CHAPTER 17: CHAPTER 17: "DO YOU LOVE ME OR CALEB YATES?

Renee originally thought Jack Yates would hire a private coach for her or send her to a swimming pool for lessons, but she never expected Jack Yates would teach her himself.

She felt that Jack Yates was not actually trying to teach her swimming but was using it as an excuse to satisfy his own desires.

In fact, that was exactly the case. Out of an hour and a half, forty minutes were spent doing things unrelated to swimming.

After a swimming lesson, Renee’s legs were so weak that she could hardly stand.

Jack Yates, under the pretense of helping her to relax, carried her to soak in the hot springs, and he ended up taking her twice more in the hot spring pool.

Renee felt like she was falling apart, lying limply in Jack Yates’ arms, too exhausted to lift a finger, her hands trembling.

Jack Yates looked at her fragile and pitiful state, his throat tightening, wanting more.

But he knew Renee couldn’t take any more, at least not without resting for a night.

He was unsatisfied, feeling restless desire burning within him.

Renee sensed Jack Yates’ intense longing and, seeing the frightening depth in his eyes, she feared he wasn’t done. She quickly said, "I... I’m really tired now, can we do it tomorrow?"

Jack Yates lowered his head and bit her lip heavily, "Why is your stamina so bad?"

Renee couldn’t help but retort, "It’s not that my stamina is bad, it’s you who’s too much."

"Too much how, hm?" Jack Yates squinted his eyes.

Renee looked at his dangerous gaze, pursed her lips with a look of hopelessness: "Too incredible."

Jack Yates laughed, "Oh? How incredible?"

Renee stayed silent, knowing what Jack Yates wanted to hear, but she refused to say it, unwilling and unable to put it into words.

However, Jack Yates was determined for her to say it, forcing her with persistence: "Say it."

Renee felt both shy and annoyed, glaring at him with reddened eyes: "Jack Yates, you’re bullying me."

Jack Yates mischievously rubbed her lips, "If I were really bullying you, you wouldn’t even be able to speak right now."

Renee was suddenly reminded of the day she had a fever. Jack Yates was like a nightmare then, relentless and aggressive, like a wild beast.

She shuddered, shutting her eyes and mouth tightly.

Jack Yates lowered his head to kiss her lips, pecking gently, his kiss infinitely tender.

"It seems just learning swimming isn’t enough. Starting tomorrow, we’ll add another item, teaching you horseback riding."

Renee’s eyes shot open, "You mean real horseback riding?"

She regretted asking right after saying it.

Seeing Jack Yates’ sly smile, she buried her face into his chest in embarrassment, not wanting to interact with him.

Jack Yates leaned down, whispering in her ear, "What else would you expect to ride, hm?"

He deliberately lowered his voice, deep and husky, sounding both sensual and seductive.

Renee’s ears burned red, a fiery heat spreading from her cheeks against his taut muscular chest, feeling as if her heart was ablaze.

She opened her mouth and bit his chest.

Jack Yates’ Adam’s apple bobbed, letting out a muffled grunt, as he carried her swiftly back to the room.

-

The next day, at the countryside stable.

Renee had prepared herself for a not-so-serious horseback riding lesson, but she hadn’t expected Jack Yates to seriously teach her how to ride, even choosing a gentle white pony suited for her.

On a summer evening, the breeze was cool and serene.

Renee sat on the horse, while Jack Yates walked alongside, holding the reins.

The horse moved slowly, its hooves clopping leisurely.

Jack Yates walked just as slowly, holding the reins in one hand, the other tucked in his pocket, his riding boots pressing firmly on the sandy track, leaving steady footprints.

The setting sun illuminated the uneven marks, as if recording the path they walked together.

Renee rode the horse around the field twice, sweat faintly appearing on her forehead.

Noticing she was struggling to stay seated, Jack Yates shook the reins, commanding the pony to stop, then reached over to lift her off.

Once on the ground, Renee’s legs were weak, and she quickly grabbed onto his clothes to prevent herself from falling.

Jack Yates scooped up her legs, lifting her horizontally in his arms, a boyfriend-styled princess carry full of strength.

Renee looked at his robust arms, muscles taut and exuding the power of a mature man.

She inexplicably thought of those tightly muscled arms propping on either side of her shoulders, holding for ten to twenty minutes, sometimes even over half an hour.

Recalling that scene, her cheeks flushed hotly, her breath quickening.

"Why is your face red?" Jack Yates carried her into the lounge, sitting her down with one hand while the other caressed her face, "What are you thinking?"

Renee slapped his hand away, turning her face aside guiltily, "Nothing, the sun is just hot, making me blush."

Jack Yates turned her face back, holding her chin between his fingers, staring at her deeply, "But I was thinking of something."

Renee pushed his hand away: "You can’t do that on horseback, even if you want to, you’ll have to wait until we get home."

Jack Yates lowered his head: "It can be done on horseback, but I don’t want others to see. However, it can be done in the car."

Renee: "..."

She was completely resigned to this man, always thinking about it anywhere, and constantly coming up with new ideas.

After dinner that evening, Jack Yates drove Renee to the top of Mount Jeval.

Renee lay in Jack Yates’ arms, her eyes brimming with tears.

Jack Yates gently stroked her head, and whispered hoarsely in her ear: "Baby, do you love me or Caleb Yates?"

Renee’s warmth suddenly vanished, and she gripped his shoulder tightly.

She didn’t say anything because she loved neither of them. From beginning to end, she never loved any of them.

Jack Yates didn’t get the answer he wanted, a flare of anger surged, and he gripped her waist, pulling her roughly upward.

More than an hour later.

Renee curled up in Jack Yates’ jacket on the seat, surrounded by the strong scent of rhododendrons.

Jack Yates stood outside the car smoking, inhaling deeply as he lowered his head. He inhaled too fast and choked, suppressing the urge to cough as he walked away quickly.

It wasn’t until he was far away that he hunched his back and coughed.

Even when coughing, he didn’t want her to see, didn’t want to show even a hint of vulnerability in front of her.

But it was laughable; whether he was vulnerable or crazy, she didn’t care at all.

Once Renee composed herself, she sat up, ready to get out of the car when her phone rang.

She picked it up and saw it was an international number, frowning and instinctively thinking it was a scam call.

After ringing for several seconds, the call ended automatically. She opened the car door to get out, and as soon as she closed the door, the phone rang again.

At that moment, Jack Yates approached, looking at her indifferently: "Why not answer it?"

Renee: "It might be a scam call, I’m afraid to answer."

Jack Yates smirked coldly, saying ambiguously: "Maybe it’s not a scam."

Renee felt his tone was strange and was about to hang up when Jack Yates, quicker than her, answered and put it on speaker.

"Renee." Caleb Yates’ voice came from the phone.

Renee’s heart suddenly tightened, her heart nearly stopped from fright.

Jack Yates didn’t speak, merely deepened his smile, but it was a cold smile.

Renee looked at Jack Yates’ cold, fierce smile, her body involuntarily trembling.

"Ca– Caleb Yates, stop calling me."

Caleb Yates shouted in anger: "Renee Winslow! Are you with him willingly or coerced?"

Renee swallowed her dry throat: "I’m with him willingly, Caleb Yates, I chose to be with Jack Yates of my own volition."

Caleb Yates laughed coldly: "Willingly? You mean you like him?"

Renee lowered her eyes, her lashes trembling: "Yes, I like Jack Yates."

Caleb Yates sneered at her: "You like that he’s rich and powerful, right?"

Feeling icy cold all over, Renee was about to hang up when Jack Yates snatched her phone: "Caleb Yates, if you dare disrespect her again, I’ll make sure you never return for the rest of your life."

Caleb Yates laughed coldly: "Jack Yates, don’t think you can truly dominate Northcity! Just wait, one day I’ll make you regret it!"

Then he turned to Renee: "Renee Winslow, I know you don’t like Jack Yates, you’re only with him under duress. Endure for a while, I’ll definitely come back to save you and take you away from him."

The phone fell to the ground, the screen shattered.

Jack Yates raised his hand to stroke her head: "I’ll get you a better one, this one’s too old. It’s better off not being used."

Renee: "Okay."

On the way back, there was silence throughout.

The car drove into Thatcher Manor, Jack Yates suddenly stopped by a pine tree, reached for a pack of cigarettes, and lowered his eyes to light one.

He breathed out thick smoke, watching Renee through the haze: "After two years, even if you leave me, you won’t return to Caleb Yates. The Yates Family’s door, you either enter through me or you don’t enter at all."

Renee smiled: "Rest assured, I don’t have those ambitions."

Jack Yates bit down hard on the cigarette: "That’s good."

Renee turned her head to him, smiling: "I hope Mr. Yates can keep his promise. When the two years are up, let me go."

Jack Yates didn’t speak, lowering his head to inhale fiercely.

He was unsure if he could keep his promise because he wanted to break it now.

After two puffs, the more he smoked, the itchier his throat became, nicotine could no longer ease his agitation.

With a grim face, he stubbed out the cigarette, raised his eyes to her: "What if I broke the promise?"