Chapter 3

Frowning, I protested, "But I need to take my sister home first—"

"Don't worry about it, Mr. Sawyer," Tori cut me off. She gave a signal, and two burly bodyguards stepped forward to grab Ava. "With how badly injured your sister is, there's no way she can endure the arduous trip back to your hometown.

"Ms. Parker has graciously arranged for your sister to receive treatment at a premium private hospital on the outskirts of the city, with dedicated staff watching over her around the clock. She'll have access to the finest medical team available and will be exceptionally well cared for."

I looked at the stone-faced bodyguards surrounding us, then at the frail Ava. Immediately, it hit me that Simone had no intention of letting me leave.

Ava struggled violently, glaring at Tori as she growled, "Let him go! If you've got a problem, take it up with me!"

I caught her hand and shook my head at her. Honest, decent people like us needed to know not to pick fights we couldn't win.

Turning back to Tori, I put on a grateful smile and said, "I can't be more thankful for Ms. Parker's generosity. In that case, I'll have to trouble you to take good care of my sister, Ms. Williams."

Tori nodded in satisfaction. "You're a smart man, Mr. Sawyer. Let's get going, then."

That very night, I was settled into a luxurious guest room in the Valley Heights villa.

The household staff delivered custom-tailored menswear to my room, and the table was laden with a dinner prepared by one of the best chefs in the city.

But I didn't take a single bite.

Late at night, the bedroom door opened. Simone walked in wearing a silk robe, one hand tucked into her pocket.

When she saw me sitting in silence at the table, she assumed I was waiting for her, and her eyes flashed with smug delight.

"What's the matter? Is the food not to your liking?" she asked. "I've already seen to it that your sister is well taken care of at the hospital. The doctors have already checked on her. She's not dying anytime soon."

I nodded robotically. "Thank you, Ms. Parker."

Simone seemed very pleased with my docile attitude. She came up to me and pulled me by the chin to force me to meet her eyes.

"I know you feel hurt and upset, Jason. Conrad has been by my side for many years now, so I can't hurt him. But I won't forget all the sacrifices you've made for me either. From now on, you can stay here as my assistant. While I can't make you my husband, I can give you all the luxuries in life."

"Understood, Ms. Parker." I kept my gaze down to hide the scorn in my eyes. "I won't forget my place, and I won't cause trouble for you."

Satisfied, Simone let go and turned around.

"Get some rest. I'll let you out once Conrad and I are done with our engagement party. I don't want anything to complicate the situation further."

I was confined in the Valley Heights villa for three whole days. During that time, I tried climbing the walls, bribing the security guards, and even pretending to be sick. None of that worked. I was desperate enough to consider digging a tunnel when Conrad waltzed into the place with his personal assistant.

He was dressed in a custom-tailored suit, wearing a gold engagement band on his finger that he purposely dangled in front of me. Evidently, he'd come to mock me.

His eyes immediately landed on the canvas duffel bag sitting on the table, and his expression hardened with hostility.

"I knew you'd continue to try to play hard to get, Jason." Conrad sneered at me. "You think packing your bag and pretending you're ready to leave at any moment will make Simone give in and agree to make you her husband?"

I rolled my eyes, feeling more exasperated than anything else. "You're reading too much into this, Mr. Bateman. I packed my things to leave for good. Why don't you do me a favor and tell Ms. Parker to let me go? The position of her husband is securely in your hands. I won't try to take it from you."

But Conrad assumed I was mocking him.

He stepped in close, lowering his voice as he snarled through gritted teeth, "Stop acting all innocent and righteous in front of me! Do you think you can rest easy now just because you used the debt of gratitude Simone owes you to get a statement of forgiveness out of her?

"Well, let me make one thing clear to you—I'm the only man Simone loves! Even if you took 100 bottles to the head in her place, you're never going to be anything more than a lowly country bumpkin!"

I nodded in agreement. "Yes, you're absolutely right. You're the most refined and sophisticated man to ever exist, so can you get them to let me leave?"

My dismissive attitude seemed to push Conrad over the edge. He glared at me before, without warning, he picked up the cup of tea I'd just poured for myself and drank a mouthful.

The very next second, his face turned ghostly pale. The cup crashed to the floor as he collapsed backward, his breathing turning ragged. Angry red welts spread rapidly across his skin.

Clutching his throat, he started to make choking sounds.

"Mr. Bateman! What's wrong, Mr. Bateman?" his assistant's screams echoed through the otherwise silent villa. "Help! Someone, get in here! Jason Sawyer poisoned Mr. Bateman!"