?Chapter 1701:


    With a harshugh, Jayden suddenly lunged forward, mming Shaun into the sofa and pressing his elbow against his throat. “Damn it, are you going to talk or should I arrange another hospital stay for you?”


    Between ragged coughs, Shaun spat back, “You bastard, my lips are sealed.” His eyes zed with newfound determination; he’d sworn his allegiance to Tracy.


    “And what about Elyse? Hasn’t she been good to you?” Jayden’s words came through clenched teeth.


    Shaun struggled against the pressure on his throat. “Sure, Elyse has been kind to me, but she’s not my girlfriend. Her kindness means nothingpared to Tracy!”


    Jayden’s fingers twitched with the urge to throttle him.


    The tense moment was broken by Brook’s entrance, documents in hand, ready to discuss a new project with Jayden.


    Brook froze in the doorway as he caught sight of Jayden pinning someone to the sofa.


    The stranger’s face remained obscured, but Brook couldn’t miss the telling flush across his cheeks.


    Witnessing thispromising scene, Brook stopped, shocked.


    Brook and Jayden locked eyes in a moment of excruciating silence before Brook cleared his throat. “My apologies. I’ll return when you’re… finished.”


    Jayden’s eyes widened with dawning horror. “Finished with what? Wait, what exactly do you think is happening here?”


    Brook, pointing at Jayden and the man below him, grinned and remarked, “This scene could easily be misunderstood by onlookers.”


    Jayden looked down, caught Shaun’s eye, and his anger erupted. He swung a punch at Shaun, eximing, “This is all your fault!”


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    Shaun, visibly upset, rose quickly and retorted, “I promised silence, yet you pressed further. How is this my doing?”


    Brook, lightly clearing his throat and eyeing Shaun with intrigue, asked, “Isn’t this Mr. Kennedy? When did you two grow so close?”


    Jayden responded sharply, “Close? Far from it. I barely tolerate him.”


    Shaun countered, “Wait until Tracy and I reconcile. Then we’ll see what you think.”


    Jayden scoffed, “Reconcile? That’sughable. I’m just waiting for you to see the error of your ways.” His frustration was palpable, and he chose not to say more.


    He couldn’t understand Shaun’s blind trust in Tracy, firmly believing that she would never reunite with him. It seemed clear to him that she was manipting Shaun, who epted her words without question.


    Shaun straightened his clothes and dered, “You all need to stay out of Tracy’s business. I’ll manage it myself.”


    Jayden, trying topose himself with deep breaths, challenged, “You intend to handle her issues on your own? What if she wants to kill you? Will you handle that too?”


    Shaun paused briefly, then responded softly, “Even if she wants me dead, it remains our concern. If she ever harms me, I’ll bear it withoutint.”


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