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Chapter 38
Chapter 38
Jasper’s smile turned to ice as he laid eyes on the sight of them locked in an embrace. A flicker of sadness passed through his eyes, caught by Drake in that fleeting moment.
Seizing the opportunity while Drake was momentarily stunned, Jane managed to break free from his grip.
“I’ll grab that for you.”
Casting a quick glance at Jasper, Jane seized the chance to escape, leaving the two men alone in the room, their gazes locked in an intense encounter.
“Why didn’t Mr. Warner bring Miss Warner along today? Word on the street is that you two lovebirds are engaged and on the verge of tying the knot. You guys always seem so smitten, attending all sorts of events together.”
Jasper broke the heavy silence with a curious glance, prompting Drake to sink into the sofa with a somber look.
“Only the clueless would buy into those rumors swirling around.”
With that sentence, Jasper’s face turned pale, but he pressed on. “Considering that Mr. Warner already possesses a gem like Miss Warner at his side, it would be unwise of him to provoke Jane in this manner. Such behavior would only spell trouble for all parties involved, particularly for Mr. Warner, who already bears the weight of a tarnished reputation.”
Drake shot Jasper a cold, unwelcoming glare. Were it not for the fact that Jasper had spent a significant amount within the business world, he would have succumbed to fear under the piercing intensity of Drake’s gaze.
The reputation of President Warner holds no significance to me,” Jasper retorted, his voice, laced with conviction. “However, I cannot turn a blind eye to Jane’s predicament. She has already suffered at your hands once, and I will never allow you to inflict further harm upon her.”
Drake’s eyes grew even colder upon hearing these words. “Allow me to offer you some advice: it would be in your best interest not to meddle in my affairs. How old are you, anyway? No one can stand in my way.”
“President Warner may exude an air of dominance, but do you truly believe that you possess the power to reign supreme over all of Silverbourne? Should you dare to harm Jane again, I swear I will not let you off the hook,” Jasper retorted, his anger igniting like a fierce inferno as he locked his gaze onto Drake’s.
Though he lacked the resources and influence to match Drake’s cold demeanor, Jasper understood that an all–out confrontation was not without hope.
“You’re more than welcome to try.”
As soon as Jane stepped into the room, an air of tension immediately enveloped her. It was as if the very atmosphere crackled with an electric charge, causing a palpable unease to settle in her bones.
“Jane, check out this attire. It’s absolutely stunning,” Jasper interjected abruptly, breaking
Chapter 38
the suffocating silence. He eagerly snatched the costume that she had brought, his eyes shining with enthusiasm.
“I’m in a rush here. As my wife, you should know my size by now. Just give me the measurements,” the man pressed, his voice carrying a note of impatience.
Jane felt an urge to decline his request, to escape from this uncomfortable situation. However, as her gaze met the dark and sinister eyes of the man before her, her voice. caught in her throat. She knew all too well that if she dared to utter a refusal, Drake would unleash a barrage of threats and manipulation, compelling her to comply against her will.
She turned on her heels, her voice laced with a tinge of apology, as she addressed Jasper, “You know what, why don’t you give it a go first? If you find anything that doesn’t quite fit your taste, I’ll make sure to have the folks downstairs make the necessary changes for you.”
Jasper’s heart sank upon hearing her words, a wave of disappointment crashing over him. Yet, he managed to maintain a composed facade, concealing his true emotions from Jane’s observant eyes.
“Very well then,” he replied, his tone betraying no hint of his disappointment. “I’ll head downstairs and give it a try. Hopefully, I can wrap things up early tonight and join you and the kids for a meal.”
As Jasper made his exit, he felt an urge to leave Jane with something more, a sentiment that was important to him. Though he spoke the words, she didn’t pay them much mind, simply nodding in response.
With Jasper gone, Jane sensed a chill in the air creeping up behind her. She spun around, only to find herself locked in a gaze with the man, his expression cold and detached.
“Let me grab a measuring tape,” she murmured, her indifference to his inexplicable emotions evident. Retrieving the measuring tool, she approached him to take measurements of various sizes.
Jane extended her hand, demanding the man to raise his arms so she could measure his chest. Fuming with anger, she noticed that the man stood as motionless as a sturdy log.
In a fit of frustration, she uttered sharply, “Seriously? Are you just going to stand there like a statue?”
To her surprise, the man remained unmoving, his voice barely a whisper as he questioned, “Is your child’s father really that effeminate?”
Drake’s words struck Jane like a lightning bolt, leaving her momentarily stunned before she retorted coldly, her voice dripping with disdain, “My personal life is none of your business. And let’s not forget, we had an agreement that you would steer clear of my affairs. Otherwise, even if the heavens themselves fall, I won’t be restrained by you.”
When it came to her children, Jane’s stubbornness resurfaced with a vengeance. She could tolerate Drake’s intrusions on trivial matters, but the topic of her child was her Achilles‘ heel–the one place she couldn’t bear anyone touching. It would be her undoing. Though the resolution in Jane’s tone made Drake uncomfortable, he refrained from pushing further. Reluctantly, he raised his arms, allowing Jane to resume her task of measuring him.
Chapter
As Jane attempted to measure Drake’s shoulders, a sense of frustration began to settle within her. Her stature fell short, quite literally, and Drake seemed to revel in it. Aware that she couldn’t reach, he stubbornly refused to bend his knees, provoking an angry rebuke
from Jane.
“Can’t you just crouch down for a moment? This is impossible to measure like this!”
Drake’s lips curled up slightly, a mischievous gleam in his eyes, as he muttered under his breath, almost teasingly, “Shorty!”
The words reached Jane’s ears, triggering an instinctive defense mechanism. “I’m not short,” she protested vehemently.
Standing at 1.68 meters, she believed herself to be of average height. It was merely the towering presence of the man before her that made her feel inadequate. Yet, he dared to call her a shorty, igniting a burning fury within Jane.
“Can’t even reach my chin. If I’m not short, then I must bow down just to kiss you,” Drake quipped, suddenly lowering his head and allowing his cool lips to delicately brush against Jane’s.
The gentle contact sent an electric shock through Jane’s body, momentarily erasing all coherent thoughts from her mind.
“Drake, don’t wander off too far!”
“Too far? I merely kissed my lawful wife. Is that too much to handle?” Drake retorted, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“You…” Jane seethed with anger. This man dared to use their so–called marriage as a threat. Damn him!
“Hmph, it’s simply revolting. Boss Warner, your lips are seemingly available for everyone’s taste. I cannot endure it any longer. I implore you to cleanse yourself and refrain from engaging in such repulsive acts in the future,” Jane fired back, her voice laced with disdain.
After their heated exchange, Jane couldn’t be bothered to measure his shoulder width precisely. She could make a rough estimate of his dimensions without much effort.
“I’ll have the garments ready within a week. President Warner can simply send someone to collect them,” Jane stated, subtly hinting that he could take his leave.
Drake understood Jane’s implication, but he chose to interpret her words as a direct insult. A melancholic expression crossed his face as he muttered, “My company is swamped with business. I can’t spare anyone to fetch them. Just have Miss Bentley deliver them to our office.”
Without giving her a chance to decline, he briskly walked away, his departure showcasing his domineering demeanor.
The man’s overbearing behavior infuriated Jane, and yet she felt powerless to retaliate. She could only release her pent–up frustration by rolling her eyes at his retreating figure, finding solace in this small act of defiance.
Once he had left, Drake settled into his car and promptly dialed Zac’s number on his wristwatch. After issuing a series of instructions, he ended the call.
Chapter 38
Upon reaching her home, Jane was taken aback to find Zac waiting there, prompting her curiosity.
“Zac, what brings you here?”
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