CHAPTER 121: CHAPTER 121: "HAVEN’T I GIVEN YOU FREEDOM?

The dim streetlights shone into the car, casting a thin, translucent veil over the man’s sharply defined features, making his aura of menace even more pronounced, yet also enhancing his striking charm with a hint of dangerous mystery.

Under the hazy play of light and shadow, the man’s dark, piercing eyes seemed to be spreading ink, their color growing ever deeper and darker.

At this moment, although the man’s lips were curled as if in a smile, his hawk-like sharp eyes bore no trace of amusement. His face was cold and hard, like an ice sculpture, and his fingers clutched tightly at the girl’s jawbone, threatening to crush her delicate and fragile jaw with just a bit more force.

Before losing control, the man restrained his turbulent anger and released his grip.

With a click, the lighter ignited, and the deep blue flame flickered in the man’s eyes, as if a ghostly fire had sparked in their depths.

The man squinted as he lit a cigarette, taking a harsh drag with it clamped between his lips, before casually tossing aside the lighter. Two slender fingers held the cigarette to the side, his index finger resting on his middle finger. The motion of flicking ash was aggressive, his hand tense, blue veins prominently standing out.

The smoke gradually ascended along his long fingers, winding around the man’s muscular, taut arm, highlighting a peak of masculinity and intensifying his menacing aura.

Renee Winslow looked at Jack Yates, who was full of hostility and ferocity, and dared not resist any further.

When only half of the cigarette was left, Jack Yates finally spoke, "Renee Winslow."

The deep, chilling voice rang in her ears.

Renee Winslow instinctively tensed her body, sitting rigidly upright, watching him with cautious fear.

Jack Yates extinguished the cigarette, turned his face, and regarded her with profound eyes, his voice cool and deep, "Just two years. In these two years, give me all your tenderness and accompany me earnestly, alright?"

Renee Winslow opened her mouth but said nothing.

Jack Yates lifted his hand to gently caress her face, his eyes fixed firmly on hers like a deep pool as he spoke steadily and icily, "I’ll be upfront with you today, two years is your limit, and it’s also mine. After two years, even if you wish to stay with me, I won’t be able to have you anymore."

Renee Winslow’s lips moved, but she still didn’t speak.

Jack Yates curled his lips into a faint smile, "Ungrateful little one, and I took a beating for you."

Renee Winslow knew he was referring to the time when they returned to the Yates family’s old residence, where Old Mr. Yates whipped him.

That day, they had just returned from abroad, just stepped out of the airport, and he was taken back to The Yates Family estate.

And the reason he was beaten was indeed because of her; he intercepted a plane for her and broke his nephew’s hand, angering the Yates family patriarch.

"I’m sorry," Renee Winslow lowered her head and whispered an apology.

In fact, she didn’t think it was her fault, but since he said he was beaten for her, she could only say "I’m sorry."

Jack Yates pulled her back into his arms, rubbing his stubbled chin against her forehead, speaking hoarsely, "Don’t say sorry, Renee, you know that’s not what I want."

Renee Winslow fell silent. Besides the words "I’m sorry," there were three other words she couldn’t bring herself to say to him.

Jack Yates wrapped his arm around her slim waist, pulling her closer, "Grandpa gave me two years, after which I must part with you. So you don’t need to worry about whether I’ll let you go then; even if I want to stay with you, Grandpa will force the separation."

Renee Winslow wanted to say, if they were destined to part in two years, why be together at all? Why not separate now?

Of course, this thought remained unsaid, as she dared not voice it.

Unbeknownst to her, Jack Yates had never truly considered parting with her; he only said such things to ease her resistance, pacifying her emotions so she wouldn’t resist him further.

Jack Yates knew Renee Winslow longed to leave him, and the only thing that could reassure her was the hope of one day leaving him.

Thinking about this made Jack Yates feel suffocated, both bitter and swollen.

Renee Winslow was uncertain whether Jack Yates was sincere, but regardless, it indeed offered her hope.

"Okay," she agreed, then added, "But you can’t treat me like a prisoner—you must give me sufficient freedom."

Jack Yates raised an eyebrow, his look akin to a half-smile, "What do you mean by sufficient freedom? Haven’t I given you freedom?"

Renee Winslow said, "First, you can’t interfere with my normal social interactions. Like what you said on the phone, forbidding me to meet with my friends—that’s not okay!"

Jack Yates nodded, "Alright, I take back what I said before."

Renee Winslow continued, "Also, you can’t slander me or falsely accuse me, for instance..."

Before she finished, Jack Yates impatiently interrupted her, "When have I ever slandered you, Renee Winslow? Who taught you to make such groundless accusations?"

Renee Winslow dredged up old grievances, "Last year’s New Year’s Eve party, I co-hosted with a friend, and just because I chatted a bit more, you got so angry and sent him abroad. And also..."

The man’s eyes suddenly became sharp, his large hand gripped her waist fiercely, and his mouth curled with a crooked, cold, and malevolent smile, "Waiting here for me, are you?"

Renee Winslow knew that she had touched his raw nerve again, but since he had proposed that she accompany him well for two years, she had to make things clear. Otherwise, she couldn’t accompany him well, not with the slightest freedom, leaving her without the mental state to accompany him at all.

So she mustered her courage again and said seriously, "You work out there, it’s impossible you only interact with men. You inevitably have contact with women, and when you do, I haven’t been irrationally jealous or made accusations of you..."

The man, whose face was gloomy just moments before, suddenly laughed.

"Jealous?" His handsome face leaned closer, with a playful smile in his deep eyes, his voice low and magnetic, "I generally don’t interact with other women; my assistant or secretary handles interfacing with them."

Renee Winslow wanted to say "not jealous," yet feared Jack Yates would be displeased, so she bit her tongue and said, "You still sometimes interact with other women."

Jack Yates replied, "Even if I do, I maintain normal social distance with them and avoid any intimate contact."

Upon hearing this, Renee Winslow flared up.

"What do you mean, Jack Yates? Are you implying I would have dubious, intimate physical contact with other men?"

Jack Yates sneered, "You wouldn’t, but there’s no guarantee those men won’t!"

Renee Winslow was so agitated that her face turned red with pent-up anger.

Jack Yates, however, fanned the flames, "That so-called host friend of yours, anyone could see his filthy intentions towards you, those greedy eyes constantly on you. If I recall correctly, many people thought you two were a great match. Is this what you call normal social interaction?"

Renee Winslow angrily retorted, "Are there no women who lust after your body?"