On the Day I Was Kicked Out of the Wealthy Family, I Had a Flash Marriage with a Tycoon-Chapter 196: Never Regretted

After a long silence, Jasper Lockwood was the first to speak. "Let’s eat. The steak won’t taste good if it gets cold." He then took his knife and fork, cut the steak on his plate into bite-sized pieces, and slid the plate over to Chloe Sterling. Then, he pulled her plate in front of himself.

Staring at the perfectly cut steak, Chloe felt a whirlwind of emotions. She took a deep breath and said softly, "Just now..."

"Don’t," Jasper interrupted, his grip on the knife and fork tight, though his tone had softened. "Let’s just eat. It’s almost cold."

Chloe picked up her fork, but as she ate a piece of beef, she found it utterly tasteless.

They finished the rest of their meal in silence. Afterward, Jasper Lockwood drove Chloe Sterling back to the Nocturne Group headquarters.

The car pulled over to the curb. Chloe said, "I’m getting out."

Jasper turned to look at her and suddenly asked, "Do you regret it?"

"Huh?" Chloe didn’t immediately understand.

Jasper’s deep, intense eyes were fixed on her as he asked again, "Regret marrying me?"

"No!" Chloe replied without hesitation. After a pause, she added, "I’m just... I just feel a bit overwhelmed and can’t think of a better way to handle all this trouble."

’In truth, she had just asked herself that question countless times. Thinking back on every moment she’d spent with Jasper over the past few months, she knew she had no regrets. Not for a second.’

’Her saying that maybe they shouldn’t be together wasn’t out of regret. It was because she believed that if they had never started this, Jasper wouldn’t be caught up in such a mess.’

"Not for a single moment?" Jasper pressed.

Chloe’s answer was firm. "No."

Jasper watched her quietly for a moment before saying, "Go on in."

Sensing that her words at the restaurant had truly hurt him, Chloe didn’t get out of the car immediately. She just stared at Jasper, seemingly steeling herself for something.

After a minute or so, she suddenly leaned forward, wrapped her arms around Jasper’s neck, and pressed a kiss to his lips. "I’ve never regretted this," she whispered. "Not for a single second. I only said what I did because if we weren’t together, you wouldn’t have to deal with all this unnecessary trouble, and you wouldn’t be so angry."

In all the time he’d known her, this was the first time Chloe had ever said something so vulnerable.

Jasper froze for a moment, then cupped the back of her head and sealed her lips with his once more. The kiss didn’t last long before he pulled away. "I understand," he said softly. "But Chloe, I honestly don’t care about this trouble. Even if being with you means walking through fire, I wouldn’t have it any other way."

Chloe’s heart skipped a beat, filled with an indescribable emotion.

In the driver’s seat, Henry Chamberlain gripped the steering wheel. ’I should not be in this car,’ he thought.

But just as the deeply moving moment reached its peak, Chloe’s brain short-circuited, and she suddenly blurted out, "Then why are you so bothered by Silas Coldwell? There’s absolutely nothing between us, nor could there ever be. He can’t do anything to me, either. It was just a single transaction."

Jasper: "...That’s different!"

"How is it different?"

"A love rival is hardly the same thing!"

"Love rival?" Chloe raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think he’s a rival? He’s just a smart-mouth who’s interested in my talent. He doesn’t have any romantic feelings for me. Can’t you tell?"

Jasper scoffed. "When a man wants to possess a woman, romantic feelings are always part of the equation."

Chloe retorted, "Charles Sterling is devoted to his wife, but he also wants to get his hands on me to take his business to the next level."

Jasper: "That’s completely different."

Seeing the two of them squaring off, Henry Chamberlain, fearing another argument was about to break out between the newly reconciled couple, quickly interjected, "Sir, it’s already two o’clock. You have an international conference at two-thirty."

Hearing this, Chloe said, "You should get back to your company."

Jasper didn’t say anything else. He watched her get out of the car and walk into the Nocturne Group headquarters before driving away.

Chloe returned to her lab and, seeing that Silas Coldwell was nowhere in sight, let out an unconscious sigh of relief. ’I hope he stays away from the lab from now on,’ she thought.

Ever since the calamity that befell the Rivers Family, Ruby Lynch had grown haggard and refused to see anyone but her sister, Rose Lynch.

But Rose Lynch wasn’t faring much better. Ever since discovering that Charles Sterling was the president of Apex Group, her heart had been in turmoil. Her mind was constantly filled with images of his handsome, elegant face.

’He should have been her man,’ she thought. ’The title of Mrs. President of Apex Group should have been hers.’

Ruby’s voice started up again, full of complaint. "That Serena Lockwood truly doesn’t know her own limits. Who does she think Jasper Lockwood is that she would dare to provoke him? She’s completely responsible for what happened to the Rivers Family. If you ask me, she should be thrown out of the family!" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Rose snapped out of her daze. "I heard Serena Lockwood angered President Lockwood by trying to harm his wife. I can’t imagine what kind of woman she must be to have such sway over him, enough to make him destroy an entire family for her sake. And Serena is his aunt, after all. Even as an adopted daughter, that’s still her official position."

"Hah! Aunt!" Ruby sneered. "Everyone knows no one in the Lockwood Family gives her the time of day. How could her status possibly compare to the wife of the man in charge of the Lockwood Family? They’re not even in the same league!"

Just then, Esther Sterling, dressed to the nines, slowly descended the stairs.

"Mom, Auntie, I’m going out for a bit."

Rose Lynch looked at her impeccably dressed daughter and asked, "Where are you off to?"

"To meet a friend," Esther replied.

"A friend? What kind of friend warrants getting so dressed up?"

"You don’t know him."

Rose was about to ask more, but Ruby stopped her. "That’s enough. Don’t pry so much. Esther knows what she’s doing."

Rose suddenly thought of Chloe and blurted out, "Esther, have you seen Chloe recently? How has she been?"

Hearing this, Esther frowned and paused. "Why are you suddenly asking about her?"

"Uh... it’s nothing. Just a casual question."

"I don’t know. I haven’t seen her lately." Esther’s expression soured, clearly displeased. "I’m heading out now," she said.

Rose replied, "Go on, then. Be careful."

After Esther left, Ruby looked at her sister suspiciously. "What was that all about? Why did you suddenly bring up Chloe?"

Rose felt a mix of emotions. "I was just asking casually."

"Well, it’s better if you don’t ask so casually in the future. Couldn’t you see you upset Esther? She’s already been in a bad mood lately."

Rose Lynch furrowed her brow, not wanting to speak. ’Lately, nothing has gone right!’

Esther arrived at a private club, found the right room number, and stood nervously at the door. She knew Tristan Sinclair was inside, but she didn’t dare to just barge in.

Just then, the door to the private room swung open, and Dean Lynch stepped out. He instantly recognized Esther standing in the hall. He knew a bit about her, as she had gained some notoriety from a piano competition, and he immediately guessed why she was there.

Although Esther didn’t know Dean, she had seen him with Jean Kensington before. A chill entered her eyes. ’Anyone connected to Chloe is an enemy.’

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Dean asked, walking up to her with an interrogating tone.

Esther replied coolly, "I don’t see how that’s any of your business."

"This is a private party," Dean said coldly. "Outsiders aren’t welcome. I suggest you leave."

Esther clenched her fists, unwilling to leave. ’I have to see Tristan Sinclair today. I refuse to believe he feels nothing for me.’

After a tense moment, the door to the private room opened again, and Tristan Sinclair appeared in the doorway.

An idea suddenly struck Esther. She deliberately gave Dean a slight pull, then staggered backward a couple of steps and collapsed onto the floor.

She then looked up at Dean with an expression of shock and hurt, as if he were the one who had pushed her.