On the Day I Was Kicked Out of the Wealthy Family, I Had a Flash Marriage with a Tycoon

Chapter 227: Actions Speak Louder

Jean Kensington didn’t want to recall that night she’d spent entangled with a stranger. She tilted her head back and drained her glass in one go.

Tristan Sinclair immediately said, "This is strong stuff. Slow down."

"I’m fine," Jean Kensington said lightly. "I won’t get drunk."

She just wanted to use alcohol to numb those memories she wished she could forget, the ones that haunted her like a nightmare.

Thinking she could hold her liquor, Tristan Sinclair didn’t pay her any more mind. But after a few more drinks, Jean Kensington was completely drunk, collapsing onto the sofa.

Tristan Sinclair’s expression darkened. "Jean Kensington, get up!" he said in a low, stern voice.

Jean Kensington mumbled dazedly, "I’ll just take a nap."

"If you want to sleep, do it at home!"

With her eyes closed, the woman fell completely silent.

Tristan Sinclair’s expression shifted again and again, but in the end, he scooped her up and carried her out of the bar.

In the car.

The driver asked quietly, "President Sinclair, where to?"

Looking at the woman passed out beside him, Tristan Sinclair furrowed his brow, unsure of where to take her. Although Dean Lynch was her maternal uncle, she wasn’t a child anymore, and it wouldn’t be convenient for a grown man like him to look after her.

In the end, Tristan Sinclair took her back to the Sinclair Residence and entrusted her to the maids.

.....

Chloe Sterling had planned on waiting for Jasper Lockwood to get home so she could talk to him, but she had accidentally fallen asleep on the sofa. By the time she woke up again, she was lying in bed. She glanced at the blanket covering her; she knew without a doubt that Jasper had come home and carried her here. But he was nowhere to be seen in the room.

Chloe Sterling glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand. It was already eleven o’clock.

She threw back the covers, got out of bed, and left the room. Seeing the light on in the study, she headed toward it.

In the study, Jasper Lockwood, dressed in black silk pajamas, was reviewing a document. He looked up at the sound of the door opening and saw Chloe Sterling enter.

"When did you get back? Why didn’t you wake me?"

Jasper Lockwood said, "You seemed tired, so I let you sleep."

"Jasper..." Chloe Sterling began slowly. "I’m sorry. I was being inconsiderate. I didn’t take your feelings into account."

Jasper Lockwood froze for a second at her words.

Chloe Sterling walked up to him and continued, "I’ve always been a rather aloof person, not very good at putting myself in other people’s shoes. I thought about it carefully this afternoon, and I realize that my recent actions could easily have led to a misunderstanding."

Jasper Lockwood repeated, "A misunderstanding?"

Chloe Sterling met his gaze and said earnestly, "Jasper, I’m not an idiot. I know exactly why I do things. I don’t deny that I wanted to help Silas Coldwell, but it was only to repay a favor, to end our dealings sooner, and to draw a clear line between us. It’s not because I... ’care’ about him, like you think."

After studying her for a quiet moment, Jasper Lockwood asked, "Then are you clear about your own feelings?"

Chloe Sterling replied, "Of course I am."

Jasper Lockwood asked, "Do you love me?"

She hadn’t expected him to ask that so suddenly, and for a moment, Chloe Sterling was at a loss for words.

Seeing her silence, Jasper Lockwood let out a soft, resigned laugh. "You don’t know, do you?"

"No! I... I just wasn’t expecting you to ask a question like that."

’A question that sentimental...’ Chloe Sterling was flustered. She believed she did like Jasper Lockwood; she just found the words hard to say.

"Jasper, I..."

"You don’t have to say it," Jasper Lockwood interrupted. "I understand."

"Huh? What do you understand?"

"You need time." Jasper Lockwood stood up and gazed down at her. "I was too impatient, and I was in the wrong. You already belong to me, yet I couldn’t stop myself from getting jealous of another man."

Chloe Sterling: "..."

"But I have to say this: you are not to work yourself to the bone anymore. Silas Coldwell can handle things on his own."

"How do you know?"

"He’s my rival. You think I wouldn’t know what he’s up against?"

Chloe Sterling gazed at his devastatingly handsome face and began to speak slowly. "Jasper, you really don’t need to be jealous of Silas Coldwell. I have absolutely no romantic feelings for him. I..."

She stopped, not finishing her sentence. Instead, she stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him, letting her actions convey what her words could not.

Jasper Lockwood froze for a second before taking control, pulling her in by the waist and deepening the kiss. But it wasn’t long before he abruptly released her.

Chloe Sterling was surprised and confused.

"Go to sleep," Jasper Lockwood said, his voice raspy.

"..." Chloe Sterling’s gaze fell to the documents on the desk. "Do you still have work?" she asked.

The man said nothing.

"How much longer will you be, then?" Chloe Sterling asked again.

Of course, Jasper wasn’t actually busy. He just wanted her to get to bed. She’d hardly slept properly these last few days.

"Never mind. I’ll wait for you, however long it takes," Chloe Sterling said. "You can continue."

Jasper Lockwood lifted her chin with his fingers. "I’m trying to get you to go to sleep. How many days has it been since you’ve slept properly?"

"I just slept for two hours, so I’m not tired anymore."

"Are you sure?"

Hearing the implication in those three words, Chloe Sterling replied calmly, "Positive."

Jasper Lockwood: "..."

"But," Chloe Sterling added with great seriousness, "if you’re tired, I can go to bed early with you."

’After all, Jasper has been really busy lately, too.’

"Alright," Jasper Lockwood said. "Then let’s turn in early."

He closed the file on his desk, and the two of them went back to the bedroom.

It seemed Jasper Lockwood really did intend to go to sleep early. Aside from holding Chloe Sterling in his arms, he made no other moves.

Chloe Sterling was a little surprised, but she said nothing, simply resting quietly in his arms. While it was true she hadn’t been tired earlier, nestled against his chest and breathing in the fresh scent of his body wash, she began to feel drowsy. It wasn’t long before her eyes closed and she fell asleep.

Feeling the even rhythm of her breath, Jasper Lockwood glanced down at the woman in his arms. ’And she said she wasn’t tired,’ he thought. ’Fell asleep in no time.’

.....

In the conference room, a man asked in confusion, "Why, though? Why is the boss helping Silas Coldwell instead of striking him now? I really don’t get it!"

Henry Chamberlain said, "The boss has his reasons. Just do what you’re told. Now get to it!"

The man pressed, "Are you sure? We’re really going to help Silas Coldwell?"

Henry Chamberlain snapped, "Positive! Can you get a move on?"

"Fine." The man looked at his computer screen, then picked up his phone to make a call.

’The things our boss will do for a woman,’ Henry Chamberlain thought as he waited. ’He’s even willing to help his own love rival. All to keep Chloe Sterling from running herself ragged for Silas Coldwell, he’s actually helping the guy in secret.’

「The next morning.」

Chloe Sterling woke up and stretched with a satisfied sigh. ’It feels so good to be properly rested.’

But the very next second, she was pulled into a familiar embrace.

"You’re awake." Jasper Lockwood’s captivating eyes were fixed on her, his voice low, lazy, and sensual.

Chloe Sterling hummed in agreement and asked, "When did you wake up?"

"Not long ago."

"Then... should we get up?"

A smirk touched Jasper Lockwood’s lips. "No rush. Let’s take care of important business first."

Chloe Sterling asked, "What... important business?"