Chapter 231

Chapter 231

Royce's hands trembled as he clenched them tight, lowering his head with a bitter voice. "Even if you're going to fire me, I have to say this—Mr. Wood, you've lost sight of who you are. Everything you've done lately has gone way beyond your original intention to make it up to Nora. Your love is possessive and far too obsessive."

Walter's chest tightened. He grabbed Royce by the collar, ready to swing.

But even as he raised his fist, he couldn't follow through.

Reason won over impulse.

Slowly releasing Royce, Walter took a step back.

He had been too desperate to make Nora submit.

Whether six years ago or now.

"You're right. It was wrong from the moment I pretended to be Samuel's father," Walter said in a low voice. "Nora resists me because she believes I'm the one who raped her six years ago, causing her psychological trauma and driving her to attempt suicide multiple times over the years. In her mind, I'm the source of all her suffering."

Walter sat on the sofa, his voice heavy. "All of Nora's suffering these years started from that night, so her trauma is rooted in what that man did to her—Samuel's biological father."

Royce glanced at Walter. It was good that he could figure it out. "Mr. Wood, Nora has suffered enough. Please stop hurting her. When the child's condition stabilizes, you'll still have a chance to tell her the truth."

Royce was afraid Walter would make an irreversible mistake.

Walter nodded, a smile forming at the corner of his mouth. "You're right!"

He shouldn't keep hiding things from Nora anymore.

Once Nora knew that Michael was the root cause of all her pain, he wouldn't need to do anything—Nora would run away on her own, far away.

"Mr. Wood, are you really going to tell her the truth?" Royce found it hard to believe Walter.

Walter's love was indeed somewhat obsessive.

"Of course!" Walter snorted. "But not now."

Michael was so afraid of Nora knowing the truth—of course he had to make good use of that.

After all, Michael was the one who hurt Nora six years ago.

"Mr. Wood..." Royce said anxiously.

"Shut up. You can leave now." Walter warned Royce. He had been patient enough with him tonight.

Royce lowered his head, then nodded after a moment. "Mr. Wood, get some rest."

Downstairs at Jasper's place.

After taking a call from the police station, Jasper said he couldn't deal with it anymore. Opal had taken the Fields family's child without permission—they should handle it however they saw fit.

He didn't care if they treated her as a human trafficker and sentenced her accordingly.

Exhausted, Jasper walked downstairs and leaned against a utility pole to light a cigarette.

Having a mother like that was really exhausting.

Actually, over the years, Jasper hadn't enjoyed much motherly love, and fatherly love—not even a single day of that.

From Jasper's earliest memories, his sickly father had already passed away.

Opal really had it tough, raising him and Evelyn all by herself.

Back then, Jasper didn't know that Evelyn wasn't his biological sister.

Opal was indeed very good to Evelyn. Even when they couldn't afford food, she would save money and borrow money to buy the best formula.

Jasper had always been jealous of Evelyn, because when he was so hungry at night that his stomach cramped, Evelyn had the best formula and baby food.

When he was forced to go out collecting bottles and scrap to sell, Evelyn had the newest toys.

When he gave up college to enlist in the army, Evelyn enjoyed expensive private school tuition but wouldn't study hard.

Jasper never understood why Opal, such a selfish person who was so selfish even to him, would treat Evelyn so well knowing she wasn't her biological daughter.

Even now, Jasper couldn't figure it out.

Many times, Jasper wondered if he was the one who had been picked up off the street.

It wasn't until the truth about the switched daughters came out that Jasper learned Evelyn was actually the one who had been taken in.

"Jasper!"

Clea had heard the news that the child had been kidnapped and drove out alone in the middle of the night.

Looking somewhat disheveled, Clea had obviously treated her multi-million dollar luxury car like a bumper car again.

Seeing her limping over, Jasper stood under the streetlight, stunned for a long while.

Clea rushed over like a ball of fire, suddenly bursting into his cold, dark world.

So even knowing they were from different worlds, Jasper's heart had still been moved.

His fingers somewhat stiff, Jasper slowly raised his hand and ultimately, quite honestly, embraced her.

"Running out alone in the middle of the night? Do you have a death wish?" Jasper knew how dangerous Clea's situation was—otherwise she wouldn't have hired so many bodyguards.

But knowing how dangerous it was to come out alone, she had still driven here with her terrible driving skills.

"Don't worry, those bastards can't watch me 24/7," Clea said with a laugh and a curse.

She was always so infectious, making Jasper not know whether to laugh or cry.

"I'm not afraid of those people wanting you dead, I'm afraid you'll kill yourself with your own hands." Jasper scooped up Clea with one arm. "Let's go home."

"Whose home? Yours or mine?" Clea's eyes were full of anticipation.

Jasper took a deep breath helplessly. Was Clea some kind of hooligan?

"It's so late, come to my place, if you don't mind..." Jasper carried Clea with one arm and lifted her into the elevator.

Clea frowned. Being held like this was very uncomfortable. "Can't you be a bit more romantic? A princess carry?"

Jasper put her down. "Why would I carry you like that in an elevator?"

"No way, you said I could do anything to you." Clea jumped up and wrapped herself around Jasper.

Jasper was startled and quickly held her up with both hands. "Can you just..."

"Be more reserved."

"Will being reserved help me pin you down?" Clea rolled her eyes.

"This is a rental apartment. Although it's not the demolition area where I used to live, compared to your mansion, my place is pretty pathetic. Think it over." Before opening the door, Jasper wanted Clea to think clearly. It wasn't too late to say she wanted to go back.

Clea narrowed her eyes, a smile forming at the corner of her mouth.

She pulled a condom from her pocket and bit it between her teeth. "I came prepared."

Jasper's breathing trembled with anger. He really wanted to throw her outside the door.

His ears burning red, Jasper had never in his life seen a woman like this.

Maybe daughters of rich families all knew how to have this much fun.

Jasper knew Clea was very free-spirited and had been married before. She couldn't possibly be like him, still a... after all these years.

He also knew how difficult it was to deal with rich girls when they got interested on a whim. Jasper wasn't sure how long Clea's enthusiasm would last—maybe it wouldn't be long before she got tired of him.

Jasper had been avoiding Clea because he was afraid of falling in too deep.

She was too passionate.

He simply couldn't guard against it.

"Clea." As soon as the door closed, Clea kissed him.

Jasper's breathing quickened as he pressed her against the door. "You need to think this through. You can mess with me, but if you get bored, you have to tell me in advance."

"Also, I can sleep with you, but even if it's just a casual relationship, I hope that while you're with me, there won't be anyone else."

Clea looked at Jasper. "So you really are a virgin."

Jasper looked away. Could she be a little less blunt?

"Whatever, I don't mind that you're not very skilled." Clea bit Jasper's ear.

Jasper took a deep breath and carried her into the bathroom.

Under the warm light of the bathroom, Clea was as beautiful as a seductress.