Chapter 244: Because
Jason Lockwood’s expression instantly turned grim. His hands clenched into tight fists.
Hearing Archie Summers, Julius Lockwood exploded in anger before Jason Lockwood could even speak. "Archie, you’ve gone too far!"
"Me? Gone too far? Am I the one who’s gone too far, or is it all of you? Mr. Lockwood, I, Archie Summers, am making myself clear right here, right now. If you really insist on opposing me, I don’t mind becoming just as ruthless and unfeeling as you are!" With that, Archie turned and left, holding the terrified, wailing Rory in his arms.
Watching Archie Summers leave with Eleanor Bishop and her daughter, Julius Lockwood’s hand trembled as he pointed in their direction. He stammered, "You... you... you..." for a long moment before collapsing in a dead faint.
Once they were out of the Lockwood villa, Archie, his face dark, shoved Rory into Eleanor Bishop’s arms. "Make her shut up. The noise is killing me!"
"Oh..." Looking wronged and heartbroken, Eleanor Bishop took Rory and began to gently rock and soothe her.
Watching Eleanor Bishop’s gentle, devoted expression as she soothed Rory, a sudden, inexplicable anger flared up in Archie Summers. He practically spat the words out through gritted teeth, "You were engaged to Jason Lockwood?"
"Yes, but I swear, there was nothing between us. Archie, you have to believe me. I only agreed to the engagement because if I didn’t, my father would have gone to prison. Archie, I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing for my dad..."
"If Jason Lockwood could save the Bishop family and help you, then why did you run off to Austerra and deliberately scheme to get involved with me?"
"Because... because I..." ’Because the person she’d feared most her entire life was Jason Lockwood. Because she’d discovered that Jason Lockwood wasn’t Mr. Lockwood’s biological son. Because she’d found out that Mr. Lockwood’s real son hadn’t died but was missing. Because she didn’t want to marry Jason Lockwood... But she couldn’t say any of that. If Archie found out the truth, he would surely abandon her.’
Archie Summers was in no mood to hear Eleanor Bishop’s explanation, nor did he want to know about their past grievances. "Eleanor Bishop, I don’t care what went on between you and Jason Lockwood before. From now on, you will remember that you are my woman. As for Jason Lockwood, erase him from your mind completely. And if the Bishop family runs into any trouble in the future, I forbid you from ever seeking his help again!"
"Archie..." Eleanor Bishop’s breath caught in her throat. Her voice trembled with emotion as she choked out his name.
Just then, two black sedans pulled up. It was Louise Jordan, Howard Rhodes, and the others.
Archie Summers averted his gaze and said coolly, "Let’s go home."
"Mmm..."
「Vespera」
After leaving the office, Cassian Jennings headed straight for Vespera. It had become his usual haunt whenever he had free time.
His roguish eyes scanned the men and women dancing inside as he tilted his head back and chugged a large mouthful of beer.
"Master Jennings, drinking all by your lonesome is no fun. Why don’t we go play together?" a woman in a hot pink minidress purred, sauntering over. She draped an arm over Cassian Jennings’s shoulder.
Cassian Jennings raised an eyebrow and set his glass on the table. With a swift tug, he pulled the woman into his lap. He ran a hand over her cheek, a roguish grin spreading across his face as he murmured, "So, how do you want to play...?"
"Oh, Master Jennings, you’re so naughty. And Yana is too! She lied and told me you weren’t seeing any women these days."
"Heh. I don’t touch *them* because they aren’t pretty enough or interesting enough to catch my eye. But a beauty like you? How could I possibly resist..."