Chapter 245: Name Your Price

Chapter 245: Name Your Price

Alice stared at Louis, words on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't bring herself to say them.

Both of them seemed to understand something unspoken and silently ended the conversation.

Elizabeth and Matthew watched the scene unfold and couldn't help but laugh.

Alice, feeling even more embarrassed, quickly busied herself with tidying up.

Elizabeth took a break and received a call from an unknown number. Glancing at the busy people inside, she stepped out onto the balcony to answer it.

The moment she heard the voice on the other end, the smile on Elizabeth's face vanished.

"Elizabeth, it's me. I finally got a break today and heard you were in Silvermist City, so I called..."

The man's excited words were cut off by Elizabeth's cold interruption.

"Jeremy, can't you just stop? Changing numbers to call me again?"

Jeremy was silent for a moment before speaking with a hint of grievance.

"I was just worried about you. It's getting colder, and your stomach isn't good. Remember to..."

"You're worrying about the wrong person." Elizabeth's voice was icy as she twisted the ring on her middle finger.

"Emily was recognized by the Ramirez family a few days ago. Soon, she'll be their legitimate daughter. You work in the lab; you should know what the Ramirez family means in Silvermist City. You two should catch up."

Elizabeth's smile was laced with sarcasm.

"After all, you never liked a girl down on her luck. You preferred someone who could help you. Isn't Emily exactly what you wanted now?"

The wounds from three years ago were something Elizabeth would never forget or forgive Jeremy for.

Hurt was hurt, and no amount of making amends could change that.

Hearing Elizabeth's sarcasm, Jeremy, though guilty, was desperate to explain.

"Elizabeth, I admit I was confused back then, but now I..."

"Enough!" Elizabeth's patience snapped, her voice rising.

"Jeremy, when I was framed and at my lowest, you turned to Emily without hesitation, not believing me at all. We are done in the past!"

Jeremy's voice on the other end was suddenly loud and breaking, "No, I love you! I realize now, I truly love you!"

"You came to Silvermist City to see me, didn't you? I have a house and a car here. We can still build a happy home together. Let's start over. I don't care that you slept with Matthew."

Elizabeth sneered at Jeremy's confident words, her laugh tinged with icy disdain.

"Get lost, will you? Don't call me again, and stay out of my sight!"

Elizabeth knew Jeremy's stubbornness wouldn't be solved by mere rejection.

So she hung up the phone without further ado.

The last thing she heard was Jeremy's near-hysterical scream.

She calmly blocked his number again.

Matthew, standing at a distance, had heard everything. He sighed in relief and smiled, turning away.

It was expected, but hearing Elizabeth reject Jeremy again gave Matthew a sense of victory.

Matthew hadn't been part of Elizabeth's past with Jeremy, who had been in her life for over a decade. But from now on, Elizabeth would be with him, Matthew.

Meanwhile, Jeremy had just left the lab, staring at his darkened phone screen, his heart aching. His fingers trembled as he looked back at the lab's entrance and his still-worn lab coat, feeling miserable as he crouched by the wall.

If only regret could change things, Jeremy now deeply regretted how he had treated Elizabeth. But it was too late to fix things between them. Remembering the past, Jeremy pressed his hand to his forehead, holding back tears. Many people passing by noticed him, but Jeremy didn't care about the embarrassment, silently dealing with his emotions.

Emily, having bought furniture, had her driver take her to the lab. She saw the scene as she got out of the car. She doubted her eyes at first, but as she got closer and confirmed it was Jeremy, a strange feeling arose in her heart.

Jeremy had abandoned her without hesitation because of the Perez family, expressing only disdain. Now, Jeremy was in such a state, while Emily had become Colt's daughter, destined for a prominent position in the lab. Thinking of this, Emily walked up to him, looking at the dejected Jeremy with a mocking smile.

Jeremy, still downcast, momentarily mistook the voice for Elizabeth's, lifting his head in disbelief and hope, only to see Emily. His smile faded visibly. Emily was almost amused by his reaction.

"Jeremy, what's with that look? Who did you think I was?"

Jeremy didn't want to deal with Emily, standing up and walking away. Even knowing Emily's new status, he didn't want to entangle with her anymore, only wanting to win back Elizabeth. Besides, if it weren't for Emily and Jessa, Elizabeth and Nola wouldn't have been framed and fallen so low. Thinking of this, Jeremy felt even worse.

So when Emily caught up to him, Jeremy lashed out.

"Are you crazy? Why are you following me like a lunatic?"

Emily paused, her fingers gripping her cashmere scarf turning white. Even though she and Jeremy had been apart for so long, his harsh words still stung. Emily quickly composed herself and retorted.

"Do you know who I am now? Think carefully about how you talk to me, got it? I'm Mr. Ramirez' daughter in the lab, you..."

Before Emily could finish, Jeremy interrupted again, his words still cold and unfeeling.

"I don't care who you are. We're done, and there's no going back. If you want to settle the years we spent together, name your price, and I'll pay you."

Emily's fingers dug into her palm at his words. She forced herself to lift her chin, though her eyelashes trembled. The next moment, Emily questioned him.

"Do you think I'm someone you can just pay to sleep with?"