CHAPTER 101: CHAPTER 61: KIDNAPPED BY HIM 1

She reflected that during the two years they were together, even if it had all been an act, he had never actually said *it*—those words of genuine affection—not even when he was supposedly pampering her so much.

On the way back, Skyler Jones noticed Rebecca Quentin’s silence.

"Are you uncomfortable?"

"No, just a little tired after a long day."

"Lean against me and rest. I’ll wake you when we arrive."

Rebecca Quentin slowly closed her eyes, but as she remembered Howard Geoffrey’s words to Christine Quinn in the corridor, she suddenly opened them again and asked seriously, "Mr. Jones, do you still mean it when you said you’d hire me as your official secretary?"

"Of course."

Rebecca Quentin sincerely extended her hand. "Thank you for giving me this new job, Mr. Jones. I hope I can be your most capable assistant in the days to come."

Skyler Jones freed one hand to shake Rebecca Quentin’s. A slight smile touched the corners of his mouth. "I’m glad you could give me such an answer after consideration. However, I must remind you that my company’s headquarters is in Y City. Are you psychologically prepared to go with me to Y City?"

At that moment, as if she had given it deep thought, Rebecca Quentin nodded firmly. "Yes."

「Villa.」

The bedroom was dark; only the faint light filtering in from the garden illuminated his handsome face.

He sat on the sofa by the French windows, a lit cigarette in hand. The ashtray on the nearby table was already filled with several extinguished butts.

Memories played in his mind like a slide show...

At six, he stood before a towering skyscraper and vowed to the person beside him, "Brother, when I grow up, I’ll stand at the very top of this building and make everyone look up to me!"

At eight, his parents fought, and he and his brother watched coldly.

At ten, his mother told him, "Child, you come with me. Your older brother can only go with your father..."

He cried for the first time then. He ran out after them, only to see his older brother’s retreating back as he left with their father.

When he was eleven, his older brother returned, destitute and dejected. But his mother shut the door on his brother and forbade Howard from seeing him.

At thirteen, his older brother returned again, no longer poor and dejected. He told Howard, "Mom always said you were smarter than me, and that’s why she didn’t want me. So, from now on, let’s compete. Let’s see who the ultimate winner will be."

After that, his older brother vanished completely from his world...

And then, no matter how hard he searched or investigated, he could never find a single trace of his older brother.

Until the recent emergence of ’Oversky’...

He clearly remembered his mother never being willing to say his older brother’s name, yet he knew it distinctly: Skyler Geoffrey.

Suddenly, he extinguished the half-smoked cigarette in his hand, picked up the phone from the table, and dialed a number.

Only with his mother did his voice lose its usual guard. He called out softly, "Mom."

Mrs. Geoffrey’s warm voice came through, "Son, it sounds like it’s the middle of the night over there. Why aren’t you asleep yet?"

"I’m used to it."

Mrs. Geoffrey began to chide, "Suffering from insomnia at such a young age—that’s not good at all! Your career is important, but you must look after your health. Don’t be preoccupied with ’Skytop’ affairs all day... Mom would rather you forgo billion-dollar contracts and come home to drink the soup I’ve simmered for you."

"I’ll come back after a while."

"You child, you never listen..."

"Okay, Mom, I’m hanging up."

"Son, wait! Mom has something to ask you. Every time I call, I get your secretary. It’s so difficult to actually speak with you..."

He leaned back against the sofa and closed his eyes. His voice, still respectful towards his mother, replied, "Yes, what is it?"

"Becca called me a while ago... She’s such a sensible child, not holding any grudges against you and even wishing you and Christine well... Son, Mom understands that you and Christine have been together for many years. I admit my attitude towards Christine changed after I learned she couldn’t have children. But you must understand a mother’s heart. Mom wants to hold a grandchild. I want a daughter-in-law with an impeccable background, and Becca is the most suitable candidate in my eyes. Mom likes her..."

After listening quietly, he responded like a petulant child, "Mom, you’re so long-winded!"

"You brat! You think you’re all grown up now, do you? Daring to call your mother long-winded! I haven’t even started on you for not protecting Becca and the child she was carrying, leaving me nearly sixty and still unable to hold a grandchild! I don’t care—if I don’t get to hold a grandchild in the next two years, you can just stay in America, find someone, and make a baby! To hell with your ’Skytop’ Group..."