Chapter 3

After dinner, I was called to Richard's study.

Richard was not that decisive businessman in the company, but a patient and kind father, asking me, "Audrey, you've liked Jeffrey since you were a child. Do you still like him?"

I shook my head.

I liked him for seven years, humble and painful. I never gave up. But this time, I went through hellish torture.

I didn't dare to like Jeffrey anymore.

Richard got my answer, pondered for a moment, and regretfully said, "Never mind. Maybe you can not be our daughter-in-law, but you will always be our daughter. You are good and beautiful. It is Jeffrey’s loss."

He took out a bank card from the drawer. "This is what your parents left for you. There are 700 thousand dollars. They asked me to keep it until you grow up."

700 thousand dollars... The ransom was also 700 thousand dollars.

In the days of being kidnapped, I once resented my parents. Why didn't they take me with them, letting me suffer such torture?

It turned out that they thought about my future life. They loved me.

I tried to prevent myself from crying.

"Thank you."

When I came out of the study room, it was already eight o'clock in the evening, and I headed towards my room. On the way, I met Jeffrey.

He spoke to me in an unexpectedly soft tone, "Tonight Joanna is staying in your room, and you'll go stay in the guest room next to mine."

So it was for Joanna.

I nodded and started walking in the opposite direction. When I came to the Chaney residence for the first time, Jeffrey hated me and moved to the rooms farthest away from me.

My room was decorated by a top luxury designer. The guest room was not.

After all, I was in the Chaney residence. Jeffrey was the owner of the house.

Suddenly Jeffrey stopped me, "Audrey, are you a good girl now?"

I turned back and realized that his face was full of mockery as well as a bit of worry.

"I'm sorry..." I said hesitantly. I had no idea what to say to Jeffrey other than to keep apologizing.

"This is the third time you've apologized to me today. You're weird." Jeffrey walked over, leaning down and putting his hand on my forehead.

I stepped back. By the time I was holding onto the hallway railing, my legs were so weak that I could barely stand.

Jeffrey looked at me like I was crazy, he becoming impatient.

I said in a broken voice, "I ... I'll be moving out tomorrow. I've already told Richard."

I thought that Jeffrey should be happy to hear that, but on the contrary, he became angry.

"Moving out? Why? Yes, Joanna will stay in your room for one night. But she's a guest."

I shook my head in a panic. "I didn’t mean that."

Jeffrey walked towards me with a gloomy face. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards the easternmost room.

"Come with me. I need to talk to you."

Fear swept my brain. I pulled out the bank card Richard had just given me, saying in a broken voice, "I'm sorry. I have money. Don't hit me.

"I have money. Don't hit me."

Jeffrey looked back in shock. I was already paralyzed on the floor, and my wrists were still raised high in his cupped hands.

"Audrey, what are you talking about?"

By now, my lips had bitten purple. Looking at Jeffrey's gradually enlarging face, I recalled the kidnapper's harsh words, "You are a dog of the Chaney family, pestering your master."

"Jeffrey, no, Mr. Chaney, I won't pester you anymore. I won't dare anymore."

Jeffrey finally realized that something was wrong with my mental condition, and his movements became much gentler, wrapping his arms around my waist and picking me up from the ground.

The feeling of weightlessness caused me to subconsciously wrap my arms around Jeffrey's neck. His heart was softened.

"Audrey, it's not that I dislike you. It's just that..."

Before he could finish his sentence, the door to the hallway opened. Joanna poked her head out of my room. Inside the lights were lit.

She acted a little surprised, "Mr. Chaney, Ms. Houston."

Jeffrey was displeased, "You’ve got the room. What?"

Joanna replied in a sad tone, "It's a video conference from the branch over in the Utedes. You have to personally attend, Mr. Chaney."

Jeffrey glanced at me in his arms and helplessly put me down. My body stiffened, and I couldn't speak.

"You go to my room and wait for me."

Jeffrey said and walked towards Joanna. The two of them entered the room and closed the door.

The bright light disappeared. I felt relieved, but the cold sweat had long soaked through my clothes.

Jeffrey wouldn't come back because I knew Joanna. Countless times, such as my birthday, and my graduation ceremony, he was called away by Joanna. Maybe he really wanted to leave. Neither did he want to come back.

I had to leave as soon as possible. I needed to go to a place where there was no Jeffrey. I was afraid that if I kept being around Jeffrey, I would break down.