Chapter 3 Accepting His Terms

Braydon turned and walked away, leaving Irene frozen in a bewildered state. "You'll find some clothes on the sofa that should fit you," he mentioned casually as he departed.

The door shut behind Braydon, and Irene stood motionless, her rapid breaths eventually subsiding. She collected herself, changed into fresh clothes, retrieved her bag, and proceeded to the Hudson Group building.

Known as Cade's wife, Irene's arrival made the receptionist immediately rise, her voice tinged with nervousness. "Mrs. Hudson, to what do we owe the pleasure?"

Ignoring the greeting, Irene headed straight for the elevator, pressing the button for Cade's floor. As she opened the door, the sounds of suggestive moans paused her steps. Frozen, she overheard a conversation.

"Using Irene as leverage with the Scott family will undoubtedly seal the deal." A woman let out a breathless, playful laugh.

Cade's response was dismissive and calculating. "Keeping her virginity was just a strategy to extract maximum benefits. And it has indeed paid off."

"When will you divorce her then? I've been waiting too long," the woman complained.

"Soon," Cade said gently. "Once the deal with the Scott family is secured, I'll separate from her. You are the one I truly love, not her."

"But she is far prettier than I am..." the woman murmured uncertainly.

"To me, you are the most beautiful. She's nothing more than a strategic asset," Cade replied.

A cold realization dawned on Irene, prompting her to decide against entering. Turning back, she noticed the receptionist by the door, her eyes full of sympathy.

"Mrs. Hudson, is everything alright?" the receptionist asked worriedly.

"I'm fine," Irene responded, moving swiftly past the receptionist and out of the building.

Once outside, Irene looked up at the towering edifice, the sunlight overwhelming her vision. She shielded her eyes with her hand, tightened her grip on her purse, and walked away determinedly without a backward glance.

Engulfed in her reflections, Irene meandered into the street, pondering why misfortune seemed to exclusively target her, leaving her feeling overwhelmed. Her thoughts consumed her to the point that she failed to see the traffic light switch to red.

Just as Irene ventured a few steps forward, the piercing blare of a horn jolted her back to the present. Before she could react, a car sped directly toward her.

Suddenly, a firm grip seized her arm, pulling her back with considerable force. She narrowly dodged the oncoming black car, escaping unscathed.

Furious, the driver lowered his window and yelled, "Go kill yourself someplace else and leave me out of it!"

Pulse racing and face drained of color, Irene turned to thank her savior, only to find herself at a loss for words upon recognizing the man before her.

"Dying for a man who's not worth it doesn't seem rational, does it?" Braydon commented.

Brushing his hand off, Irene staggered back slightly. "I never said I wanted to die."

"Really? Crossing on a red light seems pretty definitive to me," Braydon mocked. "Seems like you don't care much about your life."

"It's none of your business!" Irene retorted, her already foul mood further soured by his words.

"Well, it becomes my business when your actions could cause me problems," Braydon said, scratching his chin.

As tears welled up in Irene's eyes, Braydon, recalling the previous night, awkwardly cleared his throat. "You're quite bold to attempt such a thing. If only you'd shown that bravery against your husband, I'd have a higher opinion of you."

"Your opinion means nothing to me. Just go away!" Irene said, turning her back and bursting into tears.

Without hesitation, Braydon walked away.

Standing still for a moment, Irene considered her situation. Realizing her reliance on Cade was futile and facing urgent issues at the Dixon Group, she made up her mind. She called out after Braydon, "Wait!"

But instead of stopping, Braydon continued on his way.

Left without support in Eimwell, Irene reflected on the last two years filled with ridicule and disdain from those she once considered friends and relatives, who now avoided her as if she brought bad luck. The notion of being someone's lover had always repulsed her, yet faced with her current predicament, she found herself compelled to compromise.

Irene hurried after Braydon. Clad in high heels and battling discomfort, her progress was slow and labored. She managed a jog and called out, "Wait! I need to speak with you!"

Braydon, however, increased their distance.

Caught up in her rush, Irene neglected to watch her step, and her heel snagged in a crack. She crashed to the pavement. A sharp pain radiated through her ankle as she cried out.

Braydon paused, turned around, and looked at her dismissively. "You look so miserable."

Despite her painful predicament, she reached for his hand. "Is your proposal still open?"

Braydon rubbed his chin, giving it some thought. "Which proposal?"

Feeling small and exposed on the crowded sidewalk, Irene's embarrassment was evident. She lowered her voice, saying, "The help you offered earlier. I need an introduction to the person overseeing the Swan Mountain project."

He remained silent, so she hurriedly added, "You mentioned I should take time to decide. I've thought it over. I'm ready to accept your terms to be your lover."