CHAPTER 13: CHAPTER 13: BE GOOD, DON’T BE AFRAID

Renee Winslow didn’t answer Caleb Yates’ question. In this situation, no matter what she said, it would be wrong, so she simply remained silent.

She turned around and ran out, leaving the smoky battlefield to Jack Yates and Caleb Yates, the uncle-nephew pair, letting them fight it out on their own. She wouldn’t participate.

She ran out of the courtyard where Jack Yates lived, went to the lakeside, sat under a willow tree, and called her grandma. She called twice, but no one answered. It was only on the third attempt that the call connected.

As soon as the call connected, she urgently asked, "Grandma, how is Grandpa doing?"

Grandma Winnie Lowell: "Renee, don’t worry. Your grandpa is fine now. Our family was truly fortunate this time. The head of the hospital said a kind-hearted big boss often does good deeds, and it was our turn today. This big boss covered all of your grandpa’s subsequent expenses and even moved him to a higher-grade ward."

Upon saying this, Winnie Lowell let out a long sigh of relief, "Ah, this is great. Our whole family can finally stop worrying. Initially, we all thought your grandpa couldn’t be saved. Who would have thought a philanthropic boss would suddenly appear? Our family is really lucky!"

Renee Winslow choked up, "Yes, our family is lucky. Grandpa has a blessing coming."

Winnie Lowell’s voice was filled with laughter, "Yes, everyone says your grandpa is lucky. They say he’ll have great blessings after surviving this ordeal."

But Renee Winslow couldn’t bring herself to smile. In this world, there is never a blessing without reason.

"Grandma, I’ll come back tomorrow."

Winnie Lowell: "Your grandpa is okay now, you don’t need to come back."

Renee Winslow sniffed, her voice soft, "I want to come back and see you all."

Winnie Lowell: "We’re all fine here. Focus on your summer job and don’t worry about coming back."

Renee Winslow didn’t say much more; she gave a few instructions and then hung up the phone.

Even though her grandma told her not to return, she still wanted to go back. She had to see her grandpa with her own eyes to be at ease.

.

As Renee Winslow left, neither Jack Yates nor Caleb Yates stopped her.

They weren’t worried about Renee Winslow leaving The Yates Family. The main door was shut; without their uncle-nephew pair’s permission, she couldn’t leave. She could run freely in the courtyard without any danger.

Inside and outside the house, only Caleb Yates and Jack Yates remained, facing each other with tension as sharp as a drawn sword.

Caleb Yates looked at Jack Yates and cut straight to the point, "Is it true that Uncle Jack has taken a fancy to Renee Winslow?"

Jack Yates leisurely sat in his wheelchair. His long fingers, with distinct knuckles, gently tapped the wheelchair’s armrest. "What if I said yes?"

Caleb Yates felt a surge of anger shoot up to his head. He clenched his fists tightly at his sides, almost grinding his teeth to powder, and roared furiously, "Uncle Jack, she’s my girlfriend!"

Jack Yates responded indifferently, "So what?"

Caleb Yates, exasperated, laughed out of anger, "Uncle Jack, saying something like that, doesn’t it disgrace your military status?"

Jack Yates: "I’m already retired."

Caleb Yates gritted his teeth hard, "I won’t give her up to you!"

Jack Yates raised an eyebrow, "That depends on whether you have the ability to keep her."

Caleb Yates showed a look of sudden realization, "No wonder Uncle Jack used both the company’s training and the bar incident to knock me down, intending to steal my girl!"

Jack Yates: "Smart, but not too smart."

Caleb Yates was so filled with anger that he couldn’t be even angrier, turned around, and started to leave.

Jack Yates called after him, "Caleb Yates."

Caleb Yates stopped, fists tightly clenched.

Jack Yates spoke with certainty, "Luxury cars, houses, shares, Uncle can give you everything. But as for Renee Winslow, Uncle is determined to have her."

.

Renee Winslow stared at the lake’s shimmering surface, her mind a tangled mess.

No matter how hard she thought, she couldn’t understand how she had gotten involved with Caleb Yates’ uncle, Jack Yates.

She had never even met Jack Yates. Before coming to The Yates Family, she hadn’t even heard his name. She didn’t even know such a person existed.

If Caleb Yates liked her, it was understandable. After all, they went to the same school, and she met Caleb Yates on the first day of school, seeing him often afterward.

But why would Jack Yates develop such feelings for her? They’d never even met.

She truly found it strange and utterly incomprehensible.

While Renee Winslow was lost in her wild thoughts, her phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number from Northcity.

She had a vague guess who it was, hesitated for a moment, and upon picking up, it was indeed Jack Yates calling.

Jack Yates: "Where are you?"

Renee Winslow replied weakly, "By a lake with many willows."

Jack Yates: "Don’t wander around; wait for me there."

Renee Winslow: "Okay."

After a while, footsteps approached from behind.

Renee Winslow assumed it was Caleb Yates, and turned around suddenly, only to see Jack Yates.

Her first reaction: He’s so tall!

Even though Caleb Yates was already tall at 188 cm, Jack Yates appeared even taller, estimating at least 190 cm.

Not only was he tall, his physique was exceptional—broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a tall, imposing posture. His long legs exuded masculinity and an overwhelming aura of male hormones, further intensified by the cold and majestic presence that made him both aloof and lustful.

After being amazed by his height and demeanor, Renee Winslow couldn’t help but feel puzzled. Wasn’t this man supposed to have a broken leg? How could he still stand and walk?

"Aren’t you... weren’t your legs injured?"

Jack Yates walked up to her, looking down from above, "If they were broken, how could I hold you?"

Having said that, he wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her up with one swift motion.

Renee Winslow was suddenly airborne, instinctively throwing her arms around his neck, tightening her grip.

Jack Yates immediately felt his arm go numb, an impulse rolling down his throat. Holding her with one arm under her legs, he hoisted her onto his shoulder, lifted his free hand, and patted her on the buttock, "Relax."

Renee Winslow’s cheeks flushed, glaring at him in embarrassed anger, "You! Shameless!"

Jack Yates chuckled, holding her as he rapidly walked towards The West Wing.

Renee Winslow pounded his shoulder, "Put me down, I can walk by myself."

Jack Yates: "You’re too slow."

Renee Winslow: "Slow or not, I want to walk by myself."

Jack Yates ignored her, holding her tighter as he walked faster.

Renee Winslow struggled against his shoulder, attempting to break free, but his arm was firmly securing her in place, rendering her efforts useless.

After struggling for a while, she ended up sweating.

She gave up, resignedly resting her face on his shoulder.

Jack Yates touched her head, his thin lips grazing her ear before suddenly nibbling at her earlobe.

Renee Winslow’s body shivered; she quickly sat up straight, looking at him with a mix of shyness and alertness.

Seeing her like a frightened quail, Jack Yates gently caressed her face, "Good, don’t be afraid."

How could Renee Winslow not be afraid? She was scared to death.

She swallowed with difficulty, then asked softly, "Mr. Yates, have you already told Caleb Yates?"

Jack Yates: "Told him what?"

Renee Winslow: "About our... relationship."

Jack Yates narrowed his eyes, "What relationship do we have?"

Renee Winslow couldn’t meet his wolfish, dangerous gaze, turning her head away, "That unclear kind of relationship."

Jack Yates’ hand holding her butt suddenly tightened, gripping hard, a fierce voice squeezed out from between his teeth, "Since you’re with me, you’re my woman. How is it unclear?"

Renee Winslow, feeling pain from the grip, tears welled up in her eyes. Looking tearfully at him, she said, "It hurts. Jack Yates, you’re hurting me."

Jack Yates laughed deeply, "Baby, I haven’t even started yet."