THE MEETING BECAME INTENSE

Rory sat still and listened as Jason went about talking about his business in Spain, but she could hardly hear everything he was saying; Jason’s words were still echoing in her mind like a haunting melody - ‘Right your wrongs.’ The phrase clung to her thoughts, unsettling yet deliberately vague. What did he mean by that? Her heart pounded, but she kept her face unreadable, refusing to let him see the wave of emotions surging through her.

Jason sat across from her, exuding confidence, his fingers lightly drumming on the table. His gaze was fixed on her, as if reading her reaction, waiting for the perfect moment to strike again. Rory held her breath, choosing patience over interruption. If she wanted answers, she had to let him speak.

“I must say, Rory, you surprised me.” His voice was smooth and casual, yet laced with something more. “I thought you were smarter than to fall for a simple setup like that.”

Rory stiffened slightly. “A setup, what do you mean?”

Jason leaned back, smirking. “Come on, a woman shows up out of nowhere with twin babies, points a finger at your husband, and the media just happens to be there, ready to ruin you? You don't think that’s a coincidence, do you? That was orchestrated of course.”

Her jaw tightened, but she kept her expression neutral. “And you expect me to believe that you had nothing to do with it?”

He chuckled. “Oh, I had a role to play, don’t get me wrong. But I didn’t start the fire, I just made sure it burned bright.”

Rory felt a cold chill creep down her spine. He wasn’t denying involvement, but he wasn’t claiming responsibility either. “I don't understand, what do you mean?”

Jason leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as though sharing a secret. “I mean that I saw an opportunity. The moment that story broke, I knew it would shake things up, so I did what any smart businessman would. I simply amplified the noise, paid a few key reporters, and made sure the scandal didn’t die too soon.”

Rory swallowed, her mind was spinning. If Jason had only intensified the scandal, then that meant, someone else had started it. Someone had wanted to destroy her. The past few days, she had suspected that Jason might not be involved with Nexus; the discoveries she made showed that he had no connection with them, and the huge sum of money sent to the offshore account may be from his syndicate business. But she was certain that he was the one who had threatened the woman to pin the twins on Victor. But now, it's clear that Jason wasn't behind that too, then who was? Were they the same person or different people? The thought made her stomach twist.

Jason continued, watching her carefully. “You should be asking yourself Rory, who benefits from your downfall? Because I guarantee you, it isn’t me.”

Her fingers curled around the edge of the table. He was right, if Jason had truly wanted to take her down, he wouldn’t be sitting here offering her anything. He would have made sure she never had a way back.

Her voice was quiet but steady. “So what did you hope to achieve from amplifying the noise from the scandal?”

Jason smiled. “The little ruckus it caused in your marriage was a bit of a delight, you know. I aimed for more.”

Rory became even more furious, “What did you say?”

Jason exhaled, his smirk widening as he finally got to the point. “Divorce your husband and marry me.”

The air in the café seemed to thicken. Rory stared at him, her mind was momentarily blank. A sharp, disbelieving laugh almost escaped her, but it caught in her throat. “You’re joking, right.”

His expression remained unreadable. “I’m dead serious.”

Rory felt her pulse hammering against her skin. “That’s absurd.”

Jason tilted his head. “Is it? I left Tasha for you years back; it’s only fair that you leave Victor for me, too. Divorce him, come be with me, and I will let go of the past and forgive you.”

At the mention of Tasha, Rory’s thoughts snapped back to the puzzle forming in her mind. If Jason wasn’t the mastermind behind Nexus Innovations’ crisis, then who was? Who had the motive and the resources to orchestrate such a brutal takedown?

Could it be Tasha?

Tasha was Jason's fiancée, it was a political marriage arrangement between Julian and her father. But after Jason set his eyes on Rory, his interest suddenly shifted to her. He loved her smartness, her composure and the way she carried herself. He fell hard, not realising that Rory was only using him to get information to bring their company down.

When Tasha noticed the strain in their relationship and complained to her father, she expected her father to get angry and punish the person on her behalf, but instead, her father warned her to be careful and that Rory was dangerous. In pain and anger, she left for the state. However, three months ago, she returned to London, which was at the same time the crisis in her subsidiary started.

Her heart pounded as the realization settled in. Tasha had the perfect reason to want revenge. Rory had taken Jason from her, shattered whatever hold she had left on him. Could she have been the one behind all this? Was she the one who had tried to ruin her?

Jason’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. “Hey, Rory, why are you lost in thoughts? I've been calling you. What are you thinking about?”

Rory snapped back to reality; she blinked to refocus. He was watching her closely, amused by whatever conclusion she was reaching, but this wasn’t about him anymore.

She pushed her chair back, standing with a calmness she didn’t entirely feel. “What you’re asking for will never happen.”

Jason sighed, as if disappointed but not surprised. “What a pity.”

She turned to leave, but just as she reached for her purse, his next words stopped her cold.

“What about your little princess, Ami, right? She should be almost six now.”

Rory’s entire body went rigid. Her breath hitched as panic clawed at her chest. Slowly, she turned to face him, her gaze sharp, deadly. “How do you know about Ami?”

For the longest, Rory has kept her personal affairs private. Although she and her husband were public figures because of the nature of their job, they had kept Ami out of the media for years, shielding her from their business rivals and the dangers of their world. How had Jason found out about her? More importantly, why was he bringing her up now?

This could only mean that he has been trailing her, could he be the one in the black car that always watches them?

Jason only smiled. “I know a lot more than you think, Rory.”

Rory’s fingers curled into fists, but she forced herself to remain composed. She gave Jason a silent warning, a look that spoke volumes. Don’t you dare touch my daughter.

Jason chuckled at her expression. “Relax, I’m just making conversation.”

She didn’t respond. Instead, she turned on her heels and walked out, her heart hammering in her chest. Unknown to both of them, Victor had been nearby all along, his men discreetly surrounding the café, ensuring her safety. But at this moment, Rory didn’t need security.

She needed answers, and she needed them fast.