Chapter 47
As soon as he said that, Sally’s hand holding the fork suddenly paused.
Lillian had already finished her dinner and was playing with her bunny plush behind the screen.
Sally glanced at Lillian. Then she turned back to Jaxon and gave a small nod. “Yes.”
Jaxon’s lips curled into a faint smile. He set down his fork and picked up his napkin. Every move was calm and elegant. His quiet nobility was impossible to ignore.
He gently wiped his lips, his tone light. “Just speak your mind.”
Sally said seriously, “Mr. Zale, I asked you out tonight mostly for dinner, but also because there’s something I want to talk about… ”
Brad’s words from earlier kept echoing in her mind.
The word shameless kept circling in her head.
She took a deep breath and said bluntly, “Before my grandpa passed away, he left me a courtyard. But now my aunt has it, and I really want to get it back. With my current ability, I just can’t do it on my own.”
She didn’t go on, instead lifting her eyes to look at Jaxon.
Jaxon nodded thoughtfully.
He leaned back in his chair and set his napkin in the dish. His ringed fingers kept tapping lightly on the table.
Seeing he didn’t respond, Sally continued, “But I don’t expect you to help me for nothing. I can offer you something in return.”
Jaxon let out a low, amused chuckle, “Mrs. Zale, you really do have a knack for business. The clinic is not even open yet, and you’re already making
deals.
“I may not know much about business, but I do understand people,” said Sally.
“What can you offer me?” Suddenly, Jaxon leaned in, closing the distance between them.
Jaxon’s faint, cold smile seemed to linger in the air, sending a chill` right up Sally’s nose.
Sally steadied herself and then said, “I can provide long–term treatment for your father’s illness. Consider that my way of returning the favor.”
“Quite the return.” Jaxon looked away, his gaze dropping to his fingers resting on the table.
The black ring on his hand looked even colder under the dim light.
He had noticed she mentioned his father instead of Howard.
Obviously, she had already separated herself from the Zale family, negotiating with him as an outsider.
She had always wanted a divorce, but if she kept treating Howard, she would have no choice but to keep running into Brad.
Sally was even more cunning than he’d thought.
“I can’t speak for modern medicine, but when it comes to traditional medicine, I don’t think you’ll find anyone in all of Westmere better suited to treat your father than me, Mr. Zale,” said Sally.
At her words, Jaxon’s expression darkened.
He leaned back in his chair, watching her coolly. “Mrs. Zale, where did you learn your medical skills?”
Sally asked, “You don’t trust my skills, Mr. Zale?”
“I’m just curious,” Jaxon said, his eyes fixed on her, voice low. “You’re so young, yet so skilled, and Brad doesn’t know a thing. Why did you keep it from him?
Sally’s lashes fluttered slightly as she met his gaze.
She thought, “Have I ever really hidden anything from Brad?
His heart is always with Lena. He never truly tried to understand me, so of course, he didn’t know I was good at medicine
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11:55 AM
Chapter 47
“It’s not that I tried to hide it. He just never noticed or maybe he chose not to.” Her tone was calm as she picked up her fork and kept eating.
Jaxon let out a quiet sigh. “Looks like you’ve had a rough time with Brad all these years, Mrs. Zale.”
“Who hasn’t made a few dumb choices when they were young?” Sally’s voice was cool and distant, her face unreadable.
“They say once bitten, twice shy. So if you really divorce Brad, are you planning to just raise Lillian on your own for the rest of your life?” asked Jaxon.
He looked up at her, a hint of curiosity flickering in his eyes as he took in her pretty face.
Sally’s hand, still holding her fork, trembled just a bit.
After a moment to steady herself, she turned to meet Jaxon’s handsome gaze.
She spoke clearly, “If I meet the right person, I won’t stay single forever.”
Jaxon just watched her quietly, as if he was searching for something deeper in her eyes.
They locked eyes for almost five seconds before Sally finally smiled, “Mr. Zale, you still haven’t answered me. Are you willing to work with me?”
Jaxon blinked twice before he finally looked away.
He picked up his cup,and took a sip of coffee.
After a pause, he said casually, “Send the info about the courtyard to my assistant when you get a chance.”
Sally was caught off guard for a second.
She’d actually been ready for him to say no, but she hadn’t expected him to agree so quickly.
She raised her cup. “Guess we’ll toast with coffee, then. Here’s to a good partnership.”
Jaxon picked up his own cup and gently tapped it against hers. “To our partnership.”
Sally had just set her cup down when her phone on the table suddenly rang.
She glanced down and saw Brad’s name on the screen.
Jaxon, sitting right next to her, saw the name too.
“Not going to answer?” His deep voice suddenly came from right beside her.
Sally looked up at the sound, shot Jaxon a glance, and decisively hung up the call.
The way she so cleanly swiped the call away left a strong impression on Jaxon.
“He only calls when there’s bad news. I don’t want to answer.” Sally flipped her phone face down, her expression instantly clouded over.
“He still hasn’t signed?” Jaxon lifted his gaze, looking at her with a calm expression.
A mocking smile tugged at Sally’s lips. “Nope.”
Jaxon didn’t say anything else, and the room fell silent for a moment.
Jaxon personally drove them home. Before Sally even got close to Windmere Estates, she spotted someone standing under the streetlight.
She watched the car slowly roll forward but still didn’t ask Jaxon to stop.
Jaxon glanced over at Sally, the corners of his mouth lifting just a little.
If he remembered right, she always used to have him pull over before they even got close to Windmere Estates.
For a split second, he realized Sally was harder to figure out than he thought.
“Thanks for the ride, Mr. Zale. We’ll head in now, Sally said, taking Lillian’s hand. “Say goodbye to Jaxon.”
“Bye, Jaxon, Lillian said.
Jaxon nodded lightly. “Bye”
The sight of Sally leading Lillian out of Jaxon’s car had already caught Brad’s eye.
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