Chapter 8: You Shameless Woman
931 Words
Jennifer Sullivan tried not to let her sobs escape as she comforted Lil Sam. "Mommy has to go out and work to make money so she can buy you lots of yummy food and fun toys. I'll come see you in a few days. Be a good boy, eat well, and sleep well, okay?"
"I'll be good, I promise. Mommy, please don't leave me. Come see me soon, please..."
Jennifer's heart ached with every word Lil Sam said. His voice trembled with fear and longing, and she felt a deep pang of guilt for not being there with him. How had things come to this? On the other end, Jennifer heard Emily Anderson's voice saying, "Take this little brat away." Lil Sam's cries grew faint.
"Emily! What are you doing to my child?" Jennifer demanded angrily.
Emily chuckled. "Relax, I'm just having the nanny take him to his room. I thought you'd appreciate hearing his voice. You should be thanking me."
"If he has even the smallest scratch when I see him again, I won't forgive any of you!" Jennifer warned, struggling to hold back her tears.
Emily laughed. "How can you threaten me? With your title as Mrs. Jennifer Tyler? Don't you know that title is worthless in the Tyler family?"
"If my title is so worthless, why did you all force me into this marriage? What's in it for you?" Jennifer shot back.
Emily sighed impatiently. "Dad wants me to remind you to take good care of that i***t, keep Mrs. Eleanor Tyler happy, and don't offend anyone in the Tyler family. Got it?"
Jennifer gave a noncommittal grunt, already understanding that Edward Anderson needed her close to Mrs. Eleanor to destroy whatever leverage she held over him.
"Oh, by the way, how was your first night with the i***t? Did he figure out what kind of woman you are?" Emily taunted.
Jennifer retorted, "If you're curious, why don't you try marrying an i***t yourself and find out?"
"You! You shameless bitch..."
Jennifer hung up before Emily could finish, cutting off her tirade.
**The silence that followed was deafening, a stark contrast to the tension that had just filled the air. Jennifer stared at the phone in her hand, her knuckles white from the grip. She wanted to scream, to cry out in frustration, but she knew it would do no good. Instead, she took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside her.**
Emily Anderson clenched her phone, seething with rage. "Jennifer Sullivan, let's see how long your sharp tongue lasts. When you're no longer useful, you and that annoying brat will disappear from this world forever!"
Jennifer wiped away her tears. **Her resolve hardened.** She had to be strong for her child. She had survived the desperate days in prison; nothing could break her now.
But even as she told herself this, the fear lingered, gnawing at the edges of her mind. What would happen to Lil Sam if she failed? The thought was unbearable, but she pushed it aside. She couldn't afford to think like that.
Leaning against the door, Jennifer closed her eyes. Her body was exhausted, her mind a whirl of fear and anger. Overwhelmed, she drifted off to sleep.
Meanwhile, Quentin Tyler got into Xavier McCarty's car, pretending to head to a neurologist appointment. Upon arriving at the hospital, he slipped out the back and changed cars.
He arrived at the top-floor office of a high-end financial center. Xavier personally brought him coffee, closed the door, and ensured they wouldn't be disturbed before discussing the latest happenings within the Tyler Group.
Quentin listened quietly, lost in thought.
His mind kept drifting back to the events of the previous night, to the look in Jennifer's eyes when she realized who he was. There was fear there, yes, but also something else—defiance, a spark of resistance that intrigued him. He couldn't stop thinking about it, and it bothered him more than he cared to admit.
Xavier presented a few documents, calling Quentin's name several times without response. Finally, he tapped the table in front of Quentin. "Quentin, are you listening? Do you want to look at these files regarding our recent collaborations with the Tyler Group?"
Quentin snapped out of his reverie and absentmindedly flipped through the documents. "Has my father noticed that we've already sidelined the Tyler Group in the Future City project?"
"Your father hasn't realized," Xavier replied. "He claims to be on a project scouting trip in Asia, but he's actually vacationing at the beach with your brother and... that woman." Xavier watched Quentin's expression carefully.
Quentin's brow furrowed, his face growing cold.
Xavier knew that mentioning William Tyler's current wife and Quentin's half-brother always soured Quentin's mood.
Truth be told, William Tyler treated Quentin poorly. Knowing Quentin's marriage was a significant event, he still chose to vacation with his new wife, who used to be his mistress, and illegitimate son under the guise of a business trip, blatantly disregarding Quentin.
Quentin closed the folder and, maintaining a calm exterior, said, "Good. Let the company in Asia put on a convincing show. When the time is right, we'll push my father out, leaving him with nothing."
"Understood. We've orchestrated schemes like this before. It will be foolproof."
Quentin's gaze made Xavier feel an inexplicable sense of pressure, sending a chill down his spine. **There was something different about Quentin today, something more intense, more determined. It was as if the marriage had sparked a new fire within him, one that burned with a cold, calculating fury.**
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