The Thomas Group.
Marina was in the managing director’s office.
Although she’d already set up her own studio, her routine hadn’t changed–she still found herself at Jonathan’s company almost every day.
“Jonathan, is there something special about these two bills?” she asked, her slender hand resting lightly on his shoulder, her face alive with curiosity.
From the moment she’d walked in, Jonathan had been fiddling with the money in
his hands.
They were just two ordinary bills–not crisp and new, but not particularly old either. No scribbles, no obvious markings, and certainly not counterfeit. Marina couldn’t for the life of her figure out what made these two pieces of money so fascinating to Jonathan. He’d been turning them over in his fingers for the entire morning, studying them like they held some hidden secret.
“Nothing much,” Jonathan replied, his tone as calm and reserved as always.
But Marina noticed the slight curve of his lips deepening into a knowing smile. Even with her questioning and obvious curiosity, Jonathan offered no explanation for where the bills came from, nor did he bother to put them away.
Niamh hadn’t gone to her studio that day.
Instead, she drove out to the Thomas Estate, bringing a basket of health supplements for Clifford.
She used to visit her mother in Harmony Senior Residence every week and would -always call Clifford to check in on him. But lately, she’d been wrapped up in her
own business, and those habits had slipped.
That morning, she’d stopped by the senior home first, only arriving at the estate
around noon.
The old house was usually just Clifford and a few staff. As soon as Hazel, the housekeeper, heard Niamh was back, she hurried over to help carry her things, and Clifford asked the chef to make a few of her favorite dishes.
To Niamh, the Thomas Estate felt more like home than anywhere else–far warmer than the modern comfort of Jade Peak Pavilion.
“Nia, you’re the only one who still thinks of me. But next time, don’t bother bringing
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Chapter 161
anything–this is your home, and you don’t need to bring gifts to your own house, Clifford said, using the serving spoon to offer her a generous helping of silky steamed egg custard.
“Eat up, you’ve gotten so thin lately.”
“You’re one to talk, Grandpa! You have to remember to eat well too,” Niamh replied, reminding Hazel to give Clifford the supplements she’d brought, right on schedule.
She’d sourced the supplements from Chloe–when it came to health products, Niamh only trusted Elixir & Co.
Grandfather and granddaughter chatted and laughed over lunch. As the meal was winding down, Clifford looked at her and asked, “By the way, Nia, has Jonathan apologized to you yet?”
The fork in Niamh’s hand trembled before she steadied it.
“Uh…”
If spending the night together counted as an apology, then, yes, Jonathan had apologized.
Last night, at Seabreeze Villa, she and Jonathan had slept together.
She’d thought her grandfather needed her, but it turned out Jonathan had used Clifford’s name to lure her to the villa. The place was empty–just the two of them–and she had no way to refuse him.
“Grandpa says I stole your credit and your business. He told me I owed you an apology,” Jonathan had said, undressing as he spoke.
Clifford must have found out somehow that the best–selling jewelry from The Thomas Group was actually Niamh’s design, and that Jonathan had taken her original stones. Getting Jonathan to apologize was his way of looking out or her.
But the method Jonathan chose left Niamh completely stunned.
“Don’t pretend to be so innocent. Sleeping with you isn’t exactly a loss for you–and believe me, I know better than anyone how you really feel,” he’d whispered, tossing her onto the bed. She tried to resist, but he simply bound her wrists with his tie. Still, he wasn’t rough–if anything, he was gentler and more patient than ever, as if he were truly trying to make amends.
What was done was done. When Niamh woke the next morning, no matter how upset she felt inside, she refused to let Jonathan see her looking defeated.
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