Chapter 42
Talia and Gavin both turned around.
It was Jessica, Talia’s closest confidante.
“You silly girl! How on earth could you let yourself get hurt like this?”
Jessica had heard about all that had happened the previous
night.
She’d been fuming at home and was on the verge of rushing to the hospital to see Talia immediately. But she worried it was too late and might disturb Talia’s rest.
With red–rimmed eyes, Jessica was exasperated by Talia’s leniency. “He’s treated you so badly. You can’t seriously still be considering marrying Kendrick, can you?”
Talia dropped her gaze and declared firmly, “No.“”
During her most vulnerable and helpless moment, Kendrick had once offered her a glimmer of hope. It was like a radiant beam of light that had brightened up her world.
Therefore, over the years, she had always viewed Kendrick through a lens of bias.
Despite Kendrick repeatedly hurting her, each time Talia remembered him in his black–and–white school uniform outside the bathroom that day, with snowflakes softly drifting behind him and the scarf he’d thrown to her, she’d try to talk herself into forgiving him.
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Chapter 42
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She had endured and made compromises time and time again.
But Talia had forgotten that people could change.
That once–bright light that Kendrick had been to her could veer off and shine on someone else.
Jessica heaved a sigh of relief. “It’s great that you’ve come to your senses. You were just too caught up in the past.”
Jessica gently caressed the scar on Talia’s ankle and self- reproached, “I’m sorry, Tally. I failed to protect you.”
Talia shook her head.
Back then, the Gregory family was in disarray, and Jessica had accidentally broken her leg during a performance.
Talia thought to herself, “Jessica was so preoccupied with her own troubles that she could barely take care of herself. How could she have helped me?”
The two were chatting so intently that Gavin quietly closed the door and left.
Gavin came to the parking lot, where Kayson was sitting in the car, smoking.
Upon seeing Gavin approaching, Kayson raised an eyebrow. “How is it?”
“Ms. Taylor is quite shocked. She likely has no intention of marrying you in a rush,” Gavin reported honestly.
Kayson stretched his legs, reclined gently against the seat cushion, and let out a soft laugh. “I know it.”
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Given Talia’s personality, it would be tough for her to agree to a hasty marriage without some external push.
As for this external push…
Kayson’s eyes deepened.
He extended his arms and rested them on the car window. A thin wisp of smoke curled up between his fingers.
Gavin got into the driver’s seat, studied Kayson’s face intently, and said, “In my opinion, boss, why don’t you just reveal your identity to Ms. Taylor…”
Kayson raised his chin, signaling for him to go on.
Gavin continued, “Just tell Ms. Taylor that you’re Kendrick’s uncle. If she marries you, she’ll have considerable influence in Maplehelm…
“How impressive! Even when they meet in the future, Kendrick will have to address her as aunt… Her very status alone would keep Kendrick in check and prevent him from attempting to outrank or disrespect her.
“No matter if it’s the Taylor family or anyone else, they won’t be able to bully her anymore. It’s such an enticing offer. If I were a woman, I’d…”
The more Gavin talked, the more excited he got, and he almost blurted out something inappropriate.
He gently rubbed the back of his hand against his lips and swallowed the rest of his words.
Upon hearing this, Kayson twitched his lips into a faint smile. “Sounds good.”
Chapter 42
Gavin grinned and rubbed the back of his head.
However, Kayson quickly changed the subject. “But you don’t really understand her.”
Gavin blinked with an innocent look. “What?”
Talia had been manipulated and psychologically abused by the Taylor family.
If Kayson were to suddenly disclose his identity, she would likely be frightened away.
Kayson didn’t dare to take that risk.
He twirled the lighter in his hand, and a thin plume of smoke curled up, obscuring the expression on his face.
At 8 p.m., Kendrick and Valerie stepped out of the car in front of the private club.
Valerie was somehow nervously on edge. She placed her hands in front of her and rubbed them back and forth restlessly.
Not many people were aware of her relationship with Kendrick.
However, after the commotion at the birthday party the previous night, it seemed that it had been exposed.
Valerie was somewhat terrified.
The Deven family was powerful and influential, and many
–I were eager to establish contact with them.
She was afraid that Kayson would summon her and demand that she break up with Kendrick.
After all, as an adopted daughter with an unknown background, she considered herself unfit for a noble family like the Deven family.
Valerie had heard some rumors about Kayson’s ways.
It was said that Kayson had spent ten years at the police academy. He had a fierce temper and was not easy–going.
A year ago, Kayson had returned from his military service stint at the police academy.
After he took over the Galaxy Group, he single–handedly marginalized the other three branches of the Deven family within the group, seizing the real power for himself.
One could tell from this just how capable he was.
The Deven family was an esteemed and wealthy family, and they were particularly averse to any sort of scandal.
If Kayson truly intended to rectify the family’s reputation and force her to break up with Kendrick…
She feared that Kendrick wouldn’t dare to oppose his wishes.
The more Valerie thought about it, the more upset she became. She would likely be abandoned if that happened.
With this in mind, Valerie gently tugged at Kendrick’s sleeve, her eyes welling up with tears. “Ken, I’m really scared… What if Kayson tries to break us up?”
Kendrick patted Valerie on the shoulder and soothed her
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softly, “Don’t worry, I won’t abandon you.”
Valerie’s eyes filled with tears, making her look all the more pitiful. “Really?”
Kendrick’s heart softened at the sight. He took her hand and cautioned in a gentle voice, “No matter what Kayson says later, just go along with him for now. Once he calms down, things should be okay!”
The incident that had occurred the previous night had indeed caused quite a stir.
Kendrick guessed that Kayson had summoned him and Valerie to issue a warning. At worst, he would just get a scolding.
Valerie nodded submissively.
Kendrick seemed to recall something and inquired, “Hasn’t Talia come back yet?”
In the past, at most, it would only take one night, and Talia would take the initiative to seek him out and admit her fault.
But a whole day had passed, and Talia hadn’t made any contact with him whatsoever.
Valerie’s expression stiffened. Although she was irritated when Kendrick mentioned Talia, there was no sign of it on her face.
“No, she hasn’t.”
She tilted her head to look at Kendrick, bit her crimson lips, and added, “Maybe she’s still mad at me. Once this is all settled, I’ll beg her to come back.”
Chapter 42
“Beg?”
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Kendrick sneered upon hearing the word. “You’re pampering her too much. Leave her alone. Don’t mind it.”
Valerie subtly curled the corners of her lips in a way that Kendrick couldn’t see.
She clung to his arm, and a glint of something unreadable flashed in her eyes. “Tally is really furious this time. When she comes to you later, don’t make things difficult for her.”
Kendrick let out a cold snort. “See how she will admit her fault. Clearly, she didn’t want to break up, yet she even used the cancellation as a threat. She thinks too highly of herself.”
He was certain that at most, Talia would take the initiative to apologize to him by tonight.
