"Have you eaten yet?"
Hugo Quinn shook his head, his eyes calm.
Jean Nash shyly averted her gaze; every time she saw his face, it struck her anew, no wonder so many women wanted to marry him.
"Then I’ll have a late-night snack with you."
The two of them walked downstairs, where a late-night snack was already prepared, all very light food.
Jean sat down with him, but felt anxious, the initial joy replaced by worry.
She was very worried about Shawn Yates’ situation now, not knowing what those people planned to do to him. If Shawn died...
The thought made Jean’s face go pale.
Though she didn’t want to admit it, she didn’t want Shawn to die.
That man could be annoying at times, but not to the point of deserving death.
"Is something on your mind?"
Hugo drank a sip of milk and asked calmly.
Jean instinctively shook her head in denial, her pale face void of color.
"No, just feeling a bit unwell."
Hugo nodded, a flash of insight in his eyes. Feeling unwell must be due to worrying about Shawn, looks like betting on this was right after all.
He took out his phone and called Lan Yancy.
Lan answered, eager to know his instructions.
"The contract we discussed in the morning can proceed, I’ve sent the plan to your computer when I got back, check it later."
Because Hugo’s phone was under surveillance, he and Lan could only speak in coded language.
Lan’s eyes lit up, immediately arranging for Shawn’s makeup and taking many photos, then sending them to Jean.
Jean was about to serve Hugo some food when her phone buzzed twice. She looked and her face instantly went ashen.
The photos showed Shawn, his face covered in blood, lying quietly on the ground; she didn’t even know if he was dead or alive.
She took a deep breath and called the other party, in her haste forgetting Hugo was right beside her.
"What exactly do you want?! If he dies, I’ll find you no matter where you hide!"
Compared to Jean’s panic, Lan Yancy was clearly in good spirits.
"Miss Nash, I heard you’re about to become the future Mrs. Grandeur. I’m really happy for you. Now, you take out two billion, and I’ll let this boy go. Otherwise, be ready to collect his corpse."
Jean’s heart shook, the Nash family was not a business family. Due to their special status, they couldn’t engage in commerce.
She took a deep breath, teeth grinding audibly.
"Two billion? Why don’t you just go rob someone?"
Lan chuckled, "I heard you’re getting engaged to Hugo Quinn next month. As the future Mrs. Grandeur Group, how could you not come up with two billion? Miss Nash, if you want this pretty boy to live, there’s only one way. Think it through, whether you want him dead or alive, it’s entirely up to you."
Lan ended the call and had others move Shawn to the bed.
Shawn trembled in pain from head to toe, these people’s methods were truly vicious.
"Don’t look at me like that. I’ve just had you made up, at least you don’t look as hurt as in the photos. Jean Nash has already called me, she seems to care for you, I’m helping you."
Shawn’s eyes immediately brightened, his gaze intense.
"Really? Jean really cares whether I live or die?"
Lan smirked, "If she didn’t care, why would she call me?"
Suddenly, Shawn found that his wounds didn’t hurt at all, and he began to smile foolishly.
"I knew it, she cares about me. After living together for three years, how could she be so heartless."
Lan didn’t listen to his babbling, ordered someone to watch him closely, and left.
On the other side, Hugo glanced at Jean and saw her face was terrifying, as if she might dismember the culprit any minute.
Jean took a deep breath, she couldn’t come up with two billion, only Hugo could. But Hugo had no reason to help her.
"Nothing, just had a fight with a friend, it’ll blow over in a few days. I’m not feeling well today, I’ll head upstairs, you rest as well."
She had lost the desire to communicate, her mind consumed by the thought of two billion.
The many things Lan said were meant to trouble Jean, he knew, the Nash family couldn’t produce such an amount, Jean would inevitably seek help from the CEO who could use the opportunity to make demands, like canceling next month’s engagement.
That was their goal, as long as Jean truly cared about Shawn, they’d win.
Hugo quietly finished his late-night snack, instructed the maid to tidy up, then went upstairs himself.
These days he did nothing, just waiting for Jean to seek his help.
Early the next morning, Jean’s face looked even worse than the day before, she didn’t say a word during breakfast, just kept sending messages.
She’d sent people to find the mastermind, if she found them, she’d peel off their skin.
But after two days, there was still no news, and every day her phone received a horrific photo of Shawn, if this dragged on, Shawn would surely die.
She didn’t want him to die.
Jean struggled internally for a long time, though reluctant, for Shawn’s sake, she had to negotiate with Hugo.
When Hugo returned in the evening, she sat on the sofa, face set with resolve.
"Hugo, I have something to discuss with you."
Hugo raised an eyebrow, finally, the moment had arrived.
He walked over, sat on the sofa, pretending not to know what she wanted to discuss.
"I know you don’t really want to be engaged to me, I want to make a deal with you. Next month’s wedding can be canceled, but you have to give me two billion."
As soon as she said this, she didn’t dare look him in the eyes.
Two billion is not a small amount, even for Hugo, he’d have to consider it carefully.
Hugo didn’t agree immediately, asking indifferently instead.
Jean lifted her head, eyes full of unwillingness.
"I just need you to answer if you’re willing to make this deal with me, I know two billion isn’t small, but I have no choice, I need this money."
Hugo leaned back gently on the sofa, appearing relaxed.
"Okay, I can give it to you, but Marcus’ illness..."
"My medical team will continue treating Marcus’ illness, that’s another deal of ours, let’s each step back, both sides shouldn’t hold grudges to prevent mutual destruction. I won’t get engaged to you, which gives you closure with your ex-wife, but during Marcus’ treatment, you mustn’t have contact with him or phone, otherwise I’ll have the treatment stopped at any time."