Chapter 8: Who Can Be More Heartless Than You?

When Eliana saw the nickname 'Jimmybear', a pang of sadness hit her. What was once sweet now felt like poison, slowly eating away at her heart. She liked teddy bears. Her mother used to buy for her when she was little. So, Jeremy took her phone and willingly changed his own nickname and profile picture to a teddy bear. He said that if she ever got angry, she could look at his profile picture, hoping it would calm her down quickly. Eliana remembered the scene at the wedding today, her heart seemed to be bleeding. Everything happened too suddenly, as if someone had taken away a piece of her flesh, and she stood there foolishly, not knowing what had happened. Jeremy always knew about her bad relationship with Camille and Vanessa. Could it be that he and Vanessa were together for some ulterior motive? Suddenly, the phone was snatched away. Chase glanced at the screen and snorted, "Things are exactly what you think about it. He's already made it pretty clear. Are you going to see him?" "Mr. Wilkinson, you're overstepping your bounds. We agreed not to interfere in each other's lives," Eliana stood up to grab her phone, but she was a head shorter than him, and she couldn't reach it when he raised his hand. Chase looked down at her, "Hey, while we're legally married on paper, you gotta keep up the act as Mrs. Wilkinson for now. Just a heads up, any drama from you, and I can call it quits whenever. And just so you know, even if I do, you still gotta fulfill your part financially." "Why are you get all the good things?" Eliana was angry because she couldn't reach her phone even when she jumped. Chase said solemnly, "Similarly, I'll also fulfill my duties as Mr. Wilkinson. It's mutual." Considering that she would still need his help in the coming months, Eliana gritted her teeth and endured, "Just give me back my phone first." "Do you want to reply to him as soon as you get it back?" Chase raised an eyebrow, asking her confidently. Eliana was done sharing her private stuff with him. As she went for her phone, she accidentally smacked his Adam's apple. They both grimaced, and she used the moment to snatch her phone back. At that moment, the doorbell rang. Chase rubbed the spot where he was hit and turned to walk over to open the door. "Lena, I..." Jeremy had just started speaking when he saw Chase, the man was wearing an unbuttoned shirt, clearly in the middle of undressing. The red mark on his Adam's apple subtly suggested that he was interrupting something important for the new couple. "Need anything?" Chase leaned against the door, not really inviting him in. He pulled out a cigarette and casually inquired. Jeremy's chest tightened as he realized that the woman he'd planned to spend his life with had married someone else in just a day. "I'm looking for Lena. Tell her to come out," he said impatiently. Chase exhaled a puff of smoke. "She's busy." Jeremy became angry, "This place has always been open for me to come whenever I want. Step aside." He tried to go in, but Chase blocked him with his chest. "Not anymore. This place is mine now. And if you try to push in, you might find yourself talking to my fist." Chase raised his hand and clenched it tightly, the sound of his knuckles cracking sending a shiver down Jeremy's spine, instantly draining the color from his face. Word had it this guy was a boxer, a professional no less. Stories abounded about professional boxers leaving people crippled. Jeremy looked uneasy but still hesitated to leave. "Lena, can we talk? There are conditions you didn't agree to that we can discuss." Eliana stepped out, keeping a distance from him, her expression icy. "It's too late. I'm married now." Jeremy attempted to enter, but Chase blocked his path. "Just because we had a disagreement doesn't mean you have to be so heartless. You're willing to marry someone like him?" Who's the real heartless one here? You knew how important this wedding was to me, yet you chose to leave, just to pressure me into agreeing to have kids right after the wedding! Eliana's emotions churned within her. The night before the wedding, Jeremy had mentioned his family's desire for them to have children soon. But she wanted to stabilize the situation with her company before considering children. They argued over this, and Jeremy, disregarding her feelings, stormed off. The thought of Vanessa's pregnancy made her nauseous. Thankfully, she hadn't agreed to Jeremy's demands; otherwise, she'd be regretting it deeply now. It seemed fate wanted to prevent her from becoming a Negative Nancy. "You can't obtain love by threatening someone. Go reflect on your actions! You dickhead!" Eliana snapped, slamming the door shut. The air froze. Chase's pupils quivered slightly. This woman was tougher than he imagined. Thankfully, they had signed a contract. He would gain his shares after three months, and then he could find a random excuse to explain things to his grandfather. Eliana noticed his disdainful gaze but paid it no mind. "I'm going to shower. Do as you please." As she left, the doorbell rang again. Chase opened it to find Stephan. "Mr. Wilkinson, here are the clothes and toiletries you requested." Stephan glanced inside, feeling sorry for the cramped space. "Mr. Wilkinson, you're leaving a house of over a thousand square feet in Beverly Hills to stay here?" "This place is fine." Chase took the luggage from him. Stephan worried, "But can you really adjust to living in a place like this? Why not find an excuse to get Ms. Griffith a bigger house?" "Don't overdo it. She's not as foolish as you think." That woman was not only intelligent but also very cautious. The more you did, the more likely you were to expose flaws. Stephan was Mr. Wilkinson's trusty assistant, meticulous about every detail, big or small. He'd been by his side for years, but lately, he seemed adrift. "I'm living downstairs. Let me know if you need anything. I'll be at your service." Stephan offered, but Chase cut him off, closing the door before he could finish. 'At your service'? Could he be more 'assistant'? What if Eliana overhear it? Grabbing some clothes, Chase removed the tags, opting for low-key designs. He grabbed his pajamas and headed to the bathroom. As he entered, steam and floral scents filled the air. Eliana lounged in the tub, fair skin glowing under soft light, her features captivating. Water droplets adorned her collarbones like jewels. Their eyes locked, both startled. Eliana's widened. "How'd you get in here? Get out!" Chase chuckled. "You forgot to lock the door while showering. How was I supposed to know you weren't trying to lure me in?" "I'm usually alone, so I forgot to lock it. Now get out!" She panicked, grabbing bottles and jars from around her, hurling them at Chase's figure. Chase couldn't dodge in time, and a glass jar struck his forehead. A surge of heat followed, blood dripping down his cheek, turning his handsome face into a chilling sight.