Chapter 296

Chapter 296

"Solve the problem?" Remy sneered, her gaze fixed on Griffin. "What makes you think I would agree?"

"Because I know your secret." Griffin said, toying with his coffee cup, his eyes locking onto Remy's with a half-smile.

"What do you mean?" Remy's stare grew even colder.

"Let me guess." Griffin began slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. "The reason you're so good to Chloe… could it be that you want to latch onto the Miller family for support?"

"I simply admire Chloe's artistic talent. Don't you dare make baseless accusations." Remy retorted, her voice frigid.

"Is that so? Such a noble reason." Griffin clapped his hands softly. "I just wonder, if Chloe were to find out that the esteemed Ms. Jenkins was once her father's lover, would she still be willing to stay at your studio?"

Remy's hand, stirring her coffee, faltered for a fraction of a second. She slowly looked up at Griffin. "You investigated me?"

Faced with her accusation, Griffin's lips curled. "Ms. Jenkins, you're overstating it. Let's just call it knowing my enemy to ensure victory." He rose slowly. "Well, I'll leave this contract for you to consider carefully. After all, dividing the Jenkins Group is a major decision."

"There's no need to consider. I won't agree." Remy refused, her rejection sharp and immediate, without a hint of hesitation.

"Your answer is somewhat surprising." Griffin's lips curled again. "It seems Ms. Brown isn't a strong enough bargaining chip?" He leaned closer to her. "What if I were to add your biological daughter to the table?"

Remy's heart plummeted.

"You already know, don't you, Ms. Jenkins? Sloane isn't your biological daughter. Aren't you the least bit curious about where your real daughter is?"

"You know where my daughter is?"

As expected, Griffin was a master of psychological warfare."If Ms. Jenkins is willing to sign this contract, I suppose I could consider telling you."

Seeing Remy hesitate, Griffin smiled. "It's alright. I'll give you three days. If you change your mind, you can contact me anytime." He tucked a business card into her coat pocket. "But I must remind you, Ms. Jenkins, my patience is limited."

It was a naked threat.

Watching Griffin leave, Remy collapsed helplessly into her chair.

That evening, at the Jenkins Family Mansion, Remy tossed the contract onto her desk and went to take a shower. When she emerged from the bathroom sometime later, she found Flora sitting on the sofa, her face dark as she stared at her. The contract lay open on the coffee table. Clearly, Flora had seen it.

"Flora, what's wrong?" Remy asked hesitantly.

"What is the meaning of this contract?" Flora's eyes were fierce as she glared at Remy. "Father isn't even dead yet, and you're already planning to hand over his life's work? Remy, I'd like to know just how much the Martinez Group offered you!"

Flora advanced on her, step by step. If the Jenkins Group were to fall, Remy could still rely on her talent in jewelry design to maintain her standing. But she and Amara would be left with nothing.

"Griffin did approach me privately." Remy said, sitting down opposite Flora. "But rest assured, I will not do anything to betray the Jenkins family."

"You'd better not!" Flora said coldly.

After finally getting Flora to leave, Remy rubbed her temples, a headache blooming. Suddenly, her phone rang. Staring at the unfamiliar number on the caller ID, she hesitated before answering. "Hello, who is this?"

"Hello, is this Ms. Remy Jenkins?" The voice on the other end was emotionally unreadable.

"I am."

"Hello. My name is Vance Brown."

Remy froze for a moment at the name.

"I'm sorry to bother you. Would it be convenient to meet?"

"Yes." Remy agreed almost instantly.

Looking at the man before her, who bore a five- or six-tenths resemblance to Edward, Remy felt a momentary daze. She was inexplicably reminded of the man she had seen sitting across from Chloe in the coffee shop near her studio long ago.

"Ms. Jenkins." Vance began, at a loss for words.

"Vance." Remy said softly. Edward had once told her how well Vance had treated him.

"I'm glad you're still willing to call me that." Vance gently placed his cup on its saucer and hesitated before speaking. "About what happened back then, I'm so sorry. I couldn't..."

"It's okay. It's all in the past." Remy interrupted before he could finish. The Jenkins and Brown families were business rivals. She knew in her heart that Vance had nothing to do with it.

"Actually, I came to find you for another reason." Vance sighed. "I've been abroad all these years. If it weren't for Chloe, I probably wouldn't have had the chance to come back and give this to you."

As he spoke, Vance placed an exquisite, yet time-worn, box in front of Remy.

"What is this?" Remy slowly opened it.

Inside was a delicate bracelet.

"I've seen the design for this." Remy said, her nose beginning to sting. She had seen the sketch in Edward's design book. He had told her that once he found the right gemstone, he would make it for her.

"He didn't break his promise." Remy whispered, gently fastening the bracelet around her wrist. A tear splashed onto the table. "Vance, thank you."

Vance's lips curved into a faint smile. "Now that the bracelet is in your hands, I feel I've fulfilled Edward's last wish." He paused. "After Chloe's wedding, I'll be leaving. I probably won't be back."

At the mention of Chloe, a complex emotion flickered in Remy's eyes. "Her design talent is exceptional. She's a lot like him," she said, her voice softening.

"Chloe mentioned she's working at your studio now." Vance said, looking at Remy.

Remy nodded. "I'm very fond of her."

Vance nodded back. "Thank you, Ms. Jenkins."

Watching Vance leave, Remy stared at the bracelet on her wrist, lost in thought. In that moment, it seemed as though all the grievances and regrets of the past had finally been laid to rest.

"Edward." Remy murmured, whispering his name.

The next morning, in the top-floor office of the Miller Group.

"Mr. Miller, Griffin met with Remy privately yesterday." Teddy reported to Howard.

Howard slowly twirled the pen in his hand, trying to decipher Griffin's intentions.

"Also, a while back, Griffin's assistant sent two samples to a DNA testing center." Teddy continued.

"It seems," Howard murmured to himself, "that Griffin is about to make a big move."