Chapter 60 : Don’t Let Ronan Fall Into My Hands
Jareth saw the hesitation flicker across his face. Without any hurry, he grabbed his cane and pushed himself up from the ground, slow and deliberate, completely unshaken.
He was young. Jackson was not. No matter how fierce Jackson had once been, time had bent his spine. Now Jareth stood tall, looking down at him.
Jackson’s jaw tightened. Even knowing the Lopez family was now at a disadvantage, he still had the nerve to propose terms.
“Hand the Western Suburbs over to Luke. You can support him from the side.”
Jareth scoffed and rolled up his sleeves. “You’re out of your damn mind.”
I nearly died getting that land. And now I’m supposed to gift wrap it for Luke?
Jackson’s eyes hardened with menace. “What about the things you left with me? Are you ready to lose that?”
Jareth shrugged his shoulders. “You’ve been holding that over me for years. Don’t you think it’s time you looked for a new strategy?”
Jackson blinked, stunned. He never expected Jareth to stop reacting to that threat.
Panic crept in quickly. He could not get rid of Jareth, but he could no longer control him either.
Now the whole situation was slipping out of his grasp.
Jareth saw it affected his father, and he grinned. “Next time, don’t let Ronan fall into my hands. Or I’ll make sure he learns what it’s like to walk with a limp.”
Jackson’s face turned stone-cold. He did not say a word.
He understood it now. The days of keeping Jareth under his heel were over, and they were not coming back.
Jackson watched Jareth walk away calmly. He still carried a strong spirit, and that alone made Jackson feel panicked.
He shouted, desperation creeping into his voice. “Forget the Western Suburbs for now. But your marriage? That still has to happen! Ronan has already grown. He cannot get married before his own uncle!”
Jareth let out a dry scoff and did not slow his steps. “Ronan’s love life is not my damn problem.”
Jackson was out of cards, yet he still pushed his luck. “If you go get married and sign the papers, I’ll give back what’s yours.”
Jareth paused for just a second, then answered without turning around. “Suit yourself, old man!”
The heavy front doors swung open. Bright light spilled in and lit Jareth's face.
Oliver was waiting outside. He shrugged off his blazer and carefully draped it over Jareth’s shoulders, covering the bruises as they walked away.
Ronan stood there with his arms crossed, eyes cold, anger simmering beneath the surface.
Jareth had not even spared him a glance on the way out, and that hurt more than a slap.
Ronan turned to Linda. “Madam Linda, what did Grandpa say to him?”
Linda usually went out of her way for Ronan. She almost never refused him, but this time, she only shook her head slightly.
Jackson had sent her away as well.
Whatever happened in that room, she chose to shut her mouth.
Ronan’s stomach twisted with frustration. Next time, I swear, I’m going to make Jareth eat dirt in front of everyone.
“Mr. Jackson…” Linda’s gentle voice snapped everyone back to attention as Jackson finally stepped out.
“Grandpa…” Ronan was just about to move closer, but to his surprise, Jackson walked right past him and headed straight for Allison.
Allison had already finished feeding the fish. She leaned against the railing, staring blankly at the lake. A few koi gathered near her, their round mouths breaking the surface as they nibbled.
“Allison.”
Jackson’s sudden call pulled her out of her reverie. She turned to face him and straightened up.
Even if she could not stand him, deep down, appearances still had to be kept. Nigel’s worried eyes flicked between Jackson and Allison. He was scared Jackson might hold a grudge and put Sherrie’s marriage at risk. Just as he was about to say something to smooth things over, Jackson raised a hand, signaling him to stop. His eyes landed on the scarf around Allison’s neck.
Embroidered at the end was a koi fish. He had not been mistaken. It was the same scarf from his memories.
Jackson looked up, and his expression softened into a gentle smile as he focused on Allison’s face. He quickly asked in a warm voice. “What happened to your face?”
Allison replied, “I just bumped into something.”
Behind him, Ronan turned his head away awkwardly, guilt written all over his face.
Jackson nodded. “You’re young and in good shape. This kind of injury is nothing.”
Then he added, “As for your engagement to Ronan, I’ve always felt I owe you. That’s a debt I need to repay.”
Allison’s expression stayed blank, but her stomach tightened. What is this old fox playing at now?
However, the moment Nigel heard the word “repay,” his face lit up with excitement. It seemed Jackson had more of a conscience than Luke. At last, he was thinking about making it up to the Rogers family.
If Allison was willing to speak up for Sherrie, then arranging the marriage between her and Ronan would be even easier.
After exchanging a few vague pleasantries with Allison, Jackson suddenly looked tired and asked Linda to see the guests out.
Once Nigel and Allison were gone, Ronan smoothly blocked Jackson's path and blurted out, “Grandpa, what did you mean by repaying a debt? You’re not planning to make Allison and me—”
Jackson swiftly interrupted him before he could finish. “You’ll find out in a few days.”
If he did not want to explain, no one was getting it out of him.
Something else occurred to Jackson. He paused mid-step and warned Ronan, “You’d better control yourself. Stay away from that mad dog.”
Ronan didn't agree deep down, but he still replied, “Got it.”
One of these days, I’m going to break Jareth’s other leg. Let’s see how he keeps yapping after that.
In the car, Nigel seemed in high spirits, probably because of Jackson’s promise to repay the debt.
Allison patted herself down, then suddenly said, “Nigel, I think you grabbed the wrong phone.”
“Did I?” Nigel reached into his pocket and, sure enough, pulled out Sherrie’s old phone.
It was the same one Allison had been using.
“How did your phone end up with me?” Nigel asked as he handed it back.
Allison took it. “I left it on the center console. You must have grabbed it out of habit.”