“That day, I didn’t get a chance to greet you.” Jaquan pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, took one out, and offered it to him.
Nelson declined, “I quit.”
Jaquan raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
He put the cigarette back, “Ahmad found out about this and put Isaac in confinement. They don’t want this scandal to be known outside.”
“A cover-up,” Nelson sneered. “What about Marilyn?”
“Heartbroken by you, what do you think?” Jaquan lit a cigarette for himself and sat down beside him.
“I didn’t expect you to make it public in such a setting, but Ahmad won’t let you off easily,” Jaquan said, studying him through the smoke.
Nelson laughed as if hearing a joke, “When has he ever let me off easily? But you, he has always admired you.”
Jaquan asked again, “Are you sure you don’t want the family fortune?”
Through the window, they could see Callie sitting by the hospital bed, carefully holding Regan’s hand. Nelson’s heart softened, “Having her is enough for me.”
Upon hearing this, Jaquan’s hand trembled suddenly, and ash fell on his fingers, burning him slightly.
“Why exactly? Why did he hit you this time?” Callie held Regan’s hand, anxiously asking, “Didn’t they just bring you back from the mountains last time?”
Regan’s breath was weak, her body wrapped in bandages, looking broken.
“It was Marilyn’s birthday that day. The Ellison family held a grand event to introduce Marilyn as the future heiress of the Ellison family. Isaac felt he had become the laughingstock of the whole city. So…”
“Bastard!” Callie cursed, “He takes out his incompetence on women!”
“Domestic violence only happens zero times or countless times. Regan, get a divorce.”
Regan closed her eyes and sighed at her fate, “… Maybe not. The Ellison family cares about their reputation. We haven’t been married long; divorcing so soon would bring disgrace.”
Hearing this, Callie became angrier, “You’re worried about their disgrace? What about you? You were nearly beaten to death!”
Regan smiled bitterly, “I know…”
“Then why…”
“It’s really not possible.” Regan tightened her grip on Callie’s hand. “I heard Nelson made your relationship public that night.”
Facing the intense gaze, Callie couldn’t avoid it, “… Yes.”
Regan showed an envious smile, “That’s great. No matter what, he can protect you completely. But I’m different, Callie. Even if I get divorced, I have no one to rely on. Isaac can still beat me to death.”
Callie fell silent. It was indeed something Isaac would do.
“But now you need a long time just to recover. What will you do if he hits you again?”
“Think positively; at least he can’t hit me for a while.” Regan forced a smile.
Callie felt only bitterness and turned her head to hide her tears.
“Thank you,” Regan said sincerely. “If you hadn’t come that day, I might have died in that dark basement.”
“It was what I should have done.” Thinking about it, although Nelson made their relationship public and she became the target of many, rescuing Regan made it all worth it.
Jaquan had hired bodyguards to stay there. Callie walked out of the hospital room, carefully closing the door behind her. She looked up and saw Nelson on a work call nearby.
“How is it?” Jaquan asked.