<b>Chapter </b><b>126 </b>


    <b>Sally’s </b><b>eyes </b>shed shrewdly<b>, </b>and she suddenly scooped Yvonne <b>up </b>into her arms. <b>“</b>Yvonne, don’t go. Let your mom and dad have <b>a </b>couple of days to themselves.”


    I couldn’t help thinking, ‘Sally always has some new scheme up her sleeve. I bet she’s already thinking about having a chubby grandson again.


    Quinn looked sour. Jared being nice to me meant my standing in the family was on the rise, and as the Hob family’s heiress, she hated anyone threatening her ce at the top. Sometimes, <b>she </b>couldn’t even stand Yvonne.


    “Jared, what do you think about that brand I mentioned?” Quinn was working on her startup, but Jared wasn’t about to give her a quick yes.


    “I’m still having it evaluated. I’ll let you know the results after a while,” Jared said as he headed for the door to put on his leather shoes. “Victoria, go upstairs and pack a few things. I’ll wait for you in the car.”


    I turned and headed upstairs. A little whileter, I came back down with my bag.


    Sally suddenly walked over and shoved a couple of packets into my hand. “Make sure Jared takes this. It’s for, you know, boosting his virility. And this white one is for you, to nourish you. Both of you need to take them.”


    My head buzzed. ‘Where does Sally even find these weird folk remedies?‘ I thought.


    “Oh, sure, I’ll make him take it,” I replied with a fake smile. But there was no way I was touching that stuff myself. What if <b>I </b>got poisoned or something?


    As soon as we got in the car, Jared told Warner to drive us to the airport.


    On the way, I asked Jared, “<b>Is </b>it just the two of us?”


    “No, there are a few people from thepany, too. They left this morning,” Jared replied in his usual t tone.


    “Is Tracy going <i>to </i>be there?” I asked, my tone dripping with sarcasm.


    Jared shot me a look of impatience. “She’s in charge of several major projects at thepany. She’s leading this one too. Of course she’ll be there.”


    <b>I </b>just nodded. ‘No wonder she’s his go–to person on the front lines. Every penny the Hob family makes has her fingerprints all over it, I thought.


    But honestly, I couldn’t care less anymore. Tracy was working so hard to show off her skills, all just to impress Jared.


    As the boss, Jared naturally kept an eye on everyone’s abilities and weighed the pros and cons. Tracy fighting on the front lines for him was just her way of currying favor, nothing more.


    Suddenly, a big, knuckly hand, warm and dry, reached over and wrapped around my fingers, which were resting on my knee.


    I tensed up, instinctively wanting to pull away, but Jared seemed to see iting. The second I tried to move, he just tightened his grip.


    I looked up at him, and he was already looking at me. He didn’t say a word, but his eyes spoke volumes.


    I was baffled. ‘What’s with <b>Jared </b>acting all tender right now?‘ I thought.


    his tone anything but soft.


    1 froze. ‘Is he crazy <b>or </b>what? Why the hell is he asking me this out of nowhere? I thought.


    Jared closed his eyes and said, “Let’s not talk about love anymore. Grown–up feelings are always changing. Just tell me what I have to do so you’ll finally settle down.”


    “My bottom line is, you’re not allowed <b>to </b><b>sleep </b>with Tracy,” I said, blunt and straight to the point.


    Jared slowly lifted his gaze to me. <b>“</b>What if I already slept with her?”


    I jerked my hand <b>away </b>from him, furious.


    The <b>next </b>second, <b>Jared </b>leaned in close to me. “Just kidding. Did you really buy that?”


    I turned my <b>face </b>away and let out a coldugh. “Adults always tell the truth as a joke. Guess whether I believe you or not.”