bChapter /bb75 /b

E

“Dr. Quinn,” Jordan cut in, impatience sharpening his voice. “My wife’s answer was crystal clear. Shall I trante it for you?

Ignoring Jordan, Lionel locked eyes with Ste. “Ste, do you really love him?”

Ste pulled free from Jordan’s arms, her gaze unflinching. “Since you insist: I love him. I adore him. Is that finally enough for you?”

Lionel remained silent, but the anguish in his eyes was undeniable.

Ste stood abruptly, unable to bear his anguish. “Jordan, please see our guest out. I’m going upstairs.”

…Ste replied.

The moment Ste disappeared upstairs, Jordan’s voice turned arctic. “Stop staring at my wife.

Lionel finally met Jordan’s eyes. “Why did you marry her? To exploit her like her family did?”

Jordan’s lips curled into a sinister smirk. “Lionel, I always thought you were a kind–hearted,passionate doctor. Who would’ve thought you’d stab a defenseless woman in the back?

“Unlike you, I didn’t y hero while stabbing her.” Jordan’s sneer deepened. “You shouldn’t havee. This humiliation is self- inflicted.

“Let me make this clear–I’m the only one in this world who truly appreciates Ste. I know exactly where her strengths lie, and I can make them shine brighter than ever.” Jordan leaned forward. “Did you know Ste earned 1 billion dors in two years?”

Lionel froze, bewildered. “What? 1 billion dors?”

Jordan sneered, “You see? You don’t even know that 1 billion dors. How’d the Hayes Group rise? Max had talent, but the cash- where’d ite from? The Hayes was drowning in debt. No one would invest–not even your prestigious family, did you?”

Lionel remained silent, offering no denial. The truth was, he’d begged his father for the Hayes family–and been refused. His father even threatened that if he brought it up again, the arranged marriage with Anna would be called off. He could only give bup/b.

Butter, Max somehow revived the Hayes family. He finally breathed easier. Guilt, though, lingered.

Jordan anticipated this. He continued, “Looks like she never told you, so she’s still keeping things from you. Actually, Ste and I met on an exclusive privatework–we’re both top hackers

“At first, we just clicked. But over time, I realized we couldn’t keep using our skills for shady purposes. And she told me she wanted to develop software. Ipletely supported her. The app–Apple, that is entirely bher /bcreation. I merely handled the promotion.”

Lionel’s eyes widened in shock.

Jordan exined, “So that’s how she made 1 billion dors in just three byears/b. Honestly, she could’ve earned even more, but since I lost contact with her, I safeguarded her earnings when she vanished.

“But then, the Hayeses found out about the massive deposits flowing into her ount and immediately seized the money to invest in their own business. Even if they are her family, taking her money without her bconsent /bis nothing but theft.”

Jordan said, “They could’vee clean to Steter. But they never even considered confessing, convinced they’d pulled off their

schemepletely under the radar.

*Ste tried to sue them, but the Hayeses shamelessly used their influence to ensure that nowyer in Seavale would take her

case.

“Of course, that’s just scratching the surface. There’s so much more, Dr. Quinn–and you?” Jordan’s smile was lethal. “Complicit through ignorance.”

Lionel stared at him in a daze,pletely stunned and unable to process what he had just said.

Jordan finished what he had to say and stood up. “Dr. Quinn, I’ll allow you a moment to collect your thoughts here, but make no mistake–you’re not wee.

It’s time for you to leave. I’m busy and won’t see you out.” With that, Jordan turned and headed upstairs.

Jordan exuded an incredibly powerful aura, When Lionel talked to him, he could feel an invisible, crushing sense of pressure. To others, he was unfeeling, even downright heartless. Yet, when Jordan looked at Ste, Lionel noticed an unmistakable tenderness in his eyes

Lionel vanished when the maid checked minutester. When Jordan came downstairs again, the maid informed himb, /b“Mr. Vance left like a whipped dog.

Jordan couldn’t care less about Lionel. So what if they were childhood sweethearts? So what if he was once the person Ste cherished most? None of that mattered to him now. That was all history now. The future remained to be seen.

Yet in his eyes lingered something dark–a closer look would reveal an unmistakable hatred simmering within.

As dinnertime arrived, Ste emerged from her room. The two sat in the dining room. Ste noted the specially prepared meal: stomach–friendly polenta and dinner brolls/b.

Honestly, you don’t have to go out of your way for me. Just eat whatever you like. I can eat the same as you.

Jordan said firmly. “You still can’t handle heavy foods right now. And my stomach needs this too,” he deflected. “Years of business dinners wrecked it. Consider this mutual recovery.”

“Thank you,” Ste said gently, looking at Jordan. “I saw all the clothes in the wardrobe. Did you have them specially tailored to bmy /bfigure? They fit me perfectly.”

The maid answered immediately, “Mr. Erwin did everything himself. He personally designed and tailored the clothes-”

Before she could finish, Jordan interrupted coldly, shooting her a sharp look. “That’s enough.”

The maid immediately mped her mouth shut.

Ste gasped in surprise. “Did you design these yourself? And you actually made them in person?”

Jordan said between bites, “Don’t get the wrong idea. I just want you to get back on your feet soon.

As for Apple, I don’t want it to be just a sh in the pan. I want it to be an essential app everyone needs on their phone. That’s the breal /breason I’m doing all this.”

Of course, Ste never for a second believed he actually loved her. ‘We’d never beven /bmet in person before, and after everything that’s happened to me, how could he possibly like me?” Ste thought.

19:37 Thu, 21 Jul

“By the bway/b, I’ve arranged for a new doctor for you. The Hayeses contacted Dr. Dewitt and forbade him to treat you. They even sent people to threaten him.”