Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
Alyssa’s eyes were reddened. She could do nothing else to resist him than voicing out her protests.
With a somber expression, Jeremy stripped off his coat and wrapped it around her trembling form, trying to share what little warmth he had left.
He then retrieved a thermal flask from his backpack, carefully dampening her scarf with hot water and pressing it gently against her chest to thaw the cold.
As his hands worked deftly, some color slowly returned to Alyssa’s pale, frozen face. Her lashes quivered slightly. but she remained in a dangerous state.
Despite the bone-chilling cold that seeped into his own body, Jeremy lifted her into his arms, carrying her as if she were weightless, plowing forward.
“Jass… per…” Alyssa rested faintly against his arms, her voice a mere whisper, carried away by the wind.
Yet, he heard her clearly. “I’m here.”
“Previously… I overestimated myself. I was too stubborn… Tears welled in Alyssa’s eyes, the weight of everything crashing down. “I really… don’t want to love you anymore…”
Jeremy froze, his steps faltering, the shock of her words reverberating through him. For a heartbeat, he stood still, then continued forward, his grip tightening around her fragile form.
“Let me take you away from here,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “Everything else can wait. We’ll talk later.”
“Next time? There won’t be a next time.”
Tears flowed down Alyssa’s face, soaking Jeremy’s shirt with each drop. Her voice was quiet but steady, carrying the weight of her heartache. “Jeremy… I’m drained. Sometimes, I think it might be better if you just forgot about me. It would be easier than this. Every time I let myself hope, all I get in return is disappointment.”
Jeremy’s chest tightened as her calm words pierced through him. Waves of emotion surged inside him, and a lump rose painfully in his throat.
It was fortunate that Jeremy had found Alyssa in time to administer first aid. After rushing her to the ER, she slipped into unconsciousness.
That being said, she was extremely lucky to have escaped death. Nevertheless, she needed to remain in the ICU for further observation. Aside from treating her frostbite, the doctors needed to assess whether her internal organs or brain had been affected.
With the severity of Alyssa’s condition, Sean couldn’t keep the truth from Winston. He immediately called him, as well as Silas and Cyrus in Solana City. He even reached Jonah, who had been out of contact while searching for Julien overseas.
The Taylors rushed to the hospital in Solana City as quickly as they could. It was a sleepless night.
Meanwhile, Jeremy went to treat his gunshot wound in private, not wanting to worry anyone. The doctor had warned that if he had come any later, his right arm could have become permanently disabled.
When Xavier burst into Jeremy’s hospital room, a nurse had just finished dressing his wound.
Jeremy’s head, arm, and shoulders were wrapped in white bandages, blood seeping through the fabric, staining it a ghastly red. Despite the pain, his posture remained as rigid as ever-straight-backed with no hint of weakness.
“Mr. Walsh!” Xavier’s voice cracked with emotion, his eyes brimming with tears.
The nurse stepped out, leaving the two alone. Jeremy gave Xavier a cold, dismissive glance before struggling to pull his hospital gown back on. He lacked the energy to do it himself. After all, he, too, had been severely hurt.
“Mr. Walsh, hold it right there. Let me help you!”
Xavier rushed forward to assist. He gently pulled the gown over Jeremy’s shoulders and helped him lean back against the headboard.
Seeing the extent of Jeremy’s injuries-each one sustained in his attempt to save Alyssa-Xavier’s heart clenched in pain. The thought that all of this was for her made Xavier’s chest tighten. Unable to hold back, he burst into tears.
“Mr. Walsh, please, don’t scare me like this again…. I’d rather die than see anything happen to you again!”
Jeremy looked at Xavier with a firm gaze and asked, “Why? Are you willing to die in the name of love?”
Xavier sniffled and didn’t say anything.
“Your deep affection should be directed to the person you love, not me.” Jeremy lowered his eyes, looking weary.” You’re just my secretary. Don’t burden yourself with things that aren’t work-related.”
His words might have seemed cold, but there was an undeniable tenderness beneath them. Jeremy was deeply concerned for those around him, always hiding it behind a fa?ade of detachment.
Xavier wiped his tears, fury igniting in his eyes. “Who did this to you? I’ll find them. I’ll make them pay for what they did to you!”
“You want to avenge me? He could take you down without even trying.”
Jeremy closed his eyes, his thoughts drifting to the image of Remy’s composed figure as he walked away and the subtle shift in his expression when Justin was mentioned. It made Jeremy question everything he had thought he knew about Justin’s innocent fa?ade.
“It was Remy…” he mumbled as the look in his eyes dimmed.
Xavier leaned in, confused. “Who did you say it was?”
Remy hadn’t tried to kill Jeremy-he had only been doing everything in his power to stop him from reaching Alyssa.
Even without Jeremy’s presence, he was confident that the Taylors and the rescue team would have been able to save Alyssa. It became clear what the person manipulating Remy had been aiming for.
But why had Remy let Jeremy go at that crucial moment? Had he experienced a sudden change of heart? Or was he, in fact, Alyssa’s brother, Damien?
Jeremy’s mind filled with all kinds of thoughts.
Before he could dwell too deeply, there was a knock at the door.
Xavier hurried over to open it, freezing in shock when he saw who stood outside. “Mr. Winston?”
Winston was leaning on Silas for support, his expression grim. “Mr. Walsh is in there, isn’t he? May I have a word with him?”
Xavier quickly stepped aside, gesturing for Winston and Silas to enter.
When he saw the elder he respected standing at the door, Jeremy struggled to rise from the bed despite his exhaustion.
“Mr. Winston…”
“You are wounded. Stay put!” Winston insisted, swiftly moving forward to gently press Jeremy back down.
Silas was filled with heartache and regret when he saw how badly Jeremy was injured just because he wanted to save Alyssa. Those complex emotions were inexplicable.
“Mr. Winston… I’m sorry,” Jeremy muttered in a low and deep voice. His lips were pale. He did not know what to say, but he felt that he should apologize to Alyssa’s father and also apologize to Alyssa.
“Jeremy, you don’t have to say anything else. I don’t blame you.”
Winston stared at Jeremy with a deep gaze. He choked, “My daughter has always been headstrong. Thanks to your protection and support, she was kept safe all this while. The Taylors owe you a great debt. I should be the one apologizing to you.”
Jeremy’s chest tightened, tears welling up. It was as though someone was tugging at his heart, an ache that he couldn’t shake.
“Truth is, I’ve seen you as one of my own for some time now,” Winston continued, his gaze tender. “In my eyes, you are like Jonah, Silas, and all the others. You are my family.”
Winston’s eyes shimmered as he spoke, his voice soft but sincere. “Even though you and Lyse have gone your separate ways, I won’t hold that against you.
“If you ever encounter any problems with Walsh Group in the future, feel free to come to me anytime, I will surely help you out. After all, you have helped me multiple times in the past. I should return your kind favor.”
Silas was stunned. He had expected Winston to be upset, especially given the breakup between Jeremy and Alyssa and Alyssa’s current condition. But to his surprise, Winston was kind and understanding.
No wonder Winston had earned such loyalty over the years.
Jeremy’s throat tightened with emotion, but he couldn’t find the words. He remembered Alyssa’s words of disappointment, and his heart clenched painfully.
“Mr. Winston, I-‘ he began, but Winston cut him off gently.
“I won’t pressure you and Lyse to reconcile, Winston said quietly. “We will respect your decision, whatever it may be.”
Winston felt himself welling up. “When you loved Lyse, it was only natural for you to make sacrifices for her, to do anything for her sake. But now that you don’t, I will make sure that she does not bother you again. I won’t let her become a burden or a nuisance to you.”
No. That wasn’t it!
Jeremy breathed heavily. He forced himself to sit up despite his injuries.
Before he could respond, the door to his room opened unexpectedly.
Jeremy, Winston, and Silas all turned to find Justin sitting in his wheelchair.
Jeremy’s eyes dimmed, and his chapped lips curled downward in a tight frown.
Alarm bells rang in Xavier’s mind. He rushed forward and stood in front of Jeremy’s hospital bed as if shielding him from a threat.
For once, Justin’s usual bright demeanor was replaced by something colder-grim and calculating. His eyes burned with unspoken anger, and it was clear he wasn’t here for a social call.
Upon noticing all that, Winston frowned.
“Mr. Justin, Mr. Jeremy is injured. I wonder which fool let his dog loose to harm him. Through gritted teeth, Xavier urged Justin to leave. “Mr. Jeremy doesn’t wish to entertain any visitors right now. He needs rest. Please leave!”
