Chapter 214
In Lakewood Bay, Jane and another pair of siblings were also worried about the situation on their end.
No one expected John to suddenly come home, and no one expected Jill to get nervous and drop her phone.
Just now, they could only hold their breath, not daring to make a sound or hang up the call, afraid that any noise would attract John's attention and ruin everything.
Although the call was hung up later, John wasn't someone who could be easily fooled - he would definitely notice something.
Jack still hadn't sent her a single message to let her know they were safe. It seemed things were dangerous on their end.
Jane was getting anxious.
Actually, she had thought more than once about what she would do if John suddenly discovered Jack and Jill's existence.
She had thought of many solutions, but so far, none of them were foolproof.
To confront John directly - her strength was still far from enough.
Smith Family.
The huge dining room was silent, even though there were only the father and two children.
John checked the phone very slowly, occasionally looking up at his daughter. His mysterious gaze made Jill extremely nervous, and she kept rubbing her little hands together.
For a full fifteen minutes, she felt like she was being roasted on a grill, suffering terribly.
Finally, John calmly handed the phone back to her as if nothing had happened, and even patted her head reassuringly: "If you want to play with your phone in the future, that's fine, but you need to set time limits for yourself, have a sense of time, and be self-disciplined, understand?"
Jill, who had been mentally prepared for battle, brightened up at his words and looked at John in disbelief. Nothing happened?
She looked at Brother again. Jack was still eating his meal calmly, showing no signs of tension at all.
Jill understood - Brother had already deleted everything: all call records, WeChat contacts, phone book entries, all sensitive people and numbers. He had deleted them all.
Brother was so amazing to do all that in such a short time.
If John wasn't still there, she really wanted to give Brother a big kiss.
Having had no appetite just moments ago, she suddenly felt hungry and started eating happily with a bright smile.
After lunch, John had them go back to their rooms for an afternoon nap while he went to his own bathroom to shower.
The siblings went into Jack's room.
As soon as she locked the door, Jill excitedly jumped onto Brother's back, showering him with praise: "Brother, you're amazing! Good thing you deleted everything fast enough, or we would've been caught today. I didn't expect Mr. Smith to be so hard to fool."
"I already told you - you need to memorize their phone numbers, not save them in your phone."
"Why should I waste brain cells on that?"
"In special times, we have to be a bit more careful." Jack was quite helpless. "Forget it, from now on tell me when you need to contact them, and I'll handle the connection."
"Okay, okay, I'll listen to you." Jill had no choice but to agree.
Jack sat down at his computer and started messaging Jane to let her know they were safe.
Jill sat on his bed, swinging her little legs back and forth, looking quite relaxed.
Hearing the faint sound of running water from John's room, she raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Smith is showering? Brother, do you think Mr. Smith is going on a date with Mommy?"
"Probably." Jack wasn't interested in this topic.
Jill kept listening to the sounds from next door.
Around three in the afternoon, when she heard John leaving, she quietly opened the door a crack and saw John's back as he went downstairs. She closed the door and covered her mouth, laughing.
"At this time, he must be going to the design exhibition with Mommy. I didn't expect Mr. Smith to specially come home to shower and change clothes. Looks like he really values his date with Mommy."
Jack ignored her.
Jill continued: "I'm suddenly starting to support Second Brother's plan. Actually, it would be pretty good if Mr. Smith and Mommy got back together. He's willing to treat Mommy well and values her, plus the four of us could be together."
Jack: "..."
Jill: "I just wonder how their date will go today. I suddenly want to go watch."
Jack continued to ignore her.
They had no idea that at this moment, Jane was still at home taking an afternoon nap.
When she mentioned the design exhibition to John yesterday, he hadn't responded.
She didn't know if he would go, so she forgot about it. When she was napping with the two kids at noon, she fell asleep too.
When John called, she answered groggily: "Who is it?"
"Still sleeping?"
His low voice carried a hint of displeasure.
"What else should I do on a weekend?" Jane responded instinctively.
"Jane, you're really something."
The man ground out those words through clenched teeth.
She was the one who invited him to the design exhibition, and she was also the one who forgot about it.
He felt an inexplicable surge of anger.
The chilling coldness seemed to pass through the phone into Jane's room.
She immediately woke up and looked at the caller ID: John.
Only then did she remember - five o'clock in the afternoon, the design exhibition.
And right now, it was already four o'clock.
She immediately sat up in bed and said to the man on the phone: "Sorry, I overslept. Let's meet at the exhibition entrance then."
"I'll give you five minutes. Come downstairs."
John said in a heavy voice and hung up directly.
Jane got out of bed and looked out the window. Sure enough, she saw John's conspicuous extended Rolls-Royce parked right in front of her villa.
Afraid of waking the two sleeping children, she didn't dare make too much noise. She quickly changed clothes, went to the guest bathroom to wash her face, simply applied some skincare products without even putting on makeup, grabbed her bag and hurried downstairs.
Getting into his car, the man's cold voice drifted over from beside her: "Miss Watson can even forget appointments she made herself. Isn't Miss Watson putting on quite the airs?"
Jane felt no guilt whatsoever and even smiled: "Mr. Smith, you never personally agreed to my invitation. I couldn't just waste time waiting for someone who might not show up instead of doing my own things, could I?"
John's face visibly darkened, turning cold as ice, and the air pressure in the car rapidly dropped.
Kevin, driving in the front seat, didn't even dare to breathe loudly. He even had the illusion that if anyone else dared to provoke his boss like this, given the boss's usual temperament, he would probably throw them out of the car.
However, John only stared at Jane, his voice icy, even grinding through clenched teeth: "It seems Miss Watson is quite aggrieved. In that case, there's no need to attend the design exhibition."
After speaking, he commanded Kevin: "Turn around. Take Miss Watson home."
Kevin didn't immediately respond, nor did he turn the car around. He only slowed down, glancing at Jane Watson through the rearview mirror.
Please, please, young Madam, stop fighting with the boss, or everyone's lives are going to be miserable again.
Jane hadn't forgotten that she came today to make peace. That outburst was impulsive.
She said sincerely: "I'm sorry. It was my fault. I shouldn't have been late. It won't happen again."
Kevin in the front seat thought: Young Madam, the boss isn't angry that you made him wait—he's upset that you made plans with him and then forgot about him.
Sure enough, John showed no sign of relenting.
Jane's attitude softened further, even becoming somewhat ingratiating: "How about this—after the design exhibition ends, I'll treat you to dinner to apologize to Mr. Smith. Is that acceptable?"
As she spoke, she reached out and gently tugged at his sleeve.
"Do I need your dinner?"
The man snorted coldly, his gaze falling on her gesture. His voice remained icy, though it had softened considerably.
When they arrived at the exhibition hall, the event had already begun, and quite a crowd had gathered.
Though this design exhibition was meant to promote consumption, most of the exhibits were created by renowned masters, so in addition to customers, many designers had come to observe and learn.
John had always hated crowded venues, but from the moment Jane entered, her attention had been entirely focused on the exhibits in the hall.
She genuinely loved design—regardless of the field, excellent work always made her eyes light up.
John walked alongside her.
---
Jane took a deep breath, then stepped forward, deliberately sliding her hand into the crook of his arm.
His entire body stiffened at her touch, every muscle locking up.
For one terrifying moment, Jane thought he might shake her off in front of everyone.
"What are you doing?" His voice was low, full of warning.
Before Jane could answer, John felt the woman in his arms suddenly tense up completely.
Jane was staring across the crowded hall, her expression one of complete shock.
John followed her gaze. Four small figures were in a corner of the exhibition hall, secretly watching them.
"No," Jane murmured. "How could they be here—"
The secret was finally out.
But John was already moving, with Jane stumbling after him.
They caught up with the children near a display area.
John's hand shot out, gripping Jack's shoulder and spinning the boy around to face him.
Behind him, the other three children froze, their small faces reflecting varying degrees of guilt and fear.
"What... exactly is going on here?" John said.
His gaze turned to Jane, pinning her in place. "So you knew all along. You hid from me that you gave birth to quadruplets?"
There was no hiding it anymore.
Jane lifted her chin, forcing herself to meet his eyes without flinching.
"I'll give you one hundred billion," she blurted out. "Everything I have. Just let me keep my children."
John's eyebrows rose in surprise. "One hundred billion. That's quite a sum."
"It's everything," Jane said. "Take it all. Just leave me my children."
John was silent for a long moment. Then, slowly, he smiled. "Alright. I accept your terms. But I have one condition."
His gaze moved past her to the children. "I want their mother to marry me. Again."
Jane's brain went blank with shock. "No. Absolutely not—"
"Daddy?" a small, hopeful voice interrupted.
Jane turned slowly to find all four children staring at John with expressions of wonder and hope.
Tears streamed down Jill's face, her small hands clasped at her chest.
John's expression softened as he looked at them. "Yes. I'm your father. All four of you."
Then he looked back at Jane, his face full of challenge. "So what will your answer be? Your pride, or your children?"
Jane felt something crack open in her chest. She was trapped.
"You bastard," she whispered.
"Is that a yes?"
---
In a private room, Jane sat on the edge of her chair, feeling like she was facing a firing squad.
The four children sat on the opposite sofa, their expressions full of hope.
John stood by the window, arms crossed.
"You want me to marry you again. To pretend we're a family—"
"Not pretend," John corrected. "A real marriage this time. A real family."
"Mommy, please," Jill interrupted. "We want a real family. We want a daddy. Please don't say no."
Sammy nodded vigorously. "We promise we'll be good. Please give Daddy a chance."
Jane closed her eyes, fighting the sting of tears. This wasn't fair.
"Jane," John's voice was softer. "I want to fix what I broke six years ago. Give me a chance to be the father these children deserve."
Jane looked at the desperate longing on the children's faces. "If I agree, there will be rules. Boundaries—"
"Whatever you want," John said immediately. "But say yes. For them."
The children held their breath, four pairs of eyes fixed on her with desperate hope.
"Fine," she finally said, defeated. "I'll marry you. Again."
Suddenly all four children launched themselves at her, the chaotic group hug nearly knocking her off the chair. They were crying and laughing, chattering excitedly.
Over their heads, Jane's and John's eyes met.
This was going to be a disaster.
---
When they returned to the company headquarters, John went to his office first. Jane caught sight of Anna in the lobby, her face twisted with hatred.
"Your termination is effective immediately," he said, handing Anna a folder. "Security will escort you out."
Anna's face flushed. "After everything I've done for you? You're firing me because of her?"
"I'm firing you because I don't trust you around my family," John said calmly. "Now please leave."
Anna's gaze shifted to Jane at the doorway, something murderous entering her eyes.
"This is all your fault," Anna hissed, staggering toward Jane. "You ruined everything for me!"
"You need to leave now," Jane said quietly but firmly.
"You bitch!" Anna's voice rose to a shriek. "You stole everything—"
"Enough," John cut in sharply.
But Anna was beyond listening. She lunged forward, clawed hands reaching for Jane, clearly intending to push her down the stairs.
Jane had a split second to decide. Six years ago she might have frozen, but time had changed her.
She stepped smoothly to the side. Anna's momentum carried her into empty space, and then Jane's foot—almost accidentally—hooked around Anna's ankle as she passed.
Anna screamed as she pitched forward, tumbling down the stairs in a horrible way. The sound of her body hitting each step was sickening. When she finally came to rest at the bottom, she wasn't moving anymore. Blood pooled beneath her, her legs bent at impossible angles.
When employees moved forward to help, John raised his hand. "Don't touch her. Wait for the paramedics."
When the paramedics arrived twenty minutes later, the lead medic said Anna had broken both legs.
Anna might never be able to stand again.
---
John's penthouse apartment.
Jane watched from the doorway as John chased the four children around playing, his jacket off, tie loosened, sleeves rolled up.
This was what she wanted, wasn't it? A father who actually wanted them?
Dinner, baths, and finally bedtime. John read them stories, all four children piled on his bed. One by one they fell asleep.
John carefully extracted himself, tenderly tucking blankets around them, then came to where Jane stood.
"They're asleep," he said.
"I see," Jane replied, her voice rough.
"I'm going to take a shower—"
Before she could finish, John's arms wrapped around her waist, lifting her up.
Jane made a surprised sound as he carried her down the hallway.
"What are you doing? Put me down—"
"Didn't you say my technique was lacking?" John murmured against her mouth.
"Shut up," Jane gasped, pulling him into another kiss.
(The End)