hapter 113
Alex rose to his feet, concern flickering in his gaze.
“All right, I’ll take my leave now, Elizabeth, you need rest.”
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Jasmine stood up as well. “I’ll see you out,” she said, then turned to the old woman.
“Nana, please don’t worry about Charles. You should rest, too.”
Elizabeth closed her eyes, heaving a tired sigh.
“You’re right, child. It’s not like I don’t know his temper after all these years. Maybe it’s my fault for spoiling him too much.”
Meanwhile, in another hospital room down the hallway, a similar scene was unraveling–albeit with far more chaos.
Jack, every inch of him in bandages, lay moaning on his hospital bed.
Thick plaster casts wrapped around both legs, and his head was swathed so tightly that only his nose and mouth showed.
His eyes burned with anger.
“Mom! I can’t believe Alex actually hit me. You have to teach that bastard a lesson he’ll never forget!” he whined, nearly spitting with rage.
Florence smoothed her hand over Jack’s blanket as if to soothe him. “Don’t worry, sweetie. I promise you, he’ll never see daylight again once I’m through with him.”
Marco cleared his throat and stepped closer.
“Mrs. Lancaster, it’s appalling that Alex dared to lay a hand on you and Jack. It’s almost a relief Sophia finally divorced him.”
Florence’s features twisted with fury.
“Exactly. But he’s not getting away with this. Please, help me figure out how to teach that jerk a real lesson. I can’t sleep at night knowing my son is lying here in pain while he just goes on living his life.”
Marco nodded, leaning in conspiratorially. “I know some people who won’t mind roughing him up. If that’s what you want,
consider it done.”
Florence’s eyes gleamed. “That would be perfect. Force him to kneel in front of Jack and me. Let him kiss our feet.”
A grin stretched across Jack’s face, though the motion made him wince in pain.
“Marco, make sure they break a few of his bones. Let’s see if he can still act tough after that.”
Marco cackled maliciously. “Don’t worry. By the time they’re done, he’ll be begging on all fours, drooling blood, and pleading for forgiveness. Can you picture him crawling over to lick your feet?” 1
Jack’s anger briefly melted into a sense of smug satisfaction. “Yes! Yes, exactly–make him pay!”
“Relax, Jack. You know who I am,” Marco sneered, puffing out his chest.
Privately, Marco recalled how Alex’s marriage to Sophia had always felt like a cosmic joke.
How could a nobody like Alex land such a bright, wealthy and beautiful woman? The opportunity to punish Alex–and perhaps snag Sophia for himself–was too good to pass up
Not long after, Sophia swept into Jack’s hospital room.
She wore a sleek white dress that clung to her figure, showing off smooth skin and alluring curves.
Marco’s eyes followed her every move, a hungry gleam in them.
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“Sophial You’re finally here!” Jack said, pushing himself upright with a dramatic groan, pointing at his heavily bandaged head.
“Look at me do you see how badly I’m hurt?”
Sophia exhaled, striving for composure. “Alex told me what happened. He apologized over the phone. Let’s just put this behind
“Put this behind us?” Jack’s shout echoed in the sterile room.
“Sophia, are you out of your mind? An apology doesn’t make my Injuries disappear. He nearly killed me, for God’s sake! What do you take me for?”
Elorence jumped in, glaring at her daughter. “Yes, how can we forgive and forget so easily? If that was the case, nobody would ever end up in prison.‘
Sophia pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache coming on. “Then what do you want, Jack?”
“I want him to kneel before me, lick my feet, and beg for forgiveness!” Jack’s words rang with hate.
Sophia’s tone grew stern. “He’s still your brother–in–law. And something tells me you’re not entirely innocent in this.”
Jack’s voice rose another octave. “Don’t lie! The two of you are divorced, and you’re still taking his side? What kind of sister are you?”
Florence folded her arms across her chest. “Jack is your brother–your flesh and blood. How could you possibly choose that piece of trash over your own family?”
Sophia’s jaw tightened. “Look, we were all family once, and besides, we need to consider everything that happened. You’re not blameless, Jack.”
Jack’s anger made him tremble. “Oh, really? Because as far as I remember, all I did was try to get back the hundred million dollars you supposedly stole from the company and handed over to him! You’re so blinded by your feelings for him that-”
“What hundred million?” Sophia interrupted, narrowing her eyes.
Jack paused, momentarily confused. “The money. He said you gave him a huge amount–like a hundred million. I’m just trying to get it back!”
Sophia threw her hands in the air, disbelief etched across her face.
“I have told you I never give him that money! Do I look like I have that kind of money lying around? Alex made that up! How could you believe such an outrageous lie?”
Jack refused to back down. “People in love do crazy things. I wouldn’t have been surprised if you really did it!”
Sophia felt her last shred of patience snap. “The only crazy thing here is you threatening him over a nonexistent fortune. No wonder Alex lost his temper! He must have finally cracked under your nonsense.”
Jack scowled as if he’d been personally betrayed. “Sophia, you’re my sister. You’re supposed to be on my side. Look at me, now. I am in pain! Where is your heart?”
Florence nodded vehemently. “Yes! Are you going to abandon your own brother for some loser?”
“I’ll deal with you two later,” Sophia growled. She spun on her heel and stormed out of the room.
Her temples throbbed.
Every time she confronted them, her mind felt battered and bruised, even more so than Jack’s bandaged body.
Besides, she had hurled some harsh words at Alex herself in the heat of the moment.
That realization made her stomach twist with regret.
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He must have had a reason for fighting so fiercely.
She replayed the scene in her mind, furious at both Jack’s stupidity and her own rush to judgment.
Meanwhile, Alex and Jasmine sat in the back of a sleek black limousine, the citysc
rushing past.
They rode in tense silence until Jasmine’s voice shattered the hush
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“Alex, do you think Charles actually wants to harm Grandma–maybe even kill h
Alex leaned back against the leather seat, his face lined with worry “I don’t know. Family problems are so complicated. 1 wouldn’t know what it’s like to be part of one.”
Jasmine placed a gentle hand on his arm. “I’m sorry,” she murmured, a wealth of sympathy in her eyes.
“Could you…not do that?” he said, looking away.
She tilted her head in confusion. “Why not?” There was a playful note in her voice, though.
“People say I’m as beautiful as Aphrodite, the goddess of love, so maybe I should learn to be a little more sensual.”
She gave him a teasing smile. “But the truth is, I’m worried I’m too skinny. I’m trying to fill out a bit, to become sexier–maybe for you. Will you wait for me?”
Alex turned to her, a look of quiet appreciation in his eyes. “You’re already beautiful as you are.”
Her eyes lit up. “You really think so?” she breathed. “My heart’s racing. I–maybe I should kiss you right now. May I?”
He stared at her for a moment, moved by how radically different she was in private.
In public, Jasmine was polished and poised, exuding the composure of a cold, calculating queen.
But when they were alone, she transformed–playful, flirtatious, and unapologetically herself.
Her true self was a gift meant only for him.
Suddenly, the limousine lurched to a violent halt, the brakes screeching against the asphalt.
Jasmine and Alex were thrown forward in their seats.
“What’s going on?” Jasmine cried, breathless from shock.
Their driver shouted from the front. “A car just cut us off!”
Before he could say more, a series of rapid thuds hit the windshield creating small spiderweb cracks in the bulletproof glass.
“Stay down!” Alex yelled, heart pounding. “We’re under attack!”
Their driver swerved, trying to maneuver out of danger.
Jasmine’s chest tightened with fear.
Beside her, Alex clenched his jaw, his entire body coiled like a spring, ready to protect them both at any cost.
