Chapter 55
Elizabeth's POV
Even though I'd mentally prepared myself, being stared at with those lustful eyes still made me feel uneasy.
I instinctively looked at Alexander beside me, but he showed no reaction at all.
He didn't seem like the type who would protect me.
I took a deep breath as the uneasiness welled up inside me again.
Sure, the baby in my belly was Alexander's, but when push came to shove, he wasn't necessarily the type to stand by my side completely.
Or rather, as long as no harm came to his child in my belly, it seemed like anything others did to me was acceptable.
If...
"Mr. Garcia, I'm here to discuss a partnership." I stepped back, avoiding Jasper's outstretched hand.
Jasper was clearly unhappy with my reaction, but he kept smiling and moved even closer to me.
"What do you mean?" He chuckled. "If you want to work together, come to my side. I'll give you what you want."
Then he looked directly at Alexander. "Sir, this is your female companion, right? I'm guessing you're the one who really wants to work together? Lend me your companion for one night, and I guarantee the partnership opportunity is yours."
The air went silent. Jasper had finally stated his intentions plainly, and the room became incredibly quiet.
Alexander, who hadn't spoken until now, finally moved. He narrowed his eyes and slowly looked up, his gaze landing on Jasper like something physical, cold enough to freeze.
In just an instant, Jasper was intimidated by the coldness in those eyes. He swallowed and spoke uneasily, "What's with that look?"
Alexander smiled slightly. "Do you think she's a woman you can just play with?"
Jasper shrank back, scared, and tried to defend himself. "Isn't she? She's just a woman. There are plenty like her, right?"
I could see the confusion in Jasper's eyes, as if he was puzzled why Alexander, who had shown no reaction before, could now display such an expression.
"That's exactly right!" Aiden suddenly stood beside Jasper, showing his support. "Mr. Garcia, women like her are a dime a dozen. If you like her, of course, you can play with her however you want."
I looked at Aiden's disgusting face and couldn't help but laugh mockingly.
Right, in Aiden's mind, this was always how I appeared, wasn't it?
To him, I was just the kind of woman who could be toyed with casually, so he never took me seriously from the start.
He wanted to use my status to marry into my family, then quickly found his true love after my family fell into trouble, and finally even tried to take my life.
Now that Jasper was interested in me, Aiden was the one who most wanted him to succeed.
This despicable, unscrupulous person who would do anything for profit.
"Mr. Garcia, I can talk with you privately, but could you kick this man out? I think he's disgusting." I stood up and moved closer on my own, softening my voice.
Jasper was interested in me, and I was certain I could get out of this unscathed. If that was the case, I might as well use it to my advantage.
Jasper seemed surprised by how quickly my attitude changed. He looked into my eyes and said, "Of course, that's possible, but it depends on what the man beside you thinks. He doesn't seem willing to let you go to me."
"Wouldn't it be better if we discussed this privately behind closed doors? But having Aiden here is just an eyesore."
Aiden panicked instantly and lunged at me.
I dodged to the side and said to Jasper as if making a point, "See, Mr. Garcia? Aiden is interested in me too. It's really not appropriate to keep him here, is it?"
As if I'd hit the nail on the head, Jasper's face immediately turned cold toward Aiden.
"You leave here."
Aiden's legs went weak. "Mr. Garcia, you can't make me leave. We're here to discuss a partnership. How can you listen to what this person says? She's just a liar!"
"Aiden, between the two of us, who's really the liar?" I looked at him with a smile. "Try saying one more word."
I didn't know when it started, but facing Aiden no longer made me feel nervous. I could even handle all my emotions more clearly.
Getting Aiden out first was what I needed to do most. As for how to deal with Jasper, I'd probably have to use Alexander for that.
Given his attitude just now, this wouldn't be easy to pull off. I could only take it one step at a time.
"Mr. Garcia, don't think she's so great! She used to be my fiancée! She's a woman I've already used up!" As guards were about to drag him out, Aiden shouted at me in desperation.
Jasper paused, his gaze moving back and forth between Aiden and me, as if thinking about something.
I frowned, finding Aiden's words incredibly grating.
Aiden really was a bastard.
But Jasper laughed the next second and said to me, "That's all in the past. It has nothing to do with now. I just think she's beautiful right now."
That look of viewing prey was strangely pure, but it made me feel sick to my stomach.
A middle-aged man, confident in a way that made me want to throw up.
"How can you not care about that..." Aiden was half-kneeling on the ground, his eyes red. "Elizabeth! You're doing this on purpose, aren't you? You know I need this partnership, but you're here to ruin my chances."
Guards came in to drag him out, and Aiden practically screamed at me.
I watched him being helplessly restrained and smiled. "Yes, I'm doing it on purpose. I just don't want to see you get back on your feet, Aiden. Aren't you so capable? Then use your abilities to save your company. Don't come begging me when you go bankrupt."
When my family went bankrupt, Aiden didn't offer me a single word of comfort.
Except for Bella, everyone in the Smith family mocked and looked down on me, their attitudes completely changing.
I was stupid back then, actually thinking Aiden didn't mean it. Now I see he was probably thrilled when my family had problems.
Family bankruptcy, that feeling of having nothing and being trampled underfoot—it was Aiden's turn to taste it.
I was actually looking forward to seeing if Aiden could handle it.
"Don't, don't take me away! Mr. Garcia! Don't trust this woman..."
Aiden was dragged out by the guards, his voice completely cut off outside the door.
In the room, only the three of us remained—me, Jasper, and Alexander.
Jasper's eyes fell on me lustfully, even more blatantly than before. He moved closer to me, reaching out his hand.
From start to finish, Alexander hadn't taken much of a stance, which made Jasper increasingly bold.
"As long as you let me have this woman, the partnership opportunity is yours."
Jasper looked at Alexander with complete confidence, as if victory was already his.