Chapter 84 Alice gripped the table.âLet go!â
Jack stepped in front of Noah.âIf you want to cancel the contract, you can leave now. Alice isnât your pet; she has the right to choose.â
Noah, defeated, agreed. They went to the restaurant.
Noah looked at Jack.âDoctor Wilson, I didnât expect you to have such diverse interests beyond your profession.â
Jackâs tone was cool. âIâve never had my family suppress my interests in the name of âfairness.â
Alice smirked; he was subtly criticizing Noah.
Noah countered smoothly, âThen what does Dr. Wilsonâs family do?â
Alice became alert.âWhy are you asking? Itâs irrelevant to work.â
âJust curious.â Noah remained wary of Jack. On the way, heâd realized Jack was behind everything. If Alice hadnât solved the firewall issue, the partnership would have been cancelled. Jack leaned back, one hand on the table, revealing a glimpse of his wrist. âMy family does... small business.â
Andrew Yates choked on his drink. The audacity! If Jackâs business was âsmall,â then everyone elseâs was microscopic.
Alice realized she knew nothing about Jack. Heâd said he was traveling for work, but she knew nothing about it. Their connection was fragile.
Noah pressed on.âSmall business? You must have a company. Whatâs the name?â Andrew Yates tried to smooth things over.âMr.
Noah, youâre interrogating him. Youâre so thorough.â
âDr. Wilson took my sister away. As her brother, I have a right to know. Donât you think SO, Dr. Wilson?â
Alice felt uncomfortable.âHeâs just a friend. Your questions are making things awkward. Have you considered my feelings?â
Noah calmed down.âFine. If youâre unhappy, I wonât ask.â
Alice lost her appetite. She glanced at Jack; she knew he disliked being interrogated. Jack texted Alice: [Eat properly.]
Alice, surprised, looked up. She replied: [I didnât expect second brother to ask. Iâm sorry.ã
[Iâm not angry.]
Alice relaxed slightly. The mood improved.
Alice went to the restroom, feeling conflicted. She knew nothing about Jack, Outside, Jack leaned against the wall, scrolling through his phone. His profile was partially hidden in shadow.
Alice approached.âI didnât expect you to be back.â
âI finished my business.â He put down his phone, his gaze on her.âWhy were you at your second 14.38 23.9%
brotherâs company? You didnât mention it.â
I was involved in that project; the firewall was my responsibility. His secretary called me for help; heâd been kind to me, and I didnât want to see him struggle.â Sheâd helped for Secretary Davisâs sale Walking beside him, Alice felt her mood lift.
Back at the table, Noah was agitated seeing Aliceâs smile. She used to smile at him like that, but now, she didnât even argue with him.
Noah raised a glass towards Jack. A toast.â
Jackâs expression was cold. May her game become a huge hit.â
Exactly. Alice shares has in Windham Corporation.
Sheâll get dividends.â
Alice found this ironic. She nominally had shares, but in her past life, those shares were used to appease Chloe. She didnât care about them.
Andrew Yates interjected.âJackâs also successful. Heâs diversified, investing in several companies; dared to look down on Jack?
heâll get dividends too. The Windham family dared Noah changed the subject.âMr. Jack, do you have a girlfriend?â
Jackâs fingers tightened around his wine glass. He seemed hesitant.
Andrew Yates answered quickly. âOf course, he does.â
Alice dropped her chopsticks, her heart racing.
She picked them up, her gaze complex, a pang of something bitter in her chest. Jack, seemingly resolved, said, âWeâre getting to know each other.â
Alice felt a buzzing in her ears, silencing other sounds. Jack subtly glanced at her, but she was looking down. He knew what he was doing was cruel, but if she knew his true identity, it would be a thousand times crueler. It was better to nip this in the bud. He said casually, âIt depends on how things develop.â
Noah continued, âI know many eligible young ladies. Would you like to meet some, Dr. Wilson?â
Aliceâs lashes fluttered.âItâs not necessary!â
Noah was surprised. He thought it was necessary; he didnât want Alice involved with Jack. If Jack was after money, he needed to know how to deal with him.
Noah said pointedly, âFine. Second brother will listen to you. But when you marry, you need a reliable man from a good family.
Second a good family. Second brother will make brother will make sure of that.â
Alice remembered Chloeâs accusations about her seducing Garrett Yates. What had Noah said then? That she was shameless and ambitious.
Alice replied coldly, âMr. Noah, have you forgotten weâve severed ties?â
Noahâs face fell. Alice, you canât embarrass Second Brother in front of outsiders. Family matters should be kept private, donât you understand?â
Chapter 85