Reclaiming Her Love

Chapter 1

Moved by compassion, I rescued Jaycob, who had been abandoned by his family, from the criminals.

He swore he would always be good to me.

But after he was taken back by his family, I overheard him telling his friends:

"Jennifer? Just a lonely older woman who approached me with ulterior motives. If she hadn't saved me, she wouldn't even have the right to stay by my side."

It was then that I realized this was how he saw me.

I distanced myself from him as he wished.

But Jaycob regretted it. With eyes brimming with tears, he pleaded softly, "Jenny, you said you wouldn't leave me."

After handing over the cat carrier to the client, I was about to head downstairs. Just as the elevator doors were closing, a familiar figure flashed before my eyes. I paused for a moment. Jaycob. Wasn't he supposed to be on a business trip to Zlagos?

Almost impulsively, I reopened the elevator doors and followed him. The corridors of the Rusall Club twisted and turned, and as I approached a private room, I heard Jaycob's friend's voice from inside.

"Jaycob, aren't you supposed to be marrying into the Smith family? What about your girlfriend?"

My hand, which was about to knock on the door, hesitated, and my heart inexplicably skipped a beat. Through the slightly ajar door, I saw Jaycob, who had never smoked in front of me, flick his cigarette. He let out a cold laugh and said, "Jennifer? She's just an emotionally distant woman who approached me with ulterior motives. If she hadn't saved my life, she wouldn't even have the right to stay by my side."

It felt like my heart was being ruthlessly squeezed. I could hardly believe my ears. I stared at Jaycob in a daze. But his face showed no emotion, and the gentle eyes I once knew now looked particularly cold.

Another friend teased, "Jaycob just reconciled with his family. How could he give up the marriage with the Smith family for someone like Jennifer at this critical moment?"

"Exactly, Jennifer, who spends all her time with pets, probably carries a peculiar smell. How could she compare to the Smith family's eldest daughter?"

Jaycob absentmindedly rubbed the wine glass, not bothering to refute. I felt a chill run down my spine, the suffocating feeling spreading overwhelmingly.

chapter 2

I didn't know how I made it back home.

Sitting in front of the dressing table, I stared blankly at the person in the mirror. My eyebrows arched like crescent moons, almond-shaped eyes, and rosy cheeks, with dimples faintly visible on the sides of my face. I looked like a college student who hadn't yet left campus.

But Jaycob's words in the private room suddenly echoed in my mind. I was only two years older than Jaycob. I couldn't imagine how someone who was usually so sweet and affectionate could speak with such coldness and disdain in front of others.

He had reconciled with his family and was planning to marry a daughter from the Smith family. He suspected I had ulterior motives for getting close to him. He didn't like me anymore and didn't want to be with me. Why didn't he tell me any of this? Was he afraid I would become clingy?

There was a sound at the door. Soon, a man's warm breath came close.

"Jenny, did you miss me?" Jaycob hugged me from behind, his head resting against my neck, nuzzling affectionately like a kitten. I couldn't help but think, he didn't deny those words back then, did he also think I was suspicious? But now he was holding me so tight. Which one is the real him?

I turned around and looked at him quietly. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

Jaycob's arms around me paused. He blinked slowly and deliberately.

"Why is Jenny suddenly asking this? Did something happen?" I stared at him, watching every expression on his face.

"Today, I saw you at the Rusall Club."

"Jaycob, you went back to the Hewitt family and are planning to marry a daughter from the Smith family, right?" Jaycob's body stiffened.

Chapter 3

Jaycob fell silent for a moment, then countered with a question, "Jenny, don't you trust me?"

I remained silent.

His expression gradually darkened. "I returned to the Hewitt family. The internal chaos within the Hewitt Group is causing many to mock us."

"I'm not sure what you've heard, but those are just facades. Dealing with them for days has been draining. Please don't be upset with me over this, okay?"

As I observed his cold demeanor, my heart began to pound.

Could it be that I'm just overthinking this?

The intricate power struggles within the Hewitt family, both internal and external, were complex and deeply rooted. Although Jaycob brushed it off lightly, it didn't mean his journey was easy.

I hadn't been able to help him at all, so how could I be so quick to doubt him?

Was it simply that I didn't trust him enough?

I couldn't help but doubt my own instincts and found myself wanting to comfort him.

"Jenny, Elaine from the Smith family agreed to help me with a performance. The marriage is just a temporary measure."

As he spoke, he pulled me into his arms, gently rubbing his face against mine. "It might be tough for you for a while, but you're the best, Jenny. You wouldn't want to make things difficult for me, right?"

I couldn't discern his expression.

I wanted to believe him.

Yet, for some reason, an inexplicable wave of panic washed over me, making it hard to breathe.

In the following days, Jaycob became increasingly busy.

I wanted to share some of his burdens.

But whenever I asked him anything, he would just say, "You wouldn't understand," and refuse to elaborate.

He didn't want me to visit him at the company, and the only place we could meet was at home, but he was often nowhere to be found all day.

When I sent him messages, he would reply with a single word, "Busy," after a long time.

Even when we talked on the phone, he would hang up after just a few words.

My heart felt like a small boat adrift at sea, swaying and unable to find solid ground.

Until that day, after finishing work, I took Fluffy for a walk in the park.

Fluffy was a Samoyed I had picked up by a trash can. Since Jaycob didn't like animals that shed fur, I had always kept it at the store.

As we passed a corner, Fluffy suddenly barked at a certain spot, and I instinctively looked over.

I saw Jaycob, too busy to meet, too busy to even send a perfunctory message.

He was smiling, accompanying a pretty girl to release river lanterns.

The girl slipped and fell into his arms, and he carefully held her, smiling and whispering something to her.

Anyone who saw this would think they were very close.

My hand holding the leash tightened instantly, my knuckles turning white.