Chapter 468 Unease
Brad's words hit like a ton of bricks. If I were Jenny, I'd be dying of embarrassment.
Jenny's face changed in an instant. She tried to put on a brave front, but her eyes were brimming with tears. "Brad, why are you doing this? Why won't you acknowledge what we had? I loved you so much; how could you do this to me?" Her voice was dripping with hurt. It made me want to puke.
Why would Brad even hesitate for a second? He had no reason to.
Brad cut in, "Stop it, Jenny. From start to finish, we were just schoolmates, then colleagues, and you schemed for the latter. There was never anything more between us. Have some self-respect. If you bring this up again, I'll sue you for slander and defamation."
Realizing Brad wasn't going to budge, Jenny dropped the act. Instead of throwing a fit, she left us with a chilling remark before hanging up. "You think you've won? Don't get too comfortable."
I thought that was Jenny's last desperate move, nothing more. But Brad stared at his phone, his brow furrowed deep.
Seeing his face, a wave of unease washed over me.
This feeling was stronger than anything I'd ever felt.
Could Jenny have another trick up her sleeve? What might she do next?
Jenny's call shattered our evening peace. After we finished getting ready for bed, Brad held me close in the dark, speaking softly.
When he heard I had a fever, he looked worried and tried to get up. I gently held him down and said, "I'm fine now; don't worry. Just stay here with me."
Brad couldn't argue with me, so he settled back down, wrapping his arm around me and pulling me close. His chin brushed against my hair as he spoke in a hoarse voice, "What I fear most is you not being well. So, promise me—no matter what happens, take care of yourself first. Only then can you handle everything else. Promise me, okay?"
His breathing was a bit quick, and I could sense his unease.
But why was Brad so anxious?
The next day, we were supposed to take the kids back to the mountains in the minibus Bronte arranged. I had planned to go alone, thinking the kids would keep me company and make the trip fun.
But Brad wasn't having it. After coordinating with the school and the construction team, he decided to join us. So, all seven of us piled into the bus together.
Jenny's attack on Brad had a huge negative impact on the school, and they were furious. They formally proposed replacing the partner, citing the Taylor family's disrespect and illegal behavior, and demanded a renegotiation of the contract terms. Otherwise, the school would sue the Taylor family for actions that severely damaged the cooperation and the personal reputations of the school staff and the school's reputation.
National Capital University, a top-tier institution, far surpassed the Taylor family in terms of financial power and influence.
The school's tough stance put the entire Taylor family under immense pressure. Word was, the Taylor family held an emergency meeting the day they got the school's notice to figure out how to handle the situation.The Taylor family had some clout, but National Capital University was a whole different ball game. With its century-old legacy and influential alumni scattered worldwide, the university was a powerhouse. If it came to a showdown, the Taylors would be toast.
While the Taylors were still figuring out their game plan, both the school and the family were on edge, worried Brad might stir the pot even more.
So, when Brad asked for a vacation, both sides jumped at the chance to say yes and even encouraged him to take a few extra days to chill out.
Brad finally got his first real break after more than six months of nonstop work. He wanted to spend a few days with us in the mountains, soaking in the natural beauty.
Brad's visit had the whole village buzzing with excitement.
The outside drama didn't mean a thing to the simple villagers.
What they remembered was Brad's genuine care for the kids and his heartfelt teaching when he was there.
Almost everyone in the village came to the entrance to greet him, chatting warmly. Cooper held onto Brad's hand like a lifeline, constantly asking if everything was sorted out and if there was anything they could do to help.
Meanwhile, I popped open the minibus trunk and, with the kids' help, started handing out the snacks I had bought in the city.
Hearing that everything was resolved, Cooper was over the moon and insisted we come to his place for a meal.
Not wanting to impose, Brad politely declined, much to the villagers' disappointment.
Back at the village office, Elliot and the others hadn't returned yet, and the yard was empty.
Brad moved the veggies and meat from the car to the kitchen, only to find the kitchen in a sorry state.
On the stove, there was a big bowl with three dry pieces of bread, and next to it on the table was half a plate of stir-fried potatoes and a small bowl of cabbage soup—all vegetarian.
Brad looked at me with concern and said, "No wonder you've lost weight. Haven't you been eating enough?"
I had indeed lost weight, partly due to being sick and partly because of the stress from Jenny, which had little to do with the food.
Of course, while I was here, the meals weren't always this bad.
"Yeah, you need to help me get my strength back." I leaned against Brad, pretending to be weak.
With everything sorted out, I was in the mood to be playful with Brad.
Brad affectionately pinched my nose and said, "Alright, I'll cook for you. Beef, shrimp, whatever you want, just tell me, and I'll make it for you."
I named a couple more dishes, and Brad rolled up his sleeves and headed into the kitchen.
When Elliot and the others returned, they rushed into the yard, inhaling the delicious aroma and excitedly exclaiming how good it smelled, darting into the kitchen like a bunch of madmen.
When they saw the large bowl of beef on the table, my junior, who had previously taken care of me, was so moved that tears filled her eyes. Without bothering to check if it was too hot or even wash her hands, she quickly grabbed a piece and popped it into her mouth, inhaling sharply as she chewed eagerly, mumbling her thanks to Brad.
They crowded around the table, grabbing pieces of meat. Even Elliot and Bronte couldn't resist the temptation, eating with their mouths full.
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