I have a meeting now¨Cgot to go.¡±
In truth, Chris could tell that Nina had feelings for him.
But from the start, he had only ever seen her as a sister.
Chris didn¡¯t have a biological sister, but back when they were neighbors, those two used toe over to eat all the time.
Maybe they had known each other for too long¨Cthey were doomed to be only like siblings.
That evening when he got home, the TV was ying news about the Wilder Group and the Felton family.
Jessica only nced at it and said, ¡°The Hall family must be anxious now. Michael¡¯s been calling me constantly these days. I¡¯ve just been redirecting his calls to the secretary department. I think it¡¯s about toe to a head.¡±
By now, Jessica could openly speak about her ns with Michael in front of Chris.
This was to make things very clear to Chris that to ler, Michael was nothing more than someone to be used and investigated there were nothing else between them.
Or perhaps there were.
But those feelings were far too weak to outweigh the damage the Hall family had caused over the
years.
Jessica wasn¡¯t someone who couldn¡¯t tell right from wrong.
They had just finished dinner and were about to watch a new film.
Both of them were so busy they didn¡¯t have time to go to a cinema, so watching the film at home was the only option.
Chris was in the kitchen preparing fruit while Jessica chose a film.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door.
Jessica had a sudden hunch¨Cit must be Michael.
She messaged Jennifer to ask if Michael was home.
Jennifer replied, ¡°He¡¯s not. I was just about to tell you. he left about half an hour ago, carrying soup. He might have gone to see you.¡±
Jessica. ¡°Oh, just great. And you¡¯re only telling me this now?¡±
Jennifer. ¡°Sorry, I was ying games and forgot.¡±
That was the kind of talent she paid a high sry to hire.
Jessica sighed helplessly.
Chris was about to open the door when Jessica quietly pulled him back.
She put a finger to her lips.
¡°It¡¯s Michael,¡± whispered Jessica.
Chris understood immediately. He looked toward the door, then shook the water off his hands and pointed toward the bedroom. ¡°Then should I head inside?¡±
Jessica nodded. ¡°No matter what you hear, don¡¯te out. Michael won¡¯t hurt me. Don¡¯t worry. I can handle this.¡±
shugged her and kissed her on the forehead. ¡°I trust you.¡±
th that, he went into the bedroom and closed the door.
A couple of secondster, Jessica went to open the door.
¡°Jessica!¡± Michael was visibly anxious.
As soon as he saw her, he rushed inside and grabbed her arm to exin, ¡°You¡¯re still mad about that scandal the other day, aren¡¯t you? I¡¯ll have thepany rify it immediately!¡±
Jessica pretended to be angry, shook him off, and sad nothing.
Wife Back 102
Chapter 102
Michael, flustered, followed closely behind her.
He ced the item he was holding on the table and walked with Jessica to the sofa, sitting down beside her.
Instinctively, he looked around. There was no sign of Chris in the house¨Cseemed the two of them were still at odds.
With that thought in mind, Michael felt much more at ease.
If Jessica was still upset over his scandal, it meant she still cared about him.
Chris was bound to be eliminated eventually.
¡°Please don¡¯t be mad,¡± Michael pleaded. ¡°It was just a rumor. She only came to my ce to visit Jordan. Didn¡¯t Jordan get into a car ident a while ago? She hasn¡¯t recovered yet. And since thepany needed publicity, I asked her toe help look after the child to fuel the gossip.¡±
The exnation felt weak and unconvincing.
Michael did have feelings for Jessica, and he was determined to win her over.
But unfortunately¡ Michael was a man.
And worse, a man with typical ws.
In ancient times, men could have multiple wives.
In modern times, men could openly cheat and still feel justified.
To Michael, since he and Jessica weren¡¯t legally married, anything he did with other women was technically allowed.
So w nnifer sent Jessica the video from inside the bedroom, she felt Michael¡¯s hypocrisy had
peak. 1
re
Jus¡ninutes earlier, he had imed it was only fabricated rumor, saying they had never event spent the night in the same room, never even made eye contact.
Yet the next moment, the two of them entered the bathroom together.
Of course, the reason the news had spread so quickly was because Jessica had also helped fuel the gossip.
The more explosive the scandal became, the more innocent¡± she and Michael appeared to the public.
¡°Really?¡± Jessica tilted her head with feigned curiosity. ¡°You two really had nothing going on?¡±
Michael said, ¡°Of course! You already know the truth. I¡¯ve only ever loved you in this life¨Cwho else could I love?¡±
Inside the room, Chris listened to those words and couldn¡¯t help but find it hrious.
He felt like his life had be a soap opera.
He knew Jessica and Michael were putting on a show.
What amused him was that Michael¡¯s words¨Cthose same derations of love¨Che himself had once said, but with sincerity.
He had truly loved Jessica, and had only ever loved her.
But Michael? He didn¡¯t believe that for a second.
After all, he had also seen the videos¨Cgenerously shared with him by Jessica herself.
Chris sat on the bed in the bedroom, watching Michael pledge his loyalty outside, uttering those grand promises, while he¨Cher legal husband¡ no, ex¨Chusband¨Chid in the room like a secret lover.
What kind of life was that?.
Who said it wasn¡¯t entertaining?
Chris suddenly understood the phrase. There is endless joy in battling with people.
Michael lingered for quite a while before finally leaving, thinking he had smoothed things over with Jessica.
He even made her drink some soup before receiving a call from thepany and rushing off in a hurry.
Jessica immediately ran to the bathroom and threw up the soup she had just consumed.
Then, v
dexpression, she began scrubbing her hands.
When C. pened the door and walked out, she was still washing her hands.
The backs of her hands were bright red from the water.
The tap was running fast, and the bathroom was quiet¡ªonly the sounds of her movements could be heard.
¡°It¡¯s okay, You¡¯re clean now. You¡¯re the most innocent girl in the world, Jessica.¡±
Chris hugged her from behind and turned off the tag
Jessica lifted her head, and their eyes met in the mirror.
Chris saw her eyes, bloodshot with unshed tears still hanging in hershes.
One by one, they began to fall.
¡°I know the Hall family was involved in my father¡¯s death,¡± she said softly. ¡°But I still have to put on an act in front of Michael.¡±
¡°I¡¯m afraid¡ my dad will be disappointed in me when he sees me in the heavens.¡±
Wife Back 103
¡°How could that be?¡± Chris coaxed her softly. ¡°Your father must have seen how much you¡¯ve suffered in silence. Everything you¡¯ve done was to uncover the truth. I understand what you¡¯re doing, so your parents must understand as well.¡±
Jessica cried, her voice soft and fragilepletely different from the strong, capable woman she usually appeared to be.
¡°What was I thinking back then? Why did I choose Michael? Why¡¡±
¡°Mom told me that, at first, you didn¡¯t know the Hall family was involved in your father¡¯s death. She didn¡¯t want to tell you, afraid that hatred would consume you. Later, when you took over the Wilder Group, you discovered it yourself and severed your feelings for Michael. You¡¯ve already done more than enough.¡±
Jessica cried in Chris¡¯s arms for a while, then lifted her head.
¡°No, I haven¡¯t done enough. It took me so long to fall in love with you¨Cyou suffered so much because of me. If I had found out earlier¡¡±
¡°If you had found out earlier, then you wouldn¡¯t have married me when you were heartbroken when Michael got engaged abroad. And we wouldn¡¯t have had a beginning.¡±
So many things had gone awry in the beginning, but those missteps had led to the best oue.
The start may not have been right, but thankfully, they were now walking the path toward something perfect.
Looking at the thermos on the table, Jessica felt disgusted and tossed it straight into the trash. She was nning to take the trash out in the morning.
¡°Michael is panicking now,¡± said Jessica.
Their mood to watch a film wasn¡¯t ruined¨Cthey still sat together on the sofa and watched a movie.
Jessica chose a suspense film.
The two of them had only recently developed this hobby.
On evenings when they had time, they would pick a suspense film and start guessing who the killer was from the beginning.
As the plot unfolded, they would analyze every clue
Whoever guessed wrong had to fulfill one request from the other.
The sofa unfolded into a soft bed, and theyy cuddled up together.
Chris fed fruit into Jessica¡¯s mouth
He said, ¡°I can tell your giving the cold shoulder recently really paid off. But the most important part is your partnership with Nina.¡±
Jessica snorted, ¡°Nina, huh? You sounds pretty affectionate. Just admit it¨Cyou two were childhood sweethearts, weren¡¯t you?¡±
She pinched him, and Chrisughed and dodged.
¡°Even childhood sweethearts don¡¯t necessarily end up together. Sometimes it¡¯s just a sibling¨Clike rtionship.¡±
Jessica kept watching the film.
She had already made her guess about the killer¨Cquicker than Chris.
¡°If I guess right this time, let¡¯s go overseas for our honeymoon,¡± said Chris.
¡°Okay.¡±
Their wedding had been grand but rushed.
None of it had been in Jessica¡¯s original ns.
She hadn¡¯t even smiled much at the ceremony.
They got married one day, and she returned to work the very next, leaving Chris alone at home.
Since then, Chris had lived through five long years of being neglected.
Now that they wanted a fresh start, and since they hadn¡¯t officially remarried yet, it was the perfect chance to make up for all that had been missed.
Jessica wanted to give Chris the very best of everything.
Once everything was settled, she wanted to hold another wedding with him.
But that was something forter.
Two hourster, the film ended¨CChris had won.
He picked Jessica up into his arms and carried her to bed.
Lying face to face, their noses brushing, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t forget what you promised me¨Cset aside time after the New Year for our honeymoon.¡±
¡°Okay.¡±
¡°Ms. Wilder wouldn¡¯t stand me up, would she?¡±
Hearing that title, Jessica remembered that day in the hospital¨Cand her face turned red.
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Wife Back 104
¡°I won¡¯t. We¡¯ll go wherever you say.¡±
The next day was a day off. Chris, for once, didn¡¯t have to go to the hospital, so he apanied Jessica to work.
Recently, Chris had beening to the Wilder Group more often, and no one at thepany dared to say anything.
Especially the group of shareholders¨Coriginally, they thought Jessica had cheated, but to their surprise, the couple¡¯s rtionship only seemed to grow stronger.
Mr. Hickey, who had been warned by Jessica before now looked at Chris with clear resentment
saw him. every time b
But Chris never cared about what others thought. He was only slightly curious.
¡°Mr. Hickey?¡± Jessica sneered when Chris brought up the name.
¡°What else could it be? He works for the Hall family s, and he¡¯s been nted in the Wilder Group for quite a while. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessary to remove him¨Ckeeping him around means we can always know what the Hall family¡¯s up to.¡±
Shannon came in to deliver some documents and saw Chris, so she stepped out again to make coffee. She then ced the coffee in front of Chris.
¡°Michael came to see mest night. Officially, it was to exin the scandal, but really, he just wanted to ask about our coboration with the Felton family. He knows very well he can¡¯t win in the entertainment industry. So he tried a different angle and appearedst night with some soup.¡±
Even now, Jessica didn¡¯t belong to him, and that made Michael uneasy.
Whenever he spoke to Jessica, he was always trying to suppress his frustration.
Shannon nced at Jessica signing the documents and chuckled.
¡°That makes sense. Michael had his eye on the Wilder Group¡¯s high¨Cend jewelry line. He didn¡¯t get it the first time and probably thought he¡¯d get another shot. He didn¡¯t expect you to give it straight to Nina. That¡¯s why he¡¯s panicking.¡±
But what Michael was really anxious about was not being able to win Jessica¡¯s heart.
He could sense that the Jessica no longer loved him the way she once had.
At the very least, their rtionship was no longer pre¨Cand that was exactly what made him so desperate.
¡°Even back then, I would never have done anything to hurt the Wilder Group. By the way, how¡¯s Sophie doing overseas? She hasn¡¯t answered my callstely. Is she doing alright?¡±
If Jessica hadn¡¯t brought her up, Chris would¡¯ve forgotten there was still a second daughter in the Wilder family.
Sophie had also liked Michael¨Cand recklessly so.
She would do anything for him.
Jessica thought her little sister was too foolish, so she decided to send thetter abroad.
It had been a couple of months now.
¡°She¡¯s doing okay. Same as before¨Cgoing to and from ss, shopping with the other rich girls who were sent abroad. It¡¯s a decent life. But¡ she seems to have opened a livestream ount. Calls herself a cosmetics influencer, and she¡¯s already got tens of thousands of followers.¡±
Jessica¡¯s hand paused mid¨Csignature.
Sophie had been spoiled. She didn¡¯t know how to run a business¡ªjust how to spend money.
But when it came to makeup and fashion, she did have her own unique style.
And since she had money, it made sense that she would buy herself some followers and traffic.
After a moment of thought, Jessica said, ¡°Let her do what she wants. Just remind her¨Cno matter what she does, she must never drag the Wilder Group into it. Anything else is negotiable. But if she
ever tarnishes thepany¡¯s image, I¡¯ll cut off her financial support immediately.¡±
¡°Miss Sophie signed with a small MCN. If I¡¯m correct, the person behind thatpany is Michael. Ms. Wilder, you can¡¯t possibly not see what Miss Sophie feels for him, right?¡±
How could she not?
Their sisterly bond had always been strong, and Sophie was clearly the more pampered one.
That kind of younger sister often idolized her elder sister¨Cand that idolization sometimes extended to falling for the same man her sister once loved.
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Chapter 105
This was actually a very typical psychological condition.
Because she liked her sister, she became interested in everything her sister liked.
Fortunately, Sophie had never developed the idea of taking Michael away¨Cshe only desperately hoped that her sister could be with the person she loved.
At the moment, in order to help her sister reconcile with Michael, Sophie would do whatever Michael asked.
She really was a silly little girl.
Jessica didn¡¯t know what to say.
¡°Let¡¯s not talk about it now, I¡¯ll see how things go,¡± said Jessica.
¡°Okay.¡±
The room fell silent immediately.
Today was already an overtime day, and there weren¡¯t many people in thepany.
Jessica couldn¡¯t focus on the documents in her hands¨Cher mind was full of Sophie and Michael.
¡°When I first started my internship at the Summit Infirmary, didn¡¯t Jordan get sick? Sophie went with her to see the doctor. Back then, I already noticed that Sophie liked Michael. I didn¡¯t expect you to know too.¡±
Jessica leaned on her hand and looked helpless.
¡°How could I not see know? Actually, I hinted Sophie several times that Michael and I were already over. But still¡ what you don¡¯t know is that the first person Michael looked for when he came back to the country was Sophie. It seems Michael also knew I was already married, and Sophie was the only point of entry.¡±
If Michael failed to break up their marriage, he would probably shift his attention to Sophie.
By then, things might actually be simpler.
Sophie liked Michael only because he was someone her sister liked.
She had misunderstood the idea of loving everything rted to someone into being romantic love.
Once Jessica no longer had feelings for Michael, then Michael would just be a passerby in Sophie¡¯s
life.
¡°If Sophie won¡¯t listen, there¡¯s nothing I can do. I thought sending her far away would keep Michael from getting close to her. But it still happened¡ forget it. Let¡¯s just take it one step at a time. As long as I don¡¯t let Sophie drag the Wilder Group into this, it shouldn¡¯t be a big issue.¡±
Chris sat across from Shannon, took a sip of coffee, and though it tasted bitter, it was still rich and
fragrant.
After a while, he finally said, ¡°Isn¡¯t Michael running an entertainmentpany? When did he start doing self¨Cmedia too?¡±
¡°In the new media era, most entertainmentpanies have a bunch of influencers under their name. Actually, I¡¯ve thought about moving into the entertainment industry too, but the Wilder Group has never had any foundation there. And now that I¡¯m working with the Felton family, there¡¯s no need to fight for that market.¡±
¡°Nina will probably being by often these days.¡±
Jessica nced at Chris.
¡°What, so excited to see Nina?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t tease me.¡±
They had originally thought Chris¡¯s day off would let them enjoy a quiet afternoon.
But right after lunch, while the two of them were lying down in the lounge, the hospital called.
There was an emergency case that required a multi¨Cdepartment consultation, and Chris had to go
in too.
Chris immediately got up, dressed, and left.
After he left, Jessica stayed lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
Sophie¡¯s situation was a bit difficult.
She had never liked Chris in the first ce.
If Jessica told her they were back together straightforwardly, Sophie would definitely turn her hostility toward Chris.
But what could she do?
How did she end up with such a foolish little sister?
It was her fault too for not guiding her properly in those early years.
If she had helped Sophie understand that loving what someone loves wasn¡¯t the same as being in love, maybe things would¡¯ve been better.
The patient who had been brought in was in critical condition.
It was said they had fallen off the stage, and a giant chandelier had crashed down onto them.
The entire body had been pierced through by steel rods just barely missing the heart¨Cand that was the only reason they were still alive.
¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡± Chris entered the conference room in his doctor¡¯s overalls.
All the departments were already present.
¡°Mr. Green, take a look at the scan. It¡¯s not looking
Wife Back 106
The new person appointed as the head of orthopedics was named Ashley White.
Judging by the name, people thought he was a woman, but he turned out to be a man in his 30s, with features just as delicate as his name.
This was the first time Chris had seen him..
It was said that the position of orthopedic director should have been his originally, but Ben had paid money and taken it for himself.
Ashley hadn¡¯t seemed to care much.
As soon as Ben left, Ashley was immediately promoted.
If he had been ced in that role from the start, maybe so many problems wouldn¡¯t have happened, and the hospital wouldn¡¯t have had to pay anypensation.
Everyone had taken the wrong step and kept going down the wrong path¨Cthere was no fixing it now.
1
¡°It¡¯s a perforating wound. Judging by this, we definitely need to do an open¨Cchest surgery. All departments need toe up with a joint surgical n. What¡¯s the patient¡¯s current status? Still conscious?¡± asked
Chris.
Ashley replied, ¡°He was still conscious when brought in Because the steel rod wasn¡¯t removed, there hasn¡¯t been any massive bleeding. We¡¯ve already administered painkillers¨Che¡¯s conscious. Now it¡¯s a matter of how to proceed with surgery to save his life.¡±
In the end, Chris had to lead the operation.
Everyone worked out a surgical n in the shortest time possible and began racing against the clock.
While scrubbing in, Ashley stood next to Chris.
The two stood side by side, both tall with long legs and broad shoulders.
¡°I haven¡¯t seen you before,¡± said Chris.
Ashley smiled. ¡°I usually work the night shift. How should I put it¡ Ben didn¡¯t like me very much- probably because he knew I was the biggest threat to him in orthopedics. After he became director, he reassigned me to night shifts. It¡¯s been about a year now!¡±
So that was it.
Someone capable of being director should¡¯ve at least performed surgeries with the team, or at the very least had a known name,
If it was Ben pulling strings, that made sense.
¡°A few days ago, I had dinner with Prof, Rane¨Che said the same thing. If they had appointed you as the orthopedic director from the beginning, none of this mess would¡¯ve happened. Prof. Rane really recognizes your ability. I didn¡¯t expect our first coboration would be such a high¨Crisk surgery.¡±
Ashley turned sideways with his hands raised and said to Chris, ¡°Ms. Wilder ced me here because she valued my potential. I¡¯ve been at the Summit Infirmary for five years¡ªlonger than you¨Cbut I¡¯m not as
capable as you¡®
Chris was surprised.
He hadn¡¯t expected Ashley to be one of Jessica¡¯s arrangements.
*15 BONUS
Both had finished scrubbing¨Cotherwise, Ashley might wanted to shake his hand.
¡°I was still in med school when Ms. Wilder noticed me, he sent me here to intern, and I¡¯ve worked my way up since. The Summit Infirmary has always been tied to what she¡¯s doing, so there are quite a few of her people here. I just didn¡¯t expect even her husband would be brought in.¡±
Nurses began tiling in one after another to scrub in.
Chris snapped out of his daze and walked in with Ashley
¡°You¡¯re saying that even before Jessica invested in the mit Infirmary, you guys were already stationed here?¡±
Ashley nodded. ¡°There are some things I can¡¯t say too much about. We just follow orders and do our jobs. Oh, by the way, I¡¯ve already notified Ms. Wilder¨Cthis infident is connected to the Hall family,¡±
Chris had arrived a bitte, so he wasn¡¯t fully aware of the patient¡¯s situation.
He heard from the nurses that the patient was apparently a performer¨Cfell off the stage mid¨Cshow¨Cand was impaled by steel rods.
The surgery started at five in the afternoon andsted over 10 hours.
All departments remained on high alert.
Chris¡¯s department was scheduledter in the procedur, so he changed out of his scrubs and stood outside, watching through the observation room.
Wife Back 107
The orthopedics team needed to open the chest first, then locate the position.
From the observation room, it was clear that Ashley¡¯s skills were really good. He was fast, precise, and powerful.
Orthopedics was different from other departments, opening the chest required some strength.
¡°His technique is much better than Ben¡¯s. His hands don¡¯t shake at all, and the positioning is perfect,¡±
Chris said to Jake.
Jake nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t know when I¡¯ll be able to practice like that. But I guess I¡¯m not really meant to work with customers anymore.¡®
>>
¡°Your teacher will rmend you to a department. If not, I¡¯ll help you,¡± said Chris.
Jake stepped forward two steps, moving closer to the window.
¡°This person looks kind of familiar. Judging by the face quite handsome¨Clike a celebrity.¡±
¡°He is a celebrity. He was injured during amercial performance¨Cfell off the stage.¡±
¡°Ah!¡± Jake was incredulous and quickly took out his phone to look it up.
After searching on the inte, he indeed found information about themercial performance.
¡°FN International, the Felton family? The Felton family s a big shot in the entertainment industry¨Cone of theirpany¡¯s artists was injured!¡±
¡®FN International? So he¡¯s one of Nina¡¯s celebrities?¡® wondered Chris.
Chris wasn¡¯t very familiar with the entertainment industry or celebrities.
After Jake finished speaking, he handed the phone over to him.
Chris took out his own phone and turned to make a call.
The other side answered quickly.
Wind noise came through the receiver¨Cit seemed like they were outside.
Nina spoke with a cold tone after talking briefly with several people nearby, ¡°Chris, I was just about to call you. Ourpany¡¯s artist was injured and was sent to your hospital.¡± a
¡°The orthopedics department has already started the surgery. It will take a long time and won¡¯t finish until early morning,¡±
Nina made a gesture, and the people around dispersed as she began inspecting the venue.
¡°I suspect the Hall family did this. This was a small jewelry exhibition we cooperated on with the Wilder Group¨Cnot an endorsement, just showcasing previous high¨Cend jewelries. The venue has been open for more than ten years without any problems. Why did the ident have to happen now?¡±
¡°Has Jessica been informed?¡± asked Chris.
Nina said, ¡°She¡¯s on her way here. How¡¯s the patient?¡±
This person was quite a celebrity, the fans already knew and news was everywhere online.
the Wilder Group and FN¡¯s PR teams gathered to hold a meeting to try to suppress the public opinion.
But before they started, the Hall family had already hired inte trolls, and the online insults between the twopanies couldn¡¯t be contained.
¡°So far, it¡¯s unclear. The patient was conscious when brought in.
My department will handle the final part of the surgery.
Wait for updates, and be careful in what you do.¡±
¡°Okay, I¡¯m counting on you. The patient¡ has to survive.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡±
As a doctor, Chris would do his utmost to save every life but often he felt powerless.
He called Jessica again, and she answered immediately.
¡°You know everything already. Ashley, the orthopedic director, is one of my people. You should have no problem cooperating. Make sure to rest when you can. A surgerysting over 10 hours¨Cdon¡¯t overwork yourself, and the patient better not die.¡±
Jessica¡¯s voice was cold.
She was always habitually cold when big things happened.
Chris said, ¡°Are you going to see Nina? You should be careful too. If¡ this really involves the Hall family, what¡¯s your n?¡±
¡°We have to find evidence first. Roy is here too. This is a major case. Does the surgery finish at dawn? I¡¯ll send someone to pick you up then.¡±
Wife Back 108
The surgerysted for about an hour, continuing until early morning.
When Chris came out of the operating room, his surgical gown was soaked with sweat, and he felt a bit dizzy.
A nurse nearby helped support him.
Two people were still standing guard at the door of the operating room.
ording to the nurse, they seemed to be Edward, the agent, and an assistant.
These two appeared to know Chris and immediately surrounded him when he came out. 2
¡°Mr. Green, how is Joseph?¡±
The injured person¡¯s name was Joseph Brown.
Chris hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the name while reviewing the information, it was Jake who found the person¡¯s photo on his phone.
¡°Currently, he¡¯s fine. We need to observe the postoperative recovery, since the lung was injured, the recovery might take a long time. We¡¯ll confirm the specific recovery n after he wakes up today. There is no other immediate danger. He will be transferred to the ICU soon. You can leave one person to stay with
him.¡±
Edward asked the assistant to handle the hospital admission.
The nurse brought several forms for Chris to sign.
After everyone left, Edward came to Chris and said, ¡°Mr Green, Ms. Wilder said that after you finish here, the driver will take you straight to them. They are still at the scene of the ident, and Miss Felton¡¯s
brother is there as well.¡±
Chris nced at the time.
He had rushed here since the afternoon and had been tense for over 10 hours.
Now that he finished his job, he felt dizzy.
He didn¡¯t say much. He went back to the office to get changed and then went out with Edward.
¡°By the way, I heard this incident might be rted to the Hall family. Why was the Hall family the first to be suspected?¡± asked Chris.
Edward was opening the door for Chris but paused at the question, seeming unsure whether to answer.
Seeing this, Chris said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know everything¡±
¡°Because the Hall family was holding a banquet next door at a restaurant. Apparently, it was Lynsey¡¯s birthday banquet. The proximity made Miss Felton unable not to suspect the Hall family.¡±
So that was why.
Chris then recalled that Michael hade yesterday to deliver soup.
Besides the exnation, lie had mentioned Lynsey¡¯s birthday and hoped Jessica would attend, but she said she had to work overtime and declined.
Now the Hall family¡¯s intentions were obvious.
Jessica did attend Jordan¡¯s birthday partyst time and was almost mistaken as her mother.
She had been pulled by the Hall family to stand by the door, greeting guests like a member of their family.
Jessica wouldn¡¯t fall into that trap again.
Michael no longer needed to use bait or show a friendly face.
Being cold now might be even more effective.
After closing the car door, the driver elerated and took Chris to the scene of the ident..
The ce specialized in hosting various exhibitions.
Jewelry and fashion shows were often held there.
It was located in the most luxurious part of the city¨Cprime real estate that mostpanies wouldn¡¯t even
consider.
This venue had never had any problems before, so why did such a big incident happen during the Wilder Group¡¯s and FN¡¯s cooperation?
Standing on the operating table and seeing Joseph¡¯s condition, Chris immediately understood that the mastermind definitely wanted Joseph dead.
The steel rod had nearly pierced the heart. It was far too dangerous to be fake.
Outside the scene of the ident, police lines had been set up.
Chris approached the entrance to speak, but Roy had already opened the door and wasing out, holding his phone as if talking to someone.
He strode over and lifted the police tape with one hand, signaling Chris to enter.
¡°I know, there will definitely be pressure from the superiors. I just want to see how much pressure he can handle¨Cwhether he can withstand Nina and Ms. Wilder Those two have made ns to go to the headquarters for a meeting tomorrow.¡±
Wife Back 109
¡°It just depended on whether Mr. Clinton could hold out Alright, we¡¯ll talk tomorrow. I¡¯lleter.¡±
Roy hung up the phone, then nced at Chris¡¯s pale face and knew he was tired.
He led him into a private room and pushed the door ope
On the table were many dishes, seemingly just served.
Nina and Jessica sat together, both with their heads down, quietly talking.
Hearing the noise at the door, they looked up.
Jessica waved her hand. ¡°Perfect timing. The food here isn¡¯t great, just have a bite.¡±
There were four of them in total.
Looking at the table full of tes, Chris suddenly didn¡¯t understand what ¡°just have a bite¡± meant.
¡°How is Joseph? Is he okay?¡± asked Jessica.
Nina had already received a call from Edward saying his condition was stable for now but still needed to be monitored for recovery.
¡°Currently, his condition isn¡¯t critical, but¡ his injuries are severe. He probably won¡¯t be able to do any heavy lifting in the future. Of course, as an entertainer, he wouldn¡¯t need to do physicalbor anyway. A conservative estimate is that it will take six months to a year to recover.¡±
Nina cursed inwardly.
It was rare for Nina to swear in front of Chris.
Nina always acted sweet and well¨Cbehaved in front of Chris, never showing the aura of a CEO of an entertainmentpany.
¡°Right now, Indya and Shannon are still having a meeting at thepany. The public opinion online can¡¯t be controlled for the time being. There¡¯s an overwhelming flood of criticism saying ourpany didn¡¯t protect the artist well. Joseph¡¯s fan base is huge, it¡¯s difficult to handle,¡± Nina said angrily, taking a sip of
tea.
ording to Roy¡¯s investigation, the fallen crystal chandelier was due to aging parts, and no other cause was found.
But the venue manager said that all decorations and chandeliers were regrly inspected, so there couldn¡¯t be any aging parts.
ording to maintenance records, the chandelier parts had been reced two months ago.
Based on wear estimates, they definitely couldn¡¯t have aged to the condition seen on site.
So someone must have tampered with it.
¡°The surveince cameras were deliberately moved. I suspect an inside man was bribed. We¡¯re currently interrogating the security staff,¡± Roy said as he ate quickly.
Chris was no better off, he had been in the operating room for over 10 hours.
Even when it was not their department¡¯s turn, he had to stay and watch.
He didn¡¯t even dare drink much water.
Jessica had no appetite and worried Chris would starve, o she kept feeding him.
¡°Today I worked with Ashley, he said he was working for you,¡± Chris whispered to Jessica. ¡°Looks like Ms. Wilder likes people who study medicine. You knew Ashley before you knew me.¡±
Jessica lowered her eyes and smiled.
Actually, that wasn¡¯t true.
She met Ashley after Chris.
Back then, she and Chris weren¡¯t married yet.
She only knew a little about medical students because of Chris¡¯s identity.
From then on, after Michael went abroad, she became disheartened and took over thepany.
She immediately began looking into her father¡¯s death, naturally tracing it back to the Summit Infirmary.
She selected a top student from medical school and arranged for him to intern at the Summit Infirmary, where he stayed for five years.
¡°I like you more,¡± said Jessica, smiling and kissing him
The young couple flirted yfully, but Roy didn¡¯t want to watch and quickly pulled his sister to eat.
¡°What¡¯s next?¡± asked Nina. 1
¡°The hospital has Chris guarding inside, but we won¡¯t be able to find anything outside.¡±
¡°If we don¡¯t find anything, then it¡¯s a PR crisis. It can always be solved. Anyway, I¡¯m not counting on convicting the Hall family because of this.¡± Jessica wiped her mouth and looked up at Roy.
¡°What do you think, Captain Felton?¡±
Wife Back 110
((
Roy had almost finished eating, then lit a cigarette for himself, exhaled a puff of white smoke, and said, What can I do? The incident already happened. Our squad can only try to catch the culprit. Tomorrow, we have to take Joseph¡¯s statement.¡±
Chris said, ¡°Joseph should wake up today, but it depends on his condition. I don¡¯t rmend you question him now, because he injured his lung¨Che can¡¯t get angry or frightened, and he might not be able to speak.¡±
Roy spread his hands. ¡°If we can¡¯t ask questions, then what the hell are we going to continue the investigation?¡±
Seeing her brother being so rude, Nina gave him a sharp p and then turned to Chris. ¡°Joseph¡¯s assistant will be at the hospital. Chris, if you need anything, you can talk to him.¡±
¡°Okay.
It wasn¡¯t until dawn that everyone left the scene of the ident.
The venue manager escorted them to the door, with a bitter look saying to Jessica, ¡°Ms. Wilder, we will take full responsibility for this matter. Joseph¡¯s treatment costs will also be covered by us. My employer asked me to invite you to dinner.¡±
Chris stayed beside Jessica but didn¡¯t say anything.
She nced back at the manager and then said calmly, ¡°No need. Your venue¡¯s food needs updating, the taste is average. Tell your employer this¨Che shouldn¡¯t be talking to me right now. Instead of inviting me to dinner when there¡¯s time, it¡¯d be better to help Miss Felton resolve the matter.¡±
Her gaze was meaningful as it lingered on the manager.
She nced at the surveince cameras by the door, casually raised her hand and pointed, her slender fingers slightly shaking, and everyone¡¯s eyes followed the gesture.
¡°If those cameras are of no use, then you might as well remove them.¡±
With that said, she took Chris and got into the car.
¡°Why be mad at him? Roy said it has nothing to do with them,¡± said Chris.
In the car, Jessica was also exhausted.
She messaged Shannon to say she was going home to sleep and told the PR department to head back as well.
¡°Roy also said the security department was probably bribed, otherwise, how could no one have caught the part being reced on camera? It¡¯s their poor management. Now bothpanies are under fan attacks. Just when the rumors about my affair died down, this happens again¡¡±
Jessica showed signs of fatigue.
Chris immediately pulled her into his arms and said, ¡°Ln on me and get some rest. I¡¯ll wake you when we get home.¡±
¡°Okay.¡±
Leaning in the familiar embrace, Jessica noticed the disinfectant smell on Chris¡¯s clothes and thought of
how hard he¡¯d worked for over 10 hours. She felt a little tender.
¡°You¡¯re tired too. I¡¯m not sleeping. I¡¯ll keep youpany.¡±
¡°I¡¯m your husband. At times like this, you should rest first. Don¡¯t worry. I squeezed in two hours of sleep. I¡¯m in a better condition.¡±
He was lying, of course.
In a situation like that, it was impossible to sleep.
Others only focused on the surgery, but his mind kept spinning over how the incident happened and what impact it would have on Wilder and Felton families.
His brain kept running and couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the trending topics online.
The driver stopped the car.
Jessica was already asleep.
Chris carried her out of the car and, after getting off, told the driver, ¡°No need toe pick me up again today. Thank you for your hard work.¡±
¡°Not at all.¡±
He was Jessica¡¯s personal driver.
Besides him, there was another driver on shift, on call 24/7.
Whenever Jessica needed a car, no matter the time, they had toe.
The Wilder Group naturally offered the best sries in the industry.
The driver was chosen because of his excellent driving skills.
Watching Chris carry Jessica into the apartment building, the driver couldn¡¯t help but feel deeply moved.
Wife Back 111
Chapter III
Chapter 111
Not long ago, Jessica and Chris had argued in the car¨Cone wanted a divorce, the other disagreed, one wanted to leave, the other tried to prevent him from leaving.
No matter how one looked at it, it seemed like it was about to end.
But now, surprisingly¡
The driver shook his head helplessly, somewhat envious that young couples still had this kind of intimacy.
People like them only worked to make a living and had no time to quarrel.
But he felt that Jessica was a nice person, and Chris was equally kind, he hoped the two could live a happy life together.
Chris helped Jessica take off her clothes, then wiped her face with a warm towel.
Jessica had rushed urgently to the scene of the ident and had long since removed her makeup, only wearing sunsses when she left.
After cleaning up, Jessica muttered a couple of words and then turned around, falling into a deep slumber.
Chris got changed and, on the contrary, became more alert.
He went to the study, opened theputer, organized the details of the night¡¯s surgery, and sent them to the email addresses of the department heads, asking them to add more details
one by one.
If any rejection orplication urred in future surgeries, they could find the problem as quickly as possible.
He worked all night, and everyone else went home to rest.
Unexpectedly, the fastest to reply was Ashley.
Through the email, he sent Chris his WhatsApp I, and the two added each other.
Ashley, ¡°Mr. Green, you¡¯re still awake.¡±
Chris. ¡°Just got back with Ms. Wilder. It¡¯s your day off. Why are you still awake?¡±
Ashley. ¡°I was called out to breakfast. By the way I found a problem with one of the orthopedic nurses during surgery today.¡±
Chris. ¡°Oh?¡±
All department nurses were carefully selected, mostly the top students from the nursing
schools.
The Summit Infirmary offered far better benefits than other hospitals, so everyone fought to be nurses there, both men and women.
Those who stayed naturally had some talent.
Ashley felt it was hard to exin, so he called.
Chris hurriedly got up and closed the study door to avoid waking Jessica.
¡°What is it?¡± asked Chris.
Ashley leaned against the street corner, smoking and watching his boyfriend going to buy breakfast.
He exhaled a puff of smoke as he spoke.
¡°Emergency room nurses adapt quickly to various symptoms, but today I noticed one nurse¡¯s movements were very¡ not just slow, but seemed deliberately trying to waste time.¡±
Chris frowned and asked, ¡°Is she just unfamiliar with the job?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure. After the surgery, I asked the head nurse if that nurse was new. The head nurse said no, she¡¯s been working for a year.¡±
Could it be intentional?
The two fell silent.
A man¡¯s voice came from across the street, asking Ashley who he was calling.
¡°The director of our hospital.¡±
The man responded with a nod and seemed to have led him into a quiet room.
¡°Have something to eat first, then go home and get some rest.
¡°It was something that just came to my mind, so thought I¡¯d tell you. The nurse¡¯s name might be Nancy,¡±
¡°I understand. Thank you,¡± said Chris.
Ashley had just started to chuckle when the man stuffed something into his mouth.
¡°We¡¯re both working for Ms. Wilder, I¡¯m getting paid, so shouldn¡¯t I be doing my job?¡±
After hanging up, the man sitting opposite Ashley looked up at him.
¡°Ms. Wilder again?¡±
Ashley shook his head.
Chapter I
¡°It¡¯s her husband.¡±
¡°What? Ms. Wilder¡¯s married? Why didn¡¯t you ever mention that?¡±
¡°She¡¯s married a long time ago. Her husband¡¯s our hospital¡¯s Honorary Chairman. He¡¯s very skilled in surgery, decisive and neat¡ªa genius in the medical industry.¡±
When Jessica opened her eyes, it was already past 10 o¡¯clock in the morning.
Chris was still asleep beside her.
She quietly and carefully lifted the covers and got out of bed.
Wife Back 112
The incident happened quite suddenly, and there were many things to take care of at work.
She had nned to go to work for a meeting today but ended up sleeping until now.
After waking up, she went to the study to check messages but found that Chris had also used theputer, and there were emails received on it.
It seemed Chris had already met with Ashley.
Jessica sat in front of theputer, deep in thought.
In fact, Ashley had been a strategic piece ced in the Summit Infirmary a long time ago, but only now was he brought into the open.
She didn¡¯t want things to be so conspicuous or to alert the Hall family too early.
That was why she had deliberately let Ben take the position of the orthopedic directorst time.
Now that Ben was in trouble, having Ashley step up to rece him wouldn¡¯t raise suspicion.
Jessica sighed and rested her head, feeling a bit tired.
She didn¡¯t know when all these disputes would end.
Before the video meeting started, Chris had already woken up.
He went to the kitchen and quickly prepared something to eat, then brought it to Jessica, sitting down beside her without leaving.
¡°Don¡¯t go to work,¡± said Chris.
Jessica nodded. ¡°I held a video meeting to see what solutions the PR department has. Nina has already started crisis management. With both approaches, it should hold things down for a while.¡±
She could understand Michael¡¯s mindset in this move.
He didn¡¯t want to make things worse because he still needed to rely on the Wilder family, it was just a warning to Nina.
But he forgot who Nina was.
The Felton family was deeply rooted in the city.
Besides Roy, the legitimate eldest son, everyone else¨Cboth in the main and branch families- coveted the heir¡¯s position.
But Nina, a woman, had held that position for many years without being challenged.
That spoke volumes about Nina¡¯s ability.
Jessica rarely admired anyone, but Nina was one of those she did.
Also, since they were both women fighting in the business world, Jessica felt the same kind of sympathy for Nina.
¡°I¡¯ll go to the hospitalter to check the situation. Joseph will wake up today. If he¡¯s conscious, I¡¯ll have Roy go take his statement. If he¡¯s not fully conscious, the subsequent treatment will be moreplicated, and it won¡¯t be as easy as we thought.¡±
It all depended on the individual¡¯s constitution.
But no matter what, Joseph, a perfectly good person, had be a target chosen by Michael.
From both emotional and rational perspectives, it was unjustifiable.
Chris suddenly asked Jessica, ¡°Have you ever harmed someone?¡±
Jessica didn¡¯t hesitate and nodded. ¡°I have.¡± She paused and then said slowly, ¡°I¡¯ve harmed many people, and you¡¯re one of them.¡±
¡°That doesn¡¯t count.¡± Chris smiled. ¡°I did it willingly.¡±
In this position, some tactics had to be used, and there were plenty of dirty jobs that Calum
did.
Calum was Indya¡¯s younger brother, sharing both parents and looking very simr.
He worked for Jessica but rarely came to thepany, and no one knew about their rtionship.
¡°But I never harm people without reason, unlike Michael, who drags innocent people into businesspetition. I¡¯ve never done that.¡±
¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Chris sighed with relief.
In the afternoon, the two separated.
Chris had only been gone for five or six minutes when someone knocked on the door.
Jessica thought maybe he had forgotten something, so she came out from the study to open the door.
¡°Michael?¡± Jessica frowned, recalling the meeting was still ongoing in the study and didn¡¯t invite him in. ¡°What brought you here?¡±
Michael looked very anxious. ¡°I heard about the what happened at the fashion show with FN international, the inte is flooded with bad reviews. I¡¯m worried about you, so I came to check on you.¡±
Wife Back 113
Chapter 113
Michael tried toe inside as he spoke.
ut Jessica stubbornly stood at the door, leaving no space for him to pass through.
Michael found it strange.
essica said, ¡°Indeed, the situation is serious. I¡¯m in a meeting and it¡¯s inconvenient to keep ou.¡±
Oh, I see.¡± Michael¡¯s body paused, he hadn¡¯t expected Jessica to refuse him entry.
He instinctively nced inside the room and saw a pair of men¡¯s slippers near the entrance.
Had Chrise back recently?
Then¡ have you eaten lunch? I can make you something to eat.¡± Michael tried again.
essica said she had already eaten.
n the end, Michael left reluctantly.
fter closing the door, Jessica looked down at the slippers Chris had taken off.
t seemed Michael had already noticed, and she guessed he might act recklessly out of esperation.
Michael was a man, and a very arrogant one.
He had always thought his position in Jessica¡¯s heart was unmatched, but now, Jessica valued work far more than love.
he was no longer the girl who could be coaxed with a few sweet words during university.
Michael wanted to be the head of the Wilder family, but it was going to be quite difficult.
he bent down and put the slippers away.
he was very curious about what reckless moves Michael might make.
I¡¯m back.¡± Jessica clicked on the microphone and said to a few people, ¡°Michael just came by. He said he saw the onlinements and was worried about me, so he came to check.¡±
ndya couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°What, did hee to see the fruits of his victory?¡±
How is this man so shameless?¡± Shannon shook her head and said to Jessica, ¡°Captain Felton till hasn¡¯t found any problems. The security team speaks with one voice and now everyone at he venue is suspicious.¡±
While Chris was not around, Jessica lit a cigarette.
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White smoke slowly rose, and the study quickly filled with the smell of tobo,
Chris was a doctor and usually disliked the smell of cigarette, so Jessica had developed the habit of not smoking at home.
She only asionally smoked one or two cigarettes in the office to relieve stress,
Jessica closed her eyes, her mind full of Michael¡¯s expression earlier, the disguised anxiety mixed with secret delight.
It was as if he wanted to see her frown, believing he was a savior who woulde down from the sky to solve all these troubles.
¡°The PR team from FN gave a very simple n. Once Joseph wakes up and his condition slightly improves, they will film a video and post it online. No matter how much we exin, it won¡¯t be as powerful as a few words from Joseph himself,¡± said Jessica,
¡°Chris has already gone to the hospital, Joseph probably hasn¡¯t woken up yet.¡±
Joseph indeed hadn¡¯t woken up.
The effects of the anesthesia had worn off, and he was probably in a lot of pain.
He had been frowning continuously even while unconscious.
All departments came to check his room and confirmed there was no further internal bleeding
His body was slowly recovering but he was not conscious, which was likely rted to his individual body condition.
Roy had been guarding the hospital early on.
He had just returned from the outside smoking a cigarette as Chris started his rounds.
¡°Why hasn¡¯t he woken up yet?¡± Roy asked anxiously.
Chris listened with a stethoscope, confirming that Joseph¡¯s breathing was slow but unobstructed.
¡°It depends on the individual body condition. Everyone absorbs anesthesia differently. Joseph is an artist who usually doesn¡¯t do much physical activity, so his cardiopulmonary function might naturally be slower. Just wait a little longer¡±
The interns who were following the rounds left, and Roy told his subordinates to leave as well
¡°Do you think he might not wake up?¡± asked Roy
24
Wife Back 114
chris shook his head. ¡°There was no injury to the head, so the possibility of him bing a egetable doesn¡¯t exist, but¡ the human body isplicated, and there could be some nisalignment injuries. I can¡¯t guarantee anything, but based on the current examinations, here is a 70% chance he will wake up.¡±
0% was already a very high possibilitying from doctors.
No doctor could ever say 100%.
he highest sess rate for surgery was only 98%.
Not even 99.
nd that was for the most routine appendectomy.
Alright, I believe you,¡± Roy said irritably.
He walked to the door, pushed open the window, and nced again at Joseph.
Yesterday, Nina told me that Joseph is FN¡¯s top celebrity, with a fan base exceeding 10 nillion. If he doesn¡¯t wake up, the Wilder Group and FN might face a disaster.¡±
lthough Chris didn¡¯t understand these matters, he sensed a crisis from Jessica¡¯s worried xpression.
The doctors have done their best, now it depends on the patient¡¯s own will to survive. From he current ECG, it¡¯s very stable.¡±
The room was filled with the smell of disinfectant.
ll the machines attached to Joseph made different sounds, like a quiet symphony in the silent
oom.
You can start look into other areas first. Don¡¯t put all your focus on Joseph. I believe verything happened all of a sudden, and Joseph probably doesn¡¯t even know who attacked im.¡±
ctually, Roy was watching Joseph closely because of what the assistant said.
hey had already recorded the assistant¡¯s statement, and Nina had confirmed the assistant¡¯s estimony immediately.
he assistant was different from Edward, he was Joseph¡¯s personal assistant, living with him nd taking care of all his daily needs..
At the moment of the incident, Joseph fell off the stage first and was then hit by a crystal handelier.
1
¡°Joseph¡¯s assistant, Liam, said Joseph shouted once, he was pushed off the stage.¡±
At that time, Joseph was dancing on stage at the scene of the ident.
He was a singer and would dance, and there were about 15 dancers behind him, but no one knew who had pushed Joseph.
Only Joseph could see clearly from his position, others¡® views were blocked.
So Roy needed Joseph to wake up and give a statement.
¡°So, this series of ¡®coincidences¡® was actually deliberate. Someone pushed him off the stage, making him fall directly under the crystal chandelier, which then hit him.¡±
Roy nodded. ¡°Exactly.¡±
No wonder Roy had been assigning people to guard Joseph.
¡°In that case, Joseph must have seen the attacker or at least who pushed him off¡ so Joseph is in danger.¡±
Knowing Michael¡¯s temperament, if the first strike failed, there would definitely be follow¨Cup
moves.
Joseph was still alive and might expose the attacker, so Michael would certainly strike again.
Chris said, ¡°I suggest you assign someone to watch Joseph 24/7. Doctors and nurses can¡¯t always stay in the room, and the assistant needs rest, so he can¡¯t be fully protected.¡±
¡°That¡¯s what I was thinking too. Since he¡¯s not awake yet and could be in danger at any time, I¡¯ll have Jack guard him and coordinate with you.
¡°Me?¡±
Roy hugged Chris¡¯s shoulders and lowered his voice. ¡°We¡¯re preparing to set a trap.¡±
When Roy left, it was already seven o¡¯clock and it was dark outside.
Chris checked Joseph¡¯s vital signs again, everything was within normal limits before closing the door and leaving.
Two nurses were talking outside the door.
Chris held the examination sheet and handed it to a nurse, ¡°This patient needs intensive care. Check the data every half hour and record it. Preferably, don¡¯t leave him unattended.¡±
Today¡¯s Bonus Offer
Wife Back 115
Chapter 115
¡°Okay.¡±
The hospital nurses still listened to Chris.
After all, he was now the honorary chairman.
Not only was he good¨Clooking, but he was also talented and treated them kindly in daily life.
Who wouldn¡¯t like someone like that?
Chris finished dressing and left.
He went downstairs to the car park but didn¡¯t get into his own car.
Instead, he got into another silver medium¨Csized van.
As soon as the door opened, Chris slipped inside.
There were quite a few people inside, all busy with their own tasks, except Roy, who was focused on a screen.
¡°Is everything set up? Can you see clearly from the positions I ced them?¡± asked Chris.
Roy had assigned him a task before leaving in the afternoon.
Roy shared Chris¡¯s opinion. Michael hadn¡¯t seeded this time, but to prevent Joseph from waking up and exposing the attacker, he would try everything to kill Joseph.
They had a few people guarding there to ensure Joseph¡¯s safety, but before that, they needed to know who the assant was.
Roy¡¯s group was too obvious a target, but Chris, being a doctor, attracted little attention.
So Roy gave Chris some hidden cameras to install at key points.
That way, the whole ward was under surveince allowing them to catch the culprit and protect Joseph.
Upstairs, other colleagues waited in the fire escape with Bluetooth earpieces, pretending to be family members.
As soon as they noticed anyone approaching, they would immediately move in to catch them.
The Summit Infirmary was a private hospital that didn¡¯t let people in easily.
Chris had noticed earlier in the afternoon that many of Joseph¡¯s fans and media were waiting at the gate for any news.
Several people in disguise tried to sneak in but were stopped by security guards.
Before finishing his shift, Chris told the guards that no one was allowed in, not even the police, unless they got permission from him first
The Summit Infirmary had always been like this, otherwise, how could wealthy people keep choosing this ce?
¡°Everything can be seen clearly. Good job,¡± said Roy, waving his hand, and someone immediately handed Chris a cup of coffee.
The closer it got to the end of the year, the colder it became.
They were told it might snow on the weekend.
Though they were all inside the van, it was still freezing.
Luckily, the coffee was hot.
Chris held the warm cup with both hands and watched the monitors with Roy.
About 10 minutester, the first person entered the ward¨Ca nurse.
She just checked the area, recorded all the data on a sheet, confirmed Joseph¡¯s vital signs were stable, and then left.
¡°The nurses at your hospital seem quite responsible,¡± said Roy.
Chris replied, ¡°Actually, not really. You could tell from her eyes that she was a fan of Joseph. That¡¯s why she was eager toe and guard the CU.¡±
Roy was rendered speechless.
Although the Felton family was in the entertainment business, Roy, the rightful heir, didn¡¯t understand it at all.
What was so good about men putting on makeup
He didn¡¯t understand what these girls liked.
Judging only by Joseph¡¯s facial features, he was a handsome young man, but Roy still didn¡¯t know why so many people liked him.
After another half hour, Chris was thinking about sending Jessica a message to say he was with Roy when his phone vibrated.
Wife Back 116
Everyone in the car had their phones on silent, so from the outside, no one could guess there was anyone inside.
¡°Noting back yet?¡± Jessica¡¯s voice was a bit hoarse, as if she had been in meetings all afternoon and talked too much. ¡°Look at what time it is. I asked the hospital and they said that you already got off work.¡±
Chris covered the microphone and said, ¡°I¡¯m with Roy, in the hospital car park. I¡¯lle backter.¡±
Jessica paused. ¡°Roy? Hasn¡¯t he taken the statement?¡±
Chris said, ¡°Joseph¡¯s still unconscious. Roy thinks someone mighte to ¡®clean up,¡® so he told me to install some equipment in the ward. We¡¯re about to catch them.¡±
Catching people was so dangerous, Jessica was a bit unhappy that Roy insisted on dragging Chris into it, and her voice turned cold. ¡°Why are you tagging along? If they¡¯re catching someone, don¡¯t go watching the show.¡±
Chris said, ¡°I know, I won¡¯t cause trouble. I¡¯ll be back in half an hour. Don¡¯t worry.¡±
¡°Alright.¡±
If a suspect really showed upter, he would only be a burden here, so before the operation started, he said goodbye and left, also reminding Roy to keep things quiet while catching the
suspect.
Chris drove around, went to a restaurant, and ordered Jessica¡¯s favorite dishes, then went
home.
As soon as he opened the door, he saw Jessica sitting on the sofa choosing a film.
She wore simple loungewear, her hair tied up, siting cross¨Clegged on the sofa, looking rxed andfortable,
At that moment, she showed no trace of a businesswoman but rather like a wife married for
many years.
If Jessica had been like this from the start, their five years might not have been wasted.
In Chris¡¯s heart, there was some regret. The time lost could never be regained, and the shadow cast by those five years would never fully fade.
But fortunately, everything was moving in a better direction.
¡°Why are you only back now? Didn¡¯t you say half an hour?¡± Jessica turned around and saw Chris carrying several food containers. ¡°You went to the Cosmos?¡±
As she spoke, Jessica got up and walked over.
Chris was about to go to the kitchen to get tes when Jessica hugged him from behind.
¡°Mr. Green even helped catch someone today, that¡¯s impressive!¡±
Chris hadn¡¯t even changed his clothes yet, both his hands were full, so when Jessica hugged him, he could only raise his hand.
¡°Don¡¯t tease me, I haven¡¯t gotten changed yet.¡±
After a while, Jessica let go.
Chris put the food on the table, then turned to take off his clothes.
Meanwhile, Jessica had already taken out the food.
¡°Roy just asked me for a favor. I also suspect Michael might make a move. What do you think?¡± Chris looked at Jessica.
After all, in Jessica¡¯s heart, Michael was different
No matter how detestable he had be, at least the Michael from before had truly loved.
Jessica¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change at all.
She served Chris some food and said slowly, ¡°Maybe. From what I know of Michael, he wouldn¡¯t leave himself with a fatal ending. No matter what went wrong, he could always find a way to fix it.¡±
Unexpectedly, Jessica still spoke highly of Michael, making Chris raise his eyebrows.
Jessica looked up and met his eyes, ¡°You have to admit, if Michael had stayed in the business world, his status today might beparable to mine. But I can¡¯t agree with his methods to achieve his goals. Maybe that¡¯s why we can¡¯t work together.¡±
Perhaps from the start, they were not on the same path. They might have just stumbled into each other.
Wife Back 117
Chapter 117
Had Joseph not woken up yet?¡±
Yeah, all the vitals are stable, but for some reason, he still hadn¡¯t regained consciousness. oy was worried he might be a vegetable and never be able to speak. I told him not to worry since the brain wasn¡¯t injured.¡±
essica said, ¡°If he really can¡¯t wake up, things would be very difficult.¡±
fter eating dinner, the two of them started watching a film again.
Chris deliberately stayed upte, wanting to wait for news from the hospital.
omorrow was a workday, and Jessica was already so sleepy she closed her eyes in his arms.
Chris thought maybe they wouldn¡¯t catch anyone tonight.
ust as he was about to carry Jessica back to the bedroom, his phone rang.
essica was startled awake in an instant.
It¡¯s the hospital,¡± said Chris.
The caller ID showed the name of the doctor on duty today.
Chris immediately answered.
Ms. Green, Joseph in the ICU¡¡±
Is he awake?¡± Chris asked.
The doctor said, ¡°No, he suddenly had a respiratory failure. He was rushed to the emergency oom.¡±
chris suddenly sat up. ¡°How is that possible? I checked his vitals every hour, and there was no
roblem. Why did he have a respiratory failure?¡±
We haven¡¯t found the cause yet, but he¡¯s in the emergency room now, and arge group of olice just came in to make an arrest. Wh¡ what should we do?¡±
udden respiratory failure, Roy rushing in to arrest someone¡
Could it be¡
Vas it the nurse?
Chris immediately stood up. ¡°I¡¯m going to the hospital now. Who¡¯s the surgeon?¡±
Joanna, she¡¯s already in the emergency room, assisted by Jake.¡±
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¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be there in 20 minutes.¡±
Jessica had no sleepiness left and got changed with him to go to the hospital to check the
situation.
¡°There¡¯s something wrong with the nurse,¡± Chris said in unison with Jessica.
Chris drove, and Jessica sat in the passenger seat.
¡°The surgery went smoothly, and the venttor was used properly. Aside from rejection, respiratory failure basically shouldn¡¯t happen unless¡ the nurse miscalcted the dosage, causing passive respiratory arrest.¡®
Jessica didn¡¯t understand medicine, but she was quick¨Cwitted.
The patient was rushed to the emergency room, and Roy immediately went in to catch
someone.
So the problem must be with thest nurse who entered.
40 minutes ago, Chris had just checked the vitals onest time and was sure Joseph would wake up tomorrow.
He finally rxed.
Unexpectedly¡
¡°I had already suspected the Summit Infirmary nursing team had their people, but I didn¡¯t expect Joseph to run into them this time,¡± said Jessica, staring ahead.
In the darkness, her eyes still shone brightly.
¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me before?¡±
Jessica said, ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure who it was. Since I¡¯m not often at the hospital, I couldn¡¯t confirm. Telling you early would only make you show concern about the nurses and expose us.
¡°The lead surgeon is Joanna, the head of the emergency department. If she¡¯s the surgeon, then things would be fine.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll see when we get there.¡±
The two sped to the hospital.
Chris went upstairs first..
Jessica went into the building 10 minutester and called Roy.
As expected, Roy had caught a nurse.
Roy had been watching from the car.
He hadn¡¯t suspected this nurse before, but after she entered and gave Joseph medication, he soon began to suffer respiratory failure, and all the monitors started rming.
Roy immediately went in to arrest her.
The nurse didn¡¯t realize she had been discovered yet and was still looking at her phone at the
nurse¡¯s station.
The next second, she was surrounded.
Wife Back 118
Chris got changed at the hospital and went straight to the operating room as soon as possible.
From the observation room, he could see every detail of the surgery inside.
There was another colleague next to him, who made room when he saw Chrise in.
¡°Mr. Green.¡±
Chris acknowledged with a grunt and stared intently at Joanna¡¯s surgical procedure, afraid that Joanna might have problems too.
He never expected the problem to be with the nurse, Chris began to feel that no one around him was trustworthy.
Fortunately, Jake was the first assistant, so if Joanna had any issues during the operation, Jake would notice immediately.
¡°What exactly happened?¡± asked Chris.
Dr. Wace shook his head, saying he didn¡¯t know.
Henry Wace was also on duty that night and was going to check on Josephter.
After all, Joseph was a celebrity, if something really happened to him in the hospital, their hospital¡¯s reputation would be ruined.
Then an emergency case of a child arrived, and Henry went over to help.
The child had just started an IV when chaos broke out on this side.
When Henry came out of the emergency room, he saw a group of police surrounding J and taking her away.
¡°J?¡± Chris said in disbelief.
J had assisted him in several surgeries and had never shown any problems.
He never thought J was the turncoat.
Henry nodded.
¡°The police didn¡¯t say much, they just took J away. I think J herself was a bit nervous
and quickly called you. Mr. Green, do you want to ask about the arrest?¡±
Not only did he want to ask, but he also had to go see for himself.
The surgery did notst too long.
It ended after almost three hours, and the patient was sent back to the ward.
He even briefly regained consciousness upon arrival, opening his eyes and looking confusedly at the ceiling before falling asleep again.
Joanna took off her mask and said to Chris, ¡°Someone administered a respiratory stimnt, but given his current condition, elerating breathing causes respiratory failure because of lung injury¨Coxygen can¡¯t keep up.¡±
¡°Thank you,¡± said Chris.
Joanna waved her hand. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I was on duty today anyway. I just didn¡¯t expect¡ I heard J gave the medication? Is that a mistake? J has worked here for three years and never made a mistake. I heard she was even going to be promoted to head nurse. How did she get arrested?¡±
¡°Arrests are the police¡¯s business. We just need to ensure the patient¡¯s safety. Thanks for hard work tonight. You should go change. Jake,e here.¡±
Jake was always the fastest to change clothes and was already back in his doctor¡¯s overalls.
He had one hand in his pocket and quickly walked over when he saw Chris.
¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±
Chris took Jake upstairs and headed straight to the office.
When they opened the door, Jessica was also inside.
She hade up using the private elevator and hadn¡¯t drawn much attention.
¡°Oh, Ms. Wilder,¡± said Jake, already aware of their rtionship, so he wasn¡¯t surprised.
¡°How is he? Is he okay?¡± asked Jessica, looking at Chris.
your
Chris said, ¡°The surgery was very sessful. He was awake for a few seconds. It seems once the medication wears off tomorrow, he¡¯ll be fully conscious.¡±
Jessica sighed in relief. As long as he was okay, everything else was up to Chris to handle.
Chris was the honorary chairman of the hospital and even though Jessica was an investor here, she wouldn¡¯t interfere with his decisions.
A man needed to show power in front of others.
Chris told Jake about the police situation.
Jake stood there in shock for a long time.
¡°So you¡¯re saying J tried to kill someone? If this gets proven, her nursing license will be revoked!¡±
Wife Back 119
Now, it was not just about revoking the nursing license, J might also face a manughter
¡°Don¡¯t follow your mentor for the next couple of days. You need to stay in Joseph¡¯s ward 24/7 to keep watch. You¡¯ll be paid overtime, and you can choose overtime pay orpensatory leave. Joseph¡¯s assistant Liam is also in the ward, so you two can take turns guarding.¡±
Jake nodded immediately, ¡°Okay, I¡¯m just about to go home next month, so I¡¯ll takepensatory leave then for this overtime.¡±
¡°Okay, whatever arrangement you want, I¡¯ll approve it. But you must keep a close watch. Captain Felton wille to record statements tomorrow.¡±
¡°Okay.¡®
After the instructions, Jake went downstairs.
Jessica and Chris didn¡¯t want to fuss either.
The office was connected to a lounge, where Jessica had long prepared a small bed and daily necessities.
Jessica was so sleepy she couldn¡¯t open her eyes and grabbed Chris¡¯s cor, pulling him into the back room.
¡°Ms. Wilder, you prepared this room a long time ago. When did you n to live with me?¡±
The moment Chris opened the door and saw the bed, he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly, holding Jessica¡¯s waist.
Jessica yawned. ¡°Whenever you want, anytime.¡±
She grabbed Chris¡¯s cor again, looking at him intensely. ¡°But I¡¯d rather not find anyone else sleeping on this bed besides you and me.¡±
The room¡¯s items had been prepared long ago, even couple¡¯s pajamas.
Unexpectedly, Jessica still had such a girlish hear
The two got changed and fell asleep on the small bed.
Early the next morning, Jessica woke up early, dressed neatly, and took advantage of the hospital being empty to hurry to work.
Chris woke up groggily hearing movement nearby, reached beside him, and found no one.
¡°Up so early?¡± Chris rubbed his eyes and got up.
Jessica was already applying lipstick in front of the mirror.
She stepped back after hearing him. ¡°Why do you think? Should I let the whole hospital see me leaving your office and prove that you¡¯re my sugar baby?¡±
That sounded a bit harsh.
Chris got up and walked behind her, hugging her and bending down to kiss her once.
¡°It¡¯s okay, I don¡¯t really care. After all, I¡¯ve been living off you for so many years, one more time won¡¯t hurt.¡±
In the mirror, Chris looked half¨Casleep, eyes half¨Cclosed, but it was clear he was joking.
Chris only got up half an hour after Jessica left.
These past days had been nonstop for both him and Jessica, and they were both a bit worn out.
He quickly washed up, got dressed, and went downstairs directly to check the ward.
Joseph and Liam were both in the ward.
Seeing Chris enter, Liam stood up.
Jake was still sitting on the sofa ying games, not moving at all.
¡°Dr. Green,¡± said Liam, knowing Chris was a friend of his employer, and apparently they had a good rtionship.
Chris grunted in reply and walked over to check Joseph¡¯s condition.
He opened Joseph¡¯s eyes and saw the eyeballs moving, seemingly starting to respond to external light.
From this, it looked like he would definitely wake up today.
Chris withdrew his hand and turned to Liam. ¡°You can sit if you want. I know Nina, you don¡¯t need to be so nervous.¡±
Liam thought, ¡°That¡¯s exactly the reason that I¡¯m nervous!¡®
But Liam had been a celebrity assistant for many years, so he naturally had his ways to handle people.
¡°Yes, I know. She mentioned it.¡±
¡°Oh? Did your employer say something bad about me?¡± Chris was in a good mood and even joked.
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¡®Well¡¡® thought Liam.
Seeing Liam frown, Chrisughed. ¡°Just joking. I know Nina very well. If she had bad things to
say,
she¡¯d say it to your face, not behind your back. Besides, I¡¯ve grown up with her, we¡¯re pretty close.¡±
Liam rxed and asked anxiously, ¡°The wholepany is waiting for news now. Can Joseph wake up?¡±
Chris said, ¡°There was a slight reaction right after he left the operating room yesterday. He will definitely wake up today. I want to ask you about the situation on¨Csite.¡±
With that said, Chris sat down opposite Liam.
The single VIP deluxe ward was like a small apartment, fully equipped, with two rooms.
The room with the hospital bed was mostly filled with medical equipment, the restroom was there for the patient¡¯s convenience, and there was also a slightlyrger bed for the caregiver
to rest on.
The other room had a sofa and table and chairs for visitors to rest.
At that moment, Jake sat on the sofa looking at his phone, while Liam and Chris sat at the table and chairs.
Liam said, ¡°That day at the scene of the ident, it was pretty chaotic. Before going on stage, Joseph¡¯s earring was missing. The earring was sponsored by the Wilder Group and had to be worn on stage. So I hurried back to look for it, but after searching around, I couldn¡¯t find it. On my way back, I just happened to see¡¡±
He bit his lip, seemingly recalling the memory.
Chris recalled what Roy had said from Liam¡¯s perspective, he couldn¡¯t see who pushed Joseph off the stage. It was because Joseph shouted something that Liam was certain someone was trying to harm him.
¡°Just say it,¡± Chris assured Liam. ¡°This ce ispletely safe. Jake is one of us. I¡¯m friends with your employer and Roy. Jessica is my wife. I want to help you all.¡±
Hearing Chris say that, Liam set aside his worries
¡°From my point of view, I really couldn¡¯t see who pushed Joseph, but¡ there was only one person near the edge of the stage. After Joseph fell, everyone panicked because the crystal chandelier also fell, but he¡ he wasn¡¯t surprised at all ¨C just looked coldly.¡±
From that moment, Liam felt something was wrong with that person and had told Captain Felton.
¡°I think he¡¯s called Rory? The dance troupe for this performance was newly chosen, and we weren¡¯t very familiar with them. We rehearsed for about three days before going on stage.¡±
Since they had a suspect, Roy had surely started tracking and investigating, so Liam didn¡¯t need to do more.
After staying there for a while, Chris reminded Jake to check Joseph¡¯s vital signs, then left.
¡°Mr. Green.¡±
Before entering the office, Chris heard a familiar voice behind him and paused.
It was Michael.
He actually came to the hospital?
Chris turned around and indeed saw Michael standing behind him, dressed in a bespoke suit, hands in pockets.
Back then, Jessica must have been attracted to Michael¡¯s looks ¨C indeed, he did look quite
attractive.
But his ruthless heart was truly disgusting.
Chris pushed open the office door, and Michael followed in.
That bespoke suit looked familiar, if he remembered correctly, on his birthday, Jessica had given him that exact set ¨C brand, color, size ¨C none of which suited him.
That suit was still in the storage room.
Sure enough, Michael really suited that style.
Back then, Jessica was still pretending, not daring to let anyone see how much she cared about him. That was understandable.
Wife Back 121
Chapter 121
Michael followed in and closed the door behind him.
Outside, people came and went, many praying and hoping for a chance at life in the hospital.
But people like Michael always blocked the way.
¡°Mr. Hall, you don¡¯t have an appointment with me today, you came to the wrong ce,¡± Chris said to Michael without any politeness, even sounding more confident.
Since he knew that in Jessica¡¯s heart, he weighed far more than Michael, and¡
If Michael treated him as an enemy, Jessica would be a little safer, and he could even do many things behind the scenes.
He was also happy to help Jessica.
Michael ignored him and pulled out the chair opposite to sit down
¡°Mr. Green, I thought you should be in Lonat now, not still here preventing me from seeing Jessica.¡±
¡®Seeing each other? Where did Michael get the confidence to use those words?¡®
Chris didn¡¯t expose Michael¡¯s falseposure and just said, ¡°If your rtionship can be ruined by me so easily, then I can only say the rtionship between the two of your is too fragile.¡±
¡°Jessica¡¯s heart belongs to me. If it weren¡¯t for you, we would have been together long ago. Since you¡¯ve already seen your ce in Jessica¡¯s heart, why didn¡¯t you leave?¡± His voice suddenly became dark. ¡°Do you want me to give you a hand?¡±
If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the two of them had just gotten out of the same bed this morning, he almost would have been fooled by Michael¡¯s confident tone.
Actually, Chris couldn¡¯t understand it.
Recently, Jessica hadn¡¯t treated Michael nicely at all. Because of Michael¡¯s scandalous rumors, Jessica always pretended to care on the surface but barely answered his calls. The secretaries usually answered for her.
Was Michael anxious?
Or did this recent incident make Michael feel threatened?
It seemed Michael wasn¡¯t as invincible as he thought.
¡°Mr. Hall, do you have business at the hospital? I still have rounds to make, so I won¡¯t keep you.¡± Chris avoided addressing the question directly.
Michael didn¡¯t beat around the bush either.
¡°Jessica¡¯s show in cooperation with the Felton family was disrupted, and a celebrity got injured. Jessica¡¯s been busytely and asked me toe check. Please, Dr. Green, lead the way.¡±
Chris felt shocked inside.
Looking at Michael again, he saw anxiety in his eyes.
It seemed thatst night, J hadn¡¯t seeded, so Michael had act personally. He was curious how Michael would handle things.
After thinking for a moment, Chris took out his phone to call Jessi
Michael quickly stopped him.
¡°Jessica is still in a meeting and can¡¯t take your call.¡±
¡°This is a hospital. ording to FN and Captain Felton¡¯s instructions, without their consent, I cannot allow anyone other than medical staff near the patient. You said Jessica authorized you to vit, but I have to confirm that.¡±
Michael frowned. ¡°I just want to look from afar, confirm everything is fine, and then leave. Joseph¡ is he really okay?¡±
¡°The situation is promising. The surgery ended two days ago.¡±
¡°But I heard Joseph went back into surgeryst night. Mr. Green, have no doubt about your medical skills. I¡¯m just worried about his condition.¡±
The news that Joseph entered the emergency roomst night had een blocked and wasn¡¯t widely known. The doctors on duty were reminded not to leak it, otherwise, it would interfere with the investigation.
How did Michael know about it?
¡°That¡¯s all I can say. Joseph will wake up today. If you don¡¯t allow me to call Ms. Wilder, then sorry, I can¡¯t take you to see him.¡±
Michael sat staring at Chris for a long time, then got up.
¡°Chris, with your dull personality, no wonder Jessica doesn¡¯t like you.¡±
X
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Given the current situation, whether Jessica liked him or not was no longer important.
At least Jessica¡¯s feelings for Michael had diminished.
After Michael left, Chris immediately called Jessica. The other party was indeed in a meeting, but it wasn¡¯t the secretary who answered the call.
The secretarial department had already received instructions from Jessica that any call from Chris, no matter what she was doing, should be put through to her unless it was something that absolutely could not be interrupted.
This showed how much importance Jessica ced on Chris.
So, as soon as the secretaries received the call, they transferred it to Jessica¡¯s phone immediately.
¡°Why are you calling me now?¡±
Chris nced at the door, making sure Michael had already left and wasn¡¯t eavesdropping, then said, ¡°Michael came just now.¡±
Jessica was looking at some documents, but hearing this made her interested. She raised her hand, signaling the few people in front of her to leave, then turned her chair toward the door and smiled.
¡°Let me guess, Michael wanted to see Joseph, right? And since you called me, that means Michael used me as an excuse. He told you it was me who asked him to visit Joseph?¡±
There was not a single mistake in her guess. Chris said, ¡°Exactly. So I called to ask if Ms. Wilder had any instructions.¡±
Jessica said, ¡°Putting aside the fact that Joseph is an artist under Nina and has nothing to do with me, even if I wanted to visit him, I could just tell you. Why would I make Michael go instead? You didn¡¯t let Michael see through anything, did you?¡±
Right now, their rtionship wasn¡¯t clear enough in Michael¡¯s eyes. Even though he had seen the male slippers belonging to Chris at Jessica¡¯s house, he only thought Chris was pestering her, never imagining all of this was at Jessica¡¯s insistence.
It was unclear whether Michael was overconfident or just didn¡¯t understand Jessica.
¡°Of course not. I had Jake and Liam guarding Joseph together. Michael had no chance to take advantage.¡±
¡°That¡¯s good. That nurse named J has already confessed. She said someone paid her to do this, but since Michael dared to take action, he must have been fully prepared. Roy probably won¡¯t find anything.¡±
¡°No problem. As long as we have a breakthrough, we have a chance. By the way, starting today, to prepare for the IPO, I¡¯ll begin reviewing all the medical records of the Summit Infirmary over the years, including¡¡±
He paused, and Jessica understood what he meant.
This must include her father¡¯s records. If there was an investigation to be done, Chris¡¯s side could begin
All this had been nned for so many years and finally showed signs of progress, especially since Chris now held the position of the Honorary Chairman, giving them an opportunity.
Over the years, the Wilder Group had barely held its ground thanks to Mrs. Wilder and Jessica¡¯s efforts, but now they were starting their counterattack.
¡°If many people interfere while you¡¯re investigating the past cases don¡¯t worry about it. Just push any trouble to me. You just focus on your work.¡±
Michael really had no chance to see Joseph in the hospital. Not long after Michael left reluctantly, Joseph fully woke up. The department heads gathered, and after confirming Joseph¡¯s condition, they all left.
Only Chris and Joanna stayed behind. The emergency surgery thatight was performed by Joanna, basically confirming Joseph¡¯s condition.
¡°From what we can see now, the problem isn¡¯t severe, but his lungs are seriously damaged. It may take quite a long time to recover.¡± Joanna looked at Joseph. ¡°This will likely be a long recovery process, so you need to coordinate with your agent to discuss the timing. Mr. Green will inform you on the others.¡±
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With that said, Joanna nodded at Chris and left.
¡°Dr. Green, thank you,¡± Joseph said in a very low voice, soundingpletely weak, and lying in bed he couldn¡¯t turn over. He turned his head to look at the assistant beside him.
¡°Tell Miss Felton that I woke up and I¡¯m fine now.¡±
Liam rubbed his eyes.
¡°We still have to listen to what Dr. Green says. Don¡¯t worry about it I¡¯ll call Miss Felton back.¡±
After saying this, Liam opened the door and left.
Jake got up from the sofa and walked over.
¡°He¡¯s already awake, so I don¡¯t have to guard him 24/7 anymore, right? If you need, I can bring myptop over, I still have to revise my thesis because the professor said there were problems.¡±
Actually, after Joseph woke up, he was even more in danger. Today, having seen Michael, Chris knew that no matter what, Michael would try to kill Joseph.
Since that was the case, Joseph absolutely could not be left alone in the ward.
After giving it some thought, Chris said, ¡°Then go back and get yourptop. If there are any problems with your thesis, you cane to me anytime. I can help you revise it. You go first, I have something to talk to Joseph about.¡±
Jake nodded and opened the door to leave.
¡°I know you can¡¯t say too much right now, but Captain Felton wants to take your statement. You didn¡¯t wake up the past few days, but now¡¡±
Before Chris could finish speaking, Joseph nodded and said he could do it.
¡°I know this matter definitely involves the twopanies. I really saw who pushed me off the stage. Doctor, please call the police over. I can give a statement anytime, but I might speak slowly.¡±
Chris contacted Roy.
Roy had juste out of the interrogation room and was standing in the corridor smoking a cigarette.
Upon hearing that Joseph was awake, he immediately called two subordinates and headed to the hospital,
A colleague driving the car nced at him cautiously and said, ¡°Captain, we all know this matter must be rted to the Hall family. Why can¡¯t we have Michael cooperate with the investigation?¡±
¡°I already said, don¡¯t alert the enemy,¡± Roy said irritably, flicking the cigarette out the window crack This matter involves too many people, not just twopanies. We have restraints in this country and can¡¯t act recklessly like we could abroad.¡±
The colleague nodded.
¡°But that makes us feel so frustrated. We know it¡¯s Michael, but we can never alert him.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not just us who are frustrated. Many people suffer because of Michael Our patience now is for a long¨Cterm future. ¡®The special task force has already been set up, sooner orter we¡¯ll cate him ¡±
Roy went to the hospital and immediately looked for Chris, but he was conducting rounds with several interns, so the office was empty.
He turned and went to the fire escape to make a phone call.
¡°Yes, I just arrived. As long as this matter is rted to them, I will immediately apply for a search, but there is no evidence yet.¡±
While on the phone facing the corner of the wall, someone walked
Roy instinctively turned his head and saw a somewhat familiar pro
It seemed to be Michael.
In a panic, Roy quickly hung up the phone.
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Chapter 124
Chris led a group of interns out from several wards and stood in the hospital corridor talking to them, emphasizing which aspects to pay attention to.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Michael walk across the far end of the corridor again, and he instinctively furrowed his brows.
Hadn¡¯t Michael already left?
Why was he appearing in the hospital again?
¡°Mr. Green?¡± one of them called out when they noticed Chris seemed a bit distracted.
¡°We will closely monitor the first 24 hours after surgery. Is there anything else we need to watch for?¡±
Coming back to his senses, Chris shook his head.
¡°Only two of you in this batch of interns will stay in the hospital. The final decision power does not rest with me, but with your mentors. Your evaluations will be determined by them. That¡¯s all have to say. If you need to revise your thesis, you should hurry.¡±
With that said, he put one hand in his pocket, handed a sheet of paper to a nurse, then turned and chased after Michael.
There were still quite a few people in the hospital corridor, and through the crowd he could only see a blurry figure, which seemed like Michael but not exactly. The feeling grew clearer the closer he got.
Finally, when Chris stopped about a meter behind the person, he realized it wasn¡¯t Michael.
It was just a simr figure. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, this person was luke, Michael¡¯s cousin. He was also a controlling figure in two other Hall familypanies in simple terms, Michael¡¯s biggest rival right now.
Why was he in the hospital?
¨C
Could this matter be rted to Luke?
Just as he wanted to catch up, his wrist was suddenly grabbed hard by someone else.
He was startled and about to resist, but the other person shushed him.
¡°Roy?¡±
Looking carefully, the one holding him was Roy.
Chris stopped struggling, and Roy pointed toward the person¡¯s back and asked, ¡°Is that Michael?¡±
Chris shook his head.
¡°From the back, it looks like Michael, but I know Michael¡¯s appearance too well. This person should be Luke. Do you know him?¡±
Roy paused for a moment, then immediately remembered Michael¡¯s cousin.
¡°How did hee to the hospital? Is this the floor where Joseph¡¯s ward is?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right, and he¡¯s heading toward Joseph¡¯s ward, but there a people inside and out, so even if he¡¯s here, he can¡¯t get close.¡±
News of Joseph¡¯s hospitalization was tightly sealed, but there¡¯s no wall without cracks, especially with a celebrity involved.
From the day Joseph was hospitalized, there were many disguised us and media downstairs and even on the same floor.
However, the hospital prioritized patient privacy, so even if they get inside, they couldn¡¯t get near Joseph¡¯s ward.
¡°My colleague is already asking Joseph for a statement. I heard his lungs are severely damaged, so he might speak slowly. Will this dy his future filming? Nina told me he has many projects this year, and if he can¡¯t join the crews on time, he might have to pay arge penalty.¡®
Chris returned to his office with Roy and only then spoke.
¡°From a doctor¡¯s perspective, I suggest he rest for a year before resuming work, otherwise, the damage to his body will be significant. It might not be obvious now, but in 10 years, it will be.
Roy frowned upon hearing this, clearly more annoyed.
¡°Of course, I know for artists like them, resting a year is basically quitting the industry. We need to create a recovery n for him next week to see how long it will take to return to his career. My suggestion is not to rush things.¡±
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Roy crossed his legs and said, ¡°You know I never wanted to get involved in the family business, but every day when Ie home, I see Nina sitting in the living room with a worried look, so really can¡¯t just ignore it. I keep thinking I should do something.¡±
¡°Simrly, Jessica is caught up between Michael and me. Even if n unhappy, I can¡¯t say anything because I know she has something important to do. I can only help her within the hospital Outside the hospital, I¡¯m just a nk te.¡±
About 40 minutester, Roy¡¯s phone rang. He said the statement had beenpleted.
¡°I¡¯ll leave someone at the hospital to guard Joseph. The rest will depend on you. The police station has a lot going on, so I can¡¯t meet you this time. If you have anything to say, just tell Nina. Those two should be having meetings together frequently these
days.¡±
In response to the outburst from Joseph¡¯s fans, the twopanies decided to film behind¨Cthe¨Cscenes footage of Joseph during his hospitalization. Fortunately, Joseph agreed to it.
A weekter, various departments began to formte a recovery n for him. It would be great for the hospital if a celebrity stayed there for their recovery.
¡°Thepany has always treated me well. Even if there are disputes, they side with me. Since that¡¯s the case, I absolutely cannot let personal issues damage thepany¡¯s reputation. That wouldn¡¯t benefit me at all,¡± Joseph said to Liam.
After work, Chris came by as usual to check on him.
¡°The recovery n will be given to you tomorrow. Just follow it. It might take another month before you can be fully discharged, then you¡¯ll need toe to the hospital for follow¨Cups every two months. Yourpany asked me for my opinion on youreback, and I advised them to wait a year.¡±
Liam reacted strongly. ¡°No way, a whole year? He still has so many endorsements to shoot this year! And he¡¯s about to join two film crews, both of which are really hard to get into!¡±
Joseph waved his hand, telling him not to rush.
¡°I¡¯ll do what the doctors say.¡±
¡°I know you¡¯re anxious, but you have to consider your health. You¡¯re still young now, and any damage to your body might not be obvious now. But 10 years from now, or even five yearster, those damages will show on the surface.¡±
¡°Okay.¡±
Jessica was still working overtime at thepany. Chris ordered some dishes to apany her and also called some desserts and coffee for the colleagues workingte with them.
Before this, Chris had never done such things. He hadn¡¯t put himself in the role of thepany owner¡¯s wife.
He opened the office door and saw Jessica was in a video meeting speaking in anguage Chris couldn¡¯t understand at all.
When she looked up and saw him, Jessica smiled and pointed to the sofa, signaling for him to sit and wait for a moment.
Chris had alsoe with work in mind. Regarding Joseph¡¯s recovery n, he thought it could be improved a bit more.
If it were someone else, this might not have been his responsibility, but the earlier Joseph recovered, the better it was for Jessica - 100.
¡°Okay, then let¡¯s leave it at that for now.¡±
After the video meeting ended, Jessica stretched and walked over to Chuis
She wrapped her arms around his neck and sat directly in hisp.
¡°I thought you got off work already? Why are you still working?¡±
Wife Back 126
Chris quickly reached out to take it from her.
¡°Isn¡¯t Ms. Wilder busy with work as well? The food is getting cold low about we eat first?¡±
¡°Okay.¡±
The food was the usual dishes they liked, nothing special.
Since Chris started working, he rarely had time to cook at home. Plus, with so much going on recently¨Chim at thepany and at the hospital watching over things¨Cthey only saw each other when they slept.
¡°Roy has already taken Joseph¡¯s statement. I think they¡¯ll catch the person who pushed him down soon, but I still don¡¯t hold much hope. J didn¡¯t implicate Michael at all, which means Michael never appeared in public from start to finish.¡±
Jessica nodded, this was indeed Michael¡¯s habit.
No matter what he did, he always stayed behind the scenes. He could be the one funding things, but he would never be the person everyone had seen.
¡°I saw Luke at the hospital today.¡± Actually, he wasn¡¯t very sure, so after a short pause, he added, ¡°But the figure looked very simr. It wasn¡¯t just me who saw him¨CRoy saw him too.¡±
Jessica said, ¡°With something this big happening, Luke has more to gain than anyone. This was done by his brother. He thought if Michael did something like this, the Hall family would kick him out, but he never realized that the Hall family has always been like this.¡±
¡°So Luke is the openly disyed pawn.¡±
He was also the utterly pitiful one.
Joseph¡¯s recovery n was revised multiple times before it was finalized.
Nina called to ask about the length of the recovery period.
¡°I can¡¯tpress the time any further. You all want Joseph to fully recover. It¡¯s not impossible for him to start working now, but what if in a few years his health copsespletely? Would you just abandon him then?¡±
Nina sat at her desk, flipping through several pages of documents quickly. The secretary pointed to the signature spot. Nina signed her name and held the phone between her shoulder and cheek.
¡°No way! We¡¯re not that cruel! But he still has many nsing up. If he can¡¯t join on time, I have to find someone else to fill in. It is a bit troublesome, but Chris, you¡¯re right¨Chealth is always the most important. Let¡¯s do it your way.¡±
Chris said, ¡°I¡¯ve alreadypressed his recovery period to six months, but that¡¯s only if his recovery speed is fast enough during that time.¡±
After talking with Nina for a while¨Cfirst hearing herin and then discussing Joseph¡¯s situation¨Che finally hung up
Lately, Chris hadn¡¯t been seeing patients downstairs but had been staying in his own office preparing for the hospital¡¯s IPO,
He had to review every year¡¯s medical records carefully to ensure there were no issues before the application could be submitted.
He knew the year his father¨Cinw had the ident but hadn¡¯t seen the tile yet..
He had heard from the old professor about the surgery back then, who said everything went fine and the person had already drawn ast breath at the scene.
But ording to eyewitness statements, the person hadn¡¯t died at all and had even opened their eyes when put onto the ambnce.
The two ountspletely contradicted each other, and Jessica sensed there was definitely something wrong and was
determined to investigate thoroughly.
¡°Do you know anything about Dad¡¯s death?¡±
Taking advantage of a day off, he first went to visit Mrs. Wilder an
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Chapter 127
It had been a long time since anyone had mentioned her deceased husband¡¯s matter.
Mrs. Wilder was stunned for quite a while when she heard the question, and then even her smile faded considerably.
¡°Why are you suddenly asking about it?¡± Mrs. Wilder wrapped her shawl tighter around her shoulders and looked up at Chris. ¡°I told you long ago that there was no need to investigate this matter anymore. Did Jessica talk to you about it?¡±
The mother and daughter were both strong women in the business world, and their way of showing love to family was probably through protection.
Jessica had also learned this from her mother.
Years ago, Mrs. Wilder had also been cold to Chris when Jessica was distant.
Actually, the Wilder family¡¯s situation was much more difficult in the beginning, and at one point, Mr. Wilder had even been kidnapped.
Because of that kidnapping, Mrs. Wilder began to distance herself from her husband, attending various banquets without him, and rumors spread outside that the couple¡¯s rtionship had soured and they might divorce.
But until Mr. Wilder died, Mrs. Wilder never had any intention of leaving him.
This meant there was no real problem between the couple, it was all just rumors from the outside world.
¡°The hospital is going to be listed, and I am reviewing all the medical records one by one. Among them, I saw the record of Dad¡¯s car ident from back then. But I remembered that Jessica told me a witness said that when he was put into the ambnce, his eyes were still open and he hadn¡¯t stopped breathing. The hospital said he died at the scene, but now the two ounts do not match. I cannot determine whether it was the hospital¡¯s fault, so further investigation is needed.¡±
Mrs. Wilder knew this was just his excuse.
How could such a clumsy excuse possibly fool her?
Now that the young couple¡¯s rtionship was improving, Chris was still her son¨Cinw, just not remarried yet.
It did no harm to tell him about the Wilder family¡¯s matters.
¡°Right after the incident happened, I immediately had someone investigate. There were probably people from the Hall family inside the hospital.¡±
As expected.
Mrs. Wilder lowered her eyes, looking somewhat deste.
¡°It¡¯s like this time with the celebrity who got injured, that nurse even injected him with an overdose right under your noses. Back then, the environment wasn¡¯t as good as now. Even it I investigated personally, nothing would have been found. I could only let it go, and I didn¡¯t want Jessica to carry the burden of hatred forever, so I told her the hospital was not at fault.¡±
She never expected Jessica to have her own thoughts all along.
And even now, she was still pursuing the truth.
If she had known, she would have told Jessica earlier that her father¡¯s death was rted to the Hall family.
Maybe then the runaway incident would never have happened
¡°So, Mom, you knew all this a long time ago I understand I will have people look into it. But so many years have passed, and there aren¡¯t many nurses left in the hospital now It will be difficul to find out what happened back then and may take a long time.¡±
Mrs. Wilder sighed.
To have been the surgeon for her father, that person must have been someone with a high status.
Standing in that position, they wouldn¡¯t leave easily.
¡°Next week I have to go on a business trip. When I return, I¡¯ll finalize the details of the cooperation with Michael. He¡¯s been kept waiting long enough, and this is the perfect chance to get his contract signed. I¡¯ll push the price low enough. For Michael, this really isn¡¯t a perfect contract.¡±
But Michael had no other choice.
He had to please Jessica, so he didn¡¯t try to bring the price up.
Jessica¡¯s cooperation with Nina was exactly to suppress the cost of the artists under Michael¡¯s management.
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Chapter 128
The young couple joked around for a bit, then Jessica¡¯sputer started dinging and buzzing.
She immediately began talking with thepany executives.
Such a scene was something Chris had never even dared to imaging before.
Every time he came home, he faced either darkness or coldness, even when Jessica was at home, she would never nce his way.
The two had lived under the same roof for five years but acted like strangers, not even as close as some roommates who shared a rented house.
Finally, he went straight into the kitchen to wash vegetables and cook, asionally hearing Jessica¡¯s voice from the study during meetings.
This was the home he had dreamed of.
Until dinner time, Jessica was still on a conference call.
Chris cut a te of fruit and brought it to the study, but Jessica grabbed his hand, not letting him leave.
¡°Okay, I got it. I¡¯ve handed over the Imperial Bay project to Mr. Hickey. He lost a project recently, and Imperial Bay is one of our main projects for next year. All the teams have been gathered, and I¡¯ve put everything under hismand. Just don¡¯t let him mess it up again.¡±
After saying that, she muted her mic and turned to act coy, asking chris not to leave but stay with her for a while.
¡°Stop messing around, I still have food on the cooker!¡± Chris pushed her hand away and kissed her on the cheek. ¡°We¡¯ll eat soon, just finish up quickly.¡±
¡°As youmand.¡±
During dinner, Chris mentioned that he had visited Mrs. Wilder¡¯s house today.
The ce felt a little cold.
Perhaps because they didn¡¯t go back often, the whole house felt chilly and lifeless.
Mrs. Wilder also disliked socializing and spent most of her time holed up inside.
¡°Today I asked about Dad¡¯s death. Mom seemed unhappy. She even said she lied to me back then¨Cthat when he was put on the ambnce, his eyes were still open, as if he was searching for something. That matched the witness statements. Mom investigated for a long time but only told me one thing¨Cthe hospital had internal problems.¡±
Jessica said, ¡°She can¡¯t fool me.¡±
¡°But during the time I¡¯ve been running the hospital, I haven¡¯t found any problems.¡±
¡°Ashley has been at the hospital for so many years and hasn¡¯t found anything either. Do you think I just put him there to work? I¡¯ve already had him investigate many people, but none of them are the one I¡¯m looking for.¡±
Jessica¡¯s expression darkened slightly with mncholy.
¡°It¡¯s okay, we will find out. We still haven¡¯t seen Dad¡¯s medical records yet. Once we get them, I can check the surgery details using the codes and review the surveince. I will definitely find the problem as long as the surgeon is still in the hospital.¡±
The only concern now was that too much time had passed and the people who worked for the Hall family back then had already
left.
Jessica felt that person wouldn¡¯t leave.
The Hali family had a foothold in the hospital only because of those people they secretly sent in
To have been the surgeon for her father, that person must have been someone with a high status.
Standing in that position, they wouldn¡¯t leave easily.
¡°Next week I have to go on a business trip. When I return, I¡¯ll finalize the details of the cooperation with Michael. He¡¯s been kept waiting long enough, and this is the perfect chance to get his contract signed. I¡¯ll push the price low enough. For Michael, this really isn¡¯t a perfect contract.¡±
But Michael had no other choice.
He had to please Jessica, so he didn¡¯t try to bring the price up.
Jessica¡¯s cooperation with Nina was exactly to suppress the cost of the artists under Michael¡¯s management.
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Chapter 129
To Jessica, Michael was not a natural¨Cborn businessman.
Hecked all the sharp instincts a businessman should have.
It seemed as though Michael had onlye this far because of his amily background.
If Michael had taken over the Hall family¡¯s business earlier and gone head¨Cto¨Chead with Jessica back then, the Hall family might not even exist today.
¡°You really can be that ruthless?¡± asked Chris.
Jessica looked up at him.
¡°There is no mercy if the business world, let alone someone like Michael, who ended things with me years ago. I have no feelings left for him at all. Even if we were friends, once in the business arena, a ranking still has to be settled.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t really understand business, but Michael always gave me the impression¡ that he isn¡¯t actually the mastermind behind everything. Honestly, with his level of intelligence, I doubt he could pull something like this off.¡±
That was right¨CChris simply thought Michael was too stupid.
Take the time when Michael wanted to see Joseph, for example.
He even used Jessica as an excuse.
Maybe Michael was trying to provoke him, but did he never consider that he might call Jessica to confirm?
In the end, Michael didn¡¯t get to see the person, and in his game with Chris, he also came out on the losing end.
¡°I saw a kind of obsession in Michael¡¯s eyesst time. I don¡¯t think he truly still loves you. Maybe he regrets not being with you back then, or maybe your current status has caught his attention. Either way¡ it¡¯s more about using you than liking you.¡±
¡°I know.¡± Jessica knew as well¨Cfeelings always faded with time.
Over the past five years, because of Chris¡¯s presence, her love for Michael had been worn down by time and transferred to Chris
instead.
And Michael was no different.
It was possible that Michael never really loved her that much to begin with.
He wasn¡¯t a born businessman, but he also wasn¡¯t apletely upright gentleman.
¡°I got this feeling after seeing Mom.¡± Chris put down his cutlery. always feel like whenever Michael hears about her, his expression changes in a strange way¨Cjust like when he framed me at the mansion. That same vicious and sinister look in his eyes, I¡¯m worried something might happen to Momn.¡±
Jessica said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He can¡¯t get close to her. Do you think the maids in her house are ordinary people? Even Albert, the butler, is not someone Michael can handle.¡±
The Wilder family¡¯s residence had deep roots.
Forget the Hall family¨Ceven Roy likely couldn¡¯t get near Mrs. Wilder.
Since Jessica said so, Chris had no more reason to worry.
Since Je
Before Joseph was discharged from the hospital, his condition had emained stable.
And based on the names Joseph provided, Roy had caught the person who pushed him off the stage.
With a p, Roy threw the file onto Jessica¡¯s desk.
It was in the Wilder Group CEO¡¯s office, with everyone present.
Nina opened the file and looked through it.
ording to this person¡¯s confession, pushing Joseph was entirely his own decision¨Cout of jealousy.
What a hollow excuse.
If it was just jealousy, then why did J appear in the mix?
¡°ording to our investigation, J¡¯s father, Westley, owed a sum of money.
Coincidentally, the day before J took action, most of the debt was paid off.
This matched J¡¯s own statement, which said that the remaining small amount would be transferred once the task waspleted.
We tracked J¡¯s bank ount but didn¡¯t find the payment.¡±
Standing beside Jessica, Chris thought for a moment, recalling J¡¯s behavior in the hospital.
¡°J might not be lying. She¡¯s been looking troubled these past few days¨Cprobably because of her father.¡±
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Roy took a sip of coffee and frowned at the bitterness. He set the c down and looked at Chris.
¡°If the remaining money wasn¡¯t paid, it¡¯s probably because they knew J had been caught and deliberately held it back- afraid we¡¯d trace the transaction through bank records.¡±
J hadn¡¯t revealed who gave her the task because she had neve the person.
They had contacted her by phone, and even the drugs had been ced in her locker ahead of time.
Initially, J had just been scared, but the moment she opened her locker and saw the vial, she was genuinely terrified.
¡°She never told anyone the number of her locker, yet they knew. And the drug¡¡± Roy¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Before she made her move, she checked the hospital¡¯s pharmacy system and confirmed that this particr vial dide from the hospital.¡±
So the pharmacy might be the problem?
Chris paused to think before speaking.
¡°After the incident, it happened to coincide with the time I was beginning to review major historical cases. I intended to investigate all of the Summit Infirmary¡¯s systems thoroughly, but I¡¯m doing it alone. Right now, only Ashley can be trusted, and the two of us can¡¯t handle everything ourselves.¡±
Jessica said, ¡°Then focus on the pharmacy. This kind of thing could happen again in the future. We need to identify the person behind it first and watch them secretly.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll handle it with Ashley. I want to formally hire Jake and keep him at the hospital. His capabilities are solid, and having him around means we¡¯ll have one more helping hand.¡±
¡°Do what you need to do. You have my full support.¡±
Watching the two of them work together, Roy felt something was slightly off.
Maybe it was because he rarely saw Chris so serious andposed and Jessica had always carried herself with such confidence.
Seeing them like this, side by side, created a sense of overwhelming force¨Clike a formidable alliance.
He still remembered not long ago when Chris had sat in the Cosmos with a bitter expression, saying he was already divorced and that Jessica didn¡¯t love him anymore.
And now¡
This wasn¡¯t bad at all.
After all, someone had to do these things.
While they talked, Nina finished reading the confession statement carefully.
When the room quieted down, she closed the folder and looked up
¡°You¡¯re going on a business trip with Michael¨Caren¡¯t you worried it might be dangerous? I¡¯ve always felt like Michael has ulterior motives.¡±
Jessica and Michael were going on the trip for a jewelry departme coboration.
Michael wasn¡¯t originally on the list, but for some reason, just before departure, he was suddenly added.
He called and said that, to show how much he valued the partnership
What was more, the destination was Jston a particrly meaningful city for them.
Back then, when they had eloped, Jston was the ce they¡¯d ned to escape to
They never made it there.
Now, they were going because of work.
She knew Michael just wanted to stir up her memories.
¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll bring Shannon and Eric from the jewelry department With them by my side, there¡¯s not much to worry about.¡±
She turned her hand and held Chris¡¯s.
¡°The memories of the past with Michael mean nothing now. Looking back now, it was all calcted maniption.¡±
Chris naturally trusted Jessica and wouldn¡¯t object to the trip.
Seeing he had no opinion, Nina nodded.
¡°Zack¡¯s shoot is ready to start any time. You¡¯re nning to film endorsements for both jewelry lines together¨Cwon¡¯t that be a bit risky?¡±
¡°So what?¡± Jessica spread her hands. ¡°With Jason and Zack¡¯s poprity, any way you look at it, I¡¯m still making a profit¡ªjust a matter of how much. This bit of money really doesn¡¯t matter to me¡±
The endorsements could only provide a small boost to the Wilder Group¡¯s jewelry brand.
Even without celebrity endorsements, the Wilder Jewelry still firmly held a top¨Cthree spot on Jewelry Street¨Cits position
unshakable.
Wife Back 131
Chapter 131
Before the business trip with Michael, Jessica held a private meeting with Shannon and Eric.
Eric, the new director of the jewelry design department, was a neer with a sharp sense for jewelry.
To be precise, Jessica had been impressed by Eric¡¯s entries in various designpetitions during his time at the design academy, which closely aligned with the Wilder Group¡¯s aesthetic preferences.
Furthermore, the previous jewelry director had to resign due to immigration issues, and after multiple discussions, Eric was chosen.
Eric had zero experience in the workce, but he was undeniably a genius in design.
He had received offers from numerous designpanies as early in his sophomore year.
After a careful selection process, he chose the Wilder Group just before graduation.
¡°What exactly do we do on a business trip?¡± Eric still didn¡¯t quite understand the process and thought it would be like meetings where everyone offered opinions that didn¡¯t matter and wouldn¡¯t be adopted, yet still had to be heard.
Shannon said, ¡°As the new design director, of course you need to attend, but you won¡¯t have to do much. Just stay in your room and sketch, or go out to seek inspiration. All expenses incurred during the trip must be invoiced and will be reimbursed by thepany. We chose Jston for this trip because our next season¡¯s jewelry exhibition will be held there, and your designs need to reflect the style of Jston.¡±
Eric didn¡¯t fully understand, but he nodded and said he would cooperate.
¡°The general manager of Rainbow Entertainment, who¡¯sing on the trip, has a somewhat delicate rtionship with our Ms. Wilder¡ You don¡¯t need to worry about him¨Cyour focus should be on Jason,¡± said Shannon.
Eric nced at Jessica, who was leaning back in her chair replying to messages.
Shannon continued, ¡°You¡¯ve seen Jason¡¯s photos and I¡¯ve sent you videos of him attending award ceremonies. Jason is quite easygoing. For the lower¨Cend jewelry lines, the designs need to be softer¨Cnot too cold or rigid.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll handle the design part as I see fit,¡± replied Eric. He still listened but didn¡¯t agree outright.
Talented people tended to have some attitude¨Cfortunately, Jessica understood this well.
Shannon added, ¡°That¡¯s basically everything. Onest thing¡ try not to let Ms. Wilder be alone with Mr. Hall. You¡ know what I mean?¡±
Eric frowned. ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡±
¡°You know our Ms. Wilder is married. That guy¨Che¡¯s her ex.¡±
Eric didn¡¯t know what to say.
Did being a subordinate now require knowing your boss¡¯s entire romantic history in detail?
Shannon said helplessly, ¡°I have too much to consider and can¡¯t always keep an eye on Ms. Wilder. If you notice him going too far, just find a way to pull her away. Don¡¯t worry about the aftermath¨CI¡¯ll handle it.¡±
Now Eric understood. Finding inspiration wasn¡¯t important¨Chis real job on the trip was to act as a bodyguard.
¡°Got
it.¡±
Jake¡¯s thesis had been revised by Chris, and his promotion approval quickly went through.
He was eventually retained in the department under Chris, and forake, this environment suited him perfectly.
Ashley and Chris reviewed the pharmacy¡¯s ess logs and, along the way, saw Jake¡¯s promotion paperwork, which had already
been signed by both Chris and Jessica.
Only the delivery to Jake remained.
¡°Can Jake be trusted?¡± asked Ashley.
Chris said, ¡°Jake is very naive¨Cbut reliable.¡±
Ashley nodded. ¡°I heard you shared a dorm room with him during your internship. If he¡¯s someone you value, then he must be decent.¡±
¡°You¡¯re putting a little too much trust in me.¡°.
Wife Back 132
Chapter 132
This kind of problem¨Cexcessive trust¨Cwould almost never ur with Jessica.
She had studied under Mrs. Wilder for many years, and in the business world, there was never anyone she could fully trust.
Fortunately, everyone in the Wilder Group now had been promoted by Jessica herself.
The old staff left behind by Mrs. Wilder in earlier years had either retired or emigrated with their children, leaving few behind in thepany.
Even fewer had control over major projects.
¡°Jake¡¯s situation isn¡¯t urgent,¡± Ashley said to Chris. ¡°What matters most right now is finding out who¡¯s behind the problem with the pharmacy. Your surgical skills are well recognized, but I¡¯ve been at the Summit Infirmary longer than you and have encountered more issues.¡±
Back when Jessica first ced him at the hospital, Ashley had already started learning how to handle these kinds of problems.
The key was that his position wasn¡¯t very high, so if he wanted to get things done, he had to rely on strategy and connections.
It was well known that Ashley was quite popr at the hospital.
When Ben was appointed as director of orthopedics, many of Ashley¡¯s close associates disapproved.
But Jessica felt the timing wasn¡¯t right and didn¡¯t want Ashley exposed too soon, so she used some leverage to suppress the opposition.
In the end, the money Ben had spent had still been used by Jessica
¡°Look at this guy,¡± said Ashley while watching the pharmacy surveince footage.
Several angles failed to capture the medicine that had appeared in J¡¯s locker.
After a long time, Ashley finally spotted a blurry figure in a nearby camera.
¡°Many people entered and exited the pharmacy that day, but most didn¡¯t head in this direction¨Conly this guy did. Do you recognize them?¡±
Since taking over, Chris had reviewed all hospital personnel files and had a rough mental image of most people¨Cespecially those stationed in sensitive areas like the pharmacy, where personnel must not be sloppy.
He hadn¡¯t expected an incident to happen despite his vignce.
¡°I think her name is Megan.¡±
The angle of the surveince only revealed a back view, but the ne on the woman¡¯s neck looked familiar.
Chris got up to retrieve the personnel files, and sure enough, in Megan¡¯s ID photo, he saw the same ne from the footage.
¡°I remember thinking the ne looked nice at the time¨CI even thought about getting one for Jessica,¡± he said, not expecting that this small detail would end up helping them.
Ashley leaned back, eyes sore from staring at the screen too long. He closed his eyes and raised a hand to block the light.
¡°Should we call her up for questioning?¡±
¡°She¡¯s worked in the pharmacy for four years without any issues. I summon her now, it¡¯ll only alert her And¡ this kind of footage isn¡¯t solid evidence. Let¡¯s wait a bit longer.¡±
Ashley, eyes still closed, said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you suspect Ms. Wilder¡¯s father¡¯s death might also be connected to the Summit Infirmary? Well, Megan wasn¡¯t here back then.¡±
¡°Exactly. At most, Megan¡¯s an aplice¨Cnot the mastermind. We still have to find the person from back then. So many years have passed, and I¡¯m convinced that person still holds a high position within the Summit Infirmary.¡±
Ashley finally opened his eyes and looked at Chris.
¡°You, as the Honorary Chairman, hold a position second only to Ms. Wilder. Beyond that¡ there¡¯s only the board members and senior executives. Those positions are usually earned with age¨Cpeople who fit perfectly with your review standards.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s keep looking.¡±
While Jessica was on the business trip with Michael, he hadn¡¯t brought anyone else¡ªnot even an assistant.
Jason, on the other hand, was apletely different story.
He brought his agent, assistant, and even a professional makeup artist.
Wife Back 133
Eric had wanted to say something on the ne¨Cthis wasn¡¯t a poster shoot, so why bring so many people?
On the flight, Michael tried to bring up the past with Jessica.
He said he had truly been unconscious when his parents took him away, otherwise, they would already be married and living happily in Jston.
¡°I believe that with our abilities, we could¡¯ve lived well even without the support of our families,¡± said Michael, envisioning the future.
Jessica remained calm throughout, asionally ncing at messages on her phone.
Before boarding, she had received a message from Chris, assuring her she had nothing to worry about.
This trip was bound to attract media attention.
Even without Jason, the mere presence of Jessica and Michael together was enough to spark headlines.
Jessica worried that Chris might feel ufortable seeing such news.
Snapping back to the moment, Jessica looked out at the night sky through the window.
It was a moon¨Cviewing flight, and the nighttime scenery held a unique charm when seen from a ne.
If the man beside her were the one she loved, perhaps she would have felt more immersed in the moment.
Jessica spoke slowly, ¡°There¡¯s no point saying all this now. You were taken away, and I was rescued from the car. Just seconds after I left the vehicle, it exploded. You always ask whether I still like Chris¨Ceven if we¡¯re divorced and there are no feelings, my gratitude toward him remains the same.¡±
At a moment like this, thest thing Michael wanted to hear was Chris¡¯s name.
He was the man who had intruded into their lives¨Csomeone who was never meant to appear.
If not for Chris, Michael would have reunited with Jessica upon returning from abroad long ago.
But outwardly, Michael remainedposed and smiled.
¡°Indeed, I¡¯m grateful to Mr. Green as well. If not for him, I might never have seen you again. Jessica, I just want to say¨Cyou and Mr. Green are divorced now, and I¡¯ve returned. We should continue down the path we were meant to follow. We can¡¯t keep wasting time.¡±
Shannon and Eric were seated right behind Jessica, and upon hearing this tant confession, they exchanged a nce.
But since they were on a night flight, they couldn¡¯t disturb the other passengers.
¡°Mr. Green and Ms. Wilder are divorced?¡± Eric asked softly.
He had seen Chris at thepany before.
Every time Chris came, he went straight to Jessica¡¯s office, and the two would stay inside all afternoon before leaving together in the evening.
Every visit, Chris even brought snacks for the employees on the same floor.
By all appearances, they seemed like a loving couple¨Cnot estranged at all.
Shannon lowered her voice. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about what Mr. Hall says Just remember your task.¡±
Eric nodded. ¡°Got it. Three more hours until wend. I¡¯m going to sleep for a bit.¡±
Staying upte to work on design drafts was normal for them.
They were long used to this kind of shifting schedule.
Chris hadn¡¯t felt the house this empty in a long time.
Ever since he and Jessica reconciled, she always came home to res
And he always left a light on, waiting for thedy of the house.
This time, the trip was going to be longer, and surprisingly, Chris
He read for a long time before finally receiving a message from Jes
She had checked into the hotel and told him not to worry.
He did worry about Jessica¨Cafter all, Michael was an extreme kin
Who knew what he might try to do?
But Chris didn¡¯t reply to her message.
He wanted her to think that he had already fallen asleep.
Wife Back 134
Ever since they found out the matter involved Megan, Chris and Ashley had started full¨Cscale surveince on her and even brought Jake in on it.
In this regard, Jake, who had just been made a full¨Ctime employee, was more suitable than either of them.
To Megan, Jake was just a kid with a sweet personality who often brought snacks to share with the senior colleagues in the department.
Jake had worked several night shifts that happened to ovep with Megan¡¯s, and over time, they had be familiar.
After Jake¡¯s promotion, Chris brought him straight into their circle
Since Jessica wasn¡¯ting hometely, Chris wasn¡¯t in a rush to return either, and instead took them all out to eat at the
Cosmos.
Roy also rushed over from the main heardquarters.
And Carl, Ashley¡¯s boyfriend, was there too.
¡°No wonder you told me to keep an eye on Joseph back then,¡± said Jake. ¡°Turns out it was part of such a big case. You should¡¯ve told me earlier. Is Joseph safe now that he¡¯s been discharged?¡±
R?y replied, ¡°He¡¯s under special protection. And theplex where he lives isn¡¯t easy to get into¨Che¡¯s a celebrity, so of course he¡¯s staying in a top¨Ctier apartment.¡±
Jake nodded. The life of the wealthy was indeed different.
Carl was fully informed of Ashley¡¯s situation.
¡°I remember Ashley mentioning Megan to me¡ªwasn¡¯t that a few months ago?¡± Carl suddenly said.
Ashley turned his head to nce at Carl, frowning. ¡°When did I ever say that?¡±
¡°You forgot? It was before you became the orthopedics director. There was a night shift when you ran into Megan. A critical patient came in after having a sudden heart attack at home, and you wereining to me about how slowly Megan was handling the medication.¡±
It was the kind of small detail only someone who truly loved Ashley would remember.
Even Ashley himself couldn¡¯t remember when he ever said that.
After thinking for a while, he finally remembered that surgery.
¡°It must¡¯ve been during a night shift at the emergency department. The patient already had heart problems, and long¨Cterm overtime triggered a heart attack at home. By the time he arrived at the hospital, he was barely alive. It was a race against time- but Megan moved so slowly. She had no sense of professionalism at all.¡±
Cardiology surgeries didn¡¯t concern Ashley directly, he had only seen the incident from the observation room.
At the time, he wasn¡¯t a department head and didn¡¯t have the authority to speak up, so he had simplyined to his boyfriend at home.
¡°What happened to the patient?¡± asked Roy.
Ashley shrugged. ¡°From what I know, he died. He wasn¡¯t likely to survive anyway. He had stopped breathing in the ambnce, and adrenaline along with other emergency measures didn¡¯t work¡®
Roy thought for a moment. ¡°Can you help me check if hisst name was Johnson?¡±
Chris, who had been silently looking at his phone, finally looked up when he heard that. ¡°You know him?¡±
It wasn¡¯t that Roy knew the person, but the cause and timing of death as well as the hospital that reported it¡ªall matched suspiciously well.
The deceased had been a CFO at apany tied to the Hall Group. Roy had just traced a lead back to him, and within a week, the man was dead. Roy found the timing far too coincidental.
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll look into it for you,¡± said Ashley.
This dinner was also intended to help Jake understand what he¡¯d be involved in from now on.
Neither Jessica nor Chris would ever shortchange Jake.
Once the matter was resolved, whether Jake wanted to stay at the Summit Infirmary or move on to another hospital, Jessica had the means to make it happen.
Eric finally understood why Shannon had been so concerned.
Michael seemed determined to spend every possible moment with Jessica.
There hadn¡¯t been any meetings scheduled for lunch today, so a few of them had lunch in Jessica¡¯s suite, discussing the itinerary.
Wife Back 135
You don¡¯t have a girlfriend yet, Mr. Shane?¡± Shannon asked curiously. ¡°Then why do you go home this early every day?¡±
Eric¡¯s full name was Eric Shane.
Eric replied, ¡°I don¡¯t like drawing in the office. I have no inspiration there. I¡¯d rather go home¨Cbesides, I don¡¯t need to clock in anyway.¡±
Shannon nodded. ¡°That makes sense. Who actually enjoys going to work?¡±
Jessica nced at Shannon, who immediately corrected herself, ¡°Of course I do. Thepany is my home.¡±
After this business trip, Eric had gained more understanding of thepany¡¯s senior executives.
Shannon had been talking about all kinds of people in thepany to help him integrate more quickly.
It was around that time that Michael came knocking on the door.
¡°Oh, you¡¯ve already started eating. I was just about to ask you out, Michael said as he stood at the door, smiling at Shannon who opened it.
Then he walked in,pletely ignoring the eye¨Croll Shannon gave him.
Even Eric couldn¡¯t help but feel the urge to curse.
Perhaps Jessica¡¯s dislike for Michael was too subtle, so much so that Michael never realized he was unwee.
As soon as he entered, he pulled out a chair and sat down, starting to chat with Jessica.
After closing the door, Shannon and Eric both cocked their brows.
¡°I know a restaurant nearby. It¡¯s a Jston Cuisine,¡± said Michael. ¡°You¡¯ll definitely like it. How about dinner together tonight?
11
Jessica remainedposed and didn¡¯t respond, but Eric spoke up, ¡®Ms. Wilder, don¡¯t forget we¡¯re having dinner with Mr. Phillips of Hurricane Media tonight.¡±
That was an actual appointment¡ªEric wasn¡¯t making it up.
Hurricane Media was currently the trendsetter in the literary industry.
Although it was no longer the era of print media and new media had taken over, Hurricane Media still held a top position in the field of writing.
The new CEO of Hurricane Media was Jessica¡¯s childhood friend.
The two were very close, and this was the first time they would be meeting since the friend returned to the country to take the position.
¡°I really did forget,¡± said Jessica, wiping the corner of her mouth with a napkin. Then she turned to Shannon. ¡°Collin Phillips doesn¡¯t like spicy food. We need to remember to tell that to the restaurant.¡±
Shannon nodded. ¡°Got it. The reservation is at the Diamond, ranked number one for local cuisine in Jston. Mr. Phillips should like it.¡±
At that moment, Michael¡¯s expression finally darkened.
Jessica instantly understood¨CMichael had probably nned to take her to the Diamond.
Thinking about how Michael had constantly provoked Chris before she felt rather pleased to now make Michael feel awkward.
¡°Then I¡¯m really sorry,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ll go try the food tonight. If it¡¯s good, how about we go together tomorrow? It¡¯s almost the
end of the business trip¨Cit¡¯d be nice for the twopanies to have a celebration dinner.¡±
Michael was momentarily speechless, then nodded after a pause. ¡°Alright. Whatever you say.¡±
Hurricane Media was founded during the peak of the print era.
Now, they not only managed media but had be an all¨Cin¨Cone IPpany handling novels,ics, and more.
They had long since gone international.
Jessica hadn¡¯t seen Collin Phillips in many years.
Thest time might¡¯ve been at her wedding with Chris.
At the time, she had been in utter despair and wasn¡¯t in the mood to entertain guests¨Cshe couldn¡¯t even remember whether
she had spoken to Collin.
Dinner that night had nomercial intent¨Cit was simply a meeting between two old friends.
Before leaving, Jessica even made a call to Chris.
¡°I was afraid you were in surgery and didn¡¯t dare to call earlier. You¡¯re off work now, right?¡± Jessica asked as she bent down to get into the car.
Chris replied, ¡°Still at the office watching the surveince with Jake. You¡¯re definitelying back the day after tomorrow?¡±
¡°Shouldn¡¯t be any changes.¡±
¡°Okay.¡±
Wife Back 136
Recently, Chris hadn¡¯t really wanted to go home.
The main reason was that no one was there, and the ce felt cold and empty.
Every time he went back, he would think about the things he and Jessica had done in bed during this time.
The more he thought about it, the more¡
So, Chris began dying his return home.
He would wait until he waspletely exhausted before going back¨Cjust to shower and sleep.
Still, he remained concerned about Jessica¡¯s situation.
He hadn¡¯t seen any media reports about her and Michael, which suggested that Michael hadn¡¯t yet found a chance to be alone with her.
From that, it seemed Jessica was safe for now.
Shannon, her personal assistant, really was exceptional.
¡°I¡¯m going to have dinner with Collin from Hurricane Media now. He¡¯s my childhood friend¨Cwe¡¯ve known each other since we were six or seven. He also came to our wedding, I don¡¯t know if you remember him.¡±
Chris thought hard for a while, but couldn¡¯t recall Collin at all.
¡°I don¡¯t remember. You had too many rtives and friends on your side at the time. Mom only introduced me to a few frequent visitors. As for the others¡ you didn¡¯t take me to meet them, so of course I didn¡¯t know them.¡±
Hurricane Media¡¯s main office wasn¡¯t in the country, and Collin was only in Jston for a business trip.
This time, it happened to coincide with Jessica¡¯s schedule.
¡°When we¡¯re back, I¡¯ll introduce you to each other. Collin has a great personality.¡®
Jessica had already arrived at the restaurant.
She spoke to Chris for a while longer before hanging up.
Collin had only been back in the country for less than 10 days, and he was already traveling for work in Jston.
His appointment hadn¡¯t gone smoothly¨Cthere were many problems behind the scenes.
Meeting Jessica this time was also a way for him to express gratitude.
¡°Jessica.¡± Collin was waiting at the entrance.
When he saw Jessica get out of the car, he smiled warmly at her.
Collin opened his arms, and Jessica walked into them.
¡°It¡¯s been a long time.¡±
Collin said, ¡°It really has. Everything wrapped up a while ago, but haven¡¯t had time toe back. The main office won¡¯t fully move back to Cherja until next year I still need some time.¡±
The two of them requested a quiet private room.
The dishes had already been pre¨Cordered by Shannon based on their tastes.
¡°No one in the Phillips family dares to speak up anymore, right?¡± Jessica raised her champagne ss to him.
Collin smiled, his gaze filled with admiration as he looked at her.
¡°Anyone who had something to say is already dead. Let them speak all they want behind my back.¡±
The Phillips family¡¯s situation wasplicated.
Collin was Jessica¡¯s childhood friend.
His parents had died when he was young, and thepany had fallen into the hands of his uncles and aunts from the branch
families.
He himself had been thrown abroad.
Thepany originally belonged to him, but even after finishing his studies, he had been kept overseas and not allowed to
return.
If not for Jessica¡¯s help, Collin probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to reim Hurricane Media.
¡°My mom used to say your uncles and aunts weren¡¯t decent people. When your parents had their ident, I was still a kid and couldn¡¯t tell what was going on, let alone help you. I¡¯m just happy could support you within my abilities.¡±
¡°No matter what, I¡¯m back now. I don¡¯t care about the rest of the Phillips family. There¡¯s only one person I care about¨Cmy younger sister.¡±
Jessica nodded and said, ¡°Alexandra Phillips. I¡¯ve been helping you look into her whereabouts this whole time. I also asked
Captain Felton to assist. There should be news soon.¡±
¡°Captain Felton? Roy from the Felton family?¡± Collin was a little shocked. ¡°How did you get to know him? Isn¡¯t Roy known for being entric, never attending banquets, and never giving anyone face? He doesn¡¯t get involved in business matters at all.¡±
¡°It¡¯s a coincidence. He¡¯s my husband¡¯s neighbor. And recently we¡¯ve been investigating the same case¨Cso, you could say we have a shared goal.¡±
¡°Your husband¨Coh right, I almost forgot you¡¯re married. I even came back especially to attend your wedding, but you had that gloomy look the whole time and didn¡¯t speak to anyone.¡±
Collin hadn¡¯t expected that Jessica was actually doing pretty well better than he had imagined,
Wife Back 137
essica said, ¡°There were some ups and downs. Do you remember Michael?¡±
¡°That kid from the Hall family? During the years I was sent abroad we kept in touch the whole time. I remember when you told me you were dating Michael, I already felt he wasn¡¯t a decent guy. What happened¨Cwasn¡¯t he married abroad?¡±
¡°He got divorced and came back, brought a daughter with him too. It¡¯s a long story. Let¡¯s talk about it in detail once you¡¯re back.¡±
¡°Alright, then let¡¯s talk business. I came back this time to work with you.¡±
Jessica returned on the same flight as Michael.
Chris couldn¡¯t go to the airport to pick her up¨Che might be spotted by Michael- so he had to wait at the Wilder Group.
Maggie brought him a cup of coffee, and he read a book in the office.
He had been working overtime at the hospital these past few days, reviewing surveince footage.
He had barely done any surgeries, and for the first time, he realized being a security officer was exhausting¨Cstaring at nearly motionless monitors all day had made his eyes ache.
After reading for a bit, he felt sleepy, so he closed the book and leaned back on the sofa to take a nap.
¡°You can all get off work now. There¡¯s no meeting today. Everyone who worked overtime can leave early. Tomorrow, bring the PR team to the meeting¨Cwe¡¯re going to work with Hurricane Media.¡±
Indya rushed out of her office when she heard the news.
¡°Hurricane Media?¡± Indya was confused. ¡°What kind of coboration could we possibly have with them?¡±
Shannon, her arms full of documents, turned and handed them to her assistant.
¡°As long as they¡¯re going against the Hall family, we can work with them. Besides the entertainmentpany, the Hall family also has a cultural division focused on adapting modern online literature into film and TV. It¡¯s all about integration¨Cthey buy the rights themselves, produce the content, and use their own artists. It saves money.¡±
Indya paused. ¡°And then?¡±
¡°Now Hurricane Media is one of us. They¡¯re untouchable in this industry. Ms. Wilder ns to establish an entertainment division and coordinate directly with FN.¡±
Indya clicked her tongue. ¡°That¡¯s quite ambitious.¡±
¡°Anyway, this business trip was totally worth it. Aside from Michael, the rest of us got exactly what we wanted.¡±
Indya pulled Shannon aside to hear some gossip about Michael.
When Jessica pushed open the office door, she found Chris already asleep on the sofa
Since she was wearing high heels, she tiptoed over and sat beside him.
It was clear that during the days she¡¯d been away, Chris hadn¡¯t been sleeping well.
Even his eyes were shadowed with dark circles.
But this was actually a good sign- it meant he couldn¡¯t live without her.
¡°Oh, you¡¯re back.¡± Chris was woken by the slight noise.
He squinted at Jessica, then pulled her into his arms with a long sigh of relief. ¡°You¡¯re finally back. Want to head home early tonight?¡±
¡°Let me grab my things and we¡¯ll go.¡±
Chris tried to shake off the sleep.
Seeing Jessica in such a good mood, he asked how the business trip went.
¡°Things with Michael are the same. We¡¯re signing the contract tomorrow. But Hurricane Media gave me a surprise¨Ca big one. Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll tell you on the way back.¡±
Chris wasn¡¯t familiar with the business world and had no idea what Hurricane Media was.
But after a quick search on his phone, he saw Collin¡¯s name trending.
Most of the coverage was about Collin emerging victorious in a power struggle within the Phillips family.
But after a quick search on his phone, he saw Collin¡¯s name trending.
Most of the coverage was about Collin emerging victorious in a power struggle within the Phillips family.
¡°He seems like a dangerous person, but in reality, he¡¯s quite pure. His parents died young, and his rtives sent him abroad.¡±
Wife Back 138
Various entertainment gossip headlines were out, and the Phillips family¡¯s internal struggles were also a very dramatic show.
After Chris got home, he spent a long time reading.
He hadn¡¯t expected that Collin, who was described as simple¨Cminded, would be called pure.
¡°What have you done behind the scenes?¡± Chris looked at Jessica.
Since Jessica said Collin was pure and not the type to pull off such things, naturally someone must have helped.
If it wasn¡¯t anyone else, it had to be the person right in front of him.
Jessica took a sip of wine and smiled at Chris.
¡°What, Collin is simple and harmless, and I¡¯m the ruthless woman? Don¡¯t forget, the Wilder Group has always been led by women. If I have been able to stay in this position for so many years without being sidelined by those men, it¡¯s because of my tactics.¡±
¡°I know, I just happen to like ruthless beauties. If you were also simple and harmless, maybe¡¡±
Chris left the sentence hanging with a big suspense.
Jessica put down the ss and grabbed Chris¡¯s cor, her eyes burning as she looked at his lips.
¡°Maybe what? Say it, I want to hear it. If I hadn¡¯t forced you to marry me back then, would we have missed each other? You never thought about being with me, did you?¡±
That was actually true.
Back then, Chris just felt Jessica was a fragile woman but with a strong spirit.
All her tears had fallen right into his heart.
But it was only sympathy and pity, never reaching the level of love.
Chris knew he and Jessica were from two different worlds and naturally wouldn¡¯t take the initiative, especially since his mother¡¯s condition was poor and he spent most of his time caring for her.
It could be said that if Jessica hadn¡¯t forced the marriage, Chris wouldn¡¯t have had anything to do with her.
¡°You haven¡¯t slept well these past few days, have you? Come, I¡¯ll keep youpany.¡±
The cooperation between the Hall family and the Wilder Group was inevitable.
It was a n already approved by all the executives.
This time, they were setting up an entertainment division to directly coordinate with FN, clearly aiming to challenge Michael.
Indya was more curious about how Jessica convinced Michael.
¡°What exactly is Michael to you?¡±
Jessica sat in the meeting room, holding a pen.
When Indya asked, she looked up to answer.
¡°What rtion does Michael have to me? Or to thepany? Why should I care about his opinion?¡±
Indya pped expressionlessly.
¡°To be honest, Michael must have been really stupid back then to I¡¯m beginning to doubt your taste.
Michael probably noticed Jessica¡¯s changes.
In fact, all recent operations and shifts in the Wilder Group were beyond Michael¡¯s expectations.
He should have known long ago that Jessica had no interest in him.
But he was just arrogant.
¡°Didn¡¯t you say we shouldn¡¯t alert him yet?¡±
¡°So if Michael asks, I have a better exnation. I¡¯m cooperating with FN to share resources in the entertainment industry. Now that I have the chance and connections, Michael would be desperate to cling to me. How could he be fighting me at this point?¡±
¡°Okay.¡± Indya was satisfied.
Shannon said, ¡°Ms. Wilder, about the Luke you asked me to investigate I have some preliminary information. Recently, Luke has been contacting a chemicalpany and has made some small progress in the pharmaceutical industry. It looks like Luke wants to move into the medical field. Should we try to stop him?¡±
Jessica looked at the information Shannon found and involuntarily thought of her father¡¯s death.
After a short pause, she lifted her eyelids and looked at Shannon, her tone casual.
¡°What¡¯s there to stop? Luke has no ability or connections in that field. Let him go on his own. Even if he really achieves something, shouldn¡¯t Michael be the one worried? We don¡¯t have to act. Michael will naturally clear all obstacles.¡±
Wife Back 139
So they hadn¡¯t fallen out with Michael yet, hoping that Michael would see the other members of the Hall family as his biggest enemies, not Jessica.
Shannon nodded and ticked an option on the n sheet.
¡°Since that¡¯s the case, I will send someone to keep an eye on Luke, but we won¡¯t make a move now. There¡¯s still Helen left. No matter what we say, she refuses to speak and won¡¯t reveal the secret she holds.¡±
Jessica was not surprised.
That was normal.
Helen¡¯s entire family had gone bankrupt, and she was the only one who escaped back to the country.
If she didn¡¯t have this secret, Michael would have killed her long ago.
As Jordan¡¯s biological mother, Jordan didn¡¯t like Helen much either, and was even quite repulsed whenever she saw her.
This was the information Jennifer had given her.
Speaking of Jennifer, a top hacker who had been a nanny for so long had long since lost patience.
And now that many things required Jennifer¡¯s help, Shannon had already helped Jennifer resign and was selecting a new nanny for Michael.
¡°Michael¡¯s house is fully surveince, but he definitely won¡¯t spot the new equipment Jennifer developed with the tech department that can¡¯t be detected even by infrared scanning. It was supposed to be released next year, but now to avoid arousing Michael¡¯s suspicion, theunch will have to be postponed ¡±
The Wilder Group had sacrificed a lot for Michael ¨C manpower, money, even power.
But it didn¡¯t matter.
Jessica thought it was worth it.
¨C
¡°Your sleep seems to have improved ever since Ms. Wilder has returned from her business trip,¡± said Ashley as he came in from
outside the office.
Seeing Chris looking spirited, no longer tired like a few days ago, Ashley put the personnel files on the desk.
¡°Your condition a few days ago scared me
I thought I might have to send you to surgery.¡±
Chris smiled, it wasn¡¯t that bad.
But he really hadn¡¯t slept well.
¡°Captain Felton checked the personnel files and confirmed the person I mentioned does have the surname Johnson. He was the former CFO of the Hall Group. He was already at retirement age but was rehired for one year. Then he died. They said the Hall Group lost a lot of money over it.¡±
The Hall Group wouldn¡¯t make such a money¨Closing deal.
It seemed that the funeral expenses were much smaller than the cost they would have suffered if the matter was investigated.
¡°That means there must be something wrong with Megan. Tell Jake to keep a closer watch. I¡¯ll arrange more night shifts for Jake. He¡¯s still young and can handle it. I can¡¯t,¡± said Chris.
Ashley raised his hand in surrender.
¡°I can¡¯t either. My boyfriend and I have nned a trip since it¡¯s almost the annual holiday. But if this matter isn¡¯t settled before the New Year, I probably can¡¯t leave.¡±
Ashley seemed to have a very good rtionship with his boyfriend.
¡°Wanting to take a vacation is fine. I can manage things here at the hospital. You just handle things as you see fit.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll see how things go.¡±
Megan often met Jake during night shifts recently.
She felt that the young man was quite adorable. He often helped her out and frequently pulling small snacks from his pocket to
hand to others.
A helpful and considerate young man like him was wee everywhere.
Jake had been getting close to Megantely, mainly because they both worked night shifts.
Chapter 140.
Wife Back 140
¡°Why are you always on the night shift? Normally, you can¡¯t have more than three night shifts a week, because your sensitivity drops during surgeries and problems might ur. You just became a regr employee¨Chaven¡¯t you told the director?¡± asked Megan.
After saying that, she remembered that Jake was in Chris¡¯s department, so it must have been arranged by Chris himself.
Jake was eating snacks at the nurse station, watching a TV drama with them.
¡°Recently, Dr. Wills has had family issues, so I¡¯ve been covering the night shifts while he works the day shifts. He said it wouldst for half a month. I¡¯m young and can handle staying upte anyway. I don¡¯t sleep much when I get home.¡±
Megan said, ¡°That still isn¡¯t okay.¡±
¡°Megan, you work in the pharmacy. Howe you¡¯re always at the emergency department too? You¡¯re supposed to just stay inside the pharmacy during night shifts and sleep. Why do youe out?¡±
Megan smiled a little awkwardly, looked away, and said, ¡°The pharmacy is too cold. The air conditioning is always on inside. It¡¯s warmer here. Besides, the hospital is cold and empty ¡ª I feel safer where there are more people.¡±
¡°No way, Megan, you actually believe that? We¡¯re medical students, we shouldn¡¯t believe in superstitions.¡±
¡°Yes, yes, I don¡¯t believe it. It¡¯s just too cold in there.¡±
Jake seemed to be staring at his phone screen, but in fact, his peripheral vision was constantly observing Megan¡¯s profile.
He noticed that Megan always nced toward one particr ward
Secretly, Jake checked on hisputer and found that this ward housed a car ident victim.
Severe car idents can endanger the whole body and usually require a long hospital stay, because healing internal organs and bones was a major process.
The patient in room 316 had been there for over six month and was a woman who almost always had visitors every day.
Megan¡¯s gaze never left that room.
There had to be something wrong with room 316.
Knowing the situation, Jake immediately informed Chris.
The car ident involving the patient in room 316 was not suspicious¨Cit really was an ident, but she was caught in the middle of it.
Six cars collided, and she was in the center.
????????????????????????63)
When she was first brought to the hospital, she was covered in blood and her heart had stopped beating.
They barely managed to save her, but she remained unconscious for over a month.
¡°She¡¯s been here for over six months and should be discharged soon. I checked the room, her major bones have started healing.
I gave my rmendation she can leave next month and still go home for the New Year,¡± said Ashley.
Chris looked at the surveince footage on the screen and split off one window to check the patient file for room 316,
Mandy Milton was a 24¨Cyear¨Cold girl.
It was said she was an outstanding student in the foreignnguage department.
Before the ident, she had just finished an Englian interview and was about to return to organize the materials, but then she ended up in the hospital instead.
1
No matter how you looked at it, she had no connection to the Hall family.
¡°Mandy¡ why do I feel like I¡¯ve seen that face somewhere before?¡± Chris held the mouse in one hand and tapped lightly on the desk with the other.
He always felt that Mandy¡¯s face¡ no, not exactly seen before, but the outline looked very familiar.
¡°Mandy has always been in Impelia. She even went to university there. Her parents are ordinary people one is a university professor and the other a PhD in medicine. I think they work at some pharmaceuticalpany,¡± said Ashley.
Hearing this, Chris looked up at Ashley.
¡°Did you find this out?¡±
Ashley flipped his tablet around, showing him the chat history between him and Shannon.
Chris was speechless.
Shannon really was capable of everything.
Right now, the Wilder Group was probably having a meeting about the cooperation with Hurricane Media.
As chief secretary, Shannon was definitely apanying Jessica, yet she still had time to investigate Mandy¡¯s situation.
Wife Back 141
Chapter 141
¡®No matter how you looked at it, it had nothing to do with Megan, Ashley felt something was strange. That was true, they were frompletely different worlds, so why did Megan look toward room 316? Or was it that Megan had already discovered Jake and was deliberately guiding them to investigate room 316? That shouldn¡¯t be the case.
Jake was clean, and Megan didn¡¯t seem like someone with so many hidden thoughts.
Megan was probably just doing her job.
¡°Let¡¯s keep an eye on it.¡±
Hurricane Media was an internationalpany with many cross¨Cborder businesses.
Topete with them, the entertainment department couldn¡¯t be shabby, and since they were cooperating with FN, the celebrities they had contact with were all top¨Ctier.
Chris went straight to the conference room at the Wilder Group.
The meeting had ended an hour earlier, but a few core members remained.
¡°Today, Michael came to sign the contract. He heard we were starting an entertainment department, and his expression was terribly unpleasant. He waited for you outside for a long time, wanting to talk to you,¡±
Chris pushed the door open and just happened to hear Maggie say this.
Maggie instinctively fell silent, but Chris and Jessica didn¡¯t care.
Jessica¡¯s eyes brightened when she saw him and waved.
Shannon moved to make space for Chris.
¡°Not finished yet?¡±
¡°There are still some details we need to discuss, and Nina too. I scheduled dinner tonight with Nina and Collin. Since we¡¯re cooperating, everyone should get to know each other.¡±
Chris had no objections.
Seeing that the two showed no reaction, Maggie dared to continue ¡°I think Michael was so eager for you he lost patience. Didn¡¯t expect you to just take a call and leave.¡±
Shannon smiled and said, ¡°Guess whose call it was?¡±
¡°His daughter?¡±
¡°Not at all. Jordan had a car ident before, has been quiet recent, and was sent to school. It was the Hall family¡¯s butler. Apparently, Luke was recently cheated in a coboration and lost million. Michael¡¯s parents has been scolding him and called Michael back to watch the show.¡±
Indya had been dozing off but perked up and straightened,
¡°Is that so?¡±
¡°It¡¯s no secret anymore. The project Luke thought was good was atually a trap set by Michael. Michael¡¯s just using a shellpany registered overseas. Michael needed money, so those 10 million ended up in his ount. His parents doesn¡¯t even know yet.¡±
It seemed the conflicts in the Hall family weren¡¯t recent, family ties were unreliable.
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Michael didn¡¯t fully trust his parents, let alone his cousin, Luke.
¡°Michael isn¡¯t very smart, but Luke is truly foolish. How could any capable person in the Hall family let things get this bad?¡± In Indya¡¯s view, Michael¡¯s parentscked business spirit and were ¡®t genuine businessmen.
¡°Because Michael¡¯s grandfather left a very rich inheritance, and¡although Michael wasn¡¯t smart, the Hall family had a smart person.¡±
Michael had a younger uncle, the youngest son of his grandfather, who was born when the grandfather was already over 70 and had been pampered outside the family.
He was also the favorite son of the grandfather¡¯sst lover before he died.
Originally, everything in the Hall family belonged to Michael¡¯s parents, but after this child was born, the will was changed. ¡°You mean, someone else ispeting with Michael for the inheritance?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know much about him. I heard it from Roy. He¡¯s quite mysterious, rarely appearing in the country, but he has a private residence in Impelia near the Golden Mansion.¡±
Others couldn¡¯t tell, but Chris immediately saw the cunning look hidden in Jessica¡¯s eyes.
All talk about ¡°not knowing much¡± was just a lie.
Wife Back 143
Chapter 143
+15 BONUS
ording to Jessica, this had happened a long time ago, she wouldn¡¯t have waited until now and kept putting on an act with Michael.
Jessica curved her lips at Chris. ¡°The first time I met Jaden was indeed at a business banquet, and he was indeed by Collin¡¯s side, but at that time I didn¡¯t know Jaden¡¯s identity. The second time we met was in Jston.¡±
It was at the Diamond, where Michael and Jessica went on a business trip together.
Michael appeared openly before Jessica, officially bing part of her n.
All the opportunities in this world were reserved for those who were prepared.
Jaden had made all the preparations before returning to the country.
And the Golden Mansion was the address left to him by his mother
The Sir Hall bought the house there precisely because he didn¡¯t want anyone to disturb them.
Sir Hall was always prudent in his affairs, no one had found this house for so many years.
Jaden returned to the country and lived there without any trouble.
¡°So Collin and Jaden really are-?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± said Jessica.
¡°At first, I wasn¡¯t very supportive, because the Hall family¡¯s situation was tooplicated. Collin worked hard to inherit Hurricane Media. I helped him for more than a year, and now Jaden was added to our ns.¡±
People from families like theirs, except for Jessica who had loving parents and had no one else to pull family interests, the rest had to fight and struggle for the wealth from birth.
Of course, one could also choose to want nothing and just live a in life with dividends from thepany.
But Collin and Jaden were different.
All of this originally belonged to them, so why were they ultimately kicked out?
Others squandered the assets that belonged to them, while they became discarded pawns.
Jaden might be an illegitimate son, but what about Collin?
¡°The Phillips family haspletely copsed, leaving only Collin. The situation has stabilized, and he wants to move Hurricane Media¡¯s headquarters back to Impelia, which was my idea. The headquarter of a of the founder is.¡±
Jessica understood this deeply.
The Wilder Group was also an internationalpany, and the overseas branch had a ¡°far away from home¡± atmosphere, everyone only recognized the executive directors.
When she, as CEO, went there, everyone just put on a show.
That was when Jessica really felt the crisis.
¡°Okay, just think it through. What can I do to help you?¡±
¡°Some people in the Hall family have lived too long. I know your medical ethics, but¡ sometimes you still have to help.¡±
¡°I know.¡±
Jaden¡¯s identity was still a secret, and very few people knew.
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Mandy in ward 316 had fully recovered.
Ashley gave the final notice. She could leave the hospital to recover on her own and return for a check¨Cup in three months.
Though the ward usually had visitors every day, on the day Mandy left, it was very quiet.
She left alone, carrying her things. She looked like she was in good spirits.
¡°I can¡¯t see any problems at all.¡± Ashley held the patient¡¯s records and entered Chris¡¯s office. ¡°She¡¯s just an ordinary reporter!¡±
¡°There¡¯s nothing else about her?¡±
Wife Back 144
+15 BONUS
Ashley stood across from Chris¡¯s desk, flipping through the files, looking over them carefully for quite a while before shaking his head again.
¡°No, this person¡¯s background is very clean, except¡ her encrypted records from when she was born until when she was three. Neither Shannon nor I have the clearance to ess them, we might need an expert.¡±
Naturally, this kind of task was given to Jennifer.
Jennifer had already left Michael¡¯s house, and Shannon had chosen someone else to continue the nanny work¨Cthis time, a professional.
¡°Encrypted?¡±
The office¡¯s inte rang, and Shannon¡¯s voice came through.
Jennifer looked at theputer screen, which was mostly ck except for a few red dots moving slowly.
During the call, two of those dots disappeared, indicating they had been caught.
A smile appeared on Jennifer¡¯s lips. ¡°Send it over. I¡¯m busy right now. I¡¯m helping Roy to catch people. I¡¯ll get on it in half an hour¡±
Shannon hesitated on the other end. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were still helping Captain Felton.¡±
¡°Oh, just got the info. They said their team couldn¡¯t locate someone, so I helped out. Two have been caught, three remain. It¡¯ll be over soon.¡±
Shannon sighed. ¡°Alright, the files are sent. Hurry up.¡±
All suspicious individuals from the hospital were sent to the Wilder Group, then Shannon filtered and forwarded the relevant data to Jennifer¡¯sputer.
1
There was no information in the world that Jennifer couldn¡¯t find.
Unless¡ the person appeared out of thin air.
Jennifer pushed open Jessica¡¯s door and threw the recently found files onto her desk, looking utterly dejected.
¡°This person must have jumped out of a rock.¡±
Jessica blinked, speechless. ¡®What the hell is she talking about?¡®
Jessica raised her eyelids and nced at her.
Jennifer wasn¡¯t afraid at all, leaning on the desk with both hands.
¡°There¡¯s no information I can¡¯t find in this world unless this person¡ was not born in a hospital. Otherwise, there would be records.¡±
But the Mandy they were investigating had none.
Nobody understood why Chris focused so much attention on this rson.
After Jennifer¡¯s investigation, there was indeed something wrong with her.
Jessica lowered her head to think.
If even Jennifer couldn¡¯t find anything, it wasn¡¯t encryption, it must have been erased.
¡°Only about three people in the world can erase birth records and store them without me noticing. From what I know, one is in the country, the other two are abroad. They can¡¯t have any connection to Mandy, and the one in the country¡¡±
1/2
Her voice dropped. ¡°Is even less likely.¡±
Jessica called Chris to exin the situation.
The information Jennifer found wasn¡¯t much more than what Shannon had given, just a bit more detailed.
The more they looked, the simpler Mandy¡¯s life seemed.
¡°Even Jennifer couldn¡¯t find anything?¡± Ashley asked in surprise.
Jessica had the call on loudspeaker and smiled at Jennifer when she heard this.
Jennifer took the phone and held it to her lips.
¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this, Mr. White? Are you underestimating me? Do you want to have a go yourself?¡±
Ashley quickly surrendered. ¡°I¡¯ll pass on that. You¡¯re the best in the world at this. But I¡¯m sure this person didn¡¯t jump out from a rock.¡±
Jennifer said, ¡°You¡¯re mocking me.¡±
After their banter, Jessica returned to the matter at hand.
¡°So there¡¯s definitely something wrong with Mandy. I¡¯m sending calum to follow her. Do you know the home address?¡±
Chris read the address from the patient¡¯s file.
It was a very ordinary neighborhood, with average prices¨Cperfectly matching Mandy¡¯s family situation.
Wife Back 145
Chapter 145
Calum had been keeping an eye on Helen for a while.
Now that he confirmed Helen was safe, he turned his attention to Mandy.
Although he still didn¡¯t know why, since Jessica had requested it, he had to go.
¡°I¡¯m just curious, you and your brother have different surnames¨Cone follows the father¡¯s name, the other the mother¡¯s. Why?¡± Maggie asked while walking to the meeting room with Indya.
Indya had slept verytest night and felt tired this morning.
Hearing the question, she turned her head and nced at Maggie.
¡°Do you have trouble telling your son from your daughter?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t have kids yet.¡±
¡°Our genders and appearances are very different. Anyone who¡¯s met us wouldn¡¯t confuse us. As for the different surnames¡ it seems like my dad got that from a fortune teller back then¡¡±
The news about the Summit Infirmary going to be listed had already spread like wildfire.
As the Honorary Chairman, Chris, received many banquet invitations.
But Chris had always been indifferent to such things.
Besides attending necessary events with Jessica, he basically didn go to other banquets.
So most of the invitations were politely declined.
Chris was busy with surgeries and hospital matters, unable to handle everything alone.
Jessica decided to find him an assistant.
¡°Francesca Lowe, your assistant.¡±
That evening, Jessica came to pick up Chris and brought Francesca along.
Francesca had originally been the top secretary in the industry, on par with Shannon.
But herpany had some issues¨Cher employer was a terrible person¨Cso Francesca was sacrificed and ended up behind bars for six months.
Jessica was very talent¨Cappreciative and always recruited capable people to her side.
But the secretarial department was already full.
After giving it some thought, putting Francesca beside Chris seemed the most suitable thing to do.
The Summit Infirmary was basically a smallpany.
Except that Francesca couldn¡¯t perform surgeries, the rest was noifferent from handlingpany affairs.
Her sry naturally came from the Wilder Group.
Jessica offered a very high sry.
Francesca had only been out of prison for a couple of months before Jessica recruited her.
She had expected the annual sry to be low, but to her surprise, i was much higher than before.
With the money secured, people naturally would be loyal.
+15 BONUS
This had always been Jessica¡¯s belief.
¡°Hello, Mr. Green. I¡¯m Francesca. Here¡¯s my resume. From today on, I¡¯ll be your assistant. My position is personal assistant. I¡¯ll help you handle hospital affairs, personal matters, and various other tasks.¡±
Chris was startled as he opened the car door in the car park.
They had only talked about getting an assistant that afternoon, but now the person had been sent straight to him that evening Chris paused and said to Francesca, ¡°Hello, hello. Well, um¡ I¡¯ll take you upstairs.¡±
But Jessica grabbed Chris¡¯s hand while she was still in the car.
¡°I already told you where the office is. Go up by yourself. We¡¯ll discuss the handover tomorrow. After work, unless it¡¯s something very urgent, you can do whatever you want and don¡¯t bother him,¡± said Jessica.
Chris was about to speak when Francesca said, ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡±
¡°Get in¡± Jessica tilted her head.
Chris had no choice but to bend down and get into the car.
Recently, Jessica had been busy and hadn¡¯t had time to pick Chris up after work.
If it weren¡¯t for Francesca, she might still be at thepany.
It was rare to finish early.
Night had already fallen.
Chris didn¡¯t have time to cook, so the two of them just picked a restaurant nearby.
Wife Back 146
¡°Francesca was originally framed by her employer and sentenced five years. By the time I learned about it, she had already been imprisoned for five months. I found a newwyer and got herout, so she¡¯s definitely safe. There¡¯s no need to hide our matters from her.¡±
Chris poured Jessica a cup of tea, curious where Jessica had found someone like Francesca.
¡°In business, there are always some shady dealings. The employers usually gives orders but, when things get serious. They push the people who actually acted to take the me.¡±
After saying that, Jessica noticed Chris was looking at her, so she added, ¡°I never did that myself.¡±
¡°Thepany Francesca belonged to was also in pharmaceuticals They illegally imported foreign drugs, reced thebels with local ones, and sold them. Eventually, they were caught. Francesca was indeed a secretary, but she always thought those drugs were produced by their own factory. She had no idea it was a switch, she was made the scapegoat.¡±
Jessica cared about Francesca because their secretarial department was short¨Cstaffed at the time.
But Shannon soon found a suitable recement.
Francesca was their first choice initially, but she was sent behind bars.
¡°What about that employer of hers?¡±
Jessica lowered her eyes and said, ¡°Whoever did it has to take responsibility. He naturally went to prison.¡±
Chris knew Jessica would never let these people go.
¡°I had also considered whether to find you an assistant, and whether to find you a male or female assistant, but after thinking it over, I still felt Francesca was the best fit. She was familiar with the pharmaceutical industry. As your assistant, managing the entire the Summit Infirmary, the workload was more than most could handle. Only Francesca could take full charge.¡±
¡°I thought you found someone so quickly. Turns out you just nted your favorite person by my side.¡± Chris smiled and asked, Tell me, is Francesca here to keep an eye on me?¡±
Jessica snapped her fingers and pointed at him. ¡°That¡¯s right. Francesca is my informant. Her first assignment is to patrol your lounge every day to see if anyone unwanted shows up.¡±
Amused by Jessica¡¯s expression, Chris grabbed her finger and kissed it gently.
¡°The only person allowed near me is you.¡±
At dinner, Jessica mentioned that the New Year was only half a month away.
She was considering whether to go on their honeymoon during the New Year.
¡°No way. Mom will be alone at home for the New Year!¡±
Jessica said, ¡°We can buy tickets for the day of New Year, eat, then leave. Or the first day after New Year. Where do you want to go?¡±
¨C
¡°Two years ago we said we¡¯d go to Southon. Impelia¡¯s too cold in the winter. Southon is like spring all year round ¨C perfect for winter.¡±
Jessica made a note in her heart.
¡°Then let¡¯s go to Southon first.¡±
The New Year, this was probably their only leisure time left.
Because after the New Year, things would start to getplicated
Even the Summit Infirmary was preparing to be listed.
Their battle with the Hall family would be out in the open.
At that time, nothing could be undone, and there would be no turni
They would have to go all in.
No one knew who would win or lose ¨C everyone was staking every
Francesca, as Chris¡¯s assistant, proved to be incredibly capable.
Within three days, the entirepany highly praised her ability.
She remembered all the names of the staff backgrounds.
She greeted everyone she met.
from board member
Most importantly, she handled many tasks without Chris needing
When Chris mentioned something, it was already prepared and re
Even the Summit Infirmary was preparing to be listed.
Their battle with the Hall family would be out in the open.
At that time, nothing could be undone, and there would be no turning back.
They would have to go all in.
No one knew who would win or lose ¨C everyone was staking everything.
Francesca, as Chris¡¯s assistant, proved to be incredibly capable.
Within three days, the entirepany highly praised her ability.
She remembered all the names of the staff from board members to janitors even their names, ages, even family backgrounds.
She greeted everyone she met.
Most importantly, she handled many tasks without Chris needing to instruct her.
When Chris mentioned something, it was already prepared and ready before him.
Wife Back 147
Chapter 147
After taking over as chairman, Chris was overwhelmed for a long time and didn¡¯t know what to do, but Francesca arranged everything steadily for him.
¡°Mr. Green, I epted an invitation for you to a banquet. The invitation says you need to bring a femalepanion. I¡¯ve already confirmed the timing with Ms. Wilder¡¯s secretary, Maggie. In three days, there will be a new drugunch ceremony by Wind Pharmaceuticals, and you and Ms. Wilder will attend together.¡±
Chris, who had never proactively epted any invitation before, felt a bit puzzled.
He looked up at Francesca beside him.
Francesca quickly gave him a simple exnation. ¡°Wind Pharmaceuticals has always ranked among the top three in the domestic pharmaceutical industry. Especially this time, the new drug beingunched is a special medicine targeting cardiovascr diseases. The News Guide had already posted trial data showing a relief rate as high as 56%. Within this category of drugs, that relief rate was considered very high. No hospital yet had obtained the rights to use the new drug. Apart from public hospitals which don¡¯t need topete, all major private hospitals would participate, hoping to be designated hospitals for the drug¡¯s use.¡±
After Francesca¡¯s exnation, Chris understood and nodded.
¡°Shannon told me about your preferences, Mr. Green. I know you don¡¯t like attending such banquets, and I wouldn¡¯t have epted the invitation for you if it wasn¡¯t necessary. For a private hospital preparing to be listed next year, bing a designated hospital for such drugs would greatly benefit the stock after the IPO.¡±
Chris didn¡¯t understand business at all, which was why Jessica arranged for Francesca to assist him.
Because after bing listed, this wouldn¡¯t just be a hospital, but a business.
Chris waspletely clueless, but Francesca was outstanding in this area.
Jessica¡¯s sry offer to Francesca was equivalent to that of a vice president in mostpanies.
This showed how important the position was and how capable Francesca was.
¡°Okay,¡± Chris said to Francesca. ¡°I don¡¯t understand business, so I¡¯ll trust your arrangements. You know my preferences, 1 believe you¡¯ll choose the best path for the Summit Infirmary.¡±
Francesca said, ¡°Ms. Wilder¡¯s formal dress will be provided by the Wilder Group, and your suits have already been shipped from abroad. They will arrive tomorrow and are all your size. The congrattory gifts for the new drugunch have also been prepared, all through public ounts. The Summit Infirmary finance department will need to approve them.¡±
¡°Good.¡±
That evening, when Chris went home, he told Jessica about it.
Jessica wasn¡¯t surprised at all.
¡°Francesca is too familiar with the pharmaceutical industry and quite sensitive to it. I don¡¯t even know what Wind Pharmaceuticals is, nor do I pay attention. But she knew immediatly, which shows she has the most important contacts in the circle. That¡¯s worth every penny of the sry I gave her.¡±
Chris nodded in agreement.
¡°After the hospital¡¯smercialization, I was worried about what to do. I don¡¯t understand stocks or anything like that. With Francesca, I feel assured and can take on more surgeries with peace of mind.¡±
¡°Why do you still have so many surgeries near the New Year?¡±
Chris was helpless too.
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insert prt sc
delete
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end
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¡°Life, birth, sickness, and death don¡¯t stop just because of holidays. Although I¡¯m a doctor, I wish no one in the world would get sick.¡±
That was impossible.
Doctors existed to bnce life and death.
Chris was one of the best among them.
¡°I already signed a contract with Michael. He¡¯ll being to thepany oftentely. Did you see the trending topic today?¡±
Chapter 148
Wife Back 148
Chapter 148
How could Chris not have seen it?
Michael signed a contract with the Wilder Group, and right after that, bought a lot of media coverage.
All the news media focused either on the cooperation between the tall family and Wilder family or on the personal rtionship between him and Jessica.
Among these, the most eye¨Ccatching was, of course, this couple who had been apart for many years.
But after so many years apart, when they reunited, all that remained was a business rtionship.
Michael was divorced and had a child, while Jessica had already married.
At the same time, Indya also pushed the PR department to start promoting publicly that Jessica and Chris¡¯s rtionship was very happy and fulfilling.
The implication was that Michael could not possibly interfere, and essica would not get back together with Michael.
Her strategy was to force Michael to make a major move.
Sure enough, less than a week after the cooperation began, Michael¡¯s visits to the Wilder Group increased sharply.
The paparazzi waiting at the Wilder Group¡¯s entrance also smelled the gossip.
In these days, they captured many photos of the two entering and leaving together.
¡°They¡¯re all paid inte trolls hired by Michael. You don¡¯t need to worry about it,¡± said Jessica.
Now, she and Chris trusted each other, no longer like before, when even a small disturbance made him feel unloved.
¡°It¡¯s okay, I now roughly understand your PR tactics, so I won¡¯t care about it.¡±
Jessica cocked her brows ¡°What do you mean by ¡®won¡¯t care¡®? You should care about me, but not about what others say.¡±
As the New Year approached, the Wilder Group had been working overtime for several nights straight to cooperate with the Hal family.
Everyone who left thepany had dark circles under their eyes and couldn¡¯t help but curse the Hall family a little.
¡°I don¡¯t know why they¡¯re in such a hurry,¡± someone from the PR departmentined to someone in the jewelry department while yawning. ¡°So what if the cooperation happened after the New Year? Why rush before the holiday? Working overtime every day¨Chow can I have a good New Year in such a stare?¡±
¡°We¡¯re the same. The designs just won¡¯te out. He¡¯s already at thepany, and Mr. Shane keeps reminding us every day. get a headache the moment I enter the office.¡±
Comints were inevitable, the workload brought a huge amount of pressure, and Jessica also felt this.
¡°Increase the annual bonus by 3% this year. We¡¯ve earned quite a bit from this Hall family deal. Atter deducting thepany¡¯s share, I¡¯ll distribute my personal profit among the departments who worked overtime.¡±
Shannon nodded and took notes.
¡°Tonight is theunch of the new drug for Wind Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Green will leave directly from the hospital. Your formal dress is hanging in the secretarial department. Do you want to get hanged now?¡±
They were so busy and dizzy that they had even forgotten about the banquet that night.
All these matters were directly coordinated by Francesca with the secretarial department.
Jessica and Chris just needed to be notified.
She would take Shannon and Maggie, while Chris would bring Francesca.
The PR and business negotiations were left to them.
Most importantly, they had to consider the people who might appear tonight.
Recently, their life was rtively calm, and Jessica and Chris rarely had time of their own.
But those who might appear at tonight¡¯s banquet were the biggest obstacle.
Michael and Luke would both attend, but as representatives of their individualpanies.
They prepared different gifts, and their smiles at the venue were forced, showing no real warmth in their rtionship. Yet, the Hall family still paid for official press¨Creleases¨Ciming the family members were close.
After all these years, would anyone still remember what Jaden looked like?
¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be a bit risky for Jaden to appear at such an event?¡± Chris asked Jessica in a low voice.
Many old acquaintances were in front of them.
¡°Don¡¯t worry. Jaden doesn¡¯t look much like Sir Hall. He looks more like his mother. After so many years, even if Jaden stood in front of them, no one would recognize him. Especially considering his status.¡±
Wife Back 149
Chapter 149
He still couldn¡¯t officially return to the Hall family, so he could only attend as Collin¡¯s boyfriend.
The two had been together for several years.
After Collin took control of the Phillips family, he brought Jaden in his circle.
No one in the Phillips family dared to speak ill behind their backs.
So Jaden had lived at Collin¡¯s house abroad for the past few years.
The two were inseparable.
+15 BONUS
¡°The Phillips family no longer had any elders Collin needed to pay attention to, so Jaden¡¯s identity no longer needed to be hidden. From what I heard from Collin, once Jaden returned to the Hall family, they would register their marriage abroad.¡±
That was quite good. Lovers finally bing family was always something to be happy about.
Michael naturally saw Jessica.
He wanted to approach her, but when he saw Jessica happily chatting with Chris, and with all those business partners around her, he felt it was inappropriate for him to do so.
¡°The gift has already been sent. Mr. Chase of Wind Pharmaceuticals just had a baby girlst month, so the gift is a little toy for the child,¡± Francesca said as she came down from the second floor and spoke to Chris.
¡°We just finished negotiating. Mr. Chase has a very good impression of our hospital, and I think we have a 60% chance of securing the deal.¡±
Chris clicked his tongue. ¡°So low?¡±
Jessica said, ¡°It¡¯s not low at all.¡±
For investors, 60% was very much worth trying for.
She told Francesca, ¡°You know what to do. before the Summit Infirmary is listed, secure us as designated hospital for this new
drug.¡±
¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡±
After Francesca and Maggie went upstairs again to negotiate, Chris pulled Jessica aside, worried. ¡°Will this put too much pressure on Francesca?¡±
¡°This is what it¡¯s like working on a project. If they don¡¯t seed, all efforts are wasted. With a 60% sess rate, if she manages well, even if she doesn¡¯t secure the deal today, she can raise the sess rate to 75% at minimum.¡±
With such precise figures, Chris felt even more confused.
Michael really couldn¡¯t resist approaching with his wine ss in hand.
He felt nothing but hatred in his heart.
Even though the two were divorced, to maintain the Wilder Group reputation and PR image, Jessica always brought Chris to banquets like this one together.
But the person who should stand by Jessica was him!
¡°Mr. Green, I have business to discuss with Jessica,¡± Michael said muudely as he walked over.
He was confident Jessica would not refuse.
Sure enough, Chris instinctively looked at Jessica, who slightly nodded. ¡°Then you should go get some
rest.¡±
13
112
Chris pretended to be disappointed and walked towards the terrace on the third floor.
He felt ufortable with the banquet¡¯smercial atmosphere full of toasting and exchanging drinks, and thought it was better for him to get some fresh air outside.
It was also giving Michael a chance.
¡°Hey, Chris, do you remember me?¡±
Suddenly, a man in a white suit appeared behind him, making Chris jump.
The man was handsome, wearing a diamond earring on his left earlobe.
He seemed to be here for Chris, smiling slightly. His handsome features bing even more obvious.
¡°I¡¯m sorry, you are¡¡±
The man clinked his ss against Chris¡¯s red wine.
¡°I¡¯m Collin Phillips, Jessica¡¯s friend. I attended your wedding but didn¡¯t get a chance to say hi.¡±
This was Collin, CEO of Hurricane Media, and a friend of Jessica¡¯s.
Chris felt that he was very handsome.
He¡¯s even more handsome than what he looks like on news reports!¡® Chris eximed inwardly.
¡°Hello.¡±
Wife Back 150
¡°It¡¯s alright, you don¡¯t need to be afraid. Jessica messaged me, saying someone was bothering her and asked me toe keep youpany,¡± Collin said as he and Chris leaned on the railing, looking at the brightest star in the night sky. ¡°It seems your rtionship is really good, and that makes me much more at ease,
Chrises back to his senses. ¡°At the wedding¡¡±
¡°I know. Back then, you two were just working together. Now that here¡¯s genuine feeling between the two of you, that¡¯s a good thing. Jessica is strong¨Cwilled and it¡¯s hard for her to fall in love. You¡¯re the first,¡± Collin said, turning his head to look at Chris.
Chris chuckled and didn¡¯t mind Collin¡¯s lie that meant well. ¡°The first person she loved wasn¡¯t actually me.¡±
But Collin shook his head firmly. ¡°No, I never thought Jessica¡¯s feelings for Michael were love. Michael¡¯s presence was always self¨Cserving, he approached Jessica with a purpose. Jessica was rebellious at the time, and since Mrs. Wilder forbade them from being together, she insisted on it just out of spite.¡±
Because Chris was the first person Jessica ever loved, that was why she didn¡¯t know how to face him. In the end, she chose the same way as her mother¨Cdistance and coldness¨Cto protect the safety of the one she loved.
¡°Is that so? It¡¯s really the first time I¡¯ve heard such an exnation¡± said Chris.
Collin looked back at the world of fame and fortune, his gaze drifting, and took a sip of champagne.
¡°In our circle, it¡¯s really hard to fall in love because everyone approaches with an agenda. Only you are different. After the New Year, Hurricane Media will move back to Impelia. I hope we¡¯ll see each other often.¡±
Jessica was kept from leaving by Michael but couldn¡¯t show any impatience. She was forced to drag out the conversation with him for a long time.
¡°I heard Luke also came. I heard Luke started a pharmaceutical subsidiarypany? Is that true?¡± Jessica asked cautiously.
Michael snorted and was about to speak, but his tone suddenly grew more aggrieved.
¡°Yes, my parents have always had a grudge against me. After Luke started thatpany, my parents nag even more. What should I do?¡±
¡®What should you do? Whatever the fuck you want!¡® Jessica cursed inwardly.
In her early 20s, she didn¡¯t see how selfish Michael was. But now, she could see clearly how selfish he was.
There was no way that she would help.
The atmosphere cooled for a while until Jessica saw Luke heading pstairs.
Michael grew anxious and stood up. ¡°Jessica, I just remembered I haven¡¯t delivered the gift to Mr. Chase. I¡¯ll head upstairs and give it to him, wait here for me.¡±
¡°Okay,¡±
¡®Yeah, right. In your dreams!¡® Jessica continued inwardly.
As soon as Michael left, Jessica got up and ran to the third¨Cfloor, thinking only Collin was keeping Chrispany.
But when she pushed open therge ss door, she saw Nina as well.
¡°Hey, there you are. Michael¡¯s been bothering me for so long. Why didn¡¯t youe to get him off my ass?¡± Jessica walked over to Nina and bumped her shoulder.
Ninaughed. ¡°I just wanted to see you helpless.¡±
She flipped her long hair. ¡°Like I said before, just dere war on Michael. Why bother putting on an act? No one can stand him. Even Chris told me to go help you out. But I didn¡¯t!¡±
Jessica pinched her ear. ¡°Hey!¡±
Collin cleared his throat. ¡°I just saw Luke and Michael enter the lounge one after the other. Mr. Chase seems to be inside. Those two wouldn¡¯t start a fight in there, would they?¡±
Jessica shook her head. ¡°Michael wouldn¡¯t be that reckless, but with him there, Luke definitely won¡¯t secure the deal¡±
Michael¡¯s job was to stir up trouble.
Wife Back 151
Nina said, ¡°When I arrived, Luke had juste in. The two of them weren¡¯t too we went to want to say something to me, but there were too many assistants and wrotates wound me so he
They talked about Michael and the Hall family without holding anything back Chris suddenly falt enlightened, as if everything that had once troubled him had be a thing of the past, no longer stirring up any waves within him.
Collin nced at Chris, then said to Jessica, ¡°Have you heard? Michael has started to make his move over there. I just got the news from Jaden. I don¡¯t think Michael can wait rouch longer
Speaking of that, Jessica asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you bring him with you? Someone that important showing up here would have been quite the show¡±
¡°He had a meeting tonight. Since I came to attend the banquet, he had to attend in my ce
At that time, Jaden had not yet returned to the Hall family, Instead, he was serving as a vice president at Hurricane Media,
At first, some people were dissatisfied.
They felt that Jaden was merely Collin¡¯s lover¨Chow could he get into Hurricane Media? With someone like Collin as an heir, Hurricane Media was doomed.
People said things like Collin was choosing love over legacy¨Cit was all unpleasant talk.
But Jaden¡¯s methods were quite ruthless. Shortly after entering the Phillips Group, he established a firm footing, even proving to be much more ruthless than Collin
With Jessica¡¯s help, Collin had taken back Hurricane Media, but too many people from the Phillips family had already entered thepany. Collin couldn¡¯t just fire them outright.
Jaden was able to do things that Collin wasn¡¯t.
Within three days of taking office, Jaden had swiftly and forcefully removed all the freeloaders who held high positions but did nothing.
Even if there was drama, it never made it to Collin¡¯s desk.
¡°I told you, Jaden was the person in the Hall family who was most like Sir Hall Michael and Luke are far behind. Yet those two are the ones fighting so fiercely.¡±
Nina had also heard about Jaden¡¯s background from Jessica. So the rumors from back then turned out to
be true.
It was all something that had happened decades ago.
Nina¡¯s father had once said that before Sir Hall died, he seemed to have had a lover, and possibly a chud After that, he changed his will, but no one knew the full details
They couldn¡¯t exactly ask someone who had already died.
¡°This Jaden really hid himself well.¡±
¡°It wasn¡¯t hiding. He was being driven away,¡± Jessica reminded Nina. With Collin there, and since Collin and Jaden were now their allies, she warned Nina to be very careful with her words.
Nina didn¡¯t intend to say anything offensive anyway.
In the business world, elders who earned respect¨Cwhatever decisions they made¨Cyoungsters like them had no right to criticize.
Especially when the person was already dead.
¡°Hey, Michael just came out.¡± Nina, standing at the edge, saw Michael walk out with a cold face, and when closing the door, he red fiercely at someone inside.
¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, your secretary is still in there, right? I knew something was off when I couldn¡¯t recruit Francesca. Turns out that you got her working for you.¡± Nina shook her head. ¡°No one is your match when ites to recruiting talent!¡±
Jessica offered a quick apology.
She had always been generous with talents.
¡°Michael is probably looking for you,¡± Nina tilted her head at Jessica. ¡°You¡¯d better head back out and deal with him.¡±
Jessica was rendered speechless.
The renovation of Hurricane Media¡¯s headquarters had been trending on social media for several days, including gossip about Collin himself.
A lot of people knew that Collin¡¯s lover was a man.
Wife Back 152
Collin himself didn¡¯t care about the gossip at all.
The more attention it got in the country, the higher Hurricane Media¡¯s stock would rise upon returning to the domestic market. For a businessman, that level of gossip was actually beneficial.
But everyone who wanted to curry favor with or look into Collin found no way to start with him directly, so they could only try looking into Collin¡¯s lover.
After digging around, they discovered that even the name was fake.
¡°I used the name Jasper at Hurricane Media. Jasper Frost. Collin made the arrangement for me.¡±
At the celebration banquet for the Summit Infirmary securing the new drug endorsement from Wind Pharmaceuticals, Chris only invited a few people he had recently grown close with.
It was still the same private room at the Cosmos.
The group handling business was in the room next door, here, it was just the closest friends.
¡°No wonder.¡± Chris chuckled. ¡°I heard from Jessica that when Michael couldn¡¯t get results from his own investigation, he asked Jessica for help. In the end, she gave him someone called Frost. I was still wondering who that was.¡±
The identity was real¨Ceverything abroad, even his movements, were legitimate¨Cbut he had just used a different name.
Given how little the Hall family knew about Jaden, even if they saw a photo, they wouldn¡¯t recognize him, let alone if he had changed his name.
¡°Luke and Michael had a fight back at the Hilton family¡¯s residence. Luke said that because Michael caused trouble, he missed out on getting the rights. That was why you were able to get the new drug endorsement.¡±
Jessica returned from the room next door, having handled business matters in Chris¡¯s ce.
Nina wasn¡¯t surprised at all. ¡°Those two were bound to turn against each other eventually. This time, they just used Chris as an excuse.¡±
When they had nearly finished eating, Roy arrivedte.
Upon entering and seeing Collin, he paused for a moment.
When he saw Jaden sitting beside Collin and remembered his identity, he found it even more intriguing.
¡°The person the Hall family has been desperately searching for abroad is just sitting here among a group of elites, and not a single one of them recognizes you. Seems like you really don¡¯t look like your father.¡±
Jaden had heard quite a bit about Roy. He raised his ss toward him in a toast from across the table Of course. I look mostly like my mother¨Cespecially the eyes, they¡¯re almost exactly the same as hers. But my father kept my mother well hidden, no one from the Hall family ever saw her.¡±
So from the beginning, he and his mother had been kept entirely out of the picture.
It had all been for their safety.
¡°Let¡¯s get to the point.¡±
Roy didn¡¯t bother with food. His expression turned serious as he looked at Chris. ¡°I might need your help. Do you remember that girl, Mandy, from Room 316 you mentionedst time?¡±
¡°I remember.¡± Chris nodded. ¡°What happened?¡±
¡°She¡¯s been kidnapped.¡±
As soon as Roy finished speaking, everyone in the room was shocked.
Chris instinctively looked at Jessica.
Jessica had clearly arranged for someone to follow Mandy. How could she have been kidnapped?
Jessica was momentarily stunned. ¡°I had Calum go abroad to help me track someone. He left just
yesterday¡¡±
¡°She was kidnappedst night.¡±
It must have beente at night.
Mandy, still not fully recovered from her injuries, went downstairs for reasons unknown and was
kidnapped.
This morning, her family received a call from the kidnappers.
¡°How much do they want? If I remember correctly, the Milton family is just an ordinary family. They¡¯d struggle toe up with even 200 thousand dors,¡± asked Nina.
Roy shook her head. ¡°The kidnappers don¡¯t want money. They want a hard drive.¡±
Mandy was a journalist¨Can international correspondent.
She traveled between Yelia and Lonat, reporting on many insider issues.
Over half of them were rted to the pharmaceutical industry.
Initially, Chris believed that Megan looking at Room 316 had nothing to do with this.
But after reading Mandy¡¯s reports, he suddenly realized¨CMandy might be Megan¡¯s next target.
Wife Back 153
For a moment, the entire room went quiet.
Even Jaden, who didn¡¯t know much about the situation, sat still.
No one had expected Roy to bring such explosive news.
¡°We¡¯ve already begun the investigation. Because of Megan¡¯s actions, we¡¯ve merged Mandy¡¯s kidnapping case into our task force. Now we need a breakthrough.¡±
Chris understood what Roy meant.
The task force was now filtering through Mandy¡¯s personal connections.
Mandy¡¯s parents said their daughter was obedient and sensible, someone who would never make
enemies.
They had no idea who might have kidnapped her, and they knew nothing about the hard drive the kidnappers mentioned.
¡°We turned Mandy¡¯s room upside down and still didn¡¯t find the so¨Ccalled hard drive.¡±
Right now, the only person who might know the identity of the kidnapper was Megan.
The kidnapper and the mastermind were surely the same person.
¡°Alright, I understand.¡±
Chris paused for a moment and sent a message, calling Francesca over.
Francesca, along with Shannon and the others, was in the next room.
Everything now relied on the public rtions department¨CIndya was drinking with a group of colleagues, and the secretary of Mr. Chase from Wind Pharmaceuticals had already joined in.
After receiving the message, Francesca immediately came over with Shannon.
¡°Francesca, tomorrow I want you toe up with an excuse to bring Megan to my office.¡±
Chris paused and, seeing that Francesca understood, added, ¡°Don¡¯t alert too many people.¡±
Right now, it seemed clear that the hospital was not safe.
Megan definitely wasn¡¯t the only outsider.
One thing Francesca was especially good at was following orders without asking questions. When her employer gave her a task, she simply found a way to achieve the goal¨Cnever asking why.
2
Shannon came and stood behind Jessica.
¡°Calum had just left, and she got kidnapped? Could it be that they¡¯ve noticed Calum?¡± Shannon asked in
surprise.
Roy shook her head. ¡°Unlikely, I know Calum¡¯s capabilities. If he wanted to stay hidden, there¡¯s no way he¡¯d be seen. I¡¯m more inclined to believe the other side just acted at the perfect time.¡±
And yesterday¡¯s perfect timing¡ Wind Pharmaceuticals.
Everyone had been busy fighting over usage and distribution rights, and had no time to deal with Mandy.
Once everything settled and the kidnapper had no other obstacles, they finally made their move.
That meant the kidnapper had to be on Wind Pharmaceuticals¡® list.
Francesca listened through the situation briefly and understood that someone had been kidnapped¨Cthis was a big deal.
¡°Alright, I understand. By the way, Mr. Green, the signing at Wind Pharmaceuticals is at nine o¡¯clock in the morning tomorrow. I¡¯ll be waiting outside your house to pick you up at 10 past eight.¡±
¡°Alright. Thank you.¡±
Francesca gave a small smile and nced at Shannon.
Seeing that they hadn¡¯t finished talking, she tactfully excused herself.
¡°Your secretary¡¯s pretty good,¡± said Roy.
Sitting across from him, Collin smiled and teased, ¡°Of course. That¡¯s Francesca.¡±
Roy, who wasn¡¯t involved in the family business, might not have known Francesca¡¯s name.
Nina exined, ¡°She¡¯s the best secretary in the country. She entered the industry two years earlier than Shannon. Both I and Jessica tried to recruit her, but she turned us down. She was set up by her previous employer and was sent to prison. It was Jessica one who got her out.¡±
The dirty dealings of the business world were no less than what Roy had seen before.
He suddenly felt a bit sorry for his sister and quickly put some more food on her te.
Nina nced at it. ¡°I¡¯m on a diet, Roy. I don¡¯t eat meat.¡±
Roy replied, ¡°You can starve then.¡®
As the owner of a top entertainmentpany, her appearance was also part of thepany¡¯s image.
She couldn¡¯t afford to look disheveled while all the artists working for her looked stunning.
Wife Back 154
Because of what happened to Mandy, everyone left early.
Next door, people were still drinking and making toasts, but Indya stepped out briefly to confirm some
details with Chris.
When they got home, Jessica was removing her makeup in front of the mirror.
Chris stood behind her, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, staring at the floor in a daze with a meaningful expression.
Jessica looked at Chris through the mirror.
¡°Thinking about Mandy?¡±
¡°Yeah.¡±
He had originally thought the person manipting Megan was in Room 316, but after the investigation, that possibility was ruled out.
Now that Mandy had been kidnapped¡
¡°I suspect it¡¯s Luke,¡± said Jessica.
Chris looked up at Jessica.
In the mirror, Jessica¡¯s face looked slightly pale after removing her makeup.
In fact, she looked beautiful with or without makeup¨CChris liked her either way.
With makeup, she was a powerful and sharp businesswoman, strikingly beautiful.
Without makeup, she had a gentle, unique charm.
¡°I feel the same.¡± Chris walked over and hugged Jessica.
¡°There were so many people who entered the lounge that day to negotiate with Mr. Chase, but I only suspect Luke and Michael.¡±
Michael wasn¡¯t involved in the pharmaceutical business.
¡°We can¡¯tpletely rule out Michael either,¡± Jessica added, recalling what Roy had said.
¡°Mandy is a foreign journalist. Lonat and Yelia have one thing inmon¨CAitairy,¡±
Those two ces were the headquarters andrgest branch of Aitairy.
Jessica suddenly turned around and looked up at Chris.
1/43
¡°Ole kidnapper didn¡¯t ask for money, only for a hard drive. Could it be¡ Mandy discovered something abroad, and the evidence is on that hard drive?¡±
¡°It¡¯s possible. Why do you suspect Luke?¡±
Thinking back on the past two days¡® conversations with Michael, Jessica remembered the gloating tone in his voice.
He didn¡¯t take Luke¡¯s anger seriously at all.
That was when she started to suspect Michael
Michael disrupting Luke¡¯s negotiations that day might have been a move to push Luke into a corner.
¡°The Hall family is aplicated family. It¡¯s hard to know everything about them. And Jaden is just an
outsider right now. That¡¯s why I insist on pushing Jaden into power. Once he controls the Hall family,
we¡¯ll have all the answers we want.¡±
The signing went smoothly.
Only two media outlets were allowed to film inside.
The handshake between Chris and Mr. Chase was captured and quickly became a trending topic online.
Francesca handled everything efficiently.
When Chris returned to the hospital, he saw Megan already waiting in his office.
He sent a message to Roy, telling him toe upstairs.
While he had been signing the agreement, Roy had already brought a team waiting in the underground car park of the hospital.
But he only asked Roy toe up alone.
Megan looked at Chris a bit nervously.
This new honorary chairman was not only handsome but also had a calm demeanor.
Yet, there was an innate pressure about him¨Cwhen he looked at you without smiling, you would feel like he was scrutinizing your soul.
No matter what you had done, no matter how well you hid it, it felt like he could see right through you.
Chris was still wearing his doctor¡¯s overalls and nced at the time.
He still had a surgery scheduled for the afternoon and needed to manage his time well.
Once they sat down, Megan asked anxiously, ¡°Mr. Green, you wanted to see me?¡±
Chris gave her a small smile and pointed at the chair across from him
¡°You can just call me Dr. Green, Megan. I may be the chairman, but I¡¯m also a doctor.¡±
Megan sat down, keeping her eyes fixed on Chris the entire time, not daring to look away.
Less than five minutester, Roy knocked and walked in.
He acted like he was at home¨Cpulled out a chair and sat next to Chris with a bold posture, legs crossed
wide.
He looked somewhat intimidating.
There was a watch on his wrist, which seemed quite expensive and even appeared to have diamonds on - it.
Wife Back 155
Megan instinctively swallowed.
Roy spoke up, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, we just called you here to ask a few questions. Your chairman is here too, I won¡¯t do anything to you.¡±
As he spoke, Roy took out his police badge.
The moment he disyed it in front of Megan, both of them noticed her expression changed¨Cfrom nervous to suddenly terrified.
Megan involuntarily scooted backward.
Chris called out.
Francesca came in from outside.
¡°Please wait at the door for a moment and don¡¯t let anyonee in.¡±
¡°Okay.¡±
Thatpletely blocked Megan¡¯s only way out.
Seeing she had no way to leave, Megan had no choice but to look at Roy.
¡°I¡ I don¡¯t know anything.¡±
Roy chuckled.
His overly handsome face carried a trace of sternness.
¡°Ma¡¯am, I haven¡¯t even asked you anything yet, and you¡¯re already saying you don¡¯t know anything? Or¡. did you already know what I was going to ask?¡±
That¡
When it came to interrogation skills, no one in the entire police station couldpare to Roy.
Megan grew even more flustered and could only look toward Chris.
¡°Dr. Green, there¡¯s still a storeroom downstairs that hasn¡¯t been checked yet. We¡¯re supposed to take
inventory today, and we can¡¯t leave until it¡¯s done. I have a three¨Cyear¨Cold at home. I really can¡¯t work
overtime.¡±
Chris ced his hands together on the table.
¡°I¡¯ll have someone else handle your tasks. You won¡¯t need to work overtime¨Cas long as you cooperate, you can leave soon.¡±
Of course, that ¡°leave¡± might mean leaving the hospital altogether.
Seeing Megan¡¯s reaction, Roy knew he had found the right person.
Since that was the case, it was time to begin the questioning.
¡°Have you seen this person before?¡±
Roy pulled out a photo of Mandy and flipped it over to show Megan.
As expected, Megan¡¯s eyes widened slightly after seeing it, but she still averted her gaze and said that she didn¡¯t recognize her.
¡°Really? You¡¯re sure you don¡¯t know her?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not a nurse. I don¡¯t usually go into wards. The pharmacy is mostly staffed by hospital personnel. How would I recognize her?¡±
Roy immediately replied, ¡°I only asked if you recognized her. I never said she was a patient. See? That
means you know everything, don¡¯t you? Ma¡¯am, do you realize you¡¯re breaking thew?¡±
¡°I¨CI really don¡¯t know her.¡±
Roy said, ¡°ording to hospital surveince, Mandy previously stayed in Room 316, right across from the nurse¡¯s station. You work the night shift and often hang out at the nurse¡¯s station watching TV with the others. The footage shows you walking past the door of Room 316 more than five times a day. Aren¡¯t you supposed to be in the pharmacy?¡±
Moreover, there were lots of peopleing in and out of Mandy¡¯s room, and the door was open most of
the time.
Out of the five times Megan passed by, two or three times the door was open, and she had looked inside.
There was no way she hadn¡¯t seen what Mandy looked like.
Megan said, ¡°I stayed with the night shift group, but I wasn¡¯t responsible for that patient.¡±
¡°I¡¯m telling you now¨Cthis person has been kidnapped.¡±
Megan took a deep breath.
Roy continued, ¡°Based on the information I¡¯ve received, you showed unusual attention toward the patient called Mandy in Room 316. You might be the only person who knows something. Failing to report it makes you an aplice. Ma¡¯am, you still need to go home and take care of your three¨Cyear¨Cold child. You don¡¯t want to leave with me, do you?¡±
Children were always a mother¡¯s soft spot.
Megan had looked tense all along, but when she heard mention of her child, her expression finally
softened
Still, she held on and didn¡¯t speak.
¡°I didn¡¯t exactly interact with her. I just passed by the room. I paid a bit more attention because Room 316 often needed medication changes. I happened to be somewhat familiar with that,¡±
Her answer was almost wless.
Wife Back 156
Until now, Chris, who had temained silent, finally couldn¡¯t hold back anymore.
¡°Megan, there¡¯s something I have to say. I¡¯ve actually been observing you for a long time. Last time when Adam was hospitalized, the overdose injection J gave him¨Cwas that from you?¡±
¡°No, it wasn¡¯t me!¡± Megan suddenly shouted, her emotions ring up. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything I barely even see J. Without a doctor¡¯s note, how could I possibly take medication from the pharmacy
That did give Chris a reminder.
Without a doctor¡¯s authorization, it was easy to trace the pharmacy staff involved afterward
Yet, the medication J used did indeede from Megan.
Follow¨Cup investigation showed that all the paperwork was in order,
The drugs were originally meant for another patient on a lower floor but wereter swapped into J¡¯s locker.
A doctor.
Chris now knew for certain that there were internal issues within the Summit Infirmary¨Cinfiltration on every level. Nurses, doctors, pharmacists, all included.
¡°But the medication passed through your hands. There¡¯s surveince footage to prove it. You were the only person who got close to the medicine cab. Megan, I brought you into the office to cooperate with the investigation, hoping you¡¯d tell the truth. Otherwise, I¡¯ll have no choice but to hand you over to Captain Felton. If I remember correctly, your husband works out of town, doesn¡¯t he? If you don¡¯t go home, who¡¯ll take care of your child?¡±
Both pressure and persuasion¨CChris had clearly picked up the essence from Roy.
Roy added, ¡°If you tell us now, and if no one died as a result, we can consider it voluntary confession. But if you remain silent, the surveince I¡¯ve collected is enough to convict you. You¡¯ll be leaving with me today.¡±
¡°No, no¡¡±
Meganpletely broke down, and her whole body trembled with panic.
Seeing that she was falling apart, Chris sighed, stood up, and poured her a ss of water.
Just as he was about to leave, Megan grabbed him by the sleeve.
¡°Dr. Green, I really didn¡¯t want to¡ but I had no choice. They threatened me with my child. Every time they told me to get the drugs, they sent a picture of my son at school to my phone. I¡ I only have this one
child.¡±
As she spoke, Megan broke down in tears.
Chris and Roy exchanged a nce¨Cit seemed they had seeded.
In truth, Chris never wanted to use a child to pressure a mother, but Megan was their only breakthrough
They had no other choice.
Still crying, Megan pulled out her phone and opened her photo album to show them a few pictures.
It was clear the photos were taken secretly.
They all showed the same child in different outfits, ying at school.
Because Megan had to work and her husband was doing a project out of town, their three¨Cyear¨Cold was ced in full¨Ctime daycare.
She would pick him up after work each day.
The child did resemble Megan quite a bit.
Megan cried so hard she almost passed out.
Chris gently patted her back, took the phone from her, and handed it to Roy.
Then he ced the ss of water into her hands.
¡°Have some water. If you confess now, you¡¯re also protecting your child. You can¡¯t trust people like that to keep your child safe. Tell everything to Captain Felton.¡±
After drinking half a ss of water, Megan¡¯s sobs finally began to ease.
¡°It was around six months ago, I think. I bumped into someone on my way to work. That phone actually wasn¡¯t mine¨Cit was the one that person dropped. I picked it up to return it, but when I ran out to look, he
was already gone.¡±
She figured anyoneing to the hospital must be a patient, and not having a phone would drive them
crazy.
She nned to leave it at the nurse¡¯s station for them to im.
But halfway there, the phone rang.
She thought it was the owner¡¯s friend calling to find it and answered right away.
¡°A man¡¯s voice came from the other end. He told me to open the photo album and take a look.¡±
His tone was strange and secretive, and Megan got spooked instantly.
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Wife Back 157
For reasons she couldn¡¯t exin, Megan actually did open the album, and what she saw scared her so much she dropped the phone on the floor
Inside were photos of her son.
Megan looked at Chris¨Che was the one she trusted most right now.
¡°The clothes in the photo were what my son wore this morning. It was a picture of him eating at school. The time must¡¯ve been around 3 or 4 in the afternoon. Which means the person probably took the photo and came straight to the hospital afterward.¡±
After seeing the photos, Megan waspletely stunned and frozen on the spot, not knowing what to do.
She stood there dazed for a long time until the phone rang again.
This time, Megan answered immediately.
It was still the same man on the line.
¡°Find a quiet ce. We need to talk properly. If you want your son to stay safe, you¡¯d better do as I say.¡±
Megan didn¡¯t doubt him for a second and quickly went into the pharmacy.
¡°I went to the pharmacy¡¯s lounge. At that time, I was the only one there¨Ceveryone else was on break. I rushed in and shut the door to take the call.¡±
The man on the phone said that from now on, Megan had to do whatever he asked.
He told her to get medicine for them and ce it in a specific location.
In fact, at first, Megan refused.
¡°I knew what I was doing was illegal. And without a doctor¡¯s signature, if I took the medication, it would be traced straight back to me.¡±
But the man said not to worry.
Since they were asking Megan to do this, they would make sure everything else was ready.
The first operation happened about two weekster.
¡°There was no phone call this time¨Cjust a text message and another photo of my son.
He was still wearing the same clothes from that day.
Once I saw the photo, I could only follow the instructions.
I remember that time, it was for a heart disease patient.
I took antidepressants and swapped them for the heart meds.¡±
Roy wrote down that patient¡¯s name, nning to investigateter.
After it was done, Megan¡¯s ount received a deposit.
It seemed that this person didn¡¯t just threaten her¨Cthey paid her too.
It was the stick and carrot tactic.
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Roy shook his head. As someone well¨Cversed in thew, he said, ¡°This way, Megan became an aplice to the crime. If she hadn¡¯t taken the money, she would have been considered a coerced party, someone acting under duress. But once she took payment, she becameplicit. That guy deliberately dragged her down with him.¡±
They hadn¡¯t expected him to be so scheming.
But the more they heard, the less it sounded like something Luke would be capable of.
After all, Luke didn¡¯t seem sharp enough to carry out a scheme like this.
Chris found it strange.
Megan continued, ¡°The second time was about two monthster. Honestly, I wasn¡¯t as afraid that time. After the request, I was so terrified I couldn¡¯t sleep for days, scared the police woulde for me.¡±
¡°But you still cost someone their life,¡± Roy said coldly.
¡°You should be afraid. No matter what you did, you broke thew.¡±
Megan lowered her head.
¡°The second person seemed to have fallen down the stairs during work hours. They lost consciousness and had a brain hemorrhage. Following his instructions again, I switched out the medication that caused the death. Later, I went to check, and there really was a doctor¡¯s signature.¡±
¡°Who was it?¡± Chris asked.
¡°Hector Wood,¡± Megan answered immediately.
The name sounded familiar¨CChris had probably worked with him before.
He immediately looked Hector up in the internal system.
¡°Cardiology,¡± said Chris.
¡°After that J was taken away.¡±
Chugster Ind
Hoy got straight to the point
¡°What about Mandy? Was she your next target?¡±
Wife Back 158
Megan wasn¡¯t crying anymore,
Hearing Boy¡¯s question, she sighed and said, ¡°Yes. But this time, the other party didn¡¯t ask me to take any specific medication, nor was there a prescription signed by a doctor. They just told me to keep an eye on Room 316 and observe if any problems mighte up.¡±
But Room 316 was just a car ident case.
After waking up, there was basically no chance the patient would have issues rted to medication, so Megan never found an opportunity.
Every time she passed by Room 316, she could see a group of people inside.
Mandy was a young girl, and she looked well¨Ceducated.
After waking up, she had her family bring her aputer to the hospital and kept working from her bed every day.
In fact, Megan didn¡¯t know who the perpetrator was, nor why he had targeted this group of people.
Based on the previous incidents where she had provided medication, it always involved elderly patients.
She didn¡¯t know what the young girl had done to offend him.
¡°You¡¯re saying that until Mandy was discharged, the other party never called you again or asked you to do anything else?¡± asked Chris.
Megan nodded.
¡°This was the only time. I received two phone calls. He just told me to watch Room 316 and, ideally, find a chance to act before the patient was discharged. Then I was to send him a message, and he¡¯d handle the doctor¡¯s signature.¡±
But in the past, she had always followed orders.
This time, they asked Megan to take the initiative, to use her position to hurt someone.
She was scared and kept stalling until Mandy was discharged. She never found the opportunity.
The man called once to follow up.
When Megan told him there had been no chance¨Cbecause there were always too many people in the room¨Che went silent.
¡°He paid too much attention to Mandy. It was different from every other case in the past six months. That¡¯s why I kept a special eye on her. I just didn¡¯t expect you guys to notice.¡±
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After a long silence, Megan said, ¡°I also went to see Dr. Wood once, I didn¡¯t mention that I was the one getting the medication or imply any connection to him. I just wanted to probe a little. But I kept feeling like Dr. Wood, like me, was being threatened. He probably had no idea who the prescriptions were for, or who was helping to obtain the medicine.¡±
With that, Roy and Chris started to understand why the perpetrator had been able to stay hidden inside the Summit Infirmary for so long.
Because none of the participants knew what role they were ying.
Trembling slightly, Megan took a sip of water,
After finishing the water, she put the ss down, looked at Chris, and said, ¡°Mr. Green, can¡ can I go back and see my son? I know what I did was wrong, but¡ I have to make arrangements for him. He¡¯s still so young. He can¡¯t survive on his own.¡±
Chris looked at Roy.
Thetter was mentally organizing all the information and didn¡¯t respond right away.
It wasn¡¯t until Chris cleared his throat and called his name that Roy came back to his senses.
Roy looked at Megan.
¡°It¡¯s good that you understand you broke thew. Right now, Mandy has been kidnapped. You¡¯re our only lead. If we arrest you now, we might lose the chance to catch the person behind all this. You can go home today, but don¡¯t leave Impelia until the case is closed. Can you do that?¡±
¡°Yes, yes.¡± Megan nodded quickly.
¡°Then I¡¯ll leave this phone with you. I¡¯ll be off now.¡±
¡°No.¡± Chris immediately stopped her.
He handed the phone back to Megan and said softly, ¡°If the person on the other end notices that someone else has taken over this phone, they¡¯ll know they¡¯ve been exposed. That won¡¯t be good for Mandy¡¯s safety. You hold onto the phone. If they contact you again, try to notify me or Captain Felton. It¡¯s your best chance to redeem yourself.¡±
Wife Back 159
This wasn¡¯t a bad idea.
After all, Megan had been threatened, and Roy also wanted to find a way to bnce things out.
He nodded and followed Chris¡¯s lead, saying, ¡°Listen to your chairman. You can go for now. Don¡¯t tell anyone about today¡¯s conversation, not even the Dr. Wood you mentioned. Do your best to stay hidden. If the culprit contacts you, call me.¡±
He didn¡¯t have business cards, so he tore off a piece of paper from the desk and quickly wrote down his name and phone number, handing it to Megan.
¡°Find a way to call me. I¡¯ll make sure your child is safe. Starting tomorrow, I¡¯ll arrange for someone to keep watch near your child¡¯s school.¡±
¡°Okay, okay, thank you, thank you so much.¡±
Megan¡¯s eyes were still red.
Everything that needed to be asked had been.
Megan stood up and left.
Outside, Francesca opened the door for her, and only after she left did Chris call Francesca inside.
¡°What do you know about Dr. Wood, from Cardiology?¡±
Francesca quickly recalled Hector¡¯s profile and answered in a straightforward manner, ¡°Dr. Wood¡¯s family situation is a bitplicated. It seems his ex¨Cwife cheated on him, the child wasn¡¯t biologically his, and the child was taken away by the ex¨Cwife. His parents are elderly, and he¡¯s very filial. He spends most of his time at home with them.¡±
That suggested the other party might have used Hector¡¯s parents to threaten him.
¡°Have Jake keep an eye on Hector. Make sure he doesn¡¯t blow his cover. Jake doesn¡¯t need to be on the
same shifts as Megan for now. Try to schedule him with Hector during night shifts,¡± said Chris.
Francesca immediately went downstairs to make the arrangements.
¡°Having a secretary really makes a difference. Now you¡¯re getting used to giving orders. Not bad.¡±
Roy lit a cigarette.
There had been women in the room earlier, so he hadn¡¯t smoked.
When the pressure was too high or his mind was too active, a cigarette helped calm him down quickly.
¡°So, what do you think?¡± Roy asked Chris.
Stepping outside of his professional role, Chris¡¯s perspective tended to be more objective.
By habit, Roy couldn¡¯t afford to let any suspect go, which could sometimes lead to confusion
Chris mentioned the theory he and Jessica had discussed the previous night.
Jessica and I both thought it might be Luke. After all, he¡¯s the only one currently in the pharmaceutical business. But after listening to Megan¡¯s ount, I no longer think it¡¯s him. To be honest, Luke isn¡¯t that clever. There¡¯s no way he could have orchestrated such a detailed n.¡±
Roy puffed out some smoke and nodded. ¡°Yeah, I agree with you. If it¡¯s not Luke, then it can only be Michael Aitairy. Mandy once exposed Aitairy¡¯s scam while she was abroad. There might be confidential information about Aitairy on her hard drive.¡±
More than 24 hours had passed.
The police had set up surveince at Mandy¡¯s house.
Everyone was on high alert, waiting for the kidnapper¡¯s next move.
All the intelligence they got from Megan showed that the at the Summit Infirmary was already huge.
Fortunately, Chris hadn¡¯t startled the person behind everything.
¡°That means there are probably many people like Megan and Hector. Trying to catch them all one by one could take a very long time.¡±
By noon, Roy had already gone to Mandy¡¯s house.
Ashley and Jake were eating lunch in Chris¡¯s office.
Francesca had specially ordered portions for the three of them.
¡°I¡¯ve seen the new schedule. Starting next week, I¡¯ve got three consecutive night shifts with Hector. I haven¡¯t really gotten to know him before.¡±
Jake picked all the onions out of his food.
Wife Back 160
Ashley sat beside Jake, watching his little habit.
He was several years older than Jake, and now saw him more like a younger brother.
Seeing Jake picking out all the onions he didn¡¯t like to eat, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit helpless.
¡°Dr. Baker, how did you even get through medical school? As a doctor, how can you be such a picky eater?
Jake¡¯s full name was Jake Baker.
¡°That¡¯s in ss, but when ites to food I don¡¯t like, I won¡¯t go against my nature. Anyway, let¡¯s not talk about that¨CI have surgery this afternoon.¡±
The group quickly finished eating.
Jake hurried off in a rush.
Seeing that Chris remained silent, Ashley took out a cigarette and handed it to him.
Chris hesitated for a few seconds, but took it eventually.
In fact, he did smoke, but rarely, due to professional habits.
Plus, since he always stopped Jessica from smoking, he had to set an example at home.
So his smoking frequency was extremely low.
But today really had been mentally exhausting.
¡°Do you think Megan will run?¡± asked Ashley.
Chris smoked slowly. His actions showed that he didn¡¯t smoke much.
He paused for a few seconds and shook his head.
¡°No. Megan cares most about her son. Captain Felton already said he¡¯ll protect her son. If she leaves, the perpetrator definitely won¡¯t let her go.¡±
Megan had done so much for the culprit, essentially bing a liability.
The culprit wouldn¡¯t let her live.
To stay safe, she had no choice but to remain in the Summit Infirmary.
That was also why she kept helping over and over again without ever quitting.
¡°What do you think now? When Captain Felton left, his expression didn¡¯t look great. Looks like his
opinion is different from yours. So it¡¯s not Luke behind this?¡±
As someone involved in the case, Ashley naturally knew everything.
Chris and Jessica never kept things like this from him.
¡°Judging by intellect¨Cit doesn¡¯t seem like him.¡±
Chris stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.
¡°If we¡¯re going by IQ, it seems more like Michael. All theseyers of nning¨CLuke isn¡¯t that smart. But Michael is different.¡±
Even though they were cousins, Luke had been spoiled and reckless for years in Cheria, while Michael was far more restrained.
¡°Michael had suffered abroad. Even marrying Helen wasn¡¯t out of love¨Cit was for her family background. He gave up on Jessica, his beautiful girlfriend of many years, just to gain that marriage alliance. It¡¯s something I won¡¯t be able to do.¡±
Chris looked over and saw Ashley replying to messages.
Thinking of his lover, Chris couldn¡¯t help but smile.
¡°In ancient times, you would¡¯ve been the kind of foolish emperor who¡¯d give up the kingdom for a beauty.¡±
¡°Not talking to you anymore. I¡¯ve got a joint surgery this afternoon. You haven¡¯t taken on any surgeriestely?¡±
¡°I have one next week. A joint consultation in another state. I¡¯ll contact you then. Ortho will need to assist. I¡¯m resting up these days to be at my best for that surgery.¡±
Ashley nodded and put his phone away.
¡°I¡¯m off.¡±
Ever since Jennifer left the Hall family, Jessica could only observe Michael¡¯s situation through
surveince.
After returning to Cheria, Michael had been carefully building a devoted image, acting as though no
woman coulde near him except her.
But what the surveince showed was apletely different story.
The Hall family had ced Michael as general manager of an entertainmentpany¨Clike releasing a fish back into the sea.
Just this month alone, Michael had brought countless women home.
Whenever this happened, the nanny would leave with Jordan.
The new nanny was also arranged by Shannon.
She wasn¡¯t as capable as Jennifer, but she was still excellent at discreet observation.
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Chapter 161
¡°Tut tut tut, you know, these women all had a hint of Jessica in them.¡±
Indya sat behind theputer for a while, then walked around to the outside of the desk.
¡°Men, if they can¡¯t have you, they find a substitute. Who do they think they are? Casanovas?¡±
Jessica¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change.
She even leisurely sipped her coffee whilementing on Michael¡¯s current physical condition.
¡°Gotta say, Michael looks a lot older than a few years ago.¡±
The image was just too much; Jessica really didn¡¯t want to watch anymore and turned off the screen.
¡°Captain Felton said the kidnapper still hadn¡¯t called a second time. They only had one demand, but every hour they sent a video to Mandy¡¯s parents to prove she was still alive.¡±
It seemed the hard drive was very important.
¡°Actually, I think there¡¯s a simpler way to find out what¡¯s on the hard drive,¡± said Ind
Wife Back 162
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Chapter 162
Patients who stayed in Room 316 usually needed to stay for a long time.
Last time, Mandy was there due to a car ident.
This time, it was an elderly person admitted for a heart condition, waiting for a suitable heart transnt.
The patient¡¯s family members were all very understanding.
Francesca said they needed to add an air purifier to the room, which would be good for the patient¡¯s
health.
Before that, they had to clean the room first.
Since the weather was nice, the family took the patient outside to get some sun.
After sessfully emptying the room, Roy also came up from downstairs.
¡°Let¡¯s get a move on.¡±
Roy led a group of people, all in in clothes, and quickly entered Room 316.
Francesca locked the door from the inside and quietly told Roy, ¡°Neither Ms. Wilder nor Mr. Green are
Roy stood by the window and could still see the patient¡¯s figure.
He said, ¡°As long as there¡¯s even a slight chance, we have to try.¡±
The single room wasn¡¯t very big.
Searching it thoroughly didn¡¯t take much effort.
When Chris arrived, nothing had been found yet.
¡°Nothing?¡±
Francesca shook her head and walked to the door. ¡°We even looked under the bed, but there¡¯s nothing. It¡¯s probably not here.¡±
Chris felt strange.
Mandy had only been discharged recently, and Calum had been watching her closely.
During this time, Mandy hadn¡¯t met anyone.
If the hard drive wasn¡¯t at home, then it had to be in the hospital.
Mandy¡¯s car was also missing along with her.
Christer 1662
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The car involved in the ident belonged to thepany the worked for.
Mandy¡¯s own car was parked downstairs.
Given her current condition, she definitely couldn¡¯t drive.
But she had the key to the apartment door when she went downstairs, and the car key was hanging there
The kidnapper was probably alone, driving Mandy¡¯s car away from the scene
From this, the kidnapping seemed spontaneous.
Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have failed to prepare transportation.
¡°At that time, Mandy wasn¡¯t feeling well. Besides working in bed, she mostly sat by the window I remember the nurse said several times when she came in, she saw Mandy staring out the window. Mandy was a patient with a good temper. The nurse responsible for Room 316municated well with het.¡±
Before entering Room 316, Francesca had fully understood Mandy¡¯s situation during the time she was hospitalized.
She sat by the window.
So many people visited Mandy, and there was a wheelchair in the room.
If she liked to get sun or rx, someone could have pushed her outside.
Why did she still prefer sitting by the window instead of going out?
Chris focused on the two potted nts by the window.
Wards were usually kept simple and clean.
The two nts had only been brought in about a month ago, supposedly to purify the air.
The whole room was pure white.
Having a little green could help ease the patient¡¯s anxiety.
Chris walked over and picked up one of the nts.
Roy¡¯s subordinate, Jack, said, ¡°Just checked, nothing underneath.¡±
The nt was small, about the size of a man¡¯s palm.
It was also light.
Since there was nothing underneath, what about inside?
Chris squatted down and tumed the whole pot upside down, dumping the loose soil onto the floor.
The roots and stems were intertwined, but there wasn¡¯t much soil.
Nothing was inside.
Ignoring the mess on the floor, Chris picked up the other nt and dumped it out as well.
This time¡
Thud!
Something hit the marble floor, making a crisp sound that caught everyone¡¯s attention.
It was a small silver hard drive, covered in dust and wrapped with some nt roots.
Roy breathed a sigh of relief.
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Chapter 163
They had finally found the hard drive.
The next second, he pped Jack on the back of the head.
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¡°What have you all been doing? Just picking it up and looking at it? If the victim hoped you¡¯de to
save her, she¡¯ll probably be very disappointed.¡±
Jack covered the back of his head, his voice low.
¡°I even shook it to be sure there was nothing inside!¡±
This kind of hard drive had weight; shaking it would definitely make a sound.
Chris stood up holding the hard drive, and Francesca immediately ordered someone to clean up the mess
on the floor and plug in the newly brought air purifier.
¡°Mandy hid it very carefully. She ced the hard drive inside the roots, surrounded by stems. You
wouldn¡¯t find it if you don¡¯t empty the whole pot.¡±
It seemed Mandy had anticipated this day long ago and had hidden the hard drive during her hospitalization.
She also knew the police would search her house without sess and then think to check the hospital.
She was truly a smart girl.
¡°Do you want to take it back to the station and check what¡¯s inside?¡± Chris handed the hard drive to Roy.
Roy nced at the time; it had been over 35 hours since Mandy was kidnapped.
They couldn¡¯t dy any longer.
¡°No, go upstairs to your office and check it there. After you finish, make a copy.¡±
He turned to Jack. ¡°Have Mandy¡¯s parents contact the kidnappers and tell them the hard drive has been found. Set the meeting ce and start the operation.¡±
¡°Okay.¡±
The group left in a hurry, while Roy and Chris took the elevator upstairs.
¡°What do you think is inside?¡± Roy asked Chris.
Chris looked at the rising floor numbers.
¡°What¡¯s there to guess? The thing¡¯s already in our hands. We¡¯ll just take a look and find out.¡±
He had just messaged Jessica, saying the hard drive had been found
Seeing his message, Roy said, ¡°Tell Jennifer to get ready. If what¡¯s on the hard drive is really that important, Mandy probably set a password. We¡¯ll need Jennifer to crack it.¡±
Chris didn¡¯t even look up.
¡°We probably will need Jennifer¡¯s help.¡±
Jessica ¡°Jennifer and I are heading to the hospital now. You guys wait there.¡±
Chris. ¡°Okay, be careful on the way.¡±
They plugged the hard drive into theputer.
Roy wasn¡¯t very skilled in this area, but he could still find a file easily enough.
At the bottom of several folders, they finally found a highly encrypted file.
They opened it, and the screen went ck, showing several empty spaces,
Roy and Chris exchanged a nce as expected, a password was required.
¨C
This suggested Mandy must have had some IT skills.
It wasn¡¯t just simple encryption.
If the password was entered incorrectly, the hard drive¡¯s contents would be forcefully wiped clean with
no trace left.
It would even retaliate by infecting the opposingputer with a virus.
¡°At Mandy¡¯s level, she must have known a lot of secrets and had many talented people around her,¡± said
Chris.
¡°Didn¡¯t expect we could uncover this much.¡±
Jessica and Jennifer took her exclusive elevator upstairs without encountering anyone.
They pushed open the door and entered the office.
The two people inside immediately made room for Jennifer.
Without even looking, Jennifer sat down and began typing on theputer.
The password page on the screen was covered by a different programming interface.
The entire office was so quiet that only the sound of Jennifer¡¯s typing could be heard.
¡°Not bad, Mandy is quite a pro. The reverse virus she nted is quite advanced. I¡¯ve hardly seen this level
of virus in the country; she probably brought it back from abroad with the hard drive.¡±
Roy didn¡¯t care about the virus, only the encrypted content.
¡°How long until you crack the password?¡±
Jennifer¡¯s eyes never left the screen.
¡°15 minutes.¡±
Wife Back 164
No matter how difficult the password was, it was the same to Jennifer, it didn¡¯t take much effort at all
15 minutes was Jennifer being a bit more careful to avoid damaging any content on the hard drive
Otherwise, it would have been cracked in live
Chris stood next to Jessica.
¡°How did you think of looking for it in the hospital?¡±
Jessica lifted her chin toward Roy¡¯s direction.
¡°Why do think? Roy almost tore apart Mandy¡¯s house but didn¡¯t find the hard drive. The thing definitely wasn¡¯t on Mandy. Over the past six months, the only ce Mandy stayed for a long time was the hospital
¡°I increasingly feel it¡¯s unlikely that Megan did it,¡± Chris said meaningfully.
¡°But an impromptu kidnapping¡ no nning at all. It¡¯s unlike what you know about Michael Could there be someone else we don¡¯t know about?¡±
There were still many people hiding behind the Hall family.
When he first met Jaden, thetter said that the brainless people in the Hall family were not capable of preserving his father¡¯s business empire to this day.
There must have been someone guiding them.
¡°With Michael¡¯s rebellious nature, I always felt he wouldn¡¯t obey anyone else¡¯s control. Since the divorce, he should have been gradually breaking free from that person¡¯s grip. But that person never showed up, which I find very strange.¡±
Now, Jessica knew every respectable figure in the business world.
Who could it be?
Or maybe, even if that person appeared in front of her, she wouldn¡¯t be suspicious?
¡°I¡¯m in.¡±
Jennifer was able to crack the code within 15 minutes.
Everyone turned toward theputer at the sound.
Jennifer wasn¡¯t very curious about the contents and moved aside to give them space.
She paced several times around Chris¡¯s office.
Roy had already started copying everything from the hard drive.
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¡°We were right it¡¯s rted to Aitairy.¡±
Everything outside seemed so rushed, even the arrest n was improvised by Jack.
¡°Now we¡¯re just waiting for the suspect to show up. We¡¯ll arrest them as soon as we see them. Captain Felton, anything else to watch out for?¡± Jack asked Roy on the phone.
Roy was still at the hospital, sending the hard drive¡¯s contents to his email, then preparing to hand over
the hard drive.
The other side definitely knew Mandy¡¯s family had called the police and would be more cautious.
¡°Ensure the hostage¡¯s safety. The contents on Mandy¡¯s hard drive are very important. Mandy muste back alive. I still have many questions for her.¡±
¡°Understood.¡±
Before seeing the hard drive, the kidnapper wouldn¡¯t harm Mandy, but once the hard drive was handed over, it would be a race of who acted faster.
After Roy left, Jessica and Jennifer didn¡¯t rush to leave.
¡°Mandy is quite a talented person. Even I couldn¡¯t find suchplete information anywhere else, even the files I destroyed before are all here.¡± Jessica looked at the files a few more times, then turned to Jennifer. ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a bit strange that Mandy appeared at such a critical moment?¡±
Jennifer nodded. ¡°Yes, a little. Considering Mandy¡¯s identity, she could have just published all this publicly without letting us know. But instead¡ maybe because she was dyed due to being hospitalized.
31
Jessica shook her head cautiously.
¡°No, Mandy¡¯s car ident might not have been an ident. Someone might have deliberately caused it. She might have ended up in hospital because of the information on this hard drive. She sensed danger around her and cleverly hid the hard drive in the hospital flowerpot.¡±
Because only Mandy could answer these questions, Roy definitely insisted that Mandy be kept alive.
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Chapter 165
They could only anxiously wait for news at the hospital.
¡°Don¡¯t you think Mandy looks a bit familiar?¡± asked Chris.
¡°What do you mean?¡± Jessica looked at Mandy¡¯s photo and did feel a little, but couldn¡¯t quite say who she
reminded her of.
Chris said, ¡°I think Mandy looks a bit like Collin, don¡¯t you think?¡±
Jessica exchanged a nce with Jennifer.
They both knew that Collin had a younger sister. The year their parents died, the Phillips family lost Collin¡¯s sister, iming she identally wandered off, but in reality, she was abandoned.
Collin had been abroad for so many years, always searching for his sister¡¯s whereabouts.
After Chris mentioned it, Jessica looked at the photo again and really did see some resemnce.
¡°You¡¯re too familiar with Collin, maybe you don¡¯t notice it, but I haven¡¯t met Collin many times. Just looking at Mandy¡¯s figure, she does resemble Collin a bit. You shouldn¡¯t look at her whole face, just cover the eyes and lips andpare the outline of their faces. From this angle, the two of them are practically
identical.¡±
Jennifer put her hands over those two facial figures, and indeed, imagining Collin¡¯s face in her mind, the two faces merged together perfectly.
Mandy was basically a female version of Collin.
¡°No way¡¡± Jennifer was at a loss for words. ¡°Collin has been searching for his sister for so many years¡ Actually, from the beginning, I found it strange that Mandy¡¯s life before a certain age was never shown at home. I thought at the time that she seemed like someone who just popped out of a rock.¡±
Recalling Jennifer¡¯s frustration back then, Jessica couldn¡¯t help butugh.
¡°Yes.¡±
So could Mandy really be rted to Collin?
They couldn¡¯t say for sure, everything had to wait until Mandy was safely rescued.
Until after work, there was still no news from Roy. The three of them decided to wait somewhere else. Chris still had something to discuss with Jake, so he told the two women to leave first.
¡°Captain Felton and his team has gone to arrest someone today. Keep a close eye on Hector. If Hector answers the phone and his whereabouts seem suspicious, immediately have security detain him. Hector should know more than Megan.¡±
+15 BONUS
They could only anxiously wait for news at the hospital.
¡°Don¡¯t you think Mandy looks a bit familiar?¡± asked Chris.
¡°What do you mean?¡± Jessica looked at Mandy¡¯s photo and did feel a little, but couldn¡¯t quite say who she
reminded her of.
Chris said, ¡°I think Mandy looks a bit like Collin, don¡¯t you think?¡±
Jessica exchanged a nce with Jennifer.
They both knew that Collin had a younger sister. The year their parents died, the Phillips family lost Collin¡¯s sister, iming she identally wandered off, but in reality, she was abandoned.
Collin had been abroad for so many years, always searching for his sister¡¯s whereabouts.
After Chris mentioned it, Jessica looked at the photo again and really did see some resemnce.
¡°You¡¯re too familiar with Collin, maybe you don¡¯t notice it, but I haven¡¯t met Collin many times. Just looking at Mandy¡¯s figure, she does resemble Collin a bit. You shouldn¡¯t look at her whole face, just cover the eyes and lips andpare the outline of their faces. From this angle, the two of them are practically
identical.¡±
Jennifer put her hands over those two facial figures, and indeed, imagining Collin¡¯s face in her mind, the two faces merged together perfectly.
Mandy was basically a female version of Collin.
¡°No way¡¡± Jennifer was at a loss for words. ¡°Collin has been searching for his sister for so many years¡ Actually, from the beginning, I found it strange that Mandy¡¯s life before a certain age was never shown at home. I thought at the time that she seemed like someone who just popped out of a rock.¡±
Recalling Jennifer¡¯s frustration back then, Jessica couldn¡¯t help butugh.
¡°Yes.¡±
So could Mandy really be rted to Collin?
They couldn¡¯t say for sure, everything had to wait until Mandy was safely rescued.
Until after work, there was still no news from Roy. The three of them decided to wait somewhere else. Chris still had something to discuss with Jake, so he told the two women to leave first.
¡°Captain Felton and his team has gone to arrest someone today. Keep a close eye on Hector. If Hector answers the phone and his whereabouts seem suspicious, immediately have security detain him. Hector should know more than Megan.¡±
Jake gave an okay gesture and asked Chris, ¡°Still haven¡¯t caught anyone?¡±
¡°No news yet. They¡¯re fully prepared for this. It¡¯s not a big problem. Mandy¡¯s identity is a little suspicious, so we need Mandy alive. Rescue operations are difficult. I trust Captain Felton¡¯s ability.¡±
Everything outside moved at a surprising speed. When Mandy returned home, it was already past
midnight.
Chris and Jessica waited for news in the restaurant. Even Jennifer had gone home.
¡°She¡¯s safe.¡± Roy sent a message to Chris.
Jessica looked at the message, hesitating a little.
¡°Should we tell Collin? Wouldn¡¯t it be too soon?¡±
¡°I think we shouldn¡¯t let Collin be disappointed for nothing. Mandy had medical treatment at our hospital before and there are blood type records. Find a way to get a hair from Collin. The Summit Infirmary can do the test. Just bring it directly to me.¡±
Jessica nodded.
Mandy was brought back to her own house and cried with her parents for a long time. Roy and Jack stood nearby the whole time. Mandy¡¯s parents were deeply grateful to everyone in the squad.
After calming down, Roy said, ¡°Miss Milton, go back to your room and try to recall the details. Lily, please go with her to take a statement. Mr. Milton, we still need your cooperation with some questions.¡±
¡°Sure. Head back to your room, Mandy. The police officer will go with you.¡±
Mandy wasn¡¯t actually afraid. After working as a foreign media reporter for so many years, she was already used to it.
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Chapter 166
¡°Is Miss Milton your biological child?¡± asked Roy.
Mandy¡¯s parents were both stunned, then looked at each other with disbelief. They clearly hadn¡¯t expected Roy to ask such a question.
Mr. Milton was the first to respond, ¡°To be honest, Mandy is not our biological child. My wife and I haven¡¯t had children all these years. It was probably when Mandy was three years old. When we went out, we saw her crying alone in the neighborhood, with no one around.¡±
This happened many years ago, and after Mandy was brought back at the age of three, she had a serious illness. She didn¡¯t remember anything before she was three.
The couplepleted the adoption paperwork and adopted Mandy, always treating her as their own child.
¡°May I ask how you figured it out?¡± Mr. Milton asked.
Roy thought of Jessica and Chris¡¯s suspicions. He didn¡¯t expect the two of them to be right about Mandy¡¯s identity.
He said, ¡°ording to gics, both of you have monolids. Miss Milton couldn¡¯t naturally have double eyelids. Of course, girls like to be pretty and might have cosmetic surgery, but hers looks very natural. I don¡¯t think she got them from surgeries.¡±
This was a very scientific perspective. There was nothing Mr. and Mrs. Milton could argue with.
¡°All these years, Mandy always thought she was your biological child. Has no one evere looking for her?¡±
¡°My wife and I made some moneyter and moved out of the old neighborhood to here. The previous neighborhood was in Tenalit, quite far from here. Also¡ before wepleted the adoption, I spent a whole year taking Mandy to look for her family, but there was no trace.¡±
So many years had passed, and they already treated Mandy as their own child, sometimes even forgetting she was adopted.
The neighbors had all changed, and no one knew about Mandy¡¯s true rtionship with them.
Since that was the case, the possibility that Mandy was Collin¡¯s sister increased a little.
Could it be that fate connected these people together somehow?
If Mandy hadn¡¯t been involved in the Aitairy case, they might never have found her. No matter how hard Collin searched, he wouldn¡¯t find a sister with no memories.
Roy sent a message to Chris. ¡°It¡¯s been confirmed. Mandy was adopted. Theypleted the adoption
paperwork. They had seen Mandy near Tenalit when she was about three, alone with no one around, fitting the abandonment situation.¡±
Chris. ¡°Good. Try to get a hair from Mandy. I want to do a paternity test.¡±
Roy. ¡°Okay.¡±
Putting away his phone, Roy said to Mandy¡¯s father, ¡°We may need a hair from Miss Milton. I hope you
don¡¯t mind.¡±
¡°Sure.¡±
Getting Collin¡¯s hair was quite easy. In a few days, there would be a joint meeting where Collin and Jaden represented Hurricane Media, and Jessica would attend with Chris.
In the dressing room, Collin was adjusting his cor.
¡°You don¡¯t look very well. Been staying upte doing surgeries recently?¡± Collin nced at Chris through
the mirror.
Chris nodded. ¡°There¡¯s a tricky patient transferred from another state. I just finished the second surgery
today, and there might be more.¡±
¡°You¡¯re already the honorary chairman, yet you still schedule so many surgeries. Aren¡¯t you worried
about being overwhelmed?¡±
¡°I still prefer being on the operating table. Francesca handles hospital affairs for me.¡±
Wife Back 167
¡°After all, being a doctor was your dream and your full¨Ctime job. If it weren¡¯t for Jessica, you probably would have only focused on improving you medical skills. I didn¡¯t expect you to get involved in business as well. From now on, Francesca will attend these meetings for you. Today is the first time, you just need
to make an appearance.¡±
Jaden¡¯s name at Hurricane Media was Jasper. He had just been outside answering a call, and when he saw the time was about right, he pushed open the door to remind the two inside.
¡°It¡¯s almost time to go.¡±
¡°Coming.¡±
After Collin left, Chris squatted down and picked up a strand of Collin¡¯s hair from the floor. It had just
identally fallen out, and Chris had seen it drop, so there was no chance of a mix¨Cup.
In such a high¨Cend club, the floors were spotless. Not only was there no dust, but not even stray hair
could be seen. As soon as one group left, another woulde in to clean again.
He had already received confirmation from Roy that Mandy was indeed adopted.
During the meeting, Jessica and Chris didn¡¯t have much to say and sat together chatting about other
trivial matters.
¡°Did you get the hair?¡± asked Jessica.
Chris nodded and patted his pocket, ¡°I saw it fall right in front of me.¡±
¡°Why is Collin dealing with hair loss?¡±
Chrisughed at Jessica¡¯s words. The mental image of Collin going bald made him chuckle.
¡°There probably isn¡¯t a gic predisposition for hair loss in Collin¡¯s family. This strand was identally pulled out. The root still had a fresh follicle and looked very healthy.¡±
Jessica asked, ¡°If Mandy really is Collin¡¯s sister, this story is so dramatic. Collin searched for his sister for so many years, with no news domestically or abroad, and it was only because of the case involving the Hall family that she was found. I¡¯m worried Collin might turn against us.¡±
Everything in the world happened by coincidence or fate, and Collin was no exception.
The meetingsted three hours. During the break, everyone came out to have a drink. Those interested would find a private room to chat for follow¨Cup developments.
This joint meeting room was designed to provide opportunities for various industries and also served as a ce towork.
FN was definitely among them.
The Hall family needed no introduction, both Luke and Michael were present.
Seeing these two, it was clear the person Roy arrested was useless¨Cprobably just a runner who didn¡¯t know the real mastermind¡¯s identity and was only getting paid to do the job.
They found a small private room to have a drink and rest.
¡°If I¡¯d known it would be this boring, I wouldn¡¯t havee,¡± Collinined. ¡°Overseas joint meetings at least have blondes and blue¨Ceyed beauties, but here it¡¯s all old men.¡±
Jaden nced at him. ¡°There are some. Didn¡¯t you see those wearing the nice dresses at the entrance?¡±
¡°They clearly have sugar daddies.¡± Collin observed sharply. ¡°Didn¡¯t you notice their eyes were locked on someone? To get into this kind of club as hostesses, they definitely have a sugar daddy.¡±
Jaden said, ¡°With your wealth, you could probably poach them all. Want me to find one for you?¡±
¡°No thanks.¡±
Their way of interacting was somewhat amusing. Nina found it strange. ¡°You two have been together so many years, and you talk about things like this so openly?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right. Men are simpler than women. Why should I be jealous just because he looks at other
women? I don¡¯t have time for that,¡± Jaden said calmly.
Jessica said, ¡°Collin only admires women, he has no real interest in them.¡±
Wife Back 168
This had actually been obvious since they were kids. Collin and Jessica grew up together. If Collin really had interest in other women, he would have had interest in Jessica a long time ago.
On the tea table in the center of the room were hot tea and snacks. Jaden poured tea for everyone and took a piece of snack for himself.
Nina said, ¡°I just saw Luke and Michael standing far apart. Looks like these two have already fallen out and don¡¯t even care about hiding their rtionship.¡±
¡°I used to think I understood Michael, but now it seems all I saw was his disguised behavior. I never really saw the real Michael,¡± Jessica sighed and looked at Jaden. ¡°Chris and I suspect there¡¯s someone behind the scenes controlling the Hall family. Even the arranged marriage sending Michael abroad back then was that person¡¯s idea.¡±
Jaden nodded. ¡°From what I remember, my father always seemed to be guarding against someone. To be frank, the current heirs of the Hall family are nothing to worry about. The person who made my father so worried has to be extraordinary.¡±
No one knew whether this person was male or female, or what their true identity was.
This person was so clever they had always hidden behind the Hall family, never revealing their true identity in public.
Not a single person in the entire room could recognize them.
¡°That¡¯s a truly dangerous person.¡±
The joint meetingsted seven days in total, but Chris and Jessica only attended for one day. The remaining days were attended one by one by thepany¡¯s senior executives. It was said Indya went to the meeting just to sleep and was only woken up when the meeting ended.
There were plenty of people eager to cooperate with the Wilder Group, there was no need for them to actively seek opportunities.
Adam came to the Summit Infirmary for a follow¨Cup. Chris personally received him and stayed with him the whole time, confirming that Adam¡¯s condition was improving, which put him at ease.
¡°You¡¯re recovering faster than I expected,¡± said Chris, sitting on a bench and watching Adam move his limbs in a wheelchair. Small movements were no problem anymore, now it was just about the intensity of rehabilitation.
Adam smiled, ¡°Thanks to the doctors who saved my life. I know this case isn¡¯t closed yet. Captain Felton came to my house a few days ago, said they caught some kidnapper and asked if I¡¯d seen him.¡±
Roy had arrested two men who were undoubtedly kidnappers, but they only said they took money to do
jobs. Allmunications were fake, their phones couldn¡¯t be reached, and the numbers they got were fake as well.
¡°How are your fans? They¡¯re not still attacking FN, are they?¡±
Adam said, ¡°My boss treats me well, and all the endorsements and films I had to stop filming due to my injury have already been reced by suitable people. I will get plenty of opportunities in the future, but I won¡¯t be able to get them if I die.¡±
Chris chuckled.
¡°Then stick to the recovery n. I¡¯ll wait for the day you stand again. FN and the Wilder Group are
already business partners, so we¡¯re partners now. We¡¯ll have chances to meet again.¡±
¡°All right.¡±
This day was destined to be important.
The paternity test results for Collin and Mandy came out.
After the meeting, Jessica rushed to the Summit Infirmary. The moment Chris got the test result, his
hand trembled slightly.
¡°I¡¯m a bit nervous,¡± said Chris.
Jessica nodded and sat beside him, holding his hand and saying, ¡°This is Collin¡¯s sister we¡¯re talking about here. I remember seeing her when she was just born. I¡¯m a bit nervous too. Maybe we shouldn¡¯t
look?¡±
Chris was rendered speechless.
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Chapter 169
Shannon and Francesca stood at the door talking.
They heard the two people inside both getting excited and not daring to look at the results.
Shannon rolled her eyes, pushed open the door, and came in, snatching the document from Chris¡¯s hand.
¡°If you don¡¯t want to look, I will.¡±
¡°Alright, you can look at the results,¡± Chris said with relief. ¡°You can just tell us what¡¯s written on the
results.¡±
Francesca wore a faint smile on her face.
Her smile was always formal and polished in public, but a bit softer in private.
Perhaps the experience of imprisonment had made Francesca more calm andposed than in earlier
years.
One could tell she had been through many storms.
Shannon didn¡¯t hesitate at all and opened the file.
The series of biological test exnations were technical and hard to understand, but at the bottom under kinship rtions, it clearly stated that Collin and the hair sample donor Mandy were indeed siblings.
Shannon flipped the page and handed it to them, saying, ¡°We can get Mr. Phillips to treat us now!¡±
Jessica and Chris exchanged a nce and both breathed a sigh of relief.
Jessica squeezed Chris¡¯s hand so tightly it almost hurt, but he didn¡¯t react and only said, ¡°Finding family in one¡¯s lifetime is a good thing.¡±
And the person closest to Chris was this woman right in front of him.
Jessica was eager to call Collin with the good news, but Chris thought that Collin would be too excited to drive safely.
If something happened on the road, it would be very unlucky for the Summit Infirmary.
It was better to invite Collin and Jaden over for dinner.
After all, he had nothing else to do after finishing surgery today and could go home to cook.
He had been too busy recently to cook, and also wanted to make it up to Jessica.
Jessica nodded quickly and went out to call Collin.
¡°All settled then. I should get going. Francesca, remember to bring the the Summit Infirmary financial reports to the Wilder Group. The audit starts the day after tomorrow. Has the new medicine from Wind Pharmaceuticals arrived?¡±
Francesca said, ¡°The first batch arrives the day after tomorrow. Quite a few people have already made reservations. ording to the order, the first hundred on the list can use the new drug.¡±
¡°Be very careful. It¡¯s a new drug after all, and we can¡¯t be sure yet.¡±
Shannon thought for a moment and reminded Francesca, ¡°Try not to let that Dr. Wood get his hands on it. His background isn¡¯t very clean. Captain Felton is already monitoring his parents.¡±
¡°Okay.¡±
Collin didn¡¯t live at the Phillips family¡¯s residence but at the Golden Mansion.
The Phillips family¡¯s residence couldn¡¯t be sold and was just left there.
There were still some rtives living inside who couldn¡¯t be forced out.
He didn¡¯t want to be ruthless¨Cgiving them a ce to live was fine.
The Golden Mansion was a property that thete Sir Hall had bought for Jaden¡¯s mother years ago.
To get along smoothly, Collin also bought a house nearby as well.
In reality, the two of them lived together.
The two of them were both very courteous people.
When visiting, they never came empty¨Chanded and brought two bottles of red wine.
¡°Red wine in the country hasn¡¯t been very goodtely. This is what I brought back from abroad. I hope
you¡¯ll like it,¡± said Collin, cing the bottles on the kitchen ind.
Chris, holding a spat in one hand, came out to take a look.
He had recently been taking wine sses with Jessica and knew a little about it.
¡°Perfect timing. We¡¯ll open them tonight. You can drink some too. Today is a good day.¡± Chris teased mysteriously.
Collin and Jaden exchanged confused looks.
Jessica, having removed her makeup, wore simple andfortable home clothes, tied up her hair, and came out from the bedroom.
¡°That¡¯s right, today is a huge day. Drink up. We can open both bottles!¡±
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Chapter 170
Until they sat down, the two of them didn¡¯t know what had happened, but looking at the nces between Chris and Jessica, they felt like they had fallen into some kind of trap.
Jaden whispered to Collin, ¡°You didn¡¯t sign a servitude contract, right? Do I have to work for Jessica from
now on?¡±
Collin smiled and shook his head. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t make sense if she wanted Hurricane Media.¡±
¡°So what are those twoughing about?¡±
Dinner was quitevish, and looking at the table full of dishes, the two of them felt even more nervous.
¡°What¡¯s going on with you guys? Jessica, you¡¯re not pregnant, are you?¡±
Jessica said, ¡°What kind of good news is that? Of course not. Today is a good day for you. Chris and I just
invited you over for dinner because we were worried you¡¯d be too excited.¡±
Before the meal began, Chris handed the paternity test result to Collin.
¡°I¡¯m sorry for taking your hair without your permission. The other hair sample was given to me by
Captain Felton. ording to the test results, the owner of the other hair is the sister you¡¯ve been
searching for all these years.¡±
Upon hearing this, Collin and Jaden were stunned.
They both looked up at Chris.
Seeing Collin¡¯s eyes slowly redden, Jessica poured him a ss of red wine.
¡°Take a look first. Here are some recent photos of your sister. Maybe she looks a bit unfamiliar to you.¡±
The kinship confirmation on the result was absolute truth.
The photos showed Mandy¡¯s daily life, many taken abroad.
¡°She is¡¡±
Jessica said, ¡°Coincidentally, she¡¯s Mandy, the girl who was recently kidnapped and rescued by Roy ording to Mandy¡¯s foster parents, she was found near Tenalit when she was three years old, sitting alone crying, with no one else around.¡±
Feeling Collin¡¯s body start to tremble from excitement, Jaden quickly pressed his shoulder and lowered his voice, saying, ¡°We found her. We found her.¡±
Collin¡¯s voice choked with sobs, ¡°Is she¡ alright? Roy brought her back, right? Does she know?¡±
¡°Mandy doesn¡¯t know yet. She got very sick soon after being taken to her foster parents. She lost all
41-1/2
TID BUNUS
memories before she was three and doesn¡¯t even know she was found. The good news is she¡¯s lived happily all these years. Her foster parents have only her and treat her very well. We haven¡¯t told Mandy about this yet. She just came back and needs counseling.¡±
Collin nodded quickly. ¡°Yes, don¡¯t scare her. I¡ I¡¯m okay. As long as she¡¯s found and well, even if she can¡¯t recognize us, that won¡¯t be a problem. When can I go see her?¡±
Chris gently advised, ¡°We thought it would be better to wait until the kidnapping case is settled. Mandy¡¯s psychological assessment isn¡¯t finished yet. We don¡¯t know if she suffered trauma from the kidnapping.
Don¡¯t rush.¡±
That night, Collin drank quite a lot, finishing a whole bottle of red wine.
Jaden remained calm and didn¡¯t drink, and it was Jaden who drove them home.
Collin held Mandy¡¯s photos, crying one moment andughing the next, unsure of what to say.
Jaden and Chris struggled to help him into the car and closed the door.
¡°Thank you so much.¡± Jaden stood straight and reached out to shake Chris¡¯s hand. ¡°You¡¯ve fulfilled his
wish. Collin has always felt guilty about losing his sister. He med himself for it. But now, he¡¯s finally found her.¡±
Wife Back 171
Chris nced into the car, ¡°This was all a series of coincidences. When I saw Mandy¡¯s photos, I felt she looked familiar, but Jessica and Collin knew her too well to tell. Regardless, this was a good thing. When he sobers up, you could prepare to meet Mandy. Just wait for the news.¡±
¡°Okay, thank you for your hard work. In the future, whether the Wilder Group or the Summit Infirmary
needs any help, both Hurricane Media and I will do our best to assist.¡±
Jessica wrapped herself in a coat and walked over from behind, standing beside Chris. She stared at
Jaden and said, ¡°We are allies. Collin and I have been friends since childhood. No need for formalities.
We¡¯ll find a way for you to return to the Hall family. In return, you will tell me the truth. We are on the
same side.¡±
¡°Okay. I¡¯ll go back home for now.¡±
¡°Okay.¡±
Mandy¡¯s psychological evaluation was very good. The psychologist said that having worked in foreign
media for so many years, Mandy was already used to that life. The kidnapping did not cause her much
trauma, so no further psychological intervention was necessary.
At this time, Mandy¡¯s foster parents told her frankly that she was found abandoned, and that Captain
Felton had already found her older brother.
Mandy was not as emotional as Collin, but she still looked forward to meeting her real family.
¡°At the opening ceremony of Hurricane Media in Impelia, I will announce Mandy¡¯s return. She is used to
this name. I¡¯ve discussed it with Jaden, and we decided not to change her name. After all, her foster
parents truly cared about her, and the Phillips family will support her foster parents for life.¡±
Collin¡¯s matter was settled, and his heart was at ease.
They truly met Mandy at the Cosmos.
¡°Hello, Dr. Green. I saw you at the Summit Infirmary. I heard from my brother that you found my hard drive. Thank you for saving me and for helping me find my brother. You saved me more than once.¡±
Mandy was polite and confident. After dressing up, she looked even more like Collin.
Mandy stood next to Collin¨Cone dressed in a ck suit, the other in a haute couture short dress. Mandy smiled at Chris, showing no change from the kidnapping.
Chris said, ¡°We¡¯re friends from now on. No need to thank me. Come have a seat. You¡¯re one of us. Roy has
some questions for youter.¡±
¡°Captain Felton protected my safety with all his might and was even injured.¡±
Roy had indeed been injured. The other party had weapons, and Roy¡¯s arm was grazed by a bullet.
¡°When I got home, Captain Felton asked me a few questions, all about Aitairy. I know many countries¡®
police are investigating the Aitairy case. I¡¯ve been conducting covert investigations for many years, but I never expected that because of this case, I would find my real family.¡±
Mandy nced at Collin, and they smiled at each other, holding hands.
Roy and Nina came together, and everyone was present.
¡°Today, let¡¯s first celebrate Collin finding his sister. We¡¯ll talk about the caseter. We should first enjoy
the meal.¡±
Everything still revolved around the Hall family. Without a doubt, Mandy had also looked into the Hall
family.
¡°Actually, when I was investigating, the Hall family was already close to withdrawing from Aitairy. I found out Helen was thest person holding internal information. Many businessmen rted to Aitairy were registered. I¡¯ve been tracking Helen for a long time,¡± said Mandy.
Jessica said, ¡°I know where Helen is. She is also the biological mother of Michael¡¯s child.¡±
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Chapter 172
Regarding a closer rtionship, Mandy wasn¡¯t very clear. It was just that Michael paid a lot of attention to Helen, and Mandy only started investigating Helen from that time.
¡°The stuff on my hard drive is nowhere near the client information Helen has,¡± said Mandy. ¡°If we can get Helen¡¯s client data, I think we can catch them all. What we¡¯ve caught so far are just small fry to Aitairy.¡±
Collin looked at Mandy with pride in his eyes.
It seemed that Mandy¡¯s foster parents really treated her well and raised her perfectly. Even without the top resources of the Phillips family, she was notcking in the slightest.
Now that Mandy was his own sister, and the top mediapany Hurricane Media belonged to the Phillips family, it was natural for Mandy to return to work in the international news department at
Hurricane Media.
Having been injured, Mandy was already unhappy that her originalpany had snatched several popr reports from her and had thought about resigning before the kidnapping.
But her originalpany valued the secrets Mandy held and didn¡¯t want to let her go at this time.
Without Collin, Mandy¡¯s resignation negotiations with her originalpany would have taken a long time.
Now with Collin¡¯s name shining, who would dare topete with Hurricane Media for her?
Jaden personally went to handle Mandy¡¯s resignation.
Mandy wasn¡¯t surprised that Collin and Jaden were together. She had seen many things while working abroad.
When Jaden went to thepany to help Mandy resign, the other party learned that he was Jasper from Hurricane Media and was a bit intimidated. Following protocol, they asked carefully about his rtionship with Mandy.
Jaden was straightforward.
¡°I¡¯m her brother¡¯s boyfriend.¡±
It was said that the executives present were shocked, and several signed quickly, afraid that the next second Jasper would buy theirpany and give it to Mandy.
Hurricane Media had that kind of power, no one doubted it.
¡°You rest well this month. For the New Year¡¡± Collin mentioned the New Year.
Since being sent abroad, Collin had spent every New Year alone. After meeting Jaden, it became the two
of them together.
Two people who had been exiled, clinging to each other for warmth on a day meant for family reunions.
Now that he had finally found his sister, Collin naturally hoped his real sister could stay nearby instead of going back to the Phillips family and facing those unfriendly rtives.
But Mandy said, ¡°I might still spend it with my parents. After all, it¡¯s been so many years. If I don¡¯t go back, the old couple might feel a bit upset.¡±
Seeing Collin a little disappointed, Jaden quickly said, ¡°How about this? You bring your parents to Golden Mansion. The back house is empty anyway. You can move there. You¡¯ll be close by. We¡¯ll spend New Year together. I haven¡¯t experienced celebrating New Year with elders yet.¡±
That was a pretty good idea.
Chris looked at Jessica, who definitely wanted to return to the Wilder Group. Chris had no rtives, so naturally, he would stay with her.
Looking into Chris¡¯s eyes, Jessica suddenly remembered something amusing.
¡°The holidays areing, and Jason¡¯s shooting is about to end. A few days ago, Michael came to visit the set and asked if I would spend the New Year with him. Isn¡¯t that funny?¡±
It really was a bit funny.
What status did Jessica have to spend New Year with Michael?
¡°ording to Michael, he wouldn¡¯t return to the Hall family¡¯s residence. He said he would spend the New Year with Jordan at my ce, sounding so pitiful that you¡¯d think I was the reason he had no home to go to.¡±
Nina sipped her lemonade. ¡°So what did you say?¡±
Recently, Jessica had lost much patience with Michael. ¡°I said, ¡®Don¡¯t I have my own parents to visit? Why do I have to spend New Year with someone else?¡® Anyway, Michael looked very wronged after hearing that but thought what I said made sense, so he said he was being rude and promised to visit my mother after the New Year.¡±
Wife Back 173
Chapter 173
Hearing this, Chris sneered inwardly.
Linda absolutely did not want to see Michael. If Jessica were not currently investigating Michael, she would have wished that the Wilder Group and the Hall family had no connection at all.
From start to finish, Linda¡¯s opinion of Michael was clear. She felt he was a petty person.
Back then, Jessica might not have beenpletely unaware of Michael¡¯s maniptions. They were both prominent figures at school. It was only natural that Michael was brought before Jessica, and Jessica chose to be with Michael out of rebellion.
That did not mean Jessica would always be rebellious.
Her father¡¯s deathy bare before her. Jessica was a rational woman destined to embark on the path of seeking the truth.
It was also destined that Michael and she would go separate ways despite once sharing a path.
On thest day before the holidays, everyone¡¯s bonus arrived. Few people in the wholepany were actually working, their minds were all on the uing holiday.
Jessica came out once midway and saw this scene but said nothing, only asking the cafeteria to provide
extra meals that day.
The Wilder Group had already canceled the annual meeting.
Such efforts by employees only to please the employer and higher¨Cups were truly unnecessary. It not only wasted manpower, material, and financial resources, the employees were not genuinely happy either.
Such an inhumane practice was better off canceled.
She was more practical, if employees saw real benefits, they would be more willing to work hard for the
Besides money, it was about treatment.
The hospital always needed someone on duty. Francesca had already helped Chris arrange all the doctors
duty schedules. Chris reviewed it and confirmed there were no problems, but he was curious why his
own name was not on the list.
Francesca noticed a problem Even now, Chris still regarded himself as an ordinary doctor and did not realize there was any difference in his chairman position.
Standing in front of the desk, Francesca exined, ¡°ording to the council¡¯s internal benefits, the chairman has a holiday. During the New Year holiday, you don¡¯t need to be on duty unless an emergency
surgery requires you toe back as chief surgeon.¡±
Chris was stunned for a few seconds before he realized that this role actually came with holidays.
Francesca continued, ¡°One more thing. thepany will be listed next year. To wee themercialization reform, many people will visit during the New Year. As chairman and investor, you and Ms. Wilder need to receive guests at home.¡±
¡°I still have to deal with those people?¡± Chris said with a sour face.
Francesca nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Ms. Wilder has arranged for me and Shannon to receive them. You just sit there and act as a mascot. You don¡¯t need to say anything.¡±
That would do.
After all, he had no other choice ¨C he was just a hostage.
The hospital was no ce for massive decorations.
At home, however, Chris bought a lot of things.
After five years of being married to Jessica, he had never looked forward to the New Year like this.
This was their first New Year after their hearts had truly connected, giving it a different meaning.
Even if they had to go to the Wilder family¡¯s residence on New Year¡¯s Eve, they still wanted to decorate
their house.
The difference between an employer and an employee was actually quite obvious, especially during
holidays.
Employees left thepany, and contacting them was only possible via WhatsApp.
But the employer had to make money all the time to pay their sries.
Wife Back 174
Chris was busy decorating the house, while Jessica sat in front of theputer making money for the
employees.
On the first day of the holiday, there was a morning meeting with people from Lonat. Shannon and Indya were both there, and Nina joined in as well. They discussed the Wilder Group¡¯s n to expand the entertainment department and connect with FN, which now required overseas certification.
In the afternoon, the video content returned to the domestic side, with a joint meeting between the
Wilder Group and FN¡¯s executives to choose the content for coboration and the first batch of signed
artists.
Chris happened to start putting up window decorations in the study.
In the video, Chris wore casual home clothes and gestured toward the window behind Jessica for quite a
while. Just as he was about to start sticking decorations, Indya shouted, ¡°Sir, it¡¯s crooked.¡±
Hearing that, Chris withdrew his hand.
Jessica also turned around to look.
¡°Didn¡¯t I say I¡¯d help you after my meeting?¡± Jessica stood up and helped Chris fix the position.
With Jessica holding it steady, Chris began putting up the decorations.
¡°It¡¯s fine. You¡¯ve had a tiring meeting. These little things, I can handle myself. Are you hungry?¡±
Jessica nodded. She had been in meetings since she woke up and only eaten a sandwich at noon, now
she was really starving.
But since FN¡¯s executives were still on the call, Jessica didn¡¯t want to cause dys.
¡°40 more minutes, then let¡¯s eat together.¡±
¨C
Chris nced at the time ¨C it was indeed time to prepare dinner.
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll cook. You guys continue with the meeting.¡±
After saying this, he bent down and kissed Jessica on the cheek, then took scissors and tape and left.
Nina rested her chin on her hand on the other end of the line and shook her head,
¡°Hey, don¡¯t show off your love like that. I¡¯m single here ¨C can you at least consider my feelings?¡±
Back in her chair, Jessica nced at Nina,
¡°What are you talking about? If I remember correctly,st week¡¯s trending topic was you and Matthew Robinson, right?¡±
Matthew Robinson was an artist who had returned from a foreign boy band, now developing solo, with a solid fan base in Cheria but no independent studio yet.
He was really good¨Clooking, no wonder Nina liked that type.
When Matthew¡¯s name came up, Nina quickly waved her hand,
¡°Don¡¯t mention it. I was just dragging him into the spotlight. His concert in Impelia was our exclusive release, and ourpany handled the venue promotions. It was just hype.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Indya seemed skeptical. ¡°I remember the trending topic said you two went to a hotel together?¡±
Nina pointed at Indya. ¡°That¡¯s right! Because of that trending topic, my brother got mad ¨C called me at six in the morning and woke me up. Come on, I¡¯m an adult. Isn¡¯t this normal?¡±
The Felton family was an affluent one but more open¨Cminded about entertainment industry matters.
But Roy wasn¡¯t.
Anyone who dared get close to his sister would definitely have a leg broken.
¡ª
¡°Matthew looks very manly. I¡¯ve seen his boy band ¨C not really suitable for the mainstream here. Do you
think I could sign Matthew?¡± asked Jessica.
Nina nced at Jessica, feeling she was being intentional.
¡°As long as the price is right, Matthew recently spent a lot on his concert and urgently needs a boost. If your price is reasonable, he has no reason to refuse. I think you could add an endorsement deal for him to
strengthen his position domestically.¡±
Jessica understood this clearly.
During dinner, the TV was on, still showing entertainment news, and there were Nina and Matthew¡¯s headlines prominently disyed.
¡°Is this really Nina? They went to a hotel?¡± Chris reacted just like Roy.
Wife Back 175
Chapter 175
As soon as Jessica saw Chris¡¯s expression, she couldn¡¯t help butugh.
She nced back and saw that the video and photos were very clear, showing Matthew and Nina quite clearly, and even the hotel name was visible.
It was definitely those two.
¡°You¡¯re just like Roy. Nina is already an adult. When I was Nina¡¯s age, you and I were already married. Why is it wrong for her to go to a hotel? Matthew is quite good¨Clooking as well. He¡¯s just got back into the country. I¡¯m thinking of signing him.¡±
She didn¡¯t know much about Matthew. Just by looking at the photos on entertainment news, he was indeed good¨Clooking, but you couldn¡¯t judge just by appearance. Being together depends on whether they werepatible.
Seeing Chris fall silent, and he looked like he was going to call Nina, Jessica hurriedly stopped him,
¨C
¡°Don¡¯t ask Nina. She¡¯s shy. Besides, Nina is just hyping with Matthew. It¡¯s not real ¨C probably a suite.¡±
¡°And then? They¡¯re not together?¡±
¡°They¡¯re adults. They can do what they want. It¡¯s normal for men and women in the entertainment industry to do such things and not be together.¡±
Chris frowned, not quite agreeing,
¡°I don¡¯t care about others, but Nina is different. I¡¯ve watched her grow up. Does Roy know?¡±
¡°Roy never cared about gossip. He probably set a keyword for Nina on his phone. When Nina just hit the trending topics, Roy called her at six in the morning. Nina didn¡¯t even know she had hit the trending topics at that time.¡±
After dinner, Chris didn¡¯t bother with his own matters anymore and instead sat on the sofa watching entertainment news, searching Matthew¡¯s information.
He had just returned to the country, he had no fixed team, and apparently, he was even five years
younger than Nina ¨C obviously still a kid. Being good¨Clooking alone was useless.
Jessica sat beside Chris holding a tablet and was already discussing about signing Matthew with
Shannon.
¡°You don¡¯t need to worry too much. Nina didn¡¯t take it seriously. With Nina¡¯s personality, no one can
really hurt her,¡± said Jessica.
Chris¡¯s gaze was still fixed on the phone. He did a thorough search on Matthew.
US
¡°He¡¯s too young. What can he really understand? Besides¡ Nina is still a girl. These scandals won¡¯t do her any good in the future.¡± Chris was busy decorating the house, while Jessica sat in front of theputer making money for the
employees.
On the first day of the holiday, there was a morning meeting with people from Lonat. Shannon and Indya were both there, and Nina joined in as well. They discussed the Wilder Group¡¯s n to expand the entertainment department and connect with FN, which now required overseas certification.
In the afternoon, the video content returned to the domestic side, with a joint meeting between the
Wilder Group and FN¡¯s executives to choose the content for coboration and the first batch of signed
artists.
Chris happened to start putting up window decorations in the study.
In the video, Chris wore casual home clothes and gestured toward the window behind Jessica for quite a
while. Just as he was about to start sticking decorations, Indya shouted, ¡°Sir, it¡¯s crooked.¡±
Hearing that, Chris withdrew his hand.
Jessica also turned around to look.
¡°Didn¡¯t I say I¡¯d help you after my meeting?¡± Jessica stood up and helped Chris fix the position.
With Jessica holding it steady, Chris began putting up the decorations.
¡°It¡¯s fine. You¡¯ve had a tiring meeting. These little things, I can handle myself. Are you hungry?¡±
Jessica nodded. She had been in meetings since she woke up and only eaten a sandwich at noon, now
she was really starving.
But since FN¡¯s executives were still on the call, Jessica didn¡¯t want to cause dys.
¡°40 more minutes, then let¡¯s eat together.¡±
¨C
Chris nced at the time ¨C it was indeed time to prepare dinner.
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll cook. You guys continue with the meeting.¡±
After saying this, he bent down and kissed Jessica on the cheek, then took scissors and tape and left.
Nina rested her chin on her hand on the other end of the line and shook her head,
¡°Hey, don¡¯t show off your love like that. I¡¯m single here ¨C can you at least consider my feelings?¡±
Back in her chair, Jessica nced at Nina,
¡°What are you talking about? If I remember correctly,st week¡¯s trending topic was you and Matthew Robinson, right?¡±
Matthew Robinson was an artist who had returned from a foreign boy band, now developing solo, with a solid fan base in Cheria but no independent studio yet.
He was really good¨Clooking, no wonder Nina liked that type.
When Matthew¡¯s name came up, Nina quickly waved her hand,
¡°Don¡¯t mention it. I was just dragging him into the spotlight. His concert in Impelia was our exclusive release, and ourpany handled the venue promotions. It was just hype.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Indya seemed skeptical. ¡°I remember the trending topic said you two went to a hotel together?¡±
Nina pointed at Indya. ¡°That¡¯s right! Because of that trending topic, my brother got mad ¨C called me at six in the morning and woke me up. Come on, I¡¯m an adult. Isn¡¯t this normal?¡±
The Felton family was an affluent one but more open¨Cminded about entertainment industry matters.
But Roy wasn¡¯t.
Anyone who dared get close to his sister would definitely have a leg broken.
¡ª
¡°Matthew looks very manly. I¡¯ve seen his boy band ¨C not really suitable for the mainstream here. Do you
think I could sign Matthew?¡± asked Jessica.
Nina nced at Jessica, feeling she was being intentional.
¡°As long as the price is right, Matthew recently spent a lot on his concert and urgently needs a boost. If your price is reasonable, he has no reason to refuse. I think you could add an endorsement deal for him to
strengthen his position domestically.¡±
Jessica understood this clearly.
During dinner, the TV was on, still showing entertainment news, and there were Nina and Matthew¡¯s headlines prominently disyed.
¡°Is this really Nina? They went to a hotel?¡± Chris reacted just like Roy.
Judging by this, Chris probably didn¡¯t know that Nina had liked him before. Jessica blinked and lowered her head. She could understand. Chris was a simple man.
Despite taking care of others thoroughly, he had a simple mind.
He saw Nina as a little sister and never considered that Nina might have other feelings for him.
Tapping on the tablet with both hands, Jessica sent all of Matthew¡¯s information to Shannon and said casually, ¡°Try to suppress the recent trending topics about Nina and Matthew. FN wants traffic, let¡¯s give them a different approach.¡±
Shannon. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±
Jessica nced at Chris with an indifferent expression. ¡°Two men got triggered.¡±
Shannon. ¡°I know Roy is definitely triggered. He doesn¡¯t want his sister to be fooled by some young kid like Matthew. Who¡¯s the other man?¡±
Jessica. ¡°Nina¡¯s half¨Cbrother and neighbor, Chris.¡±
Shannon was at a loss for words,
The half¨Cbrother not only looked into Matthew but even looked into his entire boy band. Seeing that he couldn¡¯t find anything, he called Ashley to help.
Ashley. ¡°Since when were you into boy bands?¡±
Chris. ¡°Hurry up and help me.¡±
Wife Back 176
Chapter 176
Ashley waspletely confused, but he did as he was told.
However, he wasn¡¯t as fast as Shannon. He still hadn¡¯t sent Chris the information he wanted when Chris was about to go to bed.
¡°If I had known earlier, I would¡¯ve asked Shannon to help me. Everyone has their specialty ¨C Ashley really isn¡¯t cut out for this line of work,¡± said Chris as he hugged Jessica and they fell asleep.
Jessica raised her hand and pinched Chris¡¯s waist,
¡°Enough already, even Roy didn¡¯t put in so much effort. Why are you so worried about Nina? I¡¯m getting jealous!¡±
This was naturally a joke. Chris knew she wouldn¡¯t actually get jealous over Nina and didn¡¯t take it seriously. He only said, ¡°Roy is always busy with his team. He doesn¡¯t have that much time to care for Nina. When something happens, all he knows is to call and have a go at her. I have to make sure I know everything about Matthew.¡±
Jessica leaned against Chris¡¯s chest, sighed, and said softly, ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect you to get this worked up. I told you, it¡¯s just hype. They might not have even slept in the same room when they went into the hotel.¡±
ording to their methods, someone would have already booked another room early on. After entering together and going upstairs, they wouldn¡¯t actually enter the same room.
High¨Cend hotels pay a lot of attention to privacy and wouldn¡¯t let paparazzi sneak in, so the paparazzi could only wait outside for news.
They saw the two entering and leaving together, and assumed they spent the night together.
They wouldn¡¯t have saw anything.
¡°Is that so?¡± Chris found it unbelievable.
Jessica said, ¡°These are all PR tactics. I¡¯ve used them before too. Didn¡¯t people photograph me and
Michael going on a business trip? They said we entered a hotel, but Shannon and Eric were right behind - us. The paparazzi didn¡¯t even notice the two of them at all.¡±
These were necessary exposure tactics, which Jessica had used many times.
But Chris didn¡¯t understand this industry or the role ofmercial exposure.
Thinking about the Summit Infirmary going public next year and moving towardmercialization, Jessica felt that maybe this would be useful for him too.
¡°By the way, Francesca said that during the New Year, there will be visitors. Are you okay with us being
together then?¡±
Jessica asked, ¡°You mean our marital rtionship?¡±
¡°Yeah.¡±
¡°It would only be a problem if I let you take that position with us not being married. You don¡¯t want too many people at the hospital to know about us, but in business, there¡¯s a focus. If you and I are a married couple, they¡¯ll value the Wilder Group¡¯s worth more and overestimate the Summit Infirmary¡¯s ability it¡¯s all connected.¡±
It might sound simple, but Chris still couldn¡¯t fully understand what Jessica had said.
So he could only do as Francesca said ¨C be a mascot at home, just sit there and keep up appearances when visitorse.
Anyway, Francesca would help him handle things.
¡°Do you think it¡¯s bad that I rely on Francesca so much?¡±
¡°What¡¯s bad about it?¡± Jessica had already closed her eyes, feeling the familiar and reassuring scent on
Chris.
¡°I had Francesca go to the Summit Infirmary to handle everything for you. Actually, she¡¯s basically the deputy general manager there, like Jaden¡¯s status at Hurricane Media. ¡®Personal secretary¡® is just a title.
for show.¡±
The treatment and sry she gave Francesca were fully ording to apany deputy general
manager.
The Summit Infirmary was reallyplicated. After sessfully being listed, they would still need to
find an assistant for Francesca.
Otherwise, she simply couldn¡¯t handle it all by herself.
They had put up many decorations at all.
Jessica didn¡¯t have time to arrange these things ¨C Chris had been adding them bit by bit, even bringing home two pots of flowers.
Wife Back 177
As soon as Jessica saw the flowers, she felt a headacheing on.
Chris said that since she spent long hours in front of theputer, there should be a small green nt on the desk. This would purify the air and protect her eyes. When tired, looking at it could relieve fatigue.
But the green nt died in less than a month after being ced there, and Shannon took it out to throw it
away.
Shannon now had an extra task.
Whenever a green nt on the desk died, she had to throw it away and rece it with a new one. She had to make sure that every time Chris went to the CEO¡¯s office, he would see ¡°the nt he gave¡± thriving and full of life in front of theputer.
¨C
Shannon thought it was unnecessary ¨C very unnecessary.
But this was the gentleman¡¯s sentiment toward Jessica. As a secretary, to maintain the CEO¡¯s happy family life, she had no choice but keep this up.
¡°I also bought two pots for Mom. They just arrived this year, they¡¯re not avable domestically,¡± Chris said happily. He found a sunny spot and carefully ced them down. ¡°Mom really likes these things.¡±
Hearing Chris call ¡°Mom¡± so naturally and fluently made Jessica happy.
But she also knew that in times like this, Chris inevitably thought of his biological mother ¨C the mother resting underground who would never see such bright flowers again.
¡°Perfect. Order two more pots, and before the New Year, we¡¯ll send them to my mother¨Cinw. One pot for my dad and one for your mom.¡± Jessica squatted down beside Chris.
Chris froze for a moment and smiled with his head lowered.
¡°Okay, let¡¯s do that. Mom and Dad will definitely be happy to see them.¡±
Jessica¡¯s thoughtfulness surprised Chris.
Since Jessica learned that Chris¡¯s mother had passed away and had arranged for her mother¨Cinw¡¯s grave to be moved to the same cemetery as her father, she always made sure to visit during holidays. She would also personally buy the flowers when she visited as well.
Compared to before, this showed much more attention.
Chris felt very satisfied.
Regarding their current life, a few years ago, Chris wouldn¡¯t have dared to dream of such things.
The phone rang. It was Shannon calling, and Jessica got up to answer.
¡°Matthew agreed, but he said he didn¡¯t want a jewelry endorsement. He wants something else,¡± said
Shannon.
Jessica sat on the sofa eating fruit that Chris had prepared. ¡°What does he want?¡±
¡°He said that the newputer developed by the Wilder Group¡¯s IT department sold very well abroad recently. He wants to be the IT department¡¯s endorsement, he thinks it would be more valuable than jewelry.¡±
Jessica cocked her brows.
The Wilder Group¡¯s IT department was stable and steady, never needing endorsements, and its international ranking had never dropped below the top five, so she hadn¡¯t paid much attention to endorsements in this area.
But since Matthew wanted it, adding an endorsement didn¡¯t matter.
¡°Okay, I¡¯ll agree to Matthew¡¯s requests as long as they¡¯re not excessive. But one thing ¨C don¡¯t stir up rumors with Nina recently. I don¡¯t want Chris¡¯s thoughts to be all about Nina,¡± Jessica said suddenly.
Chris, squatting in front of the flowerpot, looked back helplessly.
Jessica looked up and turned her head away.
It wasn¡¯t jealousy, she just hoped all of Chris¡¯s attention would be on her.
¡°Okay.¡± Shannon forced herself not to curse. ¡°I¡¯ll have the legal department draft the contract. Should we sign him for a year first?¡±
¡°That works. Celebrities like him tend to fall fast. You¡¯d better check if he has any scandals. Have Indya prepare public rtions first. Also, Mr. Hickey suggested signing an esports club under the entertainment departmentst time. I agreed and asked Indya to handle this matter.¡±
Wife Back 178
Jessica had previously confirmed all the details with Nina about signing Matthew, making sure that Nina and Matthew¡¯s scandal wouldn¡¯t affect Matthew¡¯s value for the contract. She just didn¡¯t expect Matthew to be so smart.
Chris had the same feeling.
¡°Turning down the Wilder Group¡¯s jewelry endorsements, and instead, asks for the IT department¡¯s endorsement. But the sales of electronics don¡¯t reallypare to jewelry, do they?¡± Chris, though not very familiar with these things, had done his research on Matthew.
Many people said Matthew was very clever ¨C after all, he made his way back to Cheria step by step and broke away from his boy band as a solo artist. Compared to those still struggling, he was much smarter.
Because Matthew was smart, Chris worried that Matthew¡¯s approach to Nina had ulterior motives.
Later, Jessica said that Nina had carried the Felton family on her own until today ¨C she was quite smart as well. Roy was focused on his career, and he didn¡¯t help with family matters or care, it was always Nina managing everything herself.
Up to now, Roy was only the official head of the family on paper, but the Felton family really still supported Nina.
With this mindset, there was no need to worry about Nina being deceived.
¡°That¡¯s different,¡± Chris stood up and said. ¡°Feelings and career are different. If it were just about work, FN would naturally listen to Nina. Neither Roy nor I would need to worry. But feelings¡ that¡¯s not something anyone can choose. Whether it¡¯s hardship or happiness, it¡¯s all Nina¡¯s own experience.¡±
Jessica looked at Matthew¡¯s information for a long time. In all these years abroad, Matthew had never been involved in any scandals. That was why Jessica chose to sign a contract with him.
The Wilder Group had no real standing in the entertainment industry. Without backing from Hurricane Media and FN, entering entertainment would surely be very difficult and painful.
When choosing artists, a lot of effort had to be put in.
Matthew wasn¡¯t exactly handpicked from thousands, but among the options Jessica had, he was pretty good.
¡°You don¡¯t have any objections to me signing Matthew?¡±
Chris shrugged. ¡°The Wilder Group is yours. What objections could I have? If Matthew fools you, I¡¯ll help
you.¡±
Before, when Chris said he¡¯d help, it sounded like a joke ¨C what could a man without a job, relying solely
on his wife, do to help?
But now it was different.
Chris had a proper job, and the Summit Infirmary had connections to the Wilder Group. Whether openly or behind the scenes, he was someone who could help Jessica.
¡°I¡¯ve never been fooled since I took over the Wilder Group, but now that you say that, I¡¯m curious ¨C how
would you help me?¡±
Michael had called Jessica quite frequently before the New Year. To Michael, Chris was like an invisible
man.
To be honest, Chris found it ridiculous.
It was clear Michael didn¡¯t share any mutual friends with Jessica, or else he would have noticed from her
attitude that his own status was not what it used to be.
¨C
Actually, whenever Michael called Jessica, Chris was at home either nearby listening or busy in the kitchen. There was simply no ce for Michael in this house.
Yet, Michael didn¡¯t realize this.
One day, Michael came straight to their house to see Jessica. Perhaps sensing her recent cold attitude, he felt he had to see her in person to feel assured.
Usually, when Michael came over, Jessica would make Chris hide in his room for appearances. But this time, when Jessica saw on the monitor that it was Michael, she didn¡¯t tell Chris and just opened the door.
Wife Back 179
Michael was still holding Jordan¡¯s hand.
¡°Mommy!¡±
Since Jordan got hurt, Jessica hadn¡¯t seen her for a long time. She didn¡¯t expect Michael to actually bring the child along. Perhaps he thought he couldn¡¯t get much from Jessica, so he wanted to show off by bringing the child.
¡°Why did you bring Jordan?¡± Jessica stepped aside.
After all, she was still a child, and her physical condition was quite good. After the car ident, Jordan
had recovered well, but the nanny said Jordan¡¯s temper was getting worse every day, she would get angry even if something was taken by mistake, and sometimes even throw things to the floor.
Michael didn¡¯t pay much attention to Jordan¡¯s upbringing. All he would do was to bring Jordan with him
whenever he needed topete for favor. It did no good to Jordan¡¯s upbringing.
¡°Jordan hasn¡¯t seen you for a long time. She said she missed you. She originally wanted to call you to
spend the New Year together. She also wanted to be with you, but since you have to go home to keep Lindapany, I didn¡¯t want to waste your time. Some business partners brought me some gifts, so I
thought I¡¯d bring them to you.¡±
Jessica lowered her head to look.
They had plenty of such things at home, there was no need for Michael to bring any.
But Jessica still thanked him.
Chris was cutting fruit and about to take it to the living room. When he was passing by, he happened to
see Michael holding Jordan¡¯s hand.
Originally, there was still a smile on Michael¡¯s face, but when he saw Chris, the smile immediately
disappeared, and even Jordan looked at Michael in disbelief, her big eyes ring at him.
¡°Why are you at Mommy¡¯s house? I don¡¯t want to see you! Go away!¡±
Chris smiled faintly and nced at the little girl, then ced the fruit on the table.
He turned around and wiped his hands slowly and deliberately.
¡°I don¡¯t think I can do that. This is my house!¡±
Jordan nced at Jessica, ¡°No, this is Mommy¡¯s house! Aunt Sophie said this isn¡¯t your home. You should leave right now!¡±
Seeing Jordan so stubborn, Michael didn¡¯t even argue. Jessica knew his intention ¨C sure enough,
Michael probably knew that Chris was still with her, so he deliberately brought Jordan over.
In the past, such words could still hurt Chris. Jessica, pretending for appearances, wouldn¡¯t let Michael feel embarrassed, but things were different now.
This time even Jessica didn¡¯t side with Jordan.
Her expression turned much colder, no longer with her usual smile.
¡°Jordan, you can¡¯t be so rude. He is my husband. You should also call him Uncle Chris or Mr. Green. This is his house too. You and Daddy are the guests here. You can¡¯t make him leave.¡±
There was disbelief all over Jordan¡¯s face.
Hearing this, Michael tugged Jordan roughly. ¡°Don¡¯t be so rude.¡±
Jordan pouted her lips, and the look in her eyes toward Chris was full of hostility. It was hard to imagine a little girl¡¯s eyes could have such an expression. Michael¡¯s parenting really had serious problems.
¡°Mr. Green, you¡¯re back. I thought the two of you were divorce. Did Linda tell you to live together? Does the rest of the Wilder Group not know about your divorce? Did Linda make you put on an act?¡±
Even now, Michael still tried to find a way out for himself. Chris couldn¡¯t help but admire him.
Jessica didn¡¯t refute either.
¡°Did youe all this way to bring gifts? It¡¯s cold outside. You shouldn¡¯t take Jordan outdoors in such weather. If you need anything, tell Shannon. She¡¯ll prepare everything for you.¡±
Chris stood beside Jessica. Such a sight made Michael very ufortable.
Wife Back 180
Chapter 180
No one had ever said Jessica and Chris were a good match before. Maybe it was because people noticed Jessica¡¯s attitude toward Chris, or perhaps they knew there was someone else in her heart. Saying they were a match right in front of Jessica would definitely make her unhappy.
But recently, Chris and Jessica had often appeared together in the trending news.
Today, Michael brought Jordan over because he had seen the recent trending topics. Both of them were
seen at the entrance of the Cosmos,ing in and out together. The paparazzi seemed to have been
waiting there for a long time.
When the words ¡°a good match¡± appeared in rtion to the two of them, Michael felt like he was already out of the game.
Why Chris?
Chris was never the person Jessica loved the most. Why did Chris get to stand beside her?
Why was this New Year being spent by Chris and Jessica together?
As for Michael¡
He could only hide with his daughter in the house outside. Even Luke could go to the Hall family¡¯s
residence, but they could stay by themselves miserably during the New Year.
All of this made Michael feel miserable inside. It twisted his jealousy and even made him want to kill
Chris.
It wasn¡¯t the first time that Michael had such a thought.
The stab in the Wilder family¡¯s residence was meant to frame Chris. But if he had known Jessica would
turn back, he should have killed Chris. He felt that he should have stabbed Chris¡¯s vital organs.
Chris couldn¡¯t be allowed to live, nor could Linda.
Absolutely no one was allowed to take an important ce in Jessica¡¯s heart.
¡°Since Chris¡¯s home, I think I should leave. Jordan, say goodbye to Jessica.¡±
Jordan still didn¡¯t change the way she addressed Jessica, still calling her ¡°Mommy.¡± Chris didn¡¯t want to
make things difficult for a child and just stood beside Jessica, smiling to say goodbye. But Jordan rolled
her eyes at him.
The gifts on the floor were very high¨Cend. Jessica nced at it and kicked it to the door. She said to Chris, ¡°In a few days Francesca is going to send gifts to Wind Pharmaceuticals. Let Francesca take these with her. I really don¡¯t want to eat anything Michael gives me.¡±
The tides had turned ¨C in the past, Jessica always spoke harshly to Chris, but never once to Michael.
Chris hugged Jessica and returned to the living room. Both of them rarely took breaks from work but today they chose the most popr film to watch together.
¡°Did you see the look Jordan and Michael gave each other just now?¡± Jessica stuffed a strawberry into her mouth, ncing at Chris out of the corner of her eye. ¡°That was the first time Michael chose not to
hide his thoughts. He wants to kill you.¡±
Even Jessica could see it clearly, let alone Chris.
He wasn¡¯t afraid at all. ¡°If he¡¯s really got the guts, let him try. By the way, I heard you gave something to Helen the other day? Speaking of which, Helen is Jordan¡¯s biological mother. Why isn¡¯t Jordan close to
her at all?¡±
¡°I heard from Shannon that Helen was in the final stage of her pregnancy when the Jills family was about to go bankrupt. Michael¡¯s rtionship with Helen had already fallen apart. Actually, I can
understand Michael¡¯s views on Helen.¡±
Helen¡¯s existence was a humiliation to Michael.
The marriage with Helen, even Jordan¡¯s birth, represented that Michael could never control his own fate. The Jills family was another power yer showing dominance over Michael. So Michael never loved
Helen, and even resented her.
Since Jordan¡¯s birth, the Jills family hadpletely gone bankrupt. The death of Helen¡¯s parents devastated her, and she didn¡¯t even properly recover after giving birth. She was only busy fighting with
Michael and trying to snatch the client list from Aitairy.
Helen was a bit foolish and weak, but she would never give in ¨C it was in her nature.
Wife Back 181
When she realized that everything in the house was upied by Michael and that she could no longer turn things around, she had already thought of a n against Michael.
She acted quickly and urately, leaving Michael no time to react.
Jordan was taken by Michael from birth. Helen had barely seen her and had no time to take care of her daughter. Now that Jordan was older, there was nothing Helen could do.
¡°I was thinking, if Michael lost, what would happen to Jordan? Would she be sent back to Helen?¡±
¡°ording to thew, yes. But it depended on their own choice.¡±
Helen sat alone in the spacious hotel living room. The suite was still paid for by Michael.
She could live here forever as long as she didn¡¯t reveal client information and as long as she still had leverage over Michael.
As long as she lived, she could take revenge.
Helen never forgot the death of her parents. Her feelings towards Michael in the past had been nothing but a joke.
In fact, between Helen and Michael, it was Michael who disguised himself better, making it seem like he was interested.
Until that day, when a woman¡¯s phone call made Helen see clearly what kind of person Michael really was.
So when she saw Jessica, the childhood sweetheart Michael cherished, she couldn¡¯t help but speak harshly.
But Jessica didn¡¯t care about Michael at all.
In such a lively New Year, she was left all alone.
Working with Jessica was inevitable. She only had one condition. Jessica must
absolutely not harm Jordan.
After everything was over, she wanted to live with her child and have enough to support the Jills family¡¯s finances.
Jessica agreed.
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To Jessica, even at its peak, the Jills family was just a small family. She didn¡¯t care much about their funds.
Now, it was just waiting for that day toe.
On New Year¡¯s Day, fireworks and firecrackers had been banned in early years in Impelia, but from this year, some areas were allowed to set them off.
Still half asleep, the sounds of crackling and popping rang outside.
They had watched a film until three in the morning, and then yed together for a while before going to bed, but had only been asleep for less than two hours.
Jessica rubbed her eyes to get up, but Chris held her down.
¡°Sleep for a little longer. I¡¯ll pack up the things we brought. The supplements for Mom need to be taken out from the storage room. I¡¯ll call youter.¡±
Jessica didn¡¯t hear clearly what Chris said, but since he held her down, she continued sleeping.
Chris put on his clothes and got up.
They arrived at the residence at eight o¡¯clock. Albert came out to open the door.
¡°Miss Jessica, Mr. Green, you¡¯re back so early. Mrs. Wilder has just started having breakfast.¡± Albert called to the maid to take their things.
Linda sat in the dining room, with the cat still on the table.
Jessica frowned when she saw the cat but didn¡¯t want to say anything unpleasant during the New Year.
¡°Looks like Mom slept in today. It¡¯s already eight, and you¡¯re only just having breakfast.¡± Chris acted very warmly, even more familiar with the house than Jessica.
Linda raised her hand to have the maid prepare breakfast for them as well.
¡°Last night, I yed cards with some friends. It¡¯s the New Year, so I thought I¡¯d have some fun. But I ended up losing a diamond ne.¡±
Jessica was rendered speechless.
Actually, Linda wasn¡¯t very good at cards. She had been busy working when she was young and hadn¡¯t had time to learn. When she reached her retirement age, others had
already yed for years, so a beginner like her was no match for them.
She would always lose quite a lot of money because of this.
Jessica said, ¡°Don¡¯t y if you can¡¯t win.¡±
Wife Back 182
Linda said, ¡°It¡¯s so boring being home alone. They only started asking me to y with them sincest month. It¡¯s no big deal. The ne isn¡¯t worth much anyway.¡±
Jessica and Chris walked toward the kitchen, and Chris quietly asked about the diamond ne.
Jessica replied irritably, ¡°The ne Mom says isn¡¯t valuable is a new piece by the Wilder Group fromst quarter, priced at 6 million dors, and that¡¯s not including the apanying products.¡±
Chris was rendered speechless.
He really didn¡¯t understand these women very well.
Linda had just started ying and was still excited about it. After dinner, she asked the two of them to y with her and improve her skills.
Unexpectedly, Chris turned out to be quite a master.
Jessica and Linda lost badly, with only Chris winning.
¡°Not bad, when did you learn to y?¡± Jessica stuffed some chips into Chris¡¯s hand.
It was hard to imagine Chris wearing a doctor¡¯s overalls and sitting in front of a card table, but it was quite a breakthrough.
Chris said, ¡°I learned from my mom. She likes to y sometimes. When she can¡¯t find enough yers, she calls me. After a while, I got used to it. Mom, you should have yed this card earlier¡¡±
¡°Let¡¯s go again.¡±
They spent the entire morning in front of the card table. Albert sat behind Linda to
assist.
Two inexperienced yersbined couldn¡¯t beat Chris, and in the end, Linda lost a lot more to Chris.
That was when the doorbell rang.
¡°Who could it be at this hour?¡± Albert went to open the door. ¡°Coming.¡±
When the door opened, Albert¡¯s smile faded noticeably. He nced behind
subconsciously but didn¡¯t step aside, his voice cold.
¡°Mr. Hall, why have youe?¡±
Jessica, who was just about to start another game, froze at the mention of ¡°Mr. Hall¡± and immediately stood up.
Chris held Jessica¡¯s hand and shook his head slightly.
He whispered to Linda, who now had a cold look on her face, ¡°Mom, Michael is a junior. If he wants to pursue Jessica, he definitely has to work through you. Coming to pay New Year¡¯s respects is expected.¡±
Linda snorted coldly. ¡°Even if you two were divorced and never spoke again, Michael would never be allowed into the Wilder family. Throw him out¨CI don¡¯t want to see him.
Because Chris and Jessica had started reinvestigating her husband¡¯s death, Linda often thought about the time when she had just lost the man she loved most.
She was utterly despondent and hopeless inside.
Everything she had done was to protect the man she loved, but unexpectedly, she was still set up, as if all her efforts were in vain.
Time was supposed to heal everything, but no one understood her loneliness.
The matter wasn¡¯t caused by Michael, she knew she couldn¡¯t me him.
But Michael was as bad as those behind it all and he wasn¡¯t exactly a nice person either.
¡°Come on, it¡¯s the New Year¨Chow could we kick someone out? How about this, I¡¯ll go talk to him. If he justes in to say a few words, I hope won¡¯t get upset. I¡¯ll keep ying cards with youter on and teach you how to beat me.¡±
At those words, Linda¡¯s tone softened a little.
¡°It¡¯s better if he doesn¡¯te in.¡±
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go talk to him.¡±
Jessica and Chris stood up together. She held Chris¡¯s arm and said, ¡°You¡¯re the one with the solutions. Mom doesn¡¯t like Michael, especially during the New Year. He just wants to upset her.¡±
¡°It¡¯s something we can¡¯t just avoid, but I think Michael hase for a reason.
Chris told her to stay and said that he would handle it with Albert.
He would let Michael in if absolutely necessary.
The house was filled with warmth and harmony, but Michael made things feel awkward just by standing there.
Wife Back 183
¡°I came to visit Linda. I was afraid thatter when more family members arrived, it would be inconvenient for me toe,¡± Michael said with a forced smile.
Everyone knew that Albert, the butler of the Wilder family¡¯s residence, was someone who had stood by Linda through thick and thin.
Years ago,
he was thepany¡¯s administrative secretary, managing all sorts ofpany affairs. After retirement, he came to work at the Wilder family¡¯s residence.
Though it seemed he had stepped back from thepany, anyone who wanted to see Linda still had to get past Albert.
His status was unquestionable.
Michael did not dare to be disrespectful.
Albert did not take the gifts, but said, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Hall, but right now Miss Jessica and Mr. Green have returned. The Wilder and Hall families are still business partners recently. It¡¯s a bit early to deliver your gifts. Other business partners might be upset.¡±
Albert was sly and cunning, he didn¡¯t tell Michael to get lost, instead he used business
as a cover.
After being refused again and again, Michael¡¯s expression darkened.
At that moment, Chris walked over.
¡°Who is it, Albert?¡± asked Chris, knowing full well.
Both Chris and Michael liked Jessica, but Albert treated Chris like his own son, smiling warmly.
Albert turned and said, ¡°Mr. Hall is here.¡±
his eyes
¡°Oh,¡± said Chris, then pulled the door open wider, appearing in front of Michael.
¡°Mr. Hall, why have youe at this hour? Have you not brought Jordan? It¡¯s the New
how could you leave the child alone at home?¡±
Year
¨C
Michael smiled without sincerity. ¡°Just came to visit Linda. I was afraid that the child would be too noisy. Is Jessica here too?¡±
¡°Yes, I came with Jessica. It¡¯s the New Year, after all. It¡¯s normal for us toe home
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together. Looks like you¡¯ve bought some more gifts. Didn¡¯t you already bring gifts to usst night?¡±
Michael looked down at all the gifts at his feet.
¡°That was for Jessica. These are for Linda. Different ages need different supplements. These were just shipped from Hesterfield.¡±
¡°My mother¨Cinw is well taken care of. She doesn¡¯t look that old to be honest. It¡¯s better not to say such things in front of her, Mr. Hall.¡± After a pause, Chris added, ¡± Actually, I think what Albert said makes sense. We¡¯re all business partners. Coming now might make others think you¡¯re being too eager. How about you wait another couple of days?¡±
¡°Albert, may I speak to Chris alone for a moment?¡± Michael kept a polite attitude but clearly was ufortable with Albert.
Albert looked at Chris.
Chris said, ¡°Sure. I just happen to have some things to say to Mr. Hall as well. Albert, go make some tea first. I think Mom likes Earl Grey.¡±
¡°Okay. Don¡¯t stand at the door for too long, Mr. Green It¡¯s windy outside and cold.¡±
After Albert left, Michael¡¯s disguised expression immediately shattered. He stepped forward, as if wanting to grab Chris by the cor.
¡°Chris, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re too much of a nuisance? You and Jessica are divorced. Why are you still here? You¡¯re no longer a member of the Wilder family!¡±
¡°Whether I am or not isn¡¯t important. What matters is that in Linda¡¯s heart, my position still remains. Michael, being refused time and again must feel bitter, right? Actually, I can empathize. After all, I used to stand where you stand.¡±
¡°Chris, don¡¯t be too smug. Sooner orter, I¡¯ll make Jessica hate you. She will be mine!¡±
That was too ridiculous.
Chris asked, ¡°Is Jessica some object? Does she belong to you just because you say so? Michael, do you really think that you can just get whatever you want? You must feel the same about your ex¨Cwife, right?¡±
Chapter 184
Wife Back 184
Chapter 184
Michael took a step forward, clearly about to say something to Chris, but Albert reminded him from behind that Linda wanted Chris back.
Only then did Michael stop his movement, merely ncing at Chris.
All his next moves were cut off.
Chris turned and responded with a nod, then said to Michael, ¡°Mr. Hall, my mother¨Cin-w is calling me. You should follow what Albert said¨Cwait a few days for any arrangements. By then, other business partners cane along as well.¡±
This time Michael started to retreat, but Chris pressed forward step by step.
¡°As long as you and Jessica aren¡¯t together, Linda won¡¯t give you any special treatment. Right now, you¡¯re an outsider to us. Adjust your mindset and stop doing useless things.¡±
He had wanted to warn Michael like this many times before, hoping Michael would stop pursuing Jessica, but he always feared his actions might trouble Jessica. For the bigger picture, he had to endure what was happening.
Clearly, he and Jessica were a couple¨Ca fact everyone knew. They had even been married, but to keep up appearances, whenever Michael came, Chris hid like a mistress in a room.
The feeling was awful. Chris really didn¡¯t want to keep doing that.
Today was a good chance to vent his anger, even if only briefly.
Michael left very unwillingly, ncing back at Chris once before getting in the car.
Speaking of which, Jordan looked very simr to Michael.
Even their eyes were the same.
¡°That took you long enough,¡± Jessica said after Chris closed the door. She was listening in. ¡°Was it that hard to deal with him?¡±
Chris shook his head, ¡°No, I just warned Michael not to do anything without a ce here.¡±
Jessica immediately understood Chris¡¯s intention andughed, pulling him back inside.
¡°That doesn¡¯t matter. It stops Michael froming to find meter.¡±
Michael came once, but he didn¡¯t see either Linda or Jessica.
If Michael was smart, he would realize that he had no chance with the Wilder family
anymore.
Until the New Year¡¯s Eve dinner, Linda kept ying cards with the couple.
Chris was exhausted and helped the chef while the women talked aboutpany
matters.
¡°You did very well¨Cbnced and rxed,¡± Linda praised without holding back. ¡°I also heard some rumors in the boardroom that Michael winning the Wilder Jewelry endorsement was because of you. Don¡¯t let those words spread too far.¡±
Jessica peeled an orange and handed it to her mother.
¡°I know what I¡¯m doing. Right now, the Hall Group still needs exposure. I gave Michael the chance. As long as I hold Jaden¡¯s fate in my hands, the Hall Group will have to change leaders sooner orter.¡±
Linda thought further than Jessica.
She nced at her daughter.
¡°Are you sure Jaden is trustworthy?¡±
Jessica had never trusted Jaden from the start. The person she trusted was Collin.
¡°I¡¯ve known Collin for years. Without me, Collin couldn¡¯t have kept his position in the Phillips family. I don¡¯t easily trust anyone, but I believe in interests.¡±
Linda looked at her daughter quietly for a while, then nodded.
¡°Good. Seems like you¡¯ve learned everything I taught you. This is great. I won¡¯t interfere with the Wilder Group anymore, I leave it to you.¡±
The dinner was prepared by the chef and Chris together.
Before that, Shannon had received two calls, saying Jason wanted to reschedule the post -New Year shoot.
It seemed that Michael had just been firmly rejected at the Wilder Group and was clearly displeased.
People like Michael, once things go wrong, would definitely cause trouble at work.
Wife Back 185
Jessica found it ridiculous.
The Wilder Group could rece Jason at any time.
The low¨Cend line of Wilder Jewelry didn¡¯t necessarily need an endorsement.
Like the IT department, it was dispensable.
The jewelry department always focused on the high¨Cend line.
Standing in the backyard, Jessica remained silent for a short while.
Through the huge ss door, she could see Chris waving at her.
After giving it some thought, she said, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, then postpone indefinitely. Jason isn¡¯t cooperating right now. When he has time, thepany¡¯s filming schedule will be full as well. We¡¯re not the ones who should be anxious.¡±
Once the Wilder Group¡¯s entertainment department was fully operational, the Hall Group would have no ce in the entertainment industry at all.
¡°Okay, I¡¯ll do as you say.¡± Shannon immediately gave the order.
It was currently the holiday season, and thepany was practically empty.
People casually said things without anyone really paying attention.
¡°Michael liked to act childish when he was dating you back then, and he still does. Don¡¯t know where he got that habit from,¡± Shannon said casually.
Jessica said, ¡°It¡¯s normal to be a little childish when dating. Recently, Chris would asionally throw a tantrum too, but outside of that identity, Michael was clearly crossing the line.¡±
Back when they were dating, Jessica was willing tofort Michael.
Now, with no identity connecting him to Jessica, what he was doing was hostile in the business world.
¡°You handle the rest however you want. Wait, I thought you¡¯ve already gone Why do you still have time to check work messages?¡± asked Jessica. Shannon sounded quite helpless, ¡°No choice. If I don¡¯t talk about work, my family
home?
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keeps trying to set me up. I¡¯m a senior secretary with an annual sry of 200 thousand dors, and they want me to go on blind dates with men who earn 1,000 dors a month. And those men are so full of themselves it¡¯s disgusting. So I use work as an
excuse to go out for coffee.¡±
¨C
Most of the Wilder Group¡¯s executives had no personal life.
Back then, Indya had a boyfriend who broke up with her because she couldn¡¯t ept her
work attitude that work mattered more than him.
¨C
Shannon, as a secretary, spent every hour revolving around Jessica.
How could she have time to date guys?
She barely found time to eat lunch.
Since her annual sry was 200 thousand per annum, she had be to worth that money.
¡°I¡¯ll help you manage your love life once the entertainment department gets on track. I¡¯ve got to go.¡±
Chris, dressed in loungewear with sleeves rolled up, came out looking for Jessica after she didn¡¯t return for a while.
¡°Shannon said Jason wants to postpone the shoot.¡± Jessica put away her phone. ¡°Looks like you really pissed Michael off just now.¡±
Chris thought to himself, Was Michael really that petty?
He had been careful with his words, and Michael couldn¡¯t even handle that?
A man like this wanting to stand by Jessica¡¯s side was way off.
Back when Michael was stirring up rumors with Jessica, so many people said he got cheated on, yet he still insisted on delivering meals to Jessica.
He was still putting on a show in front of so many people.
¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± Jessica saw Chris zoning out and asked curiously.
Chris said, ¡°I was thinking that in Mandy¡¯s case, they never caught the real culprit. Two hired hands won¡¯t say who hired them. This New Year won¡¯t be good for Roy. Should we visit the Felton family on the New Year¡¯s Day?¡±
¡°That¡¯s fine. The Felton family is deeply rooted in Impelia, it can¡¯t hurt to build a good
rtionship. Besides, I have something to talk to Nina about.¡±
Currently, Nina was the person in charge of FN.
The whole Felton family still listened to Roy and Nina.
¡°Go wash your hands.¡±
Wife Back 186
When they came in from outside, they saw a few more people standing inside the room -apparently they had entered only when Chris went to find Jessica.
Jessica nced over once and went straight upstairs, but Chris didn¡¯t rush to leave.
Albert took some things from a few of the people and put them down on the floor, then came over and whispered to Chris, ¡°They¡¯re all people who have cooperated with the Wilder Group, one of them has maintained medical equipment for the Summit Infirmary for over five years.¡±
As he spoke, Albert pointed to one of the men.
That was a bit surprising.
Of course, everyone who came to visit had some rtion to the Wilder Group, but he hadn¡¯t expected someone from the the Summit Infirmary¡¯s equipment maintenance
Chris nced over.
That man seemed quite perceptive, as soon as he saw Chris, he immediately came forward with a bright smile. ¡°You must be Mr. Green. I¡¯m Harris Murphy. Ourpany is responsible for all the medical equipment maintenance at the Summit Infirmary. Last time, when I went to the hospital, you had already left work.¡±
He looked fairly young and was quite smooth in his approach.
Chris wasn¡¯t the type to be good at handling business matters, so he could only respond with a smile to Harris¡¯s enthusiasm.
¡°The contract for next year hasn¡¯t been signed yet. I wanted to find a time to visit Mr. Green in person.¡±
Chris nced at Linda.
She was sitting on the sofa, chatting happily with one of the female visitors.
Only then did Chris turn his attention back to Harris.
¡°Since it¡¯s the holiday period now, we won¡¯t discuss work matters. As for next year¡¯s contract, we can talk at the hospital after work resumes. This isn¡¯t the ce to discuss business.¡±
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Harris was momentarily stunned but quickly nodded and said, ¡°Okay, sure. You¡¯re right, Mr. Green. I see you have guests here, so I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡±
Albert escorted the man to the door, then returned.
Chris asked, ¡°In just a short time I was out, so many people came? What are they here for? Who are these two women?¡±
¡°They all previously worked with Wilder Group but are now retired due to their age. They could be considered your predecessors. Given their status, it¡¯s not appropriate to visit Ms. Wilder, so they came to see Linda instead and chat with her. I saw Ms. Wilder going upstairs, so I think you should rest for a while too.¡®
Jessica was on the phone with Sophie.
Originally, Sophie was supposed toe back, but when she heard Chris would be home for the New Year, she refused to return no matter what.
Jessica always indulged Sophie¡¯s temper, but now she had to consider Chris¡¯s feelings.
Before the New Year, she told Sophie that if she wanted toe back, she should just take a ne tickets had already been bought and delivered by the assistant.
¡ª
If she refused toe, then she could spend the New Year abroad by herself.
Unexpectedly, Sophie really didn¡¯te back.
No matter how harsh Jessica¡¯s words were, after all, Sophie was still her biological sister she couldn¡¯t ignore Sophie during such a time.
¨C
From morning till now, she had called three times.
At first, Sophie didn¡¯t answer and no one knew where she was.
Jessica asked the branch office assistant and found out Sophie had gone to celebrate the New Year elsewhere with ssmates and had no ns to return.
Entering the study, it seemed the call finally connected.
Jessica frowned, clearly in a bad mood.
When she saw Chrise in, she raised her hand, signaling him to wait outside for a
moment.
Turning her chair, Jessica said to Sophie, ¡°I¡¯ve already told you
¨C
Chris is your brother
-inw. You can¡¯t keep acting like this. There¡¯s no chance between me and Michael. Michael¡¯s already married and has a child. Don¡¯t you care at all about Mom¡¯s feelings?¡±
Wife Back 187
Sophie seemed to have started arguing with Jessica, and in the end, Jessica just hung up the phone.
At that moment, the entire study became quiet, and they could even hear Linda downstairs talking with a few otherdies.
Only then did Chris push the door open and see Jessica supporting her forehead, sitting in the chair, looking very tired.
¡°It¡¯s all my fault for spoiling her,¡± said Jessica. ¡°My mom had already said before that Sophie should go out and learn something on her own. Even if she didn¡¯t manage the family business, she couldn¡¯t just loaf around outside all the time. But I didn¡¯t listen, and now I really regret it.¡±
Chris walked over to Jessica¡¯s side and gently ced his hand on her shoulder tofort her.
¡°There¡¯s no helping it. You only have one sister, and she grew up like this. Besides, the Wilder Group has you, and Mom wouldn¡¯t want Sophie to work so hard anyway.¡®
Indeed, managing the Wilder Group was an exhausting task.
Jessica barely had any days off. While ordinary workers could rest on weekends, she still had to work overtime at thepany.
In all the years Chris had been with her, he had never seen Jessica take a full holiday.
Because of this, Chris felt even more sympathy and care for her.
¡°Is she really noting back?¡± asked Chris.
Jessica nodded. ¡°She said she¡¯s in another city, but she wouldn¡¯t tell me where. It¡¯s fine, as long as she¡¯s not with Michael.¡±
Actually, Jessica¡¯s biggest worry was that Michael would make a move on Sophie.
She had noticed before that Sophie¡¯s attitude toward Michael was strange, and now that she had been sent away, she still had to worry.
¡°A few senior folks has arrived downstairs, said they¡¯re Mom¡¯s friends who have worked together before. Do you want to go see them?¡±
Jessica shook her head. ¡°They¡¯re all elders. It¡¯s inappropriate for me to be down there
Forget it. Stay here with me for a while.¡±
The two of them simply sat down in the study.
As soon as Chris sat down, Jessica¡¯s head leaned against him.
Chris hugged her and said, ¡°Sophie is still young and studying abroad. She will grow up eventually. Besides, as long as Michael doesn¡¯t get close to Sophie, it¡¯s fine.¡±
¡°No.¡±
Jessica said, ¡°I found out that the streaming tform Sophie¡¯s been using recently
it was Indya who recently seems to be connected to Michael. I hadn¡¯t noticed before ¡ª found out.¡±
¡°Before the New Year, you sent Calum abroad to look into this, right?¡±
¡°Sort of. It was also a good chance for Calum to check on Sophie.¡±
The two stayed in the study for a long time until Albert knocked and said that thedies had all left and they shoulde downstairs.
In the living room, Linda looked like he was in a good mood.
On the nearby table were some gifts that had just been delivered.
The other gifts were immediately taken away by Albert, who casually handed them off to someone else.
But the gifts from these few people seemed to be kept aside.
¡°I just called Sophie,¡± Jessica said in a not¨Cso¨Cgood tone, sitting next to Linda and watching the utterly uninteresting TV program. ¡°She said she¡¯s spending the New Year with friends. I¡¯m worried that Michael has started making moves on Sophie.¡±
Linda didn¡¯t look away from the TV. She was actually not paying attention to what was on the screen.
But whenever the topic turned to the Hall family, Linda always acted like she didn¡¯t care, but in truth, she wanted to get revenge on the Hall family for her husband¡¯s death.
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Wife Back 188
Chris had always thought his mother¨Cinw was the kind of person who was tough and said little, mainly because he had never seen Linda act with absolute authority in
the business world.
Now looking at her, he felt that something was brewing in her heart, about to explode at any moment.
But fortunately, Linda only said, ¡°You handle it as you see fit. Sophie is your sister, but Michael¡ people like him, whether it¡¯s you or Sophie, I will never let him into our family. You should have understood this by now, and Sophie better understand it too.¡±
But obviously, Sophie still didn¡¯t quite understand.
Back then, her liking for Michael was only because she was too fond of her older sister and had always followed her footsteps.
And now, Jessica had already broken free, but Sophie obviously hadn¡¯t.
¡°In that case, let¡¯s not worry about it for now. I¡¯ll find a way to deal with this live streaming tform.¡±
The sky gradually darkened, and fireworks had already started outside.
In the kitchen, the chefs and housemaids were still busy, and Albert had gone to make video calls to his son and daughter.
Linda watched TV, while the young couple went to the backyard to watch the fireworks.
¡°It¡¯s been many years since I¡¯ve seen fireworks up close like this,¡± said Chris.
Jessica replied, ¡°Impelia has always been like this, it¡¯s really boring. I¡¯ll take you somewhere else.¡±
¡°Somewhere else?¡±
Chris wasn¡¯t very familiar with the area nearby and instinctively nced at Jessica, who was already holding his hand and heading back to get changed.
¡°You two going out?¡±
Jessica said, ¡°I¡¯m taking Chris to watch the fireworks. We¡¯ll be back soon.¡±
After putting on their coats, Jessica didn¡¯t let go of Chris¡¯s hand.
+15 BONUS
It wasn¡¯t very dark outside. A week before the New Year, the property management had already wrapped colorful lights around the trees nearby, making the entire neighborhood colorful and bright,
Many houses had various kinds of decorative lights hanging by their doors.
Jessica held Chris¡¯s hand as they walked toward the back of the neighborhood.
There was a small doorway that only allowed one person to pass at a time.
Jessica¡¯s eyes sparkled mischievously, she looked back and smiled at Chris, then bent down to squeeze through.
Chris, not knowing what was going on, could only follow closely.
Only people who were quite thin could pass through the small passage, anyone a little bigger couldn¡¯t get through.
After bending down to pass, just as Chris straightened up, he was stunned by the scene before him.
There was arge open space, seemingly still unnned for construction, but many people had gathered there.
Apparently, all the nearby families had brought their children to set off fireworks here.
Jessica pointed and said, ¡°When I was little, my dad brought Sophie and me here to y with fireworks. Back then, there weren¡¯t so many people living in this neighborhood. Now it¡¯s much livelier than before.¡±
It seemed that before his father¨Cinw died, the family had always lived happily.
Because they had been happy, Jessica¡¯s father¡¯s death became an insurmountable chasm forever.
When Linda had just said that Michael would never be allowed into the Wilder family, Chris could feel the pain in her heart.
Originally, her husband should have been sitting beside her, enjoying the happiness brought by their daughters and inws.
All of this was because of the Hall family, because of their greed, and perhaps, there were even other reasons.
Chris couldn¡¯t help but grab Jessica¡¯s hand and, before she could react, suddenly led her
forward.
¡°Where are you going?¡±
Seeing Chris getting closer to a child, Jessica instinctively stopped. ¡°What are you doing?¡±
Chris moved forward stubbornly and, in the quiet after the fireworks, said to the child, Hello there, youngdy, could you share a firework with thisdy?¡±
Wife Back 189
The child¡¯s parents were also nearby, smiling as they watched to see if their child understood how to share happiness.
Since this neighborhood was naturally inhabited by the wealthy and influential, everyone more or less recognized each other.
The child still held a few sparklers in her hand.
Seeing two strangers suddenly appear in front of her, she looked a bit puzzled and blinked her eyes.
¡°Didn¡¯t you buy any fireworks for her, sir?¡°.
Chris squatted down to be at eye level with the girl, speaking sincerely, ¡°No, I forgot Could you share one with us?¡±
He held up one finger. ¡°Just one will do!¡±
Who would actually ask a child for fireworks?
Jessica felt embarrassed and desperately tugged at Chris from behind, wanting to leave.
The girl nced back at her parents.
Her parents stood together, still smiling, wanting to see what their daughter¡¯s decision
would be.
After a while, the girl handed a sparkler to Jessica.
¡°He forgot and I¡¯m willing to share this with you. Daddy said that girls can y with sparklers during the New Year and you¡¯re a girl too!¡±
The kindness of strangers always moved people deeply.
Jessica hesitated for a few seconds until Chris gave her a little tug to bring her back to
her senses.
She squatted down and took the sparkler from the girl¡¯s hand, saying sincerely, ¡°Thank you. Your dress is very pretty. You¡¯re the most beautiful girl!¡±
The girl bounced happily into her parents¡® arms.
¡°Thatdy just said I¡¯m pretty!¡±
$15 BOALUS
¡°You are very pretty indeed, Nellie.¡±
Jessica¡¯s eyes reddened a bit as she held the sparkler.
They found a very small, quiet corner.
Those who were setting off fireworks with their parents, rtives, or lovers were all far
away.
Chris pulled a lighter from Jessica¡¯s pocket and helped light the sparkler for her.
¡°My father¨Cinw won¡¯t be able to apany you to watch fireworks anymore, but I will always be here with you.¡±
The sparks of the firework exploded gently in her hand, the faint smell of gunpowder drifting around them.
Chris didn¡¯t overlook Jessica¡¯s reddened
eyes.
He looked into her eyes, which sparkled as brilliantly as the fireworks.
¡°I will always be with you.¡±
Jessica sniffled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me.¡±
¡®Dad lied to me. I hope you¡¯ll keep your word,¡® thought Jessica.
Back at home, Jessica suddenly acted like the little girl and leaned over to Linda,
saying, ¡°Mom, Chris tricked a little girl to get her sparkler.¡±
Linda turned to look, her son¨Cinw still holding the jacket their daughter had taken off, standing at the entrance with a smile still on his face.
Albert also came out of the kitchen.
¡°To whom did he give it?¡± asked Linda.
Jessica said, ¡°To me of course! The little girl said only girls can y with sparklers!¡±
Lindaughed.
The two of them went to wash their hands, and Albert handed Linda a cup of hot tea.
¡°At first, I didn¡¯t understand. With so many men, why did Mrs. Wilder choose Chris to be your daughter¡¯s husband? Now it seems Mrs. Wilder really had foresight.¡±
Linda said, ¡°There aren¡¯t many who can make Jessica smile, and Chris just happens to be the only one. Even I haven¡¯t seen Jessica smile like this for a long time.¡±
She knew the burden of the Wilder family had weighed heavily on Jessica for too long, but there was no other way.
As a widow, she had long stepped down from a high position.
Sophie was unable to bear the responsibility, and only Jessica could.
¡°The only person that could stand by Jessica¡¯s side is Chris.¡±
Albert nodded and suddenly asked, ¡°What about Michael? Mrs. Wilder, what are your ns?¡±
Wife Back 190
¡°I originally thought that Michael would return to the country quietly and be dealt with without anyone knowing, saving the young couple the trouble. But unexpectedly, Michael found Sophie first. Now that their marriage is solid and they know to handle things together, I¡¯ll just stay out of it.¡±
Albert nced back and saw Jessica and Chrising out of the bathroom. Jessica even wiped some water from her hand onto Chris¡¯s face.
Compared to before when they always came back separately, they now looked much more suited to each other.
Linda¡¯s judgment had always been good, out of all the people in the world, the son¨Cin-w she chose was definitely much better than someone like Michael. Albert had initially wanted to help out, but now it seemed unnecessary.
¡°Since we don¡¯t need to get involved, then you won¡¯t have to worry so much, Mrs. Wilder. You just need to enjoy life. With Miss Jessica and Mr. Green around, the good days for you are still ahead.¡±
Linda stood up and went upstairs.
In a single room on the second floor, her husband¡¯s memorial tablet was ced.
Albert handed some flowers respectfully to Linda, standing behind her. She took the flowers, looked at the tablet, and muttered a few words.
¡°Jessica has grown up, but Sophie is still young. We have mostly spoiled that daughter, which caused her to be unable to distinguish right from wrong, and she doesn¡¯t respect Chris much as her brother¨Cinw. In the past, to cooperate with Jessica¡¯s act, we turned a blind eye. Now, it¡¯s time to solve this problem.¡±
Linda sighed and ced the flowers in front of the memorial tablet.
¡°You, on the other hand, have it east. You don¡¯t have to manage anything and just left me alone here to watch over the family. Don¡¯t you feel sorry for me at all?¡±
Seeing Linda¡¯s sadness, Albert quickly said, ¡°Mr. Wilder always cared for you, Mrs Wilder. When he was alive, he would never let you be upset.¡±
The culprits were those from the Hall family.
Since the ident happened to Mr. Wilder, Albert had set a firm goal to find the killer.
+19 BOFUS
He hadn¡¯t expected it would take so many years and that Jessica would already have
grown up.
¡°You¡¯re getting old too.¡± Linda still stood in the empty room. ¡°Your son and daughter said they want to bring you to live with them in retirement. What do you think?¡±
Albert shook his head. ¡°When I helped you and Mr. Wilder start the business, I said I¡¯d stay with the Wilder family my whole life. I¡¯m not dead yet. There are still things I can do. No matter how reliable Miss Jessica and Mr. Green are, there are some things they can¡¯t handle.¡±
Linda nced at Albert, clearly understanding what was on his mind.
In terms of ruthlessness, Jessica was no match for Linda.
¡°They¡¯re all children raised with love, they don¡¯t know what it means to be ruthless, and don¡¯t understand that ruthlessness is what stabilizes one¡¯s position. But maybe that¡¯s for the best less of those bad things means more virtue.¡±
¡ª
They wiped their hands and came out. Linda said, ¡°I¡¯m just waiting for when they have a child. While I¡¯m still strong, I want to help look after their child.¡±
When this was mentioned, Jessica and Chris exchanged a nce. In the end, Chris said, ¡°Mom, we¡¯re not in a hurry. Jessica and I are still young, and with how busy work is now, we really don¡¯t have time to have a child.¡±
¡°Were we not busy back then?¡± Linda nced at Jessica. It was clear without words that Jessica did not want to have a child.
When the Wilder Group was first established, Linda was already pregnant with Jessica but still gave birth. Later, as the Wilder Group gradually stabilized, manypanies outside were eyeing it greedily. Back then, those who didn¡¯t approve of your methods yed very dirty. But she still had Sophie.
¡°Being busy with work¡± was just an excuse nowadays for not wanting children.
Wife Back 191
¡°Do whatever you want, but you still need to have a child.¡±
¡°Got it.¡±
It was rare that Jessica and her mother didn¡¯t argue. On such a good day, everyone was happy. After eating, Jessica took Chris upstairs to pay respects to her father.
¡°Dad, in the past, I came alone. I chose to protect my loved one the same way Mom did, but¡¡± Jessica turned to look at Chris. ¡°My loved one was very brave, he stood by me and faced everything with me.¡±
Chris bowed three times to his father¨Cinw.
¡°Dad, I will protect Jessica well, and I will find the culprit who caused our family to be apart. Please rest
assured.¡±
On the night of New Year¡¯s Eve, the young couple stayed at the Wilder family¡¯s residence.
The three of them, plus Albert, crowded on the sofa watching TV. The program was cheerful and made everyoneugh out loud.
Outside, fireworks kept bursting continuously.
¡°Here, this is your New Year¡¯s gift.¡± Linda and Albert took out envelopes they had prepared in advance.
Chris felt honored and surprised.
In his memory, he hadn¡¯t received a New Year¡¯s gift since he became an adult. Even though he had been with Jessica for five years and returned home every New Year, Linda had never given one proactively,
nor had Jessica.
¡°We didn¡¯t give any before because we saw you were anxious. Lovers needed to be happy together and not end with regrets like me. Now that you have reconciled, I¡¯m at ease. Every year, until you have children, there will be New Year¡¯s gifts. Once you have children, the gifts will be for the kids.¡±
Jessica took it without any pressure. Seeing Chris hesitate, she reached over, snatched the envelope from her mother, and gave it to him.
¡°Take it. It¡¯s a gift from Mom.¡±
¡°Chris, your biological mother passed away. I treat you like my own son, so don¡¯t feel pressured,¡± said
Linda.
Chris¡¯s eyes reddened. Looking at the red envelope in his hand, his voice choked a little, ¡°Thank you,
Mom.¡±
He carefully put the envelope in his pocket and would check it secretlyter. Jessica watched him with a
shy smile and felt a little tender.
How had Chris lived through those five years of losing his mother and feeling unloved all alone?
Luckily, they still had a chance and could make up for those regrets and be together.
After the housekeeper and cook finished preparing the meal, they left for their own family reunions. Only
the four of them remained.
The coffee table was filled with snacks, desserts, and fruit.
Jessica picked a strawberry to eat and fed Chris a bite of apple. Suddenly, she said to Linda, ¡°On the first day of the New Year, we¡¯ll first go to the Felton family. Roy and Chris have been friends for many years,
it¡¯s better to maintain that rtionship.¡±
¡°The Felton family is currently controlled by Nina,¡± said Linda, clearly having heard about the Felton family¡¯s situation. ¡°Many people in the Felton family are unhappy that a woman controls the power, but fortunately Roy supports his sister¡¯s ability, so it¡¯s still stable for now.¡±
Albert said, ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by the current stability. Many are making preparations behind the scenes.
From what I know, there are three or four people who want to join forces with outsiders wanting to
overthrow Nina. You should advise Nina to be careful.¡±
Albert and Linda might not be going out much, but they were fully aware of everything happening in
Impelia.
This was the method of the older generation.
Jessica said, ¡°Nina knows the situation clearly.¡±
¡°Knowing is one thing. You are friends, and your advice is important to them. You can see things more
clearly as outsiders. Allies are crucial, you must hold onto them tightly.¡±
Linda looked at Chris.
¡°Besides, there¡¯s Roy as well.¡±
Wife Back 192
¡°Roy?¡±
¡°Yep.¡± Linda nodded without taking her eyes off the TV. ¡°Roy doesn¡¯t manage family affairs, he only investigates cases. But over the years, no one has set limits or dared to make things difficult for him. Isn¡¯t that because the Felton family holds a high status?¡±
It was a mutually reinforcing rtionship.
¡°You need to remind Roy that even when investigating cases, he has to be careful of his own family tripping him up.¡±
¡°I see.¡±
After midnight, Jessica and Chris happily ate dumplings and even found a coin inside. Then the two, very happy, went to bed.
After changing into home clothes, they embraced in bed. Chris kissed Jessica on the forehead several times.
¡°I haven¡¯t gotten a New Year¡¯s gift for many years,¡± said Chris.
Jessica snorted, ¡°Me neither. After all these years together, have you ever seen Mom give one?¡±
The Felton family¡¯s New Year was livelier than the Wilder family¡¯s. The Felton family wasrge, including main and branch families, there were dozens staying at the residence for the New Year.
Sir Felton wasn¡¯t there, only Madam Felton was home.
Madam Felton¡¯s full name was Riley rke. She had a strong personality like Linda. She had helped Sir Felton build the Felton family empire. Now old and with limited mobility, her eyesight remained sharp, she was still the light that guided the Felton family.
No one dared cause trouble in front of her.
On the first day, Chris and Jessica visited the Felton family to pay New Year respects. The housekeeper opened the door and led them first to see Roy and Nina.
The two had been gaming all night and were now drinking coffee to revive themselves.
¡°You guys are here early, have you eaten?¡± Roy stood up.
Chris nodded.
Actually, they hadn¡¯t slept much either¨Conly a few hours after midnight, then some more ying around before falling asleep. But their spirits were still good.
Nina put down her coffee and touched up her makeup. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll take you to see Grandma.¡±
Old people slept early and woke early. When Roy and Nina came to knock on the door, the butler opened it. Upon seeing Jessica, he was momentarily stunned, then said, ¡°Ms. Wilder?¡±
Jessica smiled. ¡°Here to pay New Year respects to Madam Felton.¡±
Nina said, ¡°The Wilder and Felton families are partners.¡±
The butler understood and quickly stepped aside. Madam Felton said, ¡°Madam, the Wilder family is here to pay respects.¡±
Madam Felton was watching TV and muttered upon hearing the Wilder family.
¡°Wilder and her husband?¡±
Chris thought she meant them, but Jessica stepped inside and said, ¡°Madam Felton, it¡¯s me, Jessica. I came to see you.¡±
It seemed when Linda was still with the Wilder family, she maintained good rtions with the Felton family. Madam Felton actually recognized her.
Madam Felton looked at the young couple and recognized Chris.
She pointed at Chris and said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you the little kid from next door¡¡±
Royughed. ¡°Grandma even remembers you. It¡¯s him, Grandma. Chris, the little guy from next door.¡±
Putting down what he was holding, Chris squatted down. Madam Felton grasped his hand.
¡°You¡¯re Chris! You¡¯ve grown so much! I haven¡¯t seen you for years. Why did youe with the Wilder family?¡±
Chris turned and pulled Jessica over, introducing, ¡°I married Jessica. The ¡®Wilder¡® you mentioned is my
mother¨Cinw.¡±
¡°Oh, you¡¯re married! That¡¯s great.¡±
Madam Felton asked Jessica, ¡°Why didn¡¯t your parentse?¡±
Jessica hesitated. Nina quietly said behind her, ¡°Grandpa and Grandma have been abroad when it happened. I don¡¯t think she knows.¡±
Jessica thought for a moment before saying, ¡°My father passed away, and my mother has retired.¡±
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Chapter 193
Upon hearing the news, Madam Felton was sad for quite a while, but was eventually cheered up by a few younger family members.
¡°That¡¯s right. Your parents were friends, and now you should spend more time together too. Even if you¡¯re
not business partners, you¡¯re still friends, and in the future, you can help each other through difficulties,¡±
said Madam Felton, holding Jessica¡¯s hand.
Nina and Roy sat across from them. Nina was holding her phone, looking at the trending topics aboutpany artists during the New Year period, while Roy tilted his head, talking with Chris.
¡°Our family is big but not peaceful. I heard that a few days ago, there was an internal corporate spy in the
Jessica didn¡¯t know about this. She instinctively nced at Nina.
Nina looked up from her phone briefly at Jessica and nodded silently. She locked her phone screen and put it aside, propping her chin on her hand.
¡°It probably happened about a week before the holiday. Some artists¡® data was stolen, but nothing has
been exposed publicly yet.¡±
¡°A week ago? We ate together, didn¡¯t we? Why didn¡¯t you say anything?¡±
¡°There was nothing to say. I¡¯m just waiting for the bomb to drop, then we¡¯ll do crisis PR immediately. But
from what I see, the thief didn¡¯t steal the artist data to leak it¨Cthey probably have other ns. I need to
wait.¡±
Chris wasn¡¯t very familiar with the entertainment industry, but because of Nina¡¯s rumored rtionship
with Matthew, he had done some digging on these people.
¡°That¡¯s enough. You kids can talk aboutpany matters outside. I¡¯m tired,¡± said Madam Felton.
It seemed Madam Felton wanted to leave space for the younger ones.
No one besides Madam Felton needed visiting in the Felton family. However, when they came out of the
room, they saw several people downstairs sitting together, looking up at them.
¡°Your family is pretty lively,¡± Jessica remarked.
Roy didn¡¯t look away from his path and took them to his room.
¡°Grandma¡¯s old now. She likes the house to be lively. These people are easy to handle¨Cthey don¡¯t say inappropriate things in front of Grandma. But behind the scenes, Nina and I has heard a lot of gossip.¡®
Nina¡¯s and Roy¡¯s rooms were next to each other and connected by an internal door.
1/2
The two rooms were alreadyrge, and the extra connecting door made it even more surprising.
¡°Our parents haven¡¯t managed the family affairs these years. The two of us set this up as a precaution. You know I don¡¯te home often. Having the two rooms connected makes it hard to tell which room is
empty.¡±
Chris didn¡¯t expect that the Felton family was like this.
¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me? This is an important matter,¡± Jessica asked Nina as soon as she sat down.
Nina shrugged. ¡°I thought since it was almost the New Year, I¡¯d add to your worries. I already had people tracking them. We checkedpany surveince and identified some suspects. My brother will follow
up.¡±
¡°It¡¯s convenient to have a cop in the family. No need to call the police¨Cjust having dinner at home counts as filing a case,¡± said Chris.
Nina sighed. ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do. There aren¡¯t many things that Roy can do to help me.¡±
They stayed in Roy¡¯s room until noon before leaving, without staying for lunch.
Francesca called Chris, saying someone wasing to visit and told him to hurry home to be the family
mascot.
Fortunately, everything at home was already prepared, so there was no need to shopst minute.
Being the family mascot wasn¡¯t easy!
X
Wife Back 194
The first visitors to the house were the suppliers, most of the medical disposable supplies came from thispany. When they heard there was a chairman, they took advantage of the New Year toe and pay
a visit.
When it came to business, Francesca took the lead speaking while Chris sat drinking tea.
Within half an hour, they had sent the visitors off. Francesca had already drunk two cups of tea, and
Chris hurriedly poured her another.
Francesca sighed. ¡°This is much harder than before. It¡¯s really on ¡®hard mode.¡°¡±
¡°That¡¯s what makes it challenging,¡± said Jessica, resting her chin on her hand and smiling at Francesca.¡± If you think about it, you¡¯re the one now in charge of all business at the Summit Infirmary. The initiative is in your hands. You¡¯re the one who can send Chris behind bars, no one can frame you. Does that make you feel a little better?¡±
Francesca fell silent.
Chris was silent too.
It did feel a little better, but not much.
Francesca wiped her mouth and nced at the notes on her phone. ¡°There should be two morepaniesing tomorrow, both about the uing IPO. One at two in the afternoon, the other at
three. I scheduled the times separately.¡±
Chris asked, ¡°So you have to wait at home all day?¡±
¡°Not really. I just have toe back on time. They won¡¯t take long¨Cabout twenty minutes each. Everything will be done by four in the afternoon.¡±
Jessica thought for a moment. ¡°Keep your schedule open after the fourth day of the new year.¡±
Francesca looked at her.
She said, ¡°I want to take our chairman on a honeymoon¨Cfrom the fourth to the tenth of January. You arrange what you can, handle meetings you can do alone, and leave the rest for after we return to work.¡±
¡°Okay,¡± Francesca said without hesitation, crossing out all the tasks in her notebook. ¡°For the happiness
and harmony of the two employers lives, I¡¯ll bear the burden.¡±
Chris was rendered speechless.
After discussing a few more things, Francesca hurried home.
Only then did Chris ask, ¡°Do you have enough time? Work starts again on the eighth. Is it okay to be off
work until the tenth?¡±
Jessica leaned back, lying fully against the sofa. ¡°I employ so many people in mypany¨Caren¡¯t they supposed to cover for me at crucial moments? I pay them so much, surely they can manage for just three days, right?¡±
If Shannon heard this, she would definitely scold her.
Chris didn¡¯t mind.
This was their missed honeymoon. Actually, he was looking forward to it too, to have a trip alone with Jessica. He needed to n it well.
He went inside to make ns while Jessica took out her phone to check messages.
Since morning, Michael had sent many texts, all asking if he coulde to the Wilder family¡¯s residence
to pay New Year respects to Linda, and to meet Jessica. His tone was somewhat aggrieved, like he was
Michael. ¡°I¡¯m already at the door, yet you didn¡¯t even see me. Is Mr. Green unhappy? From now on, if I want to see you, do I have to go through Mr. Green?¡±
Jessica would be a fool if she didn¡¯t know what Michael was on about.
Jessica. ¡°There are people at home recently, and my mother¡ You shouldeter. I leave on the fourth
and won¡¯t return until the tenth. We can talk after I¡¯m back.¡±
Michael. ¡°You¡¯re traveling during the New Year too? It must be so lonely. I¡¯lle with you.¡±
Jessica. ¡°It¡¯s a business trip. It¡¯s not good for you to interfere. Besides, you should settle things with Jason
first.¡±
Since he wanted to use Jason against her, she would use Jason against Michael as well.
Michael. ¡°Jessica, listen to me. There really is a conflict in Jason¡¯s schedule. I¡¯ll have it solved
immediately and won¡¯t cause you any dys.¡±
Wife Back 195
Jessica stopped replying.
She wasn¡¯t going to let Michael have his way.
To be honest, Michael¡¯s level was really a bit too low.
Maybe because he hadn¡¯t been involved in the core business of the Hall family these years, Michael had
drifted far from the business center.
She really didn¡¯t know what future the Hall family could have if they handed things over to a person like
Michael, who didn¡¯t really have any business sense.
She still favored Jaden more.
Hurricane Media was able to operate so smoothly under Collin¡¯s hand because of Jaden.
She had actually heard the name, Jasper, long ago. Back then, Collin hadn¡¯t taken over the Phillips family. While helping Collin fight for power, she already knew who Jasper was. But at that time, Jasper was only a small department manager at the Phillips Group.
Jaden was indeed the son of Sir Hall, even their methods were the same.
That evening, they had arranged to have dinner with Jaden.
¡°Finally, some fresh air,¡± said Collin, sighing with relief when they arrived at the restaurant with Jaden.
Staying at home had been too oppressive.
As Collin¡¯s boyfriend, Jaden naturally spent the New Year with him. There was no need to mention the
sarcasm from other members of the Phillips family. There were all kinds of remarks.
Some even suggested that Collin kept Jaden hidden.
That really upset Jaden.
Jaden¡¯s mother had been Sir Hall¡¯s girlfriend during his final years. Actually, Madam Hall had long passed away. Sir Hall had liked Jaden¡¯s mother and wanted to marry her openly, but the Hall family refused.
To protect Jaden¡¯s mother, she had to stay hidden outside.
Now they wanted Collin to also keep Jaden hidden.
¡°My mother gave birth to me secretly. Since I am alive, no matter what happens in this life, I want to appear publicly. I want to be open and aboveboard. I want legitimacy and status,¡± said Jaden.
At the Cosmos, Jessica and Ethan checked the menu carefully before letting the waiter leave.
Chris said to Jaden, ¡°They are just trying to provoke you. Just ignore them.¡±
Jaden smiled bitterly and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not mad. They don¡¯t know who I am. If they find out I¡¯m the illegitimate son that the Hall family had been searching for all these years, they probably would have tied me up and sent me straight to the Hall family long ago.¡±
But they didn¡¯t have that ability now.
Collin said, ¡°I n to register our marriage abroad next year with Jaden. Let¡¯s see what they can still say.¡±
This kind of thing was normal overseas.
Both of them were educated abroad, so of course, they could ept it.
¡°Collin, you have to know, the Phillips family doesn¡¯t ept Jaden not because of who he is, but because of you,¡± said Jessica.
Collin nodded. ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I want Jaden to appear publicly and openly. By the way, has Michael
¡°He came to my house on New Year¡¯s day, saying he wanted to pay respects to my mom. But Chris stopped them at the door. Last night, he were stillining to me about it,¡± said Jessica.
Chris nced at Jessica.
She said, ¡°When you were doing research on the inte, he sent me a message asking if you were mad.¡±
Jaden shook his head helplessly. ¡°The Hall family is finished if they leave things to people like this. I¡¯ve heard others say my father never acted like this.¡±
¡°I always suspected Michael was adopted,¡± said Jessica.
Everyone burst intoughter.
Shannon and Indya had arrived together, followedst by Roy and Nina.
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Wife Back 196
Chapter 196
When they arrived, they didn¡¯t look very happy ¨C probably because they had been nagged by their family. The others could tell when they went to visit Nina.
Madam Felton said Jessica and Nina were about the same age, but the former had already been married for five years. She wondered why Roy and Nina were still single, and when they would finally have great- grandchildren to hold.
They had been scolded at home for a long time.
Actually, Nina¡¯s status meant she couldn¡¯t get married easily. It was best if she found someone in the entertainment industry, her words and actions all had to meet the standards of the industry, or else she could easily bring trouble to FN.
As for Roy, it was even more difficult.
His only lover was the police station.
He hardly ever went home, spending all day at the station with mostly male colleagues. Finding a girl to date was almost impossible.
¡°You guys are married. You have no idea how hard it is for us. At home, it¡¯s either nagging or whispering behind our backs. If it weren¡¯t for the New Year, I wouldn¡¯t go home at all. Luckily, Grandma will visit Grandpa in a few days.¡±
Jessica and Chris exchanged nces and thetter said, ¡°Nothing¡¯s changed even after you¡¯re married. Mom wants us to have kids. I said I¡¯m busy with work, and my mother¨Cinw said that¡¯s just an excuse. She said that she always had time to have kids no matter how busy she was.¡±
Jaden said, ¡°Honestly, when I was born, my dad hadn¡¯t fully stepped down yet. There were still so many things to handle, and he had to keep an eye on those people trying to find me and my mom. That did take some skill.¡±
The older generation¡¯s ability was different from that of the current generation.
Madam Felton said the same thing as Linda.
The current generation mostly grew up with love. Even Collin and Jaden, who were exiled, felt their parents¡® protection.
They were different.
Once someone felt love, it was hard for them to bepletely ruthless.
Jessica said, ¡°Starting from the 4th, Chris and I are going on our honeymoon The affairs in Impelia ate up to you guys. Nina, if you need help, just contact Indya. She¡¯s at home and ready anytime Shannon will
help too.¡±
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Nina raised her cup to the two. ¡°There will definitely be times I need your help. Thanks in advance.¡±
They had all been old friends for years, no need for formalities.
Hurricane Media was now wrapping up, after the New Year, work would start immediately. Jaden and
Collin were also about to make their mark domestically.
¡°I heard a lot of the Hall Group¡¯s artists have ties with Michael,¡± Roy asked Jessica.
Nina said, ¡°That¡¯s pretty normal in the entertainment industry. Besides, I¡¯m a woman. If I were a man and sees so many beautiful women around me all the time, I wouldn¡¯t be able to resist either.¡±
Just as she finished speaking, Roy knocked hard on the back of her head.
¡°I¡¯ve not got to you yet. What¡¯s going on with your rumored rtionship with Matthew? Is that guy any good? You can fool Chris by saying it¡¯s a rumor, but you can¡¯t fool me.¡±
After managing FN for so many years, Roy had never seen Nina involved in hotel¨Cscandal rumors. She was a girl and didn¡¯t use such things to promote herself. Even for thepany¡¯s artists, that was not
eptable.
So when he saw this message, Roy immediately knew Nina and Matthew must had something going on.
Matthew was just a trainee idol who had recently returned to Cheria, he wasn¡¯t even an A¨Clist artist in the
country. Roy really didn¡¯t understand what Nina saw in him.
¡°What?¡± Chris looked shocked at Nina. ¡°You and Matthew are for real? You lied to me?¡±
Nina gave her brother a fierce re and, under everyone¡¯s curious eyes, had no choice but to admit the
truth.
¡°Three years ago, I sent Matthew abroad. Originally he was an artist signed to mypany. He had potential but needed a chance to get his career going. The environment in Cheria was toofortable, so
I sent him overseas.¡±
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Chapter 197
The domestic environment was simple, with FN¡¯s status, what could they want that they couldn¡¯t get?
Such a good environment was no benefit to someone with potential butcking a breakthrough. Nina gave it some thought and then decided to send Matthew abroad.
The environment for trainee idols was much more brutal.
Nina believed Matthew would definitely make it out.
Three years passed in a sh, Matthew became famous and returned to the country, but Nina did not sign him again, instead, she pushed him to Jessica.
¡°Anyway, ourpanies share resources. You will get the same opportunities as me. It¡¯s the same who he signs with. I also can¡¯t date any of my artists, otherwise, outsiders might think I¡¯m abusing my power.¡±
Roy still looked at Nina with scrutiny ¨C this was probably Roy¡¯s professional habit. Chris felt more
worried.
Jaden was much calmer.
¡°After seeing the trending topics, I looked into this Matthew. He¡¯s a decent guy. He had no scandals abroad, keeps himself clean, and focuses on his career. I heard thepany tried to arrange rumors with several popr girl group members for him, but he refused. Because of that, he was sidelined for a long
time.¡±
Matthew didn¡¯t care and refused to stir up rumors.
But the first thing after returning to Cheria was making headlines with Nina.
¡°He¡¯s quite a determined guy.¡± Collin was still out of the loop and took a bite of his food. ¡°So, are you two
together?¡±
¨C
Nina shook her head. ¡°Not really. It¡¯s just that¡ we have feelings for each other. After all, we were apart
for three years, it takes time. This rumor was to help build his momentum aftering back
it was also mypensation to him.¡±
Jessica looked down on this. ¡°What¡¯s there to ? If not for you, he would definitely be
mediocre in Cheria and only be able to climb up relying on you. Now everything in his career is his own effort, and his reputation sounds much better.¡±
At first, people thought Nina hadn¡¯t dated because she still liked Chris.
But after Matthew appeared, it made people worried.
N¨ªna had never liked anyone before and didn¡¯t know what being together was really like. Matters of the heart could only be explored slowly by herself, no one else could help.
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¡°I signed Matthew, and after that, I will buy a few esports clubs. This was Mr. Hickey¡¯s idea ¨C esports is just starting to take off, and prices aren¡¯t too high yet. We need to buy some now and develop them.¡±
¡°Mr. Hickey¡¯s right. Looks like he listened at thest joint meeting.¡±
Thest joint meeting in Impelia had mentioned this?
Jessica and Chris exchanged a nce.
They had attended the first day of the meeting but were half¨Casleep and hadn¡¯t listened to what the older men said. They left as soon as it ended.
¡°Esports is already an emerging industry overseas, and it¡¯s just starting domestically too. I was also inclined toward it. After the New Year, when work resumes, I will look for some good ones too. Maybe we¡¯ll evenpete.¡±
Shannon said, ¡°Mr. Hickey favors two clubs. I checked them out and there aren¡¯t many problems. The rest were picked by us at the meeting.¡±
Jessica still focused on old¨Cschool industries in thepany, like jewelry and real estate.
The only emerging industries she cared about were probably the IT and entertainment departments.
She ignored the rest and left them entirely to others.
The first destination Jessica and Chris chose for their honeymoon was Hesterfield, a ce they had always wanted to visit.
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Wife Back 198
Chapter 198
Impelia was cold, but Hesterfield was warm. Here, they could feel the warmth of the sun, the seaside, the beach, and most importantly, each other.
Chris and Jessica were very close, to someone who didn¡¯t know their identities, they looked just like a young couple on their honeymoon and not a husband and wife who had been married for five years.
They basked in the sun by the sea, enjoyed candlelight dinners at night, with bonfires lighting up the surroundings.
¡°You can swim? The Wilder Group has a gym, but I never see you use it!¡±
Chris climbed out of the water, while Jessica held a coconut under the sunshade, sipping from it. ¡°The pool inside is pretty big. When I first took over the Wilder Group, I expanded the gym, but my mom wasn¡¯t really happy about it.¡±
In fact, for apany like theirs, having a gym was a must.
Employees with good physical health could work longer and better.
¡ª
It was also a kind of employee benefit ¨C not only employees but also their family members coulde. People with good discipline managed work more smoothly.
This was a principle Jessica always believed in.
When it came to fitness, Jessica wasn¡¯t very good, but Indya spent two hours every day in the gym.
¡°Never had the time,¡± Chris wiped water off himself and sat beside Jessica, looking out at the endless
ocean and the people sshing around in it. He smiled. ¡°After the New Year, I¡¯ll drag you to the gym.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not going.¡± Jessica frowned, ¡°I have even less time.¡±
Chris nced at her. ¡°I can teach you how to swim. The gym¡¯s empty after work. I can teach you how to
swim then.¡±
Jessica cocked her brows slightly. What Chris said was somewhat interesting. She smiled faintly and
brought the coconut water to Chris¡¯s lips. ¡°Alright then.¡±
They stayed two days in Hesterfield, then headed to Westorwood.
Actually, both of them had strong tastes, but Chris was a doctor who usually paid close attention to his diet. Coming to Westorwood was a way to indulge,
¡°It¡¯s quite warm here too, no need for jackets. Looks like Impelia is the coldest.¡±
Chris said, ¡°The next stop is somewhere cold.¡±
They stayed in Westorwood for two days as well. The sun was rarely seen there, and they didn¡¯t feel sofortable, so they left a day early and went to Harafield.
In the icy world, amidst the white snow, they embraced each other tightly. No matter how thick their clothes were, their hearts were still close together.
They held each other and felt the feelings they had for each other.
§æ
¡°From now on, let¡¯s take some time to travel every year, okay?¡°s asked Chri.
Jessica said, ¡°I¡¯m fine with that, I¡¯m just worried that you won¡¯t have time in the future.¡±
Chris held Jessica¡¯s hand carefully as they walked on the road. Everything around was covered in silver
frost, with ice crystals on the ground. He feared she might slip, so he walked steadily.
¡°Didn¡¯t Ms. Wilder find me a secretary? Francesca is so very talented, I barely have any work. By your logic, if Francesca wanted to get rid of me, it¡¯d be easy.¡±
¡°But Francesca wouldn¡¯t.¡±
Francesca knew what betrayal felt like. Jessica had done a background check on her. Francesca¡¯s
character was fine, her conduct excellent ¨C much cleaner than many in the Wilder Group.
That was why Jessica dared to put Francesca close to Chris.
¡°Let¡¯s take a cab. It¡¯s so cold.¡± Jessica, wearing gloves, tangled one hand with Chris¡¯s and slipped it into
his coat pocket, but she was still freezing.
Chris looked up. ¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡±
After walking a little longer, they were almost at the restaurant. Snow began to fall.
White snowkesnded on their hats, some snowkes settled on Jessica¡¯s ck hair as well.
Wife Back 199
Seeing this, Chris also took off his hat.
He said, ¡°Do you think when we get old, we¡¯ll still walk together like this with grey hair?¡±
¡°I might be pushing you, or you might be pushing me.¡±
¡°That¡¯s why I want you to work out!¡±
From the 4th to the 10th of January, there was no one else¨Conly the two of them.
Happy times were always short. Returning home meant facing the schemes and struggles of different
people.
Chris wasn¡¯t very used to dealing with these, but for Jessica, he would learn bit by bit.
When business skills couldn¡¯t help, he had to put more effort into other things.
Actually, during these days, Michael kept sending messages and calling Jessica, but since Jessica had promised Chris there would be no one else, she blocked all calls and refused to let Michael contact her.
The first thing Jessica did afternding in Impelia was to go to the Wilder Group, while Chris was picked up by Francesca and taken back to the hospital.
¡°Currently, the preparations for being listed are almost done. The rest are minor matters requiring signatures from you and Ms. Wilder. All the documents are here. Also, the board members are discussing whether to update the directors of each department.¡±
Speaking of this, Ashley had only recently be the director of orthopedics. What if the update meant kicking Ashley out?
Ashley¡¯s ability was definitely not a problem. Not only was he working for Jessica, but even if he hade to the Summit Infirmary on his own after graduating, based on ability alone, he deserved to keep the director position.
¡°Why do you ask? Is this part of the preparations before being listed?¡± asked Chris.
Francesca nodded. ¡°Sort of. After being listed, we have to keep valuable people. Some department directors can bring their own suppliers, and their business ability is also reviewed.¡±
¡°No need.¡± Chris rejected firmly. ¡°I¡¯m still determined that being a hospitales first. I have no objection to the Summit Infirmary being listed, but the doctors¡® resources and abilities cannot decline. Tell the board that this is my opinion.¡±
Originally, Chris had little say in the board. But after Francesca came, she took strong measures to gather most affairs under Chris¡¯s control, personally handling matters.
This made Chris stand firm on the board.
Now Chris and Francesca could basically make decisions without opposition, while the other board.
members were just empty shells.
Even if thepany was listed, they wouldn¡¯t hold many shares.
When Jessica arranged for the hospital to be listed, she had already divided shares and rights, with 80%
held by Chris.
In simple terms, the Summit Infirmary was about to be apany, and Chris was the undisputed
CEO.
¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything else. Oh right, Dr. Wood¡¯s family background and personal resume have
been retrieved.¡± Francesca handed Hector¡¯s personal information to Chris.
¡°Did you find out who contacted him?¡±
¡°That requires contacting themunications operations department. We might need the Cyber Police
to help.¡±
¡°Okay, got it. Thanks for your hard work these past couple of days.¡±
Francesca said that it was nothing. After Chris signed a few documents, she took the files and left.
As soon as the door closed, she happened to see Jamie Cooper.
¡°Mr. Cooper? Are you here to see the chairman?¡± asked Francesca.
Jamie nced at Francesca and lowered his voice. ¡°About the arrangement for department directors¡¡±
¡°The chairman said it was unnecessary and has already decided to not go through with it.¡±
Wife Back 200
After hearing that Jessica was going on a business trip, Michael originally nned to tag along, but unexpectedly, Jessica went off without saying a word.
Michael couldn¡¯t get in touch with Shannon, nor find out where Jessica had gone.
On the 10th of January, as soon as Jessica arrived at thepany, she heard that Michael was in the
lounge.
¡°What is he doing here?¡± Jessica was curious.
Shannon said, ¡°Maybe he hasn¡¯t been able to find you recently. ording to your instructions, all activities rted to Jason have been stopped, including filming, and right now they are focusing on Zack¡¯s filming.¡±
¡°Okay. You have to be clear about the focus between the high¨Cend and low¨Cend lines. Zack is way more
popr than Jason.¡±
¡°So Michael isn¡¯t happy about this. That¡¯s why he came looking for you at thepany, and he arrived
early this morning.¡±
Fortunately, Jessica came up using the dedicated elevator, so she didn¡¯t pass by the lounge entrance and
wasn¡¯t noticed by Michael.
Jessica thought for a moment and said, ¡°Tell Michael that I¡¯m going straight to my mom¡¯s house after
Knowing Michael¡¯s temper, he would definitely go after her.
It seemed like that getting rid of him was impossible.
Shannon handed Jessica several files, including preparations for the Summit Infirmary¡¯s IPO and various government¨Cissued certificates.
¡°All clear, no problems.¡±
¡°Hey-¡±
Shannon was about to leave and inform Michael when Jessica stopped her.
She felt this couldn¡¯t go on like this. Since she nned to break up with Michaelpletely, there was no need to keep their past ties. She also didn¡¯t want Chris to keep suffering silently.
Some things had to be made clear.
The timing was just right. Whatever she said to Michael now wouldn¡¯t affect their ns.
1/3
¡°Tell Michael toe in.¡±
Shannon had worked with Jessica for many years and immediately saw that Jessica was about to
confess something.
¡°Are you sure about this, Ms. Wilder?¡± asked Shannon.
¡°Yes. We¡¯re going to be opponents in the future anyway and I still want to help Jaden return to the Hall family. Being entangled endlessly with Michael is disrespectful to Jaden. If that¡¯s the case, I might as well make things clear.¡±
¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go get Michael for you.¡±
Michael had waited several hours and finally Jessica arrived at thepany. He hurried anxiously to the
CEO office.
Coffee was ready inside, and as soon as Michael entered, he could smell Jessica¡¯s distinctive fragrance.
If it weren¡¯t for Chris, everything Jessica owned would belong to him.
If Chris hadn¡¯t appeared, Jessica wouldn¡¯t have impulsively married him.
Michael felt that ording Jessica¡¯s nature, she would have waited for him in Cheria, and she would have epted him even if he had a child.
Besides, he could see that Jessica liked Jordan.
The only obstacles were Chris and Mrs. Wilder.
With that thought in mind, Michael was already plotting his next move.
¡°Jessica, you¡¯re finally back. The trip must have been tiring. I booked a restaurant to wee you back,¡± Michael said warmly as he tried to walk around the desk and approach Jessica.
Jessica raised one hand, palm outward¨Ca clear gesture of refusal.
¡°Take a seat first. I have something to tell you.¡±
Seeing Jessica¡¯s serious expression, Michael felt a vague unease. Could it be about Jason?
Actually, after calming down these past few days, Michael felt he had been too awkward.
It was just that he had resented Jessica¡¯s coldness and used work as an excuse to take up her time.
They weren¡¯t teenagers anymore. Acting like this was childish and annoying.
Michael had been trying to exin to Jessica during the past few days but never got the chance.
¡°Jason can return to work tomorrow. I¡¯ve already asked his agent to clear all his schedule. Nothing is
more important than you, Jessica.¡±
Wife Back 201
Jessica sneered inwardly. ¡®Now you¡¯re trying to make up for it?¡®
¡°Have a seat, Michael. We need to talk,¡± Jessica said again.
Only then did Michael sit down.
¡°Michael, based on the way you¡¯ve treated me during this period, I think there¡¯s a misunderstanding between us.¡± Jessica looked into Michael¡¯s eyes. ¡°You and I are both married. We¡¯re no longer a couple. Your constant care and concern for me had already crossed the boundaries of friendship.¡±
Seeing Jessica say the word ¡°boundaries¡± so openly, Michael¡¯s face turned slightly pale.
He forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m divorced, Jessica. Do you not want to be with me because I have a child? Don¡¯t you
like Jordan as well?¡±
Jessica shook her head. ¡°What¡¯s between you and me has nothing to do with the child. Even if I like
Jordan, I¡¯m not Jordan¡¯s real mother.¡±
¡°But Jordan¡¡±
¡°Michael, don¡¯t you get it? The feelings between you and me were already in the past. I no longer love you.
Saying so firmly that she no longer loved him shattered even Michael¡¯sst bit of wishful thinking.
Michael muttered to himself, ¡°This can¡¯t be. How could you not have feelings for me? After I came back, you always took care of me. You took Jordan to the hospitalte at night, and you even let me stay in
your house. How could you not love me?¡±
So that was what it was about.
Jessica exined, ¡°That was because you had no one to rely on after returning to the country. Besides¡ when you came back, the first person you actually contacted was Sophie, right?¡±
She stared intently into Michael¡¯s eyes. ¡°Because you contacted Sophie, and she wanted to help you, I had no other choice. And besides, you and I did fall in love five years ago. That was why I helped you.¡±
¡°How could this be? Impossible. You couldn¡¯t have stopped loving me. You ignored Chris for so many years because of me. You indulged Sophie¡¯s disrespect toward Chris because of me. Between me and Chris, you always chose me!¡±
Was it all an illusion? Was everything an illusion?
Had he misunderstood?
Or had Jessica been bewitched by Chris?
Yes, that had to be it!
It must have been Chris who bewitched Jessica and deceived her!
It was Chris who tricked Jessica¡¯s feelings!
Michael suddenly stood up and grabbed Jessica¡¯s hand. He moved so quickly that Jessica didn¡¯t even react in time. She tried to shake off Michael¡¯s hand but couldn¡¯t match his strength.
¡°It was Chris, wasn¡¯t it? Chris must have deceived your feelings! Jessica, you loved me. You were only used to having Chris around! Leave Chris. Let¡¯s be together again. We were the ones who were truly
meant for each other!¡±
Hearing Michael nder Chris, Jessica pushed him away without hesitation.
She stood up as well, confronting Michael face to face.
At the door, Shannon and Maggie, who had been listening the whole time, wanted to rush in several
times but held themselves back.
Maggie looked at Shannon. Thetter mouthed, ¡°Not now.¡±
Jessica looked coldly at Michael. ¡°Michael, you contacted Sophie as soon as you returned because you knew I had married Chris. You thought there was no chance with me, so you set your sights on Sophie. Did you really think I wouldn¡¯t notice?¡±
¡°I¡¡±
¡°Andter, you turned your attention back to me because you noticed my attitude toward you. You thought you could surpass Chris. Michael, you¡¯ve always been a selfish person. The love we had five years ago¨Cperhaps it was just our illusion.¡±
Wife Back 202
Since things had already beenid bare, there were some things that Jessica had to say. She straightened her posture slightly. She was still wearing a white suit, and the unapproachable look on her face had softened a little.
No just Michael, it would be normal for any man to fall for a woman like Jessica..
Otherwise, years ago, Chris would not havepromised just because of a single tear from Jessica.
¡°Since we¡¯vee this far, I have to remind you about my younger sister.¡± Jessica paused briefly before turning her gaze directly to Michael¡¯s eyes. ¡°I hope you can also stay away from Sophie.¡±
Michael¡¯s hands, resting on his knees, clenched slightly. Had Jessica noticed something?
That wasn¡¯t possible. Sophie was abroad. ording to what Sophie herself had said, she had rarelymunicated with Jessica since leaving the country and had not even returned for the New Year. From that perspective, there was already a significant rift between Sophie and the Wilder family.
How could Sophie still listen to Jessica? It was even less likely that she would reveal she was working for Michael¡¯s livestream tform.
¡°My rtionship with Sophie is not what you think,¡± Michael quickly exined. ¡°She¡¯s your sister. I just care for her because I care for you.¡±
¡°How coincidental.¡± Jessica smiled faintly. ¡°Since childhood, Sophie liked to follow me around. She was aplete little tag¨Calong. I¡¯ve long known that Sophie liked you. But her feelings for you were only because of my rtionship with you. Michael, don¡¯t think too highly of yourself. That is your fatal
weakness.¡±
Having said that, Jessica could not bring herself to say anything harsher.
Between them stood the hatred between their fathers.
Anything closer was clearly impossible.
So remaining strangers, never seeing each other again, would be the best oue.
Jessica said, ¡°Michael, if you understood what I just said, you can cancel the cooperation we have with Jason. The Wilder Group won¡¯t demand a penalty from you. But if you want to finish this contract, I don¡¯t mind either. Everything will be handled ording to the rules.¡±
¡°Fine.¡± Michael agreed quickly this time, his voice colder now. ¡°It seems I really overestimated things. Is this how you¡¯ve seen me ever since we started dating? A petty, self¨Cserving man? I actually thought you once loved me.¡±
Michael looked genuinely hurt. He stood up, ced both hands on the table, and stared intensely at
Jessica. ¡°Even if you never loved me, I truly had feelings for you. Jessica, do you think the Hall Group is my only way out?¡±
Hearing this, Jessica frowned slightly. She didn¡¯t understand what Michael meant.
¡°After returning to the country, I acted pitiful in front of you, you might be used to it. But after being sent abroad for five years, if I had done nothing but act pitiful, I might not have even survived long enough to see you again. Jessica, I really didn¡¯t want you to see the real me.¡±
But now there was no other choice.
If showing weakness didn¡¯t work, then he would have to use force.
Before leaving, Michael turned his head and asked Jessica, ¡°Was it because of Chris? Did you stop loving me because Chris appeared?¡±
Even now, Michael was still calling their broken rtionship a change of heart.
It seemed he was somewhat obsessed.
¡°Michael, I¡¯ve told you many times¨CChris was never the reason between us. Even without Chris, we still wouldn¡¯t have made it to the end.¡±
Shannon and Maggie had been standing outside for a long time. Sensing the right moment, Shannon knocked on the door.
¡°Ms. Wilder, Mr. Holister from Frontier Constructions is already waiting for you in the conference room.¡± Shannon pushed the door open but didn¡¯te in, standing only at the doorway.
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