Chapter 40

“Dad, you must really miss Jennifer, too,” Lily said. “It’s laughable how Grace showed no remorse for Jennifer’s death that day.”

“All right, let’s not speak of that woman,” Harold replied.

As they spoke, they heard footsteps on the stairs. Father and daughter looked up to see Jason descending.

“Did you need something?” Jason asked calmly, his gaze sweeping over them.

As Jason’s cold eyes met Lily’s, she felt her body tense. Her sister had once been madly in love with this man!

Lily remembered her sister’s dreamy pronouncements: “I never thought I’d get a man like Jason. He’s too cold, too logical. Even when you hug him, you feel no warmth. He’s a hundred miles away, even when we’re in the same room. He’s like exquisite porcelain—you see the surface, but never what’s beneath.”

Lily agreed. Every time she saw Jason, she couldn't see the man clearly. In hindsight, her sister's choice of husband hadn't been ideal. For political and financial reasons, Jennifer couldn't have done better, but there was something glacial, cold, and callous about Jason.

That's why Lily had never pursued a relationship with him, before or after the accident. Even though Jason was handsome and backed by the powerful Reed Group, he was too frightening and cold.

Her sister might have been head-over-heels in love with Jason and finally secured his consent to marry, but Lily doubted the feeling was mutual. She didn't think Jason had ever loved Jennifer—not because Jennifer wasn't wonderful, but because he was incapable of love. At her sister's funeral, he hadn't shed a single tear.

“Jason, my daughter made a grave mistake,” Harold said with a sincere expression. “Lily is impetuous and caused an incident that negatively impacted us. I’ve already scolded her. We hope you can still attend Lily and Sean’s engagement dinner. Lily is Jennifer’s only sibling, and I’m sure Jennifer would have wanted you there.”

Jason offered a forced smile. Harold felt his throat tighten; he couldn’t quite finish what he wanted to say. He’d mingled in the business world for years, yet now felt stifled by his almost son-in-law. He felt as if Jason could read his every thought.

“She’s quite indignant and petty, I think,” Jason said, shaking his head. “I was surprised she caused so much trouble—lying about jewelry and forcing minimum-wage workers to search for an imaginary ring. Even if she had lost such a ring, so what?”

Harold nodded. “Yes, Jason. This was handled very poorly.”

“Harold, you raised quite a daughter,” Jason said with a faint smile. “Children should be blessings, not burdens.”

Harold smiled embarrassedly.

Lily flushed. She was the darling daughter of the Atkinsons and a celebrity; people chased her worldwide. When had she ever suffered such mockery?

Jason’s dark eyes met hers. He knew her thoughts. He smirked, then glanced back at Harold, dismissing Lily. “If you want me to attend the engagement dinner, it’s not impossible,” he said. “Since your darling daughter is so fond of looking for things, she can help me find something.”

Harold and Lily exchanged confused glances.

Jason walked to a sliding glass door revealing a large, deep artificial pond with algae-covered rocks and koi. He tossed a ring into the pond and said to Harold, “Once your darling daughter finds the ring, I’ll attend the engagement dinner.”

Harold’s mouth opened, but no words came out. Lily stared, dazed. He wanted her to find a small ring in this pond?!

Jason instructed a nearby servant, “Keep an eye on them. Miss Atkinson must find it herself. They can leave once the ring is found. Of course, if they must leave regardless…”