Sweet Wife So Charming: CEO: Hold Back Your Heart-Chapter 396: Reliance

"A man and a woman alone, Miss Rhodes, what do you think I’m planning to do?" Zayne Sinclair said, taking a few steps forward and pinning Fiona Rhodes against the wall, his eyes filled with a predatory challenge.

"Aren’t you afraid the Sinclair family will find out you snuck out on your own, or that the Rhodes family will learn what you’re trying to do to me?"

Picking a stray lock of her hair that had fallen during the recent turmoil, he sniffed at it: "Afraid? Fiona Rhodes, do you think I would be afraid now?"

His gaze was harsh and unyielding, dismissing Fiona Rhodes’s words without heed.

Fiona Rhodes suppressed the trembling of her body: "If I’m going to die, at least let it be for a clear reason."

Ignoring her struggles, Zayne Sinclair pulled her into his arms and whispered in her ear: "I heard, in the situation I’ve ended up in, Miss Rhodes, you seem to play a part, don’t you?"

Fiona Rhodes shivered a little while listening to Zayne Sinclair’s chuckle, feeling a tingling sensation on her scalp.

After a moment of silence, she turned and leaned against Zayne Sinclair’s chest: "What do you want, revenge against me? Still, it’s all your fault; if you hadn’t competed with me for Ira Irving, what else could I have done?"

Zayne Sinclair was taken aback, his cold, gray eyes flickered as he looked at the woman who had suddenly softened and surrendered.

"Is that supposed to be my fault then?"

"Of course, it’s your fault." Fiona Rhodes suddenly lifted her head, "If it weren’t for your resoluteness, my dad and the others wouldn’t have forced me to do that."

Zayne Sinclair squinted at the woman whose eyes were slightly red at the corners, tears? He’d never seen Fiona Rhodes cry before.

He raised his eyebrows and said nothing.

"Do you have any idea I never wanted to break the alliance with you, but the family insisted I must win over Ira Irving? If I don’t, how can I establish myself in the Rhodes?"

With a slight choke, Fiona Rhodes continued.

"Don’t think you’re the only one having a hard time in the Sinclair family. Surrounded by wolves, tigers, and leopards, have you ever thought about me? I’m a woman in the Rhodes family, though I’m the eldest, but who isn’t waiting to see me fail? Even the slightest mistake can be blown out of proportion or result in losing everything."

Zayne Sinclair listened, pressed his lips but understood her struggle more than anyone else.

"Zayne Sinclair, if today you want to touch me, then just do it, but from now on, you won’t just have Julian Sinclair as your opponent; you’ll have me too."

He looked at her, feeling slightly wronged, her eyes fixed tightly on his face: "Threatening me?"

"Yes," Fiona Rhodes said to the man who had a smile on his lips, "If you let me go, our cooperation will continue, and in any case, I will help you this time."

Zayne Sinclair raised his hand to touch the lips he hadn’t had enough of before and leaned in closer: "Oh, just that benefit?"

Fiona Rhodes silently cursed in her heart and said with a blank expression: "What more do you want?"

"How about..." Zayne Sinclair’s hand wandered over her.

"I told you, if you really want it, I’ll give it to you." Fiona Rhodes said coldly, her whole person softening with a merciless expression.

"Heh." With a short laugh, Zayne Sinclair tossed her onto the bed and sat on the sofa nearby, "I’m not that desperate, especially not for a woman Julian Sinclair no longer wants."

Fiona Rhodes’s heart tensed up as she was thrown off, biting her inner lip, her face looking ever more sullen.

Julian Sinclair was a hurdle she could never get over in her heart.

She slightly opened her eyes to see Zayne Sinclair sitting and watching her with a smile, and she quickly sat up, leaning against the bedhead.

"What you just said, I’ll remember, so Miss Rhodes, don’t forget either."

"Rest assured, whether or not I win over Ira Irving, I will definitely help you deal with Julian Sinclair. You will be the heir to the Sinclair family."

Zayne Sinclair smirked: "That would be best. Oh, and if Miss Rhodes doesn’t keep her promise."

With a couple of chuckles, his eyes lingered with a cold glint as he looked at Fiona Rhodes’s graceful figure: "I will come back to collect again."

With that, he stood up and went to the door: "Well then, Miss Rhodes, have a good rest. I shall take my leave now."

As she watched Zayne Sinclair’s back, Fiona Rhodes furiously threw a pillow onto the floor.

Zayne Sinclair left the hotel and drove back home.

He was now alone and isolated, having no choice but to trust Fiona Rhodes, even though she had previously sabotaged him and competed with him for Ira Irving. But when it came to dealing with Julian Sinclair, she was the best ally indeed. After all, Fiona Rhodes was Julian Sinclair’s woman in public, so finding out anything was incredibly easy for her.

Nevertheless, the Rhodes family’s eldest daughter had indeed been well-cared for.

In the car, Zayne Sinclair smiled slyly, rubbing his lips with his left hand, recalling the sensation he just experienced.

Fiona Rhodes tidied herself up before leaving the hotel an hour later.

She was genuinely worried someone outside might secretly photograph Zayne Sinclair. Even though he was ostensibly doing penance, his enemies kept a close watch on him and were ready to pounce at any moment.

Donning sunglasses, she cautiously surveyed her surroundings, quickly got into the car, and accelerated towards the Rhodes residence.

"Miss, what’s happened to you? How did your clothes tear, and why is there blood?" A servant was shocked upon seeing Fiona Rhodes enter the house.

Glancing at the bloodstain on the side of her dress, Fiona Rhodes wore a sardonic smile, ’Serves him right.’

The bloodstain was from Zayne Sinclair; while stealthily sneaking out and evading the family’s bodyguards, during a moment of carelessness, she hurriedly retaliated and got smeared with his blood.

She furrowed her brows slightly and casually waved her hand: "It’s nothing. Where’s father and brother?"

"The master and young master are in the study."

Fiona Rhodes turned and went upstairs in haste, pushing open the study door: "Dad, brother."

Just as she spoke, tears suddenly began to fall.

Quentin Rhodes and her brother Quentin were discussing business when they heard her enter without knocking. They were about to scold her, but seeing their cherished daughter disheveled and slightly unkempt, they stood up in shock.

"Fiona, what happened to you?"

Fiona hastened over to Quentin Rhodes, burying herself in his arms, and began to weep uncontrollably.

Quentin’s brow furrowed deeply, his fists clenching: "Was it that man who did this to you? Does he have a death wish?"

"Fiona, come on, tell me what happened. Who was it?" Quentin tapped her back soothingly as he spoke.

Sniffling twice, Fiona stopped her cries, lifted her head, and looked at her father and brother, their faces seething with rage: "It was Zayne Sinclair; he tricked me into going to a hotel, intending to do something... something to me."

Though she left her sentence unfinished, Quentin Rhodes knew precisely what she meant. Seeing his dear daughter’s tear-streaked face, his heart ached.

"How dare he!" A deep, furious shout echoed, followed by a slam of the table as Quentin pressed his lips and glared.

"I didn’t let him succeed," Fiona gritted through her teeth, her eyes dark and full of gloom.

Quentin came over, lifting Fiona up: "Are you hurt?"

Fiona shook her head, turned to look at her father and brother, her gaze filled with unyielding determination and overwhelming hatred: "Dad, Brother, I will not let him have his way. Since he disregarded our relationship and targeted me, I won’t let it slide."

In the study, the Rhodes family sat stern-faced, Quentin asked: "What do you plan to do?"

"Since Zayne Sinclair wants to continue working with me to take down Julian Sinclair, we’ll play along," Fiona replied coldly, her hands tightly clasped.

She turned to Quentin and continued: "Dad, I think Julian Sinclair must have had a hand in Zayne Sinclair’s recent scandals."

"Currently, with Ira Irving’s affairs, Julian Sinclair also made a bid. So we’re temporarily aligned with Zayne Sinclair’s goals. Once Zayne Sinclair takes care of Julian Sinclair, then we’ll strike against him and let the Sinclair family... humph." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Quentin Rhodes glanced at Fiona, a slight smile across his lips. She was indeed a daughter of the Rhodes.

"Quentin, what do you think?"

"My sister’s idea is great." Quentin Rhodes agreed.

Whoever bullies his sister definitely won’t have a good time. Zayne Sinclair, hmph, is just like a dog without a home now.

"Alright, Dad, big brother, I’ll keep dealing with Zayne Sinclair then."

Quentin Rhodes stepped forward, standing opposite Fiona Rhodes, and patted her head: "Make sure to protect yourself in everything you do, and don’t forget you have a brother."

A warm smile appeared at the corner of Fiona Rhodes’ mouth as she nodded.

Outside, the weather had changed sometime and dark clouds gathered, it was about to rain.

In the country, there was a bit more tension on the XX University campus than usual.

"There are 15 minutes left until the exam ends, please make the most of the time students."

In a certain classroom, the invigilator spoke loudly, walking up and down the aisles, watching the students bent over their exam papers.

In the last row in the corner on the west side, Moira Young finished writing the last word, packed her pencil case, and lay on the desk to rest.

The guy next to her looked left and right, feeling irritated: "Oh man, the examiners this year are too ruthless, giving questions I didn’t review, ah, God, save me."

Seeing Moira Young already resting on her desk, he was full of envy, and looked up at the clock only to continue relying on guessing through the test.

"Alright, everyone, put your pens down, the exam time is over." With that, two invigilators began collecting the papers.

The guy sighed in relief as he watched the paper filled, letting the invigilator take it.

"Alright, students can leave the exam hall on your own." The invigilator said loudly while organizing the papers.

"Hey, girl, didn’t you find it hard?"

The guy took the opportunity to ask Moira Young as she swung her backpack to leave.

Moira Young raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised as she didn’t expect other classmates to talk to her, considering her status as a bit of a school celebrity given her actor identity.

She chuckled lightly and shook her head: "It was okay."

"Oh my god, okay then it must’ve been easy." The guy clutched his head and cried out in pain, "Indeed, you are a top student."

Moira Young shrugged: "I’m leaving now, I hope you get a good grade."

The guy waved his hand, dejected: "I’ll take the honor of the top student’s words."

Sigh, why is there such a big gap between people, he often saw this girl in the library, and heard she’s still an actress, why, ah, give people a break.

He shook his head in despair and turned towards the cafeteria.

Moira Young left the teaching building, looked up at the winter sky, relieved that the sun wasn’t on strike today, took a deep breath, and relaxed.

The last exam for the end of term was finally over, with only one physical education left. She clenched her hand in front of her chest in a cheering gesture and headed home first.

The physical education exam is the day after tomorrow, currently going home to remedy things first.

Over the two days, Moira Young insisted on running every night in the garden downstairs after dinner for exercise, but her foundation was inadequate; she got out of breath after a short run, and timing the 800 meters was always under five minutes, at this rate she couldn’t pass physical education.

Sadly, there’s no way, physical education is a long-term affair, wanting to become excellent in just two short days is extremely impossible.

This afternoon.

In the class group chat: "Please everyone gather at the sports field, our class’s physical education exam starts in ten minutes."

Moira Young had been waiting at the field early, trying to alleviate her inner tension, her eyes constantly fixed on the students taking the exam.

"Moira, why are you here so early."

Suddenly, a girl patted Moira Young’s shoulder from behind.

Startled, she turned around to see a classmate, smiled wryly: "I’m a bit anxious."

The girl who came with her sat down beside: "You’re anxious? Don’t joke."

"Really, I’m not good at sports."

"It’s okay, if you fail, just take it again."

The girl next to them rolled her eyes at the one speaking.

"Oh, come on, spare us." She turned to Moira Young, "Don’t be nervous, relax, just do your best."

Moira Young looked at the two of them, feeling warm inside, and gave a sweet smile.

"Come on, everyone’s gathering."

"Let’s go, the class monitor’s calling."

The three of them stood up and went over together.

"Everyone stand according to student numbers, girls in one line, boys in another. Later, the sports team will check, have your student ID ready. We have three events in total, starting with a 50-meter run."

After checking, the gym teacher let them prepare.

Moira Young, as the first female, felt very nervous, breathing two or three times before feeling slightly better.

"Moira, you got this."

One of the girls who spoke earlier stood behind Moira Young, came forward and comforted her with a smile.

Moira Young turned back and gave a warm smile.

"Okay, first group of girls, come over."

Moira Young stood with ten girls on the track.

The teacher holding the stopwatch and the teacher with the red flag at the starting line exchanged glances.

"Okay, ready, go." With the command, the flag waved and brought a gust of wind.

Moira Young dashed forward rapidly, gradually, her breathing became heavier, and she dropped from the first to fall back.

"11’55’’." The student timing Moira’s first lane called out loudly.

With a hand on her waist, panting, Moira Young slowly walked back.

The earlier girl saw and came forward to support her: "How was it?"

Moira Young nodded lightly: "It was okay, I’ll be fine in a bit."

The two helped each other back to the class gathering spot, sat on a grassy area, and waited for the rest to finish their exam.

"Ah, I’m exhausted, 50 meters is my nightmare."

"Don’t move me, let me rest."

"Hey, look at our class boys, so fast."

"Really?"