CHAPTER 111: CHAPTER 111: YES, HE’S MY BOYFRIEND.

Renee Winslow locked eyes with Jack Yates, feeling as though she were being dragged into an abyss. She knew it was dangerous, yet she couldn’t help but sink deeper, wanting to explore and see what secrets lay hidden in that abyss.

Jack saw the little girl staring at him dumbly, clearly enjoying the attention. His smile grew wider, and his long, narrow eyes narrowed slightly, making his gaze even more profound.

With long, well-defined fingers, he caressed the girl’s fair and delicate face, leaning in and asking in a deep voice, "Does your heart ache, hmm?"

He deliberately lowered his voice, making it not just deeper, but also tinged with a captivating huskiness, sounding very desirable and sexy.

Renee felt as though a tiny hammer lightly struck her heart, causing it to quiver suddenly, a tingling sensation spreading out.

She quickly turned her head aside, her fair face blushing like a peach, and her slender, snow-white neck also turned red, with her small earlobes glowing like rosy jewels.

Jack reached out and pinched her delicate earlobe, his rough, calloused fingertips gently rubbing. His voice was deep and husky: "Speak, does your heart ache?"

Renee couldn’t resist his caress, her body softening as she hurriedly propped herself against the edge of the bed and replied messily, "Yes, my heart aches." Afraid he wasn’t satisfied, she emphasized again, "It aches, it really aches."

Jack picked her up and laid her on the bed, flipping over to press down on her, just about to kiss her lips when her phone on the dressing table by the window rang.

This was Renee’s phone. After returning to the country, Jack had given it back to her for temporary use, saying he would get her a new phone in a few days.

What Jack didn’t mention was that the new phone was specifically designed and developed by a team he hired, equipped with a tracking system, allowing him to locate Renee at any time.

Unless she didn’t carry the phone or ventured into a remote area without network coverage, he could find her even if her phone was off.

Not only that, he could also check her chat records and messages anytime.

All these data would eventually be transferred to Jack’s phone.

Hearing the phone ringing, Renee turned her head to avoid his kiss and asked softly, "Can I answer the phone?"

"Of course you can." Jack released her.

Renee got off the bed to pick up the phone, slightly frowning at the caller ID.

This late, if her grandfather was calling, something must have happened.

She knew her family well; they wouldn’t call unless it was important, and definitely not at night. They never cared about how she was living outside or her emotions.

"Emotions" were something they never thought about, assuming she was doing well.

In truth, they knew full well that even if she wasn’t doing well, she had no choice, as they lacked the means to improve her life—just raising her to adulthood as they had done was already an achievement.

Yet, on the other hand, they unrealistically hoped she could transcend their genes and bring benefits to the family.

Human nature is fragile, unable to withstand scrutiny.

Though feeling uncomfortable, Renee answered the call, smiling gently: "Hello, Grandpa, what’s the matter?"

"Renee." Her grandmother Winnie Lowell’s voice came through, weak, revealing she had only just recovered from a serious illness.

Renee softened her voice and asked, "Grandma, are you feeling better?"

Winnie coughed, then chuckled and said, "Yes, I’m better. It’s all thanks to that boyfriend of yours."

Renee blurted out in surprise, "What boyfriend?"

After asking, she turned to look at Jack, seeing him languidly leaning against the headboard, his long legs stretched out and crossed. His black pajamas were casually buttoned, exposing a muscular chest with a hint of unruliness.

Renee withdrew her gaze and asked softly, "Has someone told you something?"

Winnie explained the situation: last time she fainted from high blood pressure and had a stroke, needing expensive medical fees and over half a year of physiotherapy at a rehabilitation hospital to regain normal function.

This made the expenses even higher.

The family had no savings, still paying off a mortgage each month, unable to afford the treatment.

Just as Winnie resigned herself to waiting for death, the director of the best private hospital in Vintara reached out, not only arranging the best expert for her but also placing her in a VIP luxury ward.

This time, the hospital didn’t pretend it was charity, admitting outright it was because of Renee’s boyfriend.

Upon waking, Winnie had Walter Winslow call Renee to confirm the truth.

When the call was answered, a man named Jack Yates picked up, politely addressing Walter as "Grandfather" and offering reassurance, telling him not to worry about Grandma’s illness or the costs for treatment and physiotherapy.

He promised to arrange for the best doctors in the country to treat Grandma and, if needed, hire foreign doctors to ensure her recovery.

Lastly, he mentioned Renee had gone abroad for studies, and due to time differences and international call rates, it was inconvenient for her to stay in touch with family. He said they could call him for any matters, leaving his private number.

After hearing Grandmother’s account, Renee again looked at Jack, feeling conflicted and unsure of what to say.

Before going abroad, Jack had forced her to comply using Grandma’s illness, leaving her with no choice but to submit. At that time, she vowed never to let Jack exploit her weaknesses again.

She assumed Jack was using the "hospital charity" excuse or something similar, never expecting him to openly claim to be her boyfriend and treat her family with kindness.

Yet he said nothing about it, maintaining his cold, indifferent façade in front of her.

This sudden reversal caught Renee off guard, leaving her bewildered, helpless, and oddly touched.

Those who are severely deprived of love don’t fear cold-hearted cruelty; they fear meticulously planned tenderness, recognizing the trap yet unable to resist falling into it.

Like clinging to a piece of driftwood in the vast ocean, knowing it can’t bring her safely ashore, but desperately holding on, hoping for a glimmer of hope in hopelessness.

This was how Renee felt now. She knew Jack’s tenderness was a guise, steeped in ulterior motives, yet she was still moved.

Winnie had spoken for a while without hearing a response from Renee. After pausing to catch her breath, she cautiously asked, "Renee, is that young man named Jack Yates your boyfriend?"

Renee’s eyes reddened, mist glistening as she blinked, wetting her lashes. Her watery eyes gazed at the lazy, sexy Jack as she smiled and said, "Yes."

Holding her phone, she walked to the bed and bent down to kiss Jack’s lips, looking at his face up close, emphasizing, "Jack Yates is my boyfriend."

Jack’s lazily narrowed eyes snapped open, now sharp and bright. He pinched her waist and said in a deep voice, "Say it again!"

Hanging up the phone, Renee lifted a foot, straddling his lap as she pressed her hands on his shoulders and leaned down to look at him, her almond eyes slightly curved, smiling tenderly and affectionately, "I said..."

Jack gazed into her tender, water-like eyes, his Adam’s apple bobbing rapidly, breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling dramatically.

But Renee leaned down and kissed his lips, repositioning herself to sit against his abdomen.

Her soft lips brushed his ear, her sweet, seductive voice whispering in his ear, "Want your girlfriend to do some squats for you?"

Jack’s breathing tightened, his heartbeat accelerating, all his blood rushing to one place.

He never realized the girl could be so enticingly proactive, more alluring than any seductress he knew.

At this moment, Renee could demand his life, and Jack would give it without hesitation.

The man narrowed his eyes, one hand gripping her slender, soft waist and the other on her shoulder, his voice low and hoarse, "Squat deeper."

Just as he spoke, his phone rang again, this time his own.

"Damn!" Jack cursed, adding, "Ignore it, do your thing."

Renee chuckled, "You should answer it; it might be important."

Saying this, she turned to get off, but Jack held her tightly, rolling to trap her beneath him.

At that moment, even if it were the king of heaven calling, he wouldn’t bother!