Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
In comparison, Javier could tell that Cyrus genuinely loved Lauren from the way he stared at her. Alas, if only Cyrus wasn’t a Taylor…
A call from Newton interrupted his train of thought. Frustrated, he deliberately delayed answering the call.
Moments later, he finally picked up the call. “Dad, why did you call?”
“Are you free to talk?”
“Go ahead.”
“The Hodgsons would like to call off the engagement.”
Shell-shocked, Javier raised his voice. “What did you just say?”
“Hah. I bet that Orlander Hodgson is too ashamed to meet with you. Early this morning, he contacted Ben and talked to me in person. I was reluctant to entertain him at first, but I was interested in talking to him after I learned about his intention.” Newton couldn’t help but chuckle. “Thank God the Hodgsons backed down. They know they’re not good enough for my beloved granddaughter. Javier, you don’t really have good taste, you know that?”
Javier turned stone-faced when he heard Newton’s remarks. Something did not feel right. Last night, Mandy and Cyrus forced their way into the Hodgsons’ family party. Later, Freddy had an outburst after Cyrus danced with Lauren. Cyrus then proceeded to flirt with Lauren.
Following that, the Hodgsons decided to call off the marriage.
Why did everything feel like part of the Taylors’ grand scheme? Javier felt as though he was being led by the nose.
At night, at the same hot springs hotel, Freddy drove Zoe crazy when he made love to her.
“Oh! Don’t be so rough! Just kill me!” Amid her screams, she was pinned down by Freddy and forced into various sexual positions that she never dared to try.
Despite all the cussing, she went along with him and indulged in the sex. After three rounds of lovemaking, both Zoe and Freddy were spent. They slumped on the bed from exhaustion.
“Damn it. You almost fucked my brains out. What’s wrong with you?” Zoe, too tired to clean up, gave him a shove. “What was with you? Did something happen?”
Staring at the ceiling with a flat expression, Freddy paused before reluctantly confessing, “My engagement to Lauren is not happening.”
“W-What? Why?” Zoe’s jaw fell in shock.
“Everything went smoothly until Mrs. Taylor showed up with Cyrus. She forced my dad to give up on the marriage so that Cyrus could have Lauren.” Freddy clutched the bedsheet in rage. “I’ve underestimated Lauren Walsh. How could she cheat on me behind my back?”
Upon hearing that, Zoe glared at Freddy. She examined his face which was colored with anger, all because of Lauren.
She had a feeling that Freddy’s feelings for Lauren had changed. In the past, he displayed nothing but scorn toward Lauren. However, he seemed to be green in envy over Lauren now.
“No way… I can’t let this slide!” His temples throbbed in fury. “Our families agreed on the marriage. Lauren Walsh shall be mine, and no one can take her from me!”
As he was speaking, Zoe straddled him naked without warning and slapped him twice in the face. He looked confounded. “Zoe, w-what are you doing?”
“Freddy Hodgson, that’s too much! Didn’t you vow only to love me in this life? You said you only have me in your heart!” She glowered at him as she tightened her grip on his neck as if she wanted to suffocate him to death. “All your reactions show that you’re catching feelings for that idiot. Tell me.
Have you fallen for Lauren Walsh?”
“N-No, Zoe, I didn’t! I’m marrying her to avenge you. Everything I did was for you!” He held her waist and gasped for breath. The suffocation gradually set in, but it aroused him as well.
“I’m warning you now, Freddy.” She leaned over and slapped his cheek before threatening him through gritted teeth. “The Harpers were originally gangsters. It’s a piece of cake for us to kill someone discreetly. Betray me, and I’ll make sure you die a horrible death. Got it?”
Freddy shuddered at her intimidation, but he couldn’t shake off the sight of Lauren in Cyrus’ arms. She had danced so gracefully that night.
The thought of it made him clench his fist indignantly.
At that moment, Zoe received a call from an unknown number. Putting on her bathrobe, she answered impatiently, “Who’s this?”
She was greeted by silence. She snapped, “Speak up! Are you a mute?”
“Zoe Harper, it sounds like you’re having a great time,” Betty rasped in a low, heavy voice that sent a shiver down Zoe’s spine.
Zoe muttered, “B-Betty Walsh? I thought you had¡ª”
“You think I’ll never be back after Jeremy sent me abroad?” Betty cackled evilly. “Too bad! Betty Walsh is a tough one. I’m back!”
Zoe clutched her bathrobe with trembling fingers.
“I was the one who gave you the health report that ruined Landon and Lauren’s marriage. When we were busted, you got out of it unscathed, yet I was unfairly banished. Do you really think I’ll resign to my fate?”
Zoe’s expression hardened. Knowing Jeremy and Alyssa’s capabilities, they might be the ones orchestrating Betty’s comeback. Betty wouldn’t have been able to come home without external help otherwise.
However, Zoe had no time to mull. She questioned coldly, “So, what is it that you want?”
Betty laughed maniacally. “This is a dog-eat-dog world. I was too kind and soft; I should have hired a bunch of thugs to rape Lauren Walsh before killing and dismembering her corpse into tiny pieces. Only then, Landon, Jeremy, and that Taylor bitch would live in grief and remorse forever!”
Zoe felt sick in the stomach when she listened to Betty’s gory description. Betty seemed to have lost her mind.
Zoe advised, “That’s not a bad idea, but you need to pay the price for murder. What’s the point of coming home if it’s just to kill Lauren? Do you enjoy being thrown behind bars in Solana City?”
“You were right. I was just saying that for fun. I have other plans.” Betty stopped laughing and said icily, “This time, I’m coming home to take revenge. I want to ruin Lauren and put her through the suffering I went through.
“So, old friend, we’ll need to work together one more time. Though, it’ll be the last.”
Zoe furrowed her brows at Betty’s request. Her plan had fallen apart after the Hodgsons called off Freddy’s engagement to Lauren. Despite that, she was hesitant to work with Betty out of fear that Betty, driven by insanity, might go off a deep end and end up hurting her.
Just as she was considering Betty’s proposal, she received a call from Penelope.
Zoe calmed down and said to Betty, “I have an important call to take. Wait for me. I’ll make the arrangements and call you back.”
Then, she hung up on Betty and picked up Penelope’s call with a sweet tone, “Hello, Mom.”
Penelope sighed. She began hesitantly, “Zoe, come with me to visit Uncle Preston in the hospital. Your grandpa will be there as well.”
“Is Uncle Preston… hospitalized?”
“Landon beat him up badly. He suffered from serious injuries¡ªhe lost his arm, to be exact, and he’s forever crippled. He drifts in and out of sleep all day. I hesitated to tell you about it because I’m worried that his bad condition would give you a scare.”
“What? Did Landon.” Stunned, Zoe cared less about Preston’s misfortune than her own fate. She feared for herself now that Landon had dealt with Preston.
Landon seemed to be getting serious. Based on Zoe’s understanding of his character, she knew that this was just the start. He wouldn’t go easy on Preston, and that was the price one had to pay for hurting Lauren.
“Zoe, your brother has changed. He’s a ruthless man who turns against his family!” Worried for Zoe, Penelope advised her, “I know you’ve been through a lot. Landon is unfair to you. But nothing good comes from fighting against him now that he’s in power in the Harper Group.
“Listen to me. Stop giving Lauren trouble. I’ll emigrate to Yoarkley with you soon. Let’s never return to Solana City anymore. Okay?”
Alyssa and Jeremy uncorked an expensive red wine to celebrate the canceled engagement. Alyssa was dressed in Jeremy’s oversized white shirt. Sitting on the table of the wine cellar, she dangled her legs and clinked her glass with Jeremy.
Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes carried a seductive look. “Mr. Walsh, we secured our first victory. We can finally enjoy a good night’s sleep.”
He trapped her underneath him by placing an arm on the table. His eyes were filled with desire. When he couldn’t hold back anymore, he kissed her hard on the lips.
After some foreplay, Alyssa accidentally tilted her glass as Jeremy held her by the waist. The red wine stained the shirt that she was wearing and trickled down her fair legs.
“Are you sure you can have a good sleep?” he said in a raspy voice while rubbing his fingers against her rosy lips.
“You are quite busy at work lately, aren’t you? You’re not that young either. Can you handle it?” Alyssa teased him with a blush on her cheeks.
“I think I’ll perform better than my peers on average, even when I am 80 years old.” Smiling, he ran his lips over her cheeks.
However, Alyssa put on a serious look instead of fooling around with him. “Let’s talk about something serious. Mandy told Winston about Cyrus’ crush on Lauren.
“Jonah called me today, telling me that Winston was too excited to sleep last night. Early this morning, he got Ben to prepare the gifts for Lauren. He even said he’d meet with your grandpa to discuss the marriage between Cyrus and Lauren.”
Jeremy’s eyes wavered in shock, knowing that they had to go along with Cyrus and Lauren’s “relationship” if Winston learned about it. He had once heard Alyssa describe Winston as a man who’d go to great lengths to make his sons’ marriages happen.
That did not come as a surprise, as Winston had married four wives himself.
“Heh. I don’t mind having Lauren as my sister-in-law. I just don’t know how you feel about it,” Alyssa taunted Jeremy with a squint.
“I’m fine with anything as long as Lauren is happy. But…” His eyes clouded with gloom. “I still wish we could give Landon a second chance. He once dated Lauren and went through many ups and downs because of it.”
“I know. That’s why I told Jonah to stop Winston.” Alyssa shared his sentiments. He beamed at her in satisfaction. They were about to share another kiss when they heard a knock on the door.
Sean said through the door, “Ms. Alyssa, is this a good time to talk to you and Mr. Walsh? I got news from Mosgravia.”
Alyssa was dressed sexily since she did not expect Sean to come to her with updates at this hour. Jeremy hurriedly draped a jacket over her before answering the door.
