Chapter 208: Heard It?

Chapter 208: Chapter 208: Heard It?

The next day, Vesper Grayson received an unexpected call from Renee Rhodes.

"Vesper, are you free tonight? My husband and I would like to treat you and your husband to dinner."

"You’re too kind. Since you and Mr. Whitman are in Northolme, my husband and I should be the ones treating you."

"Not at all. My husband hadn’t fully recovered last time and couldn’t thank you properly, and he’s felt bad about it ever since. Now that he’s much better, it’s only right that we host a dinner to express our gratitude."

"In that case, I won’t refuse."

Around noon, Vesper Grayson went to Hawthorne Group.

Jared Hawthorne was in a meeting, so she sat alone on the sofa in the CEO’s office, casually flipping through a magazine to pass the time.

Her phone suddenly rang. It was a call from Shiloh Sloan.

"Vesper, are you home?"

"I’m at Hawthorne Group. What’s up?"

"Quentin Chandler showed up. I took care of him."

She had been worried that Quentin Chandler would hold a grudge and wait for a chance to get revenge and hurt Vesper. Now that the threat was eliminated, Shiloh Sloan was telling her at the first opportunity.

Vesper Grayson’s heart tightened. "When did this happen? Are you hurt?"

"All the self-defense I’ve been practicing wasn’t for nothing. He found out my address somewhere and showed up uninvited. His intentions were as lecherous as ever, and he tried to assault me, so in the heat of the moment, I got ruthless and destroyed his family jewels. They reattached it in surgery, but it’ll be useless from now on."

"You hurt him. Aren’t you afraid he’ll press charges and not let it go?"

"He was the one who trespassed and attempted to assault me first. At worst, what I did would be considered excessive self-defense. As long as we reach a private settlement, the police won’t pursue it too seriously."

"And Quentin Chandler will just sign the settlement obediently?"

"I used a few tricks. He has no choice but to do as I say."

After all, times had changed. In the years he was in prison, he lost all his connections and money.

He was no longer a threat to her.

Vesper Grayson raised an eyebrow slightly and asked softly, "So, what are you planning to do with him?"

’As long as Quentin Chandler is around, he’ll be a lingering threat. But this is a society ruled by law; you can’t just kill someone.’

"I haven’t decided yet. If all else fails, I’ll send him to a nursing home in Thailand."

Quentin Chandler had divorced her mother long ago, and they were no longer on the same household register, so she had no legal standing to commit him to a domestic care facility. But money talks. If a nursing home in Northolme was willing to take him, she wouldn’t mind keeping him under her watchful eye.

The office door was pushed open from the outside, and Jared Hawthorne strode in.

Catching sight of the petite woman on the sofa speaking softly on the phone, the cold, sharp look in his eyes instantly softened.

Vesper Grayson said a few more words into the phone and then hung up.

"Bored at home?"

Jared Hawthorne sat down beside her, and with a long stretch of his arm, he smoothly pulled her into his embrace.

"Not really. I just missed you and came to do a surprise inspection." Vesper Grayson snuggled against his chest, her voice soft as she chuckled.

"How much did you miss me?"

Jared Hawthorne lowered his gaze, his chin brushing gently against the top of her soft hair. Her sweet fragrance filled his senses, her warm, delicate body pressed against his, and his heart filled with tenderness.

Vesper Grayson looked up at him, the corners of her eyes crinkling. "Actually, it was the baby who missed Daddy."

Jared Hawthorne raised an eyebrow, his broad palm gently covering her still-flat stomach.

"It was clearly you who missed me, but you insist on using the baby as an excuse. How old is she? What does she know?"

"Oh, right. I got a call from Miss Rhodes earlier. She and her husband want to treat us to dinner tonight."

"Which Miss Rhodes?"

"Renee Rhodes, the wife of Jenson Whitman, Veridia’s richest man."

The last time Jared Hawthorne went to the Whitman Family’s villa to pick her up, he hadn’t met Renee Rhodes, so it was normal that he didn’t remember her.

"They came all the way to Northolme just to thank you?"

"Don’t be silly. They’re here visiting relatives. I heard Mr. Whitman’s great-aunt doesn’t have much time left."

It was another family’s private matter, so she didn’t feel it was her place to ask too many questions and risk being intrusive.

She told him about running into Renee Rhodes at the hospital during her last prenatal check-up.

"And you accepted?"

"Mhm. If you’re busy tonight, I can go by myself."

"It’s fine. I’ll go with you."

When Maxim Chandler brought in their lunch, Jared Hawthorne gave a simple order, "Cancel all my appointments for tonight."

Nothing was more important than spending time with his woman.

Jared Hawthorne ate lunch with her. Seeing that her morning sickness was even worse than the past few days, his brows furrowed tightly, his heart aching for her.

’She’s only just gotten pregnant, and this little thing is already causing so much trouble.’

He gently rubbed her back, pulled out a tissue, and handed it to her, his dark eyes filled with heartache.

"If it’s really bad, we’ll go to the hospital right now."

"There’s no need. It’s just normal morning sickness. If we go to the hospital, the doctor will just tell me to endure it."

She took a sour plum from her bag and put it in her mouth. The sweet and sour taste helped to quell the churning in her stomach.

Seeing the color return to her face, Jared Hawthorne pulled her into a tight embrace, his voice deep and raspy. "Honey, you’re working so hard."

’I never knew pregnancy could be so taxing. If I had known, I would have been more careful about protection back then, so she wouldn’t have to suffer like this.’

A gentle smile graced Vesper Grayson’s lips as she hugged him back.

"I’m doing this willingly. This is our child. I can endure a little discomfort."

Time slipped by, and when she woke from a nap, it was already three in the afternoon.

She got up and walked to the door. Just as her hand touched the handle, she heard a hushed conversation from outside.

The voices were muffled, but she could faintly make out a few words: Sheryl Garland, suicide.

She pushed the door open, and the conversation outside came to an abrupt halt.

"You’re awake?"

Jared Hawthorne reached a hand out to her, his tone gentle.

Maxim Chandler tactfully bowed and exited the office.

Vesper Grayson walked over and sat directly on the man’s firm lap. Having just woken up, she was a bit groggy and languid, like a docile, lazy cat.

She leaned against his chest and asked nonchalantly, "I just heard you two mention suicide. What happened?"

"You heard?"

"Just a few snippets."

"Sheryl Garland attempted suicide in prison last night. Fortunately, they found her in time, so her life isn’t in danger. Her father, Jacob Garland, wants to meet with me to beg me to let her off the hook."

If Jared Hawthorne would just stop pressing so hard and soften his stance during the second trial on appeal, Sheryl Garland would have a chance at a lighter sentence and a shorter prison term.

But Jared Hawthorne had no intention of giving them that chance.

Giving in would only encourage Sheryl Garland to take a mile after being given an inch. A five-year sentence was already lenient.

Sheryl Garland thought she could use suicide to threaten him and win sympathy? In the end, she was only reaping what she sowed.

Vesper Grayson was slightly taken aback.

She had thought that once the verdict was handed down, the Garland Family would back off. She never expected they would still be trying every possible way to get Sheryl Garland’s sentence reduced.

Such is a parent’s love!

She understood, though.

Especially now that she was pregnant with her own child, she could empathize with the feelings of a parent even more.

No parent would easily give up on their child until the very last moment.

"Has President Nash said anything?"

"No. He knows my temperament."

He always meant what he said and never showed mercy.

That was why even when Noah Nash met with him privately for meals, he never brought up the matter.

Vesper Grayson hadn’t even shown up on the day of the trial, and as for the news of Sheryl Garland’s suicide attempt, she felt not a single ripple of emotion.

Night fell. The city lights flickered on, neon signs glowing.

Northolme at night was mysterious and captivating.

Vesper Grayson and Jared Hawthorne arrived at Serenity Garden on time.

It was a top-tier private dining restaurant designed in the style of a traditional courtyard home, its atmosphere quiet and elegant, exuding an air of understated luxury.

Inside the private room, Jenson Whitman and Renee Rhodes were already seated and waiting.

"Vesper, you’re here."

Renee Rhodes smiled gently, her gaze falling on the tall, upright, and handsomely distinguished man beside her.

’Their looks are off the charts. Truly a perfect match, made in heaven.’

Vesper Grayson introduced them in a soft voice.

"Miss Rhodes, Mr. Whitman, this is my husband, Jared Hawthorne."