Chapter 377 Schemes
Brad told me that Silverbrook City was just one piece of the puzzle in the project with the Taylor family. When he met Jenny there, she was running the show.
The Taylors wanted to build mountain-view villas in Silverbrook City. They picked a beautiful village nearby for site inspection, which was the same place where the landslide happened earlier.
In the project I was handling, developing and constructing the village was part of the deal, and the design was already in the works. But this meant the original residents would have to move, and they weren't too happy about it. No one wanted to handle the relocation, but Jenny stepped up to the plate.
The head of the Taylor family said if Jenny nailed this project, she could officially join the family. She wouldn't get inheritance rights, but being part of the Taylor family was a big deal.
Jenny was determined to crush this project, which was why she insisted on having Brad as the main guy when dealing with the school.
The Taylor family members wouldn't be at her beck and call, and even if they were, she didn't trust them. They might cause trouble behind her back. So, finding a partner who shared her vision was super important.
Brad and Jenny went to the same school. Besides her admiration for him, Jenny really appreciated Brad's skills. She trusted his character and saw him as her biggest support.
At the same time, she could build a close relationship with Brad. For her, it was a win-win.
Brad said he'd give it his all, not for Jenny, but out of a sense of duty. He mentioned the project involved scattered locations, which might mean a lot of travel. Brad asked me to take care of myself when he was away and to trust him.
He said it was just two years. After that, he'd give me the best of everything he had.
I believed every word Brad said, but I was always thinking about him; my heart ached.
Looking back, Jenny's request to Professor Evans was just a test. After the school made its decision, she smartly adjusted her strategy, using the project as a cover for her own plans.
Jenny's goals seemed to be twofold. One was to win over the man she wanted, and the other was to have him help her complete the project, gaining the Taylor family's trust.
Given Jenny's character, the latter was more important.
Jenny was smart. If they couldn't work together in the office, they'd go on business trips. Her requests were legit, all for the project, with plenty of reasons and justifications.
It turned out that Jenny wasn't as clueless as she seemed. She wasn't someone with deep schemes and strategies.
Jenny's background was complicated. Growing up in a special environment, how could she be simple?
This time, both Brad and I had been played by her. Even the school was just a stepping stone for her goals.
I didn't ask Brad where he got this info; it didn't matter.
Brad: [Baby, be good; take care of yourself; don't make me worry. Because of the collaboration, I'll have a lot of contact with her; she'll try to stir up trouble. Baby, no matter what she does, don't listen! Don't look; don't believe. I would never betray you, even if I die. Just wait for me.]
I was stunned. After hearing Brad's words, my mind was in a fog.
All I wanted was a simple love where he loved me, and I loved him. That was it. Just a sweet, loving relationship, building the family we always dreamed of, having a few adorable kids, and being good to our parents. That was all I ever wanted.
I didn't need money, status, power, or fame. But why was this simple wish so hard to achieve?
There were so many people in the world; was their love as chaotic as mine? If not, what had I done wrong to face so many hardships?
Jenny scheming to steal a guy with a girlfriend was clearly wrong, yet she did it so boldly and confidently, while I had to bear so much stress. What was wrong with this world?
Helen once said that both love and life were hard and required effort to manage. Back then, I didn't take it seriously.
I thought, 'Love is just love; it's between two people. What's there to manage?' Now I realized that love wasn't just between two people; it really did need managing.
Brad also said he'd soon go to a remote place for site inspection, where the signal might be poor, making it hard to stay in touch. He told me not to worry, that he'd find every chance to contact me.
I know Jenny was about to make her next move.
Brad said, "Baby, don't worry. Don't be afraid. This will all be over soon. After this, I won't take on such projects anymore. I'll stay by your side, and we'll open an art studio together, doing what we love. Then we'll never be apart."
I watched Brad's mouth move, my numb heart unable to react, while his eyes were filled with worry and concern.
Maybe, like me, Brad also felt anxious about the uncertain future of the next two years.
We both knew things wouldn't be that simple.
We had love, trust, and loyalty between us, but the world was full of uncertainties, and no one knew what the future held. Two years was a long time; anything could happen. We were powerless to change any of this.
I only told Brad that no matter where he went, he should send me his location so I knew where he was and where to find him.
I hung up the phone and immediately called Professor Evans.
Professor Evans was also extremely outraged by this matter.
He said he only heard about it during the afternoon meeting. Jenny had worked with the higher-ups at the school and got their approval. This sudden business trip wasn't just Jenny's decision; the school had also personally informed Brad.
After ending the call, I collapsed into my chair, completely drained and unable to think.
I felt like Brad and I were forcibly dragged into a trap, one personally set by Jenny for us. To get out, we'd have to fight desperately, with no room for retreat.
I muddled through the night. I woke up at dawn with my head in a mess and my ears ringing so loudly it could burst my eardrums.
Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, I saw a disheveled person with swollen eyes and a vacant expression. I couldn't bear to look at myself. Late-night depression was no joke.
I put on some light makeup to cover my haggard face before daring to go out.
I still had classes in the morning, and I couldn't let the students see their teaching assistant looking so unkempt. No matter how much pain and difficulty I faced, life had to go on, and I couldn't neglect my responsibilities.
Breakfast was delivered as usual at 7:30. I asked the delivery person, and he said it was pre-ordered by the person who placed the order, with a large sum already paid in advance. As long as the person who ordered it didn't cancel, he would continue to deliver it on time.
Looking at the steaming breakfast, I recalled the message and location Brad had sent me a few hours earlier.
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