Chapter 519 Olivia and Jeremy
However, she vehemently disagreed with his last comment. "You're so biased! I've known him for years. I know whether he's good or not better than you do. He's been there for me when you've hurt me."
Lawrence's face was grim, as his mood turned sour.
The negotiation ended in an argument.
Lawrence's concerns for her were genuine. The origins of Rock's property were murky, and she urgently needed to establish Triton well in Trento City. Yet, she rejected his concern.
Left with no choice, he played the villain. "I won't let Rock get that property without a fight. Think it through. Do you want to relocate Triton there and deal with endless trouble every day?"
"Lawrence, your pettiness never changes." Winnie was so upset she had a headache, and her stomach pain became more pronounced. She had to sit down, grasping the edge of the couch.
"What's wrong?" Lawrence asked, tension in his voice as he looked at her flat stomach.
She clutched her belly.
Lawrence frowned, turned, and strode into the kitchen to pour a glass of warm water before handing it to her.
Winnie wasn't one to put on airs, so she took it and drank. His warm, large palm unexpectedly pressed against her waist, just below her stomach, gently holding her.
She wanted to pull away in her anger, but she was too weak. His gaze moved up to meet hers, his eyes deeply shadowed in the backlight. His eyes hid something, revealing an unexpectedly tender side.
Winnie was caught off guard, her heart pounding from his gaze. His gaze on her seemed different.
It was as if he was anxious about her, as if he cherished her. His usual cold stare had never carried so much cautious and delicateness.
Winnie couldn't pinpoint what was odd, yet she forbade herself from overthinking. She shouldn't be fooled by his eyes.
He would looked at Ishara and Darcy the same way.
Suddenly, silence returned to her heart, she spoke with a cold reserve, "Let me go."
"Rest assured, if I wanted to do something to you, I couldn't. At least not till my wound has healed," he said, gently pointing to his heart.
Winnie’s face turned ashen, and she could only look away.
Lawrence spoke with commanding firmness. "You need to warm up a bit, or it might just cramp up on you later."
His broad palm pressed close, the heat radiating onto her skin. Even after their intimate encounters, Winnie still found it both humorous and uncomfortable.
This must be the jerk's way of showing concern.
With no energy to resist, she just shut her mouth and whipped out her phone to text Olivia.
Seeing her silent protest, a sigh rose from the depths of Lawrence's heart. He unlocked his phone with his other hand, finding a message from Luke.
His gaze darkened. "Have the Department of Commerce take a good look at Rock's property purchases. Invite him to the station for an interview!"
-
In the supermarket below the hotel, Olivia jerkily shrugged off Jeremy's hand.
"Sorry." Jeremy, having not noticed earlier that he was gripping her hand all along, followed her inside.
Her delicate wrist reddened by his grasp.
He felt a bit uneasy too. The playfulness from his eyes behind the glasses was replaced by a hint of discomfort. "Why didn't you remind me earlier?"
"You mean, that you're holding my hand?" Olivia grimaced as if she had swallowed a fly.
Frustration flicked across Jeremy's face, his cool demeanor sharpening. "Isn't it obvious? So many women wish they could hold my hand!"
"Those women don't include me, Mr. Jeremy. A little self-awareness wouldn't hurt. Your taste in women doesn’t impress me. A clear example is choosing someone like Lynn as your fiancée.” Olivia scoffed, her disdain for the man only increasing at the thought of Lynn.
"Why bring her up?" Jeremy's expression tensed slightly.
If Olivia hadn't mentioned Lynn, he could almost forget he even had a fiancée.
"Lynn is my cousin. Surely you knew that?"
"What's that got to do with me?" His engagement to Lynn was nothing more than him needing an antidote three years ago. It was a cure that saved his life.
A surge of frustration tightened Olivia's chest. "The Lynns took everything from my family, Mr. Jeremy. Are you aware of that?"
"So, what does that have to do with me?" Jeremy's tone was cold, intentionally provocative.
Her cheeks flushed with anger, her chest heaving with emotion. Olivia forced a smile. "Of course, it's got nothing to do with you. You choose your partners based on whatever pleases you, right?"
Inside, an unwarranted sense of loss washed over her. She couldn't understand why she still fantasized about meaning something more to Jeremy.
Their connection had long since faded into nothing more than a tangled mess of gratitude and resentment.
Besides, he was now Uncle Jeremy to Mia.
What an awkward relationship.
Lowering her round face, Olivia turned away and walked toward the market.
Jeremy squinted, realizing that his intention in bringing her down here wasn't to upset her.
Mr. Lawrence was right. He had come today indeed wanting to see Olivia.
She had arrived in Trento City with her daughter. Although she sought refuge with Winnie, he wanted to know if she was adjusting well and if she needed any extra help,
Jeremy couldn't help but worry about these things. Before he could process his thoughts, he couldn't understand why Olivia kept popping up in his mind. Perhaps it was because of Mia's face, which resembled his own too closely.
His long strides caught up to her, and he asked cautiously, “Did my brother give you any trouble in Lymington?”
Olivia tensed, her delicate chin trembled slightly. “He did at first, but then, didn't you have a bodyguard secretly protecting Mia? Sam knows I have a daughter and that club incident three years ago. He just hasn’t had the chance to meet Mia yet.”
Jeremy nodded.
For some reason, he subconsciously prevented the father-daughter recognition between Mia and Sam. Maybe it was because he knew of Sam's philandering ways. Once Mia claimed her heritage, Sam would definitely force Olivia into marriage.
He didn't want to see her marry his good-for-nothing older brother.
“Settle down in Trento City with your daughter for now. Besides, Winnie is bound to reconcile with Mr. Lawrence and settle here too. If you’re looking for a job, just let me know. I have resources to help.”
Olivia, taken aback by his sudden offer of kindness, licked her lips nervously. “Thanks. I’ll reach out if I truly can’t find a job. Otherwise, if Lynn gives me trouble, it won't be worth it.”
Jeremy’s expression darkened subconsciously upon hearing what she said to distant herself.
“But—” Olivia suddenly changed the subject, “What do you mean about Winnie definitely reconciling with Lawrence? Where does this confidence come from? How can you be so sure?”
Jeremy chuckled lightly, knowing that Winnie was already expecting Lawrence’s second child. With Lawrence’s tact, there was no escape.
After all her defiance and resistance, she still couldn't escape Lawrence's grasp. They just have to deal with Ishara.
“What’s with that mischievous smile?” Olivia eyed him warily, her gaze fixed on Jeremy’s handsome yet devilish face, “Do you have a secret about Lawrence or Winnie? How can you be so sure about their reconciliation?”
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