Chapter 5: Jennifer! Step Aside!
1337 Words
"You, b***h, how dare you..."
"Enough!"
Perhaps Jennifer's sarcasm was too apparent, for as soon as her words fell, the expressions on the faces of Vanessa Tyler and Helen Tyler turned sour. They seemed ready to scold Jennifer, but were sharply halted by Victor Tyler's commanding voice.
"My niece is right. There shall be no more disgraceful talk that brings shame upon our family, The Tyler Family."
"Jennifer is correct. As a member of The Tyler Family, one must always be mindful of their words to avoid becoming a subject of ridicule," Mrs. Eleanor nodded in agreement, seemingly pleased with Jennifer referring to herself as part of The Tyler Family.
"I have always made it clear that you were to manage VogueWorks Fashion on behalf of Quentin, not to hand over the company entirely to you. Now that Quentin is married, it's time you handed over the company to them and facilitated the transition," Mrs. Eleanor spoke gently to Vanessa Tyler, her tone amiable.
"Understood."
Vanessa Tyler, having just been reprimanded by her father, was well aware of Mrs. Eleanor's favoritism towards Quentin Tyler, despite his intellectual shortcomings. She knew no matter how hard she tried, she wouldn't gain approval in Mrs. Eleanor's eyes.
"I'll do as Grandma says." Despite her inner dissent, she had no choice but to comply with her grandmother's wishes.
...
With Mrs. Eleanor's matters addressed, everyone dispersed.
Back in her room, Jennifer only wished for a quiet rest. However, as soon as the door closed, Quentin's demeanor changed entirely.
He pulled her close by the waist, pressing her against the door, brushing aside strands of hair near her ear. "Why did you defend me earlier?"
As he spoke, his warm breath caressed Jennifer's neck, causing her to squirm, trying to evade, but the man's grip tightened.
"Hmm?" Quentin inquired, his deep voice sending shivers down Jennifer's spine.
"I... I just thought that, after all, we are husband and wife. No matter what, you are my husband. How could I let others mistreat my husband?" Jennifer's ears turned red as she stuttered.
"Is that truly the reason? No ulterior motives?" Quentin asked again, tightening his embrace while his lips barely brushed against Jennifer's ear.
"I... I..." Jennifer attempted to explain her intentions, but before she could finish, Quentin suddenly bit down on her earlobe, gently nibbling with his teeth.
"Think carefully before you answer," Quentin warned in a husky voice, alternating between nibbling and speaking.
With Quentin's warm breath and teasing bites, Jennifer felt both ticklish and itchy, unable to resist any longer.
"My... my goal is simple. I just want them to... to leave us alone, to stop mistreating us. I want to have a better life in The Tyler Family," Jennifer confessed, her eyes moist with embarrassment.
"That's a good girl," Quentin chuckled softly, seemingly convinced by her words.
Relieved to hear Quentin's laughter, Jennifer let out a sigh of relief.
"Quentin, could you please let go... ah!" Before she could finish asking Quentin to release her, he unexpectedly scooped her up into his arms.
"What... what are you doing?" Jennifer exclaimed in surprise, instinctively wrapping her arms around Quentin's neck, her expression one of panic.
"Ah, newlyweds should naturally do what husbands and wives do," Quentin chuckled again, carrying Jennifer towards the bed.
"No! Stop!" Jennifer protested upon hearing Quentin's words, immediately struggling.
"Why not? We're already married. Everything we do is perfectly legal," Quentin ignored Jennifer's struggles, placing her on the bed before pressing down on top of her.
"Or is it that, my dear wife, you don't want to do what spouses do?" Quentin raised one hand to gently touch Jennifer's brow, his index finger tracing lightly over her eyebrow, his half-closed eyes filled with warning.
"I... " Jennifer's words were cut short as Quentin suddenly increased the pressure of his hand on her brow, causing her to cry out in pain.
"Hmm? My dear wife, think carefully before you answer!" Quentin spoke again, emphasizing the term 'wife' with added force.
"I... " warned once more, Jennifer could only stare at Quentin with red eyes.
"Such a good girl, my dear wife!" Quentin chuckled satisfactorily, then kissed Jennifer deeply. "Mmm..."
...
By the end of the day, Jennifer had been thoroughly exhausted by Quentin once again. As everything came to a close, it was already afternoon.
"Young Mistress, Mrs. Eleanor would like to see you."
Not long after Quentin left the room, there was a knock at the door.
Jennifer quickly responded, "Alright." She promptly tidied her long hair in front of the mirror and prepared herself to meet Mrs. Eleanor Tyler.
She had long realized that in the entire Tyler Family, only Mrs. Eleanor truly cared for Quentin as her grandson. The others considered him a fool and a waste, and no one else paid any attention to him.
Even though she had a public outburst at breakfast against Helen Tyler and her daughter, every word she said and everything she did was to fiercely protect her husband. This must have pleased Mrs. Eleanor greatly.
Jennifer understood that when Mrs. Eleanor suppressed Helen Tyler and her daughter to protect her, it was not really about protecting her, but about safeguarding her grandson Quentin. She knew clearly that while she could offend anyone else in the Tyler Family, she must always stay on Mrs. Eleanor's good side.
Opening the door, she saw Mrs. Eleanor's servant, Nanny Rose, waiting at the entrance, and she followed Nanny Rose downstairs from the second floor.
After passing through the hall and the reception room, and walking down an elegantly decorated corridor, they reached the Tyler Family's back garden. The garden was so vast it seemed endless. In addition to flowers and plants, there were gazebos, a glass greenhouse, and swings.
Nanny Rose pointed to a small building closest to the glass greenhouse, saying, "That north-south facing building is where Mrs. Eleanor resides."
Jennifer paused, pointing to the castle-like mansion she had just left, and asked, "Why doesn't Mrs. Eleanor live in that big house with Quentin? Why does she live alone?"
Nanny Rose smiled and said, "Mrs. Eleanor is old and prefers peace and quiet. The big house has too many people. Besides you and Mr. Quentin, there's Mr. Tyler and that woman, as well as young master Alex. Mrs. Eleanor cannot stand that woman."
As Nanny Rose's voice lowered, Jennifer quickly understood and asked, "What about the other uncles and aunts? Do they not live here?"
Nanny Rose shook her head, "They all moved out of the Tyler Family mansion after starting their own families. They have their own residences but are not far from here. Young Mistress, we should hurry. Mrs. Eleanor is still waiting."
"Alright." Jennifer followed Nanny Rose, quickening her pace, thinking that it was a relief those people only gathered here for breakfast this morning and didn't live here. Otherwise, encountering Helen Tyler and her daughter every day would make her feel like a fighting rooster constantly.
Mr. Tyler, as mentioned by Nanny Rose, was Quentin's father, William Tyler. That woman was Katelyn Cameron, who had ruined William Tyler's marriage with his first wife and had become his new wife.
Young master Alex, Alexander Tyler, was their son, Quentin's half-brother.
However, on Quentin's first day of marriage, these three were surprisingly not at home.
As Jennifer entered, she saw Mrs. Eleanor sitting in a rocking chair by the window on the first floor, resting her eyes.
Sunlight poured over Mrs. Eleanor, and the rocking chair swayed gently, making it feel as if time itself had slowed down.
Nanny Rose motioned for her to stand still, then walked softly to Mrs. Eleanor and whispered in her ear, "Madam, the young mistress is here."
"Where is Quentin?" Mrs. Eleanor asked, opening her eyes slightly.
Nanny Rose replied, "Mr. Xavier McCarty has taken young master Quentin to the Neurological Hospital for rehabilitation training."
Mrs. Eleanor nodded, opened her eyes fully to look at Jennifer, and sternly said, "Jennifer! Stand aside!"
- Writer
