Chapter 132

This was their usual routine. In the past, warming her hands had warmed her heart. Now, however, she felt only incomprehensible fear. She didn't know what he was about to do.

She twisted her hand nervously, trying to pull away. But his fingers held her tightly, preventing any movement.

"Mr. Reed…"

"Call me Jay. Didn't you always call me Jay?"

She pursed her lips.

"Just consider it an order—call me Jay," he murmured softly. The sound of "Mr. Reed" grated on him.

Grace remained silent. Finally, she whispered, "Jay."

A smile touched the corner of his mouth. Its purity made her momentarily distracted. She had always found his smile clean, untainted by the world, something she wanted to protect. But… Jay…

In Emerald City, no one considered Jason clean. Rumors painted him as a man with countless lives—and tears—on his hands, cold-blooded and ruthless. Provoking him meant certain ruin. No one dared.

It was ludicrous that she had once considered protecting such a man.

"When we first met, I saw it as a game. But I've enjoyed our time together," he said, an unprecedented explanation. Anyone else hearing this would be astonished. "How about you stay by my side?"

"Stay by your side?" she asked, shocked. She never imagined such a request.

"If you stay, you'll live as well as before—better, even. Within reason, I can promise you anything. You were a lawyer, right? I can help you reinstate your license. Starting your own firm wouldn't be a problem," he said.

She had once dreamed of opening her own firm after gaining more experience. It had become an unrealistic fantasy. Now, Jason was offering it to her. It was like someone dangling tempting fruit before her.

"Why?" she asked, confused. "Didn't you want revenge?"

"If I wanted revenge, I wouldn't have saved you the day before yesterday," Jason said with a faint smile. "I've enjoyed being around you, so I'll keep you by my side."

"Until you're tired of me?" she asked. Was this still a game, a sibling game he'd never played before? His current gentleness felt fueled by novelty.

"Tired of you?" Jason thought he might never tire of her. But, speaking to Grace, he calmly said, "Yes."

He would never allow a woman to control him.

"I knew it!" Grace sighed inwardly. Once the game grew stale, she'd plummet from grace.