جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 1470

“Who are you? This hospital hallway has plenty of cameras. I’m warning you to watch yourself and don’t go bullying women in public!” Ryan rolled up his sleeves, ready to step in.Ben wasn’t the least bit intimidated. He had been into fitness since college, initially because Jamie liked men with abs, and eventually, it just became a habit. He loved the intense, sweaty workouts, and facing off against someone like Ryan barely registered as a challenge.“Don’t fight, please!” Jamie quickly stepped between them. She turned to Ryan. “I know him. Please, just go.”“But he was about to hurt you right in front of me, no less. If he’s this rough now, imagine what he’d do if I left!” Ryan protested, refusing to back down.Every word he said only added fuel to Ben’s already raging anger.Ben’s jaw clenched so tightly his teeth ground together. He had canceled a meeting, sped through traffic, and run countless red lights, all in a rush to make sure Jamie was safe. And what did he find? Jami

But Winnie was pregnant and needed regular checkups to minimize any risks. Jamie continued, “And Winnie always praises how considerate you are, She even mentioned that you personally found her doctor for the prenatal exams. But now you’re saying this… Aren’t you worried she might overhear?”“If I don’t mind her discovering our relationship, do you really think I’d care about that?” Ben replied, full of confidence. “Even if she finds out everything, she’ll still stay with me.”Jamie knew him well enough to understand that he never made claims unless he was sure. If he was saying this so confidently, it meant he believed he had Winnie completely in his grip.A wave of dizziness hit Jamie. “I did what you asked last night, and I’ll go along with whatever you want tonight as well. I…”“I’m a lawyer, not a collector of cast-offs. Especially ones with a clear price tag of over $10,000. What are you lined with, gold or diamonds?” Ben interrupted again, his words laced with cruelty.But

Ben couldn’t help but be amused by the little boy’s suspicion. An idea struck him, and he pulled up an old photo on his phone, showing it to Charlie. “Look, isn’t this your mom in the picture?”Charlie glanced at the screen and nodded.“Now you believe me, right? I really know your mom.”Charlie hesitated. “But… photos can be edited too. How do I know this one’s real?”Ben was taken aback. “You’re pretty young to know about things like that.”He hadn’t considered just how much Jamie, a single woman raising a child, might have gone through. People had likely tried to deceive her and Charlie countless times. It was no surprise the boy was so wary.“I even have a video here,” Ben offered, scrolling through his album. “See for yourself. If it were fake, you’d notice.”Charlie finally started to relax. Since this man really did know his mother, he figured he didn’t need to be so guarded.Answering Ben’s earlier question, Charlie said, “I don’t have a dad.”“Not at all?”“Nope. He

“Is she still dreaming, not facing reality?” Ben thought.“No, please… he’s just a child, he doesn’t understand. Don’t hold anything he said against him,” Jamie shook her head repeatedly, desperation in her voice. Her only wish now was to stay as far from Ben as possible, never to see him again. She didn’t want any connection to him, least of all his help.Charlie looked at them, utterly confused.“I’m heading back to the office now, but in three hours, I’ll be home to wrap up this case,” Ben said, turning to Jamie with an intense gaze. “I expect to see you there when I return. If not…well, I know which hospital room your son is in. And don’t forget your sister, either. Just where do you think you could hide?”With that, he left, satisfied. Until now, he had only had one piece of leverage over Jamie. Now he had two.As Ben walked out of the room, he opened his hand to reveal a single strand of hair, plucked from the root. Though he knew the chances were slim that Charlie was his

No matter who reached out first this time, one thing was clear that Ben still had feelings for Jamie. Simply pushing her away, as they had tried before, wouldn’t work. The allure of what one couldn’t have would only keep his interest simmering.She might keep him at bay for a while, but could she really keep him away forever? If they crossed paths again, the spark could reignite instantly.“Make him despise you. Make him give up on you completely. If you can do that, I’ll cover all of Charlie’s medical expenses, along with a lifetime of living costs for both of you. If you can’t… then neither of you has a reason to go on.” Mrs. Lucas coldly sealed both Jamie’s and her son’s fate in a few chilling sentences.If Mrs. Lucas wanted to harm Charlie, she had countless ways to do so. Jamie, an ordinary person, couldn’t possibly stand against the power of the Lucas family. Her only option was to follow Mrs. Lucas’s orders and make Ben detest her. But he already resented her deeply. He sim