The Cherished Wife



"Jamie, h-how could you say that? I'm your mom!"

"Mom? Sometimes, I wish I'd never been born. You're all so messed up, and it's like you passed it down to me!" Jamie's eyes were like daggers, cutting right through Ari and Jack. "Do you ever wonder why I'd rather hang out with old Yasmin than Tania? Well, I learned from watching you. Like parent, like child, right? Tania calls me gross, but you two take the cake!"

"You little jerk!" Ari's hand flew up, and she slapped Jamie hard across the face. "You're spouting nonsense. You don't know anything!"

"I don't know anything?" Jamie rubbed his chin, wincing from the sting of the slap, but his gaze was still icy. "When I was four, I caught you sneaking into a room with some guy behind Dad's back. That was Jack, right? He's my great-uncle!"

Ari froze, stumbling back, her eyes wide with shock. "Jamie, I..."

"I can't believe I wondered why Great-Grandpa was so nice to me. I realized I'm actually one of the Lennons, the kid of his favorite son. Hilarious, isn't it? You all make me sick!"

The scorn in Jamie's eyes took Ari's breath away. "Jamie, let me explain. It's not what you think. Jack and I aren't blood-related. We're in love for real."

Ari reached for Jamie's hand, pleading. "Jamie, you've got to believe me!"

"Back off!" Jamie snapped, yanking his hand away from Ari. "Do you think Jack's some kind of prize? You're always on edge, watching Uncle Peter like a hawk, scared he'll snatch Lennon Group out from under you. You believe it's Jack's right to have it, don't you? That's why you pitted me against Peter all these years. It was all for Jack's sake! But you're wrong. Your knight in shining armor is probably the real villain out to ruin Lennon Group." "What are you even saying? Stop spouting such nonsense." Ari shot Jamie a fierce look. "Don't you dare speak like that!"

"Just watch. Time will tell who will really take down Lennon Group."

Jamie could not even be bothered to give Jack a second look. He kicked a chair aside with a fierce swing of his leg and stormed out.

Ari watched Jamie bolt, tornnoveldrama

et

between following him and facing

Jack. "Jamie doesn't get it, butche will one day. He'll see that you're his..."

BUMS

"You're the one who doesn't get it," Jack cut her off calmly. "I've told you that there's never been anything between us."

"No, I can't believe that. You do love

me. You left because of our status. Listen to me. I have no blood ties to you since I'm not even my father's reat kid. They..."

"Ari, get out now. I won't say it again!" Jack's eyes turned to ice, a fierce glare pinning Ari in place.

With a shiver, the heartbroken Ari turned and left.

Jack's fist came down hard on the desk, his gaze more menacing than ever.

Jack's phone buzzed on the edge of his desk, and he quickly looked at it before answering, "Mr. Holmes, I've got the scoop. Nexus Group is in Steven's name."

Steven?

Jack squinted. "Got it."