Chapter 28

Jonny didn't see his problem as serious, but the irritation it caused was undeniable.

He had waited for days, expecting Eleanor to eventually cave.

Given their past, he was even prepared to let everything slide if she simply returned to the Todd household and resumed her role there.

But no matter how much time passed, she stayed silent.

Another message was sent, and once again the only reply was that mocking little exclamation mark.

Fury burned hot enough that he nearly hurled his phone across the room, when suddenly the ringtone shattered the quiet.

Hope surged instantly. He convinced himself Eleanor had finally come around, that she was ready to apologize and plead with him.

Snatching up the phone, he answered without hesitation. "Eleanor? Finally realized your mistake?Well, it's too late for regrets now. I'm warning you-be ready for me tonight. Wash up and wait, or you can forget about me forgiving you."

A pause lingered on the line, heavy with hesitation.

At last, Allard's guarded voice broke through. "Mr.Todd, it's me. Mr. Rayne and the other shareholders... they're all talking about pulling out their investments. What should we do?"

Jonny shot up from the sofa, rage flaring like fire.

Damn it!

Those decrepit cowards!

They actually had the nerve to bring up withdrawing now?

He would love to see how they thought they would survive without the Todd Group backing them.

The company was already listed, the road ahead nothing but clear skies.

If they were foolish enough to walk away, they would only be throwing away effortless pofits.

Unless they had all gone mad, they would be crawling back before long.

Jonny snatched a jacket with a storm cloud hanging over his face and made straight for the door.

The moment he yanked it open, he nearly collided with Lainey, who stepped out from the kitchen.

"Jonny, I made this soup for you. I've been working on it all afternoon. Will you please taste it?" Her hands trembled slightly as she offered the bowl, her eyes searching his.

One glance at her only deepened his irritation.

If not for her, would the company be staring down this disaster? Since moving in, she had been more of a nuisance than anything-poking into his schedule, meddling where she didn't belong.

He was long past tired of it.

He started to push past her, but then he caught the shimmer of tears forming in her eyes.

For a second, he faltered.

She had been the woman he once swore he loved.

Maybe he could humor her,just this once.

With clear reluctance, Jonny reached out and accepted the bowl.

The heat seeped into his palms, and the fragrance rising from it was at least tolerable.

He blew across the surface, then forced down a cautious sip.

The taste hit him like a slap.

Greasy and flat-there wasn't a hint of seasoning, not even the faintest flavor to mask the mess.

It felt as though Lainey had dumped unwashed ingredients straight into boiling water and called it soup.

The memory of Eleanor's soups-rich, fragrant, and layered with care-only made this concoction seem even more pitiful.

Drained of patience, Jonny let his frustration spill out. "From now on, leave the cooking to the servants.You've already stirred up enough trouble. The shareholders are restless because of you, and I've got bigger things to handle."

Without another glance, he brushed past her and stepped out the door.

Never before had his words to her cut this deep.

Lainey's eyes blurred with tears as she turned toward Vickie in the living room. Her voice cracked as she sobbed, "Vickie, it's my fault... I shouldn't even be here.Maybe I should just leave." Her shoulders trembled, her whole figure carrying the weight of grievance.

Vickie, caught off guard by Jonny's sudden cruelty,sat frozen.

She couldn't reconcile this coldness with her son who had once doted on Lainey. Could it be...he had already set his sights on someone new?

Before Vickie could sort out her thoughts, Emma shot up from the sofa in alarm.

Emma said, "Lainey, you can't leave! If you walk away now, that shameless Eleanor will swoop right back in to steal Jonny!"

Turning to Vickie, she said, "Mom, say something-make her stay!"

The moment Eleanor's name was spoken, Vickie's hesitation vanished.

To her, Eleanor was a stain that clung no matter how hard she tried to wash it away. Compared to that nuisance, Lainey seemed far more acceptable.

Vickie hurried forward and clasped Lainey's hand.Her voice softened as she muttered,"DDon't let Jonny's temper scare you. He's just stressed from work, that's all. He doesn't mean to be cruel. You've got me on your side, so stay here and be at ease.Once the company calms down, you and Jonny can finaly marry."

A flicker of satisfaction flashed across Lainey's eyes,though she quickly masked it beneath a meek expression.

She lowered her head and leaned against Vickie with a practiced gentleness. "Vickie, you're too good to me. When I marry into this family, I'Il devote myself to treating you with respect and care."

She knew well enough how men were-always chasing the new while neglecting the old.

But with Vickie in her corner, she had nothing to fear.The title of Jonny's wife was already within her grasp.