novelraw Chapter 213: So Many Tricks
Chapter 213: So Many Tricks
Chloe Sterling looked away and spoke into the phone, "Got it. Thanks. You don’t have to worry about what happens next."
"Oh?" The man’s voice was tinged with amusement. "Are you sure you don’t need my help? Did your husband solve it all by himself?"
"Did you just find out?" Chloe Sterling suddenly asked.
"No, I knew the moment the deal went through this morning. But it was a little early, and I figured you were still asleep, so I didn’t call."
"Okay, I’ll let you get back to your work. I’m hanging up."
"Alright. Call me if you need anything."
"Mm."
After hanging up, Chloe Sterling paused for a moment before asking, "What’s your plan?"
Jasper Lockwood said, "Get the goods back, of course."
"What if they keep targeting the Lockwood Group’s cargo from now on?"
A sharp glint flashed in Jasper Lockwood’s eyes as he said casually, "They won’t know who it belongs to."
"But that shouldn’t be hard to guess, right?"
Jasper Lockwood met her gaze with his deep, almond-shaped eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Don’t worry. I have my own plan."
Chloe Sterling raised an eyebrow. "So... you’re not going to tell me what it is?"
Jasper Lockwood chuckled softly. "If you want to know about all my business matters, then I’ll have Henry Chamberlain report everything to you from now on."
Henry Chamberlain: "..."
’Can’t you just spare me?’
’I’m already busy enough as it is. If I have to wait on these two hand and foot, how am I supposed to survive?’
Chloe Sterling glanced at Henry Chamberlain in the front seat. "That won’t be necessary. It’s enough that you have a plan. But you have to tell me if it’s dangerous."
Jasper Lockwood: "Okay."
Henry Chamberlain finally let out a sigh of relief. ’This job is no walk in the park.’
Chloe Sterling turned to look out the car window. The snow had been swept from the streets, and the roads had been washed clean, looking spotless. Still, the sight added a touch of coldness to the air.
"What are you thinking about?"
Jasper Lockwood’s voice suddenly sounded by her ear, his warm breath sending a tingle through her. Chloe Sterling was abruptly reminded of their passionate night, and her face began to burn.
’Sometimes she really wondered if Jasper Lockwood had truly never been with another woman. He felt like an expert lover in every way, with so many tricks up his sleeve.’
Chloe Sterling kept looking out the window and replied, "Nothing."
"Why is your face so red?"
"..."
"Chloe?"
Chloe Sterling suddenly turned her head. "Don’t you think the heat is on too high?"
The corners of Jasper Lockwood’s lips curled. "I think it’s fine. You’re feeling hot?"
"Mhm."
Of course, Jasper Lockwood didn’t believe for a second her blush was from the temperature. "Well, a little warmth is better than being cold," he said.
Not long after, the car drove into the Lockwood Residence.
The two got out of the car and walked into the villa.
Jasper Lockwood said softly, "Want to go back to sleep for a while?"
Chloe Sterling: "...I’m good."
In truth, they hadn’t gone to bed that late. Although they had been... occupied for quite a while, they had returned to their room right after dinner. Chloe had gotten enough sleep and wasn’t tired.
"I’m going to the study to look up some information. The problem with the Nocturne Group needs to be resolved as soon as possible."
"Okay, go on. I’ll go deal with the wine situation."
Chloe Sterling went to the study upstairs, which Jasper Lockwood had custom-built for her. It housed a collection of medical books from all over the world, so vast she might not be able to finish reading them in her lifetime.
「The Medical College.」
Rose Lynch stood in the cold wind, her eyes filled with resentment.
Julian Xavier said coldly, "You were the ones who kicked her out of the Sterling family and disowned her. That being the case, stop bothering her. She doesn’t want to see you, and she doesn’t want anything more to do with you. I don’t care why you’ve suddenly started looking for Chloe, but I advise you to drop any inappropriate ideas you might have, and fast."
’Few people knew Chloe was with Jasper Lockwood, but secrets have a way of getting out. It wasn’t impossible for the Sterling family to have dug up some information.’
’In Julian Xavier’s view, Rose Lynch’s sudden attentiveness had to be driven by ulterior motives. She had most likely found out that Chloe was with Jasper Lockwood and wanted to patch things up to get something out of it. If Chloe were just an ordinary girl from the countryside, they probably wouldn’t have given her a second thought for the rest of their lives.’
’How shameless,’ he thought.
Rose Lynch said, "Young Master Xavier, I admit her father and I were too harsh back then, but we did it for her own good. We hoped she would change that temper of hers and become more obedient. She’s my own flesh and blood. Would I really try to harm her?! I understand now that her temper is something that will never change, but she is, and always will be, my daughter."
"For her good? Change her temper? Be obedient?" Julian Xavier sneered, his eyes filled with disgust. "Ms. Lynch, I’m done wasting my breath on you. Don’t ever set foot in the Medical College again!"
With that, he turned and left.
Rose Lynch stood on the spot, her hands clenched into fists.
’She regretted it. She shouldn’t have let things get so bad with Chloe.’
Just then, Esther Sterling walked over, her face a mask of obvious distress. "Mom, are you here looking for Chloe again? Why do you keep trying to find her?"
"I... I have my reasons, of course."
"What reasons?" Esther Sterling stood before Rose Lynch, her expression aggrieved. "Mom, don’t you know how miserable I’ve been? It’s like you haven’t noticed at all. All you care about is Chloe Sterling. Why? Wasn’t I always your favorite?"
"Esther, Chloe is your sister, after all. We can’t just abandon her completely."
"But you *did* ignore her before! You despised her for being from the countryside, you thought she was an embarrassment, you never introduced her to any of our relatives or friends, and you never told anyone she was your daughter! So why is she suddenly ’my sister, after all’ now? Mom, the Rivers family is finished! Damian Rivers, the man behind her, is ruined! Even if you make up with her, there’s nothing in it for you or for the Sterling family!"
’Rose Lynch pressed her lips together, silent. She didn’t care about the Rivers family in the slightest. What she cared about was Charles Sterling, and Chloe was her only remaining link to him.’
Esther Sterling sneered. "She hasn’t even been coming to the Medical College lately, don’t you get it? The Rivers family is done for, and now even the college won’t have her. She’s finished."
Rose Lynch took a deep breath. "Alright, that’s enough. Esther, I know you’ve been in a bad mood lately. If you’re really that unhappy, why don’t you go on a trip to clear your head."
"I’m not going. I’m not going anywhere," Esther Sterling said, her expression dark as she ground out the words, "It’s all because of Chloe Sterling and that bitch friend of hers that President Sinclair is ignoring me. I’m going to make both of them pay!"
"What?" Rose Lynch was confused. "President Sinclair ignoring you has something to do with Chloe?"
Rose didn’t want to admit Chloe could have that much influence, but she couldn’t deny the incident was probably related to her in some way.
"That’s right! It has everything to do with her."
"What are you planning to do?"
Esther Sterling scoffed. "Even the Medical College doesn’t want her anymore. Damian Rivers is probably too overwhelmed with his family’s problems to do anything. I can do whatever I please!"
"No!" Rose Lynch said suddenly. "You can’t go after Chloe anymore."
At her mother’s words, Esther Sterling’s eyes filled with hurt. "Why not? Mom, she’s the reason I’m in this mess. Are you really going to take her side?"
"Esther, Mom is doing this for your own good."
"If it’s for my own good, then don’t stop me! I will make her pay!"