Chapter 230: Flirting with Men (Part 2)
Jack lifted Alison and let her lean against him. They washed the sweat from their bodies together.
“Alison, are you tired?” he asked.
She closed her eyes, too exhausted to move.
He chuckled and lifted her.
Wrapped in towels, they dried each other off as they headed back to the room.
After gently laying her on the bed, he lay down beside her. “Sleep with me, okay?”
He savoured the feeling of holding her.
She shook her head. “Jack, take me to the guest room.”
“Sigh! Fine, but you have to help me apply the ointment one more time.”
He loved watching her hands move over his body. The concentration in her eyes whenever she touched him was proof enough that she cared.
After applying the ointment, she realized her clothes were ruined—he’d torn them earlier.
“Alison, there are fresh clothes in the closet. Don’t worry.” As if reading her mind, he reassured her immediately.
Still too lazy to move, she demanded, “Bring them to me.”
He gently stroked her cheek. “All right.”
He fetched her clothes and helped her get dressed.
Once finished, Jack carried her to the door.
Peering out, he saw that the hallway was empty.
Alison tried to get down, but he said, “Don’t move. The hallway’s clear. I’ll carry you.”
“Okay,” she murmured, too tired to argue.
After laying her on the large guest room bed, he kissed her forehead. “Good girl. Goodnight.”
She closed her eyes and murmured, “Good night, Jack.”
He left, carefully closing the door behind him.
Exhaustion lulled Alison into a deep sleep.
Yet, in her sleep, faint whispers of sobbing drifted into her ears.
Alison clutched the sheets tightly, hoping it was just a dream.
That skull in the email swaying back and forth…
“Ah!” She jolted awake, her body springing upright.
In the darkness, a hand grabbed her. “Alison, wake up! What happened?”
Dazed, she moved toward the hand. “Jack, hold me. There’s a ghost. I can feel it.”
Just then, the door burst open, flooding the room with light.
Isabella and her grandfather rushed in.
“Dad, this is the guest room. How could there be a ghost?” Isabella’s words trailed off as she gasped, “Ah! You…you…”
She stared in shock at Alison and the man beside her – it wasn’t Jack, but Rock.
Alison wrenched herself free from his embrace. “Why are you here?”
“Alison, stop pretending. You pretend to be devoted to Jack, but you’re actually involved with Aidan and Rock. Get out. I never want to see you again.” Alexander growled furiously.
“I didn’t. Tell them, Rock,” Alison turned to plead with Rock.
“Isabella, it isn’t Alison’s fault. I was asleep when a strange noise woke me up. I followed the sound to the guest room. I never expected to find Miss Fairchild there. She was having a nightmare and was terrified. She mistook me for Jack…” Rock explained.
“So you just picked her up?” Isabella stepped forward.
Rock smiled as he clarified, “It wasn’t as serious as you’re thinking, Isabella. I didn’t hug her. She was terrified and mistook me for Jack, clinging to me. Her hand only touched me when you two walked in.”
“So she initiated the hug?” Isabella pressed.
“I genuinely didn’t know Miss Fairchild was staying in this guest room. If I had known, I wouldn’t have come in,” Rock clarified.
Isabella turned to Alexander. “Dad, is this the granddaughter-in-law you’ve been eyeing? She’s already flirted with Jack and Aidan—now she’s trying to seduce Rock, too.”
Alexander opened his mouth but said nothing. Instead, he turned to leave with his cane.
“Grandpa, it really isn’t Miss Fairchild’s fault.” Rock rushed after him, wanting to explain.
Alison stared blankly in the direction that Rock had departed, utterly bewildered.
She bit her lip, unable to make sense of it.
Could Isabella and Rock have set this up deliberately?
Inside the room, only Isabella remained, her face twisted with fury.
She walked to the bedside.
“Alison, a woman like you is unworthy of being my son’s partner. You’d better take care of yourself. Don’t even think about destroying the bond between Jack and me. He has only one mother.” With that, Isabella left Alison’s room.
Alison realized that Isabella’s kindness in public was merely a facade.
Isabella wanted to force her out of the Winston family.
Truthfully, she had no interest in the Winstons’ family—she had simply fallen in love with Jack.
Was love itself a mistake?
Hugging her knees, she was at a loss.
Jack had told her that she must never hide anything from him.
Yes, I must tell him.
Like a puppet, she rose to her feet, ready to find Jack.
But when she opened the door, Isabella was still there.
Seeing her, Isabella sneered, “I knew you’d go tell on Jack. Don’t even think about coveting the Winston family fortune anymore. As long as I’m alive, you’ll never set foot in our house again.”