Filed to story: Sweetheart Do You Still Love Me
She couldn’t believe he could actually be so wicked. If Haris’ blood weren’t boiling earlier, it would definitely be close to evaporating if it were possible.
“I’ll come by tonight.” Then, Haris stood up and stomped away.
The butler followed obediently behind him and shot daggers at Elspeth and Callum when he passed by.
Nonetheless, Elspeth did her best to quell her laughter when they were still within her line of sight. Once she was certain that they were well and truly gone, only then did she laugh her heart out.
“I bet you didn’t get to see Haris’ expression. He was so angry.” Elspeth was almost out of breath from laughter.
“Are you in a better mood now?” Callum’s voice softened considerably when he was talking to her.
“Of course, I am.” She rose to her feet and stretched. “I didn’t do anything today, but not only did I watch a good drama for free, but I also got a victory out of it.” It would be nice if every day could be as easy as it was today.
It was as if he had seen through her thoughts that a hint of warmth appeared from within his usually cold and stern gaze. “I’ll cover for you whenever you feel like slacking off from now on.”
She raised her eyebrows upon hearing that, and her gaze turned playful. “Is this what married life is supposed to be like?” she teased.
“Well, I can make you this happy every day.” His sudden confession caught her off guard, and for a moment, she felt the innocent feeling that would only stem from the start of a new romance. Instead, she blushed and chided him coquettishly, “Stop it! We’re still outside!”
“It’s okay. It’s just the two of us here.”
Callum had long noticed it-while Elspeth was a confident and fearless woman, she became coy and bashful when it came to matters of love and intimacy. This sense of contrast made her even more attractive to him.
“Didn’t Haris say he’s going to pick Jasmine up soon? We should get going.” She tugged at the corner of his clothes, signaling him to go home early.
Callum couldn’t help but feel a hint of regret that he could not tease her any longer, especially when he was treated to the sight of her flushed face… It only fueled his desire to tease her more. However, he did not expect her to be so shy that she could not stand any teasing. Forget it. I’ll let her off the hook this time.
So, he pinched the tip of her nose and nodded lovingly. “Let’s go home.”
Because Haris had to return to the McGrath Residence to pick up someone else, there was still some time left. So, Elspeth and Callum arrived at the Winthrop Residence before he did.
She actually expected Callum to knock Jasmine unconscious and stuff her in a dark basement. She honestly did not expect that he would lock Jasmine in the room and let her stay there.
When Elspeth pushed the door and entered, Jasmine was still trying to pick the lock. So, Jasmine was understandably stunned when she saw the door suddenly open.
“It’s you? Did you kidnap me here?” Jasmine was still unwilling to blame the real culprit, Callum, for kidnapping her.
Elspeth felt a little speechless when she heard her spiteful remarks. She did not think Jasmine was so head over heels for Callum.
“Why’d you say that?” Jasmine knew nothing of the kidnapping of Elspeth’s mother, and Haris promised not to tell Jasmine about the mother. Therefore, Jasmine was obviously taken aback when she heard Elspeth questioning her. When she thought about it, it indeed seemed that Elspeth had no reason to kidnap her.
“Then, why am I here?” Jasmine had never been to the Winthrop Residence and was blindfolded on the way there, so she could not observe the surrounding environment. She was still clueless as to where she was.
Thus, she automatically assumed that it was Elspeth who kidnapped her the moment she saw the woman entering the room.
“It was me who brought you here.” Callum was busy with something else earlier and had only just arrived.
When Jasmine saw his eyes, which were as calm as stagnant water, she suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity. Previously, there was still a hint of warmth, though not affection, in Callum’s eyes when he looked at her. But now, there was only pure, undisguised loathing.
Jasmine felt a bit at a loss and stuttered out, “Callum, c-can you tell me why you brought me here?” Even at this point, she was wondering if Callum had finally realized his feelings for her and chose a somewhat violent way to express them.
Unfortunately, the fact that Elspeth was standing right next to him made her thoughts waver. How can this be possible? The whole of Damoria knows how Callum adores Elspeth.
Jasmine lowered her head at that thought to hide the disappointment in her eyes.
“Naturally, it’s because your grandfather also kidnapped our people.”
“Grandfather? How is he? Is he okay?” Jasmine panicked the moment her grandfather was mentioned and asked anxiously. Although she was usually proud and aloof like a little swan, she had a sincere affection for her grandfather. She grew up with him ever since she was young and had the best relationship with him in the whole McGrath Family. Her grandfather also doted on her the most and always strived to give her the best the world had to offer.
“He’s fine at the moment. You should be worried about yourself.”
Jasmine firmly shook her head. “I don’t think so. You wouldn’t do anything untoward to me. After all, we spent those months together and had feelings for each other.”
“Who told you that I had feelings for you?” Callum’s cold words pierced her heart like a knife, and she widened her eyes in disbelief.
“What did you just say? You didn’t have any feelings for me?” That’s not true. That cannot be true! I won’t believe any of this!
“Well, you’re right. I did have feelings for you, but mostly pity and disgust.” Disgust… The word wholly shattered Jasmine’s psychological defenses. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, and she started sobbing.
“Callum, you can’t do this to me. We spent so much time together, and I had only treated you sincerely. You cannot deny your feelings to me. You just can’t.”
“Why not? Wasn’t that how you treated Elspeth as well? You used so many despicable methods to harm her. Have you ever thought of her feelings too?
Elspeth remained a spectator when Callum and Jasmine were conversing, and when they mentioned her name, she was reminded of the past, and she only felt pity for Jasmine. No sympathy whatsoever. What Callum said was right. Why bother to feel sorry for someone who had hurt her before? Jasmine was merely reaping what she had sown.
“But it was you who came searching for me back then.”
“You’re right. It was me. But do you remember? I proposed that I give up 30% of the Winthrop Group’s shares in exchange for Elspeth’s health, but you rejected me. You even threatened me to be in a relationship with you as a condition.”
Even though it was the second time she had heard about the proposed condition, she still could not help but gasp in shock. After all, his proposal was akin to selling the Winthrop Group.
She could not accept the reality and instantly recalled that day he told her about his condition. Indeed, she threatened him to be with her. But she was taking a gamble; she thought she could make him develop feelings for her over time, and she took the risk.
“So, we were just using each other. There’s no need for you to act so loving,” Callum’s words pierced right through her heart, which caused it to go stone cold.
What Callum meant was that it was her who didn’t want to go, and he had nothing to do with it.
Jasmine couldn’t respond anymore as she kept sobbing into her hands.
“Okay, don’t cry. Your grandpa will come and pick you up in a second.” Elspeth couldn’t help but pity her as she watched on from the side. So, she took out tissues and passed them to the crying woman before her.
Jasmine immediately slapped her hand away. “I don’t need your help.”
Callum looked at her and said coldly, “I knew it. I should’ve beaten you unconscious before I tied you up.”
Jasmine didn’t know how to feel after listening to his heartless words.
Nonetheless, he didn’t care what she thought as he had never liked her. He would even go as far as to say that he found her an utter eyesore. So, he tugged on Elspeth’s hand gently and led her away.
There wasn’t a need to lock the door. Jasmine would be leaving soon anyway.
Just as expected, Haris sent someone to pick Jasmine up about half an hour later.
Callum was told to make the exchange at the same time, so the man pushed a woman over to him.
The woman’s hair was messy and knotted. Her face was also scraped up and dirty.
If he hadn’t looked at her properly, he would’ve thought she was just a beggar that Haris found on the streets.
She also smelled awful. She gave off a pungent scent of mothballs and sweat as if she hadn’t showered in months.
Everyone covered their noses and frowned at the repulsive woman before them.
“Mr. McGrath wouldn’t trick me, would he?” Callum moved further and sized the woman up and down in front of him.
The butler stood there and watched Callum inspect the woman before him. Finally, he snorted disgruntledly and huffed, “My master would never try that.”
“Then, please tell Mr. McGrath that if the woman in front of us here isn’t Elspeth’s biological mother, I have many ways to torture Jasmine.”
The butler panicked, and his heart trembled in fear when he heard the other man’s arrogant and unscrupulous words.
He didn’t know what it was, but those words coming from that man were undeniably scary. He felt as if the man in front of him actually had the bite to back up his bark.
“Don’t worry. As long as this is the person I want, then nothing will happen to Jasmine.” Callum soothed the butler’s ruffled feathers when he noticed the tense line of the other man’s shoulders.
“In that case, where is my lady?”
Callum glanced at the door, and his assistant immediately understood. He went upstairs and knocked on the door lightly. “Miss McGrath, your family is here to take you home.”
“You don’t have to tell me, I know.”
