Chapter 80
Chapter 80
Ethan noticed that Madison hesitated to take the shoe, so he lowered his voice and said. “If you don’t want it, should I keep it as a collectible?”
Madison could only take the shoe reluctantly. Seeing this, Ethan took advantage of the situation and said, “Miss Guzman, since we are now partners, shouldn’t we exchange contacts for business communication?” Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.
After the collaboration between the two brands, business communication became inevitable. Madison took out her phone and Ethan her number after he insisted. Ethan, having achieved his goal, showed off by waving his phone towards
Neville.
gave
Although Neville remained composed, his handsome face had darkened. Only when Ryan reminded him to get in the car did he open the car door, but his temper seemed uncontrolled. When slamming the car door shut, a loud “bang” echoed. Ryan couldn’t help but feel sorry for his new car. “Neville, if you don’t like Ethan pursuing your ex-wife, just go deal with him. Don’t take it out on my car.”
Neville, with a serious face, replied, “You’re overthinking it. I just find Ethan unpleasant.” He pondered, ‘He can pursue Madison if he wants. But flirting right in front of me, and that is a direct insult. Endurance has its limits.
As Ryan was about to start the car, he realized it wouldn’t start due to a malfunction. Upon inspection, he found the tires had been punctured with a needle. It seemed like a mischievous act by a child. Ryan teased, “Neville, it looks like you’ve made quite a few enemies.”
Ross politely inquired, and upon seeing the needle in Ryan’s hand, he instantly understood. It seemed Jeremy had punctured the tires to vent his mother’s frustration, not knowing the car belonged to Ryan, not Neville. The kid was ruthless, ruining all four tires in one go.
Ryan, catching on, half-threateningly and half-jokingly said, “Mr. Castro, this car was parked in your parking lot when it got punctured. You’re responsible.”
Fearful that Ryan might back out of the collaboration, Ross quickly apologized, “Don’t worry, I’ll cover the expenses, and I’ll personally drive both of you home.”
Ryan’s gaze shifted between Neville and Madison, then he smiled and said, “I’m not in a hurry, but Mr. Preston is always a busy person, making countless money in minutes. How about letting Miss Guzman take him to the company?”
If Ryan didn’t push Neville, he guessed that someone like Ethan might have already taken Madison’s heart away. After all, Ethan was quite experienced in matters of the heart.
Just as Ross was about to refuse, Ryan suddenly suggested, “Why don’t we check the surveillance footage?”
If they checked the footage then Jeremy would surely be exposed, Ross feared the consequences. He reluctantly said to Madison, “My dear, just give him a ride once and treat him like air on the way. Just ignore him.”
Seeing Ryan’s damaged tire, Madison figured out the situation and whispered to Ross, “When we get back, I’ll settle the score with him!” However, she complained a bit in her mind, ‘Why did the little one have to provoke Neville? Especially now, if exposed, there might be a confrontation between me and Neville:
Madison drove Ross’s car and parked next to Neville. With a distant and polite tone, she said, ‘Mr. Preston, please get in.”
Neville’s mood was still heavy as he recalled when Madison was conversing with Ethan earlier, she didn’t have this unwilling attitude, and her temper did change fast. Contemplating, he opened the car door and sat in the front passenger seat without saying a word. Unseen, Madison frowned slightly, murmuring inwardly. There is plenty of space in the back, but why is he choosing to sit here? So annoying: Recalling Ross’s words, she decided to treat Neville as air, as if he didn’t exist.
Throughout the journey, silence filled the car, creating an eerie atmosphere. When the car stopped at a traffic light on a
crossroad, Madison noticed a row of trash bins nearby and threw the shoe into one. Since she had already lost one shoe, keeping just one wouldn’t make a difference. When Neville saw this scene, it seemed like the tightness in his chest had eased
a-bit
Upon reaching Preston Group, Madison parked the car steadily, but Neville didn’t get out. She reminded, “Mr. Preston, you should get off now.
Neville seemed to contemplate for a moment, then forcefully handed his phone to her, his voice devoid of any emotion. “Since we’re going to work together, add the contact back.” Perhaps worried that Madison would misunderstand, he added. “Rest assured. I won’t disturb you for personal matters. With the situation at this point, Madison couldn’t find a reason to refuse. She took out another phone from her bag and gave Neville her work number.
Seeing that Madison used the dedicated work number for his contact, Neville couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. “You are clear about separating personal and professional matters. When adding my contact, you use your work number, but when adding Ethan, you used your personal number. The more Neville thought about it, the more frustrated he became. It seemed he couldn’t vent this anger tonight. After a while, he made a phone call. “Come with me to teach someone a lesson.”
Ethan was planning to inspect the mall operated by his own family. He parked his stylish Porsche in the underground parking lot and felt a sudden pain in the back of his neck as he was about to leave. After a series of punches and kicks, he was thrown back into his Porsche. Meanwhile, not far away, a black Bentley slowly drove away.
When Ethan woke up, he discovered his face was swollen, and his whole body ached. He hadn’t expected someone to attack him right under the Collins family’s nose. “Go investigate! Find out everything for me!”
The staff almost retrieved all nearby surveillance videos but found that the place where Ethan was beaten was a blind spot, and the cameras didn’t capture anything during that time due to a power outage. It was clear that the attacker had come prepared. Ethan couldn’t help but press on the bruise on the corner of his lip, revealing a sinister smile as he thought, “Madison, I’ve set my eyes on you.”
When Madison learned that Jeremy had almost encountered Neville, she immediately instructed Ross to take him to the airport. She calculated in her mind. “The secret that hasn’t been exposed five years ago should be kept more securely now. I and Neville have no future together, and I can’t let the Preston family know about Jeremy’s existence.
When Jeremy left, his eyes were red, but he knew his mother was anxious because she was worried about Neville trying to fight for custody. Knowing this, he made a promise in his mind, ‘Wait for it. I will come back openly and with pride one day.”
Madison hugged her son. “Jeremy, you must behave and don’t cause trouble again, understand?”
Jeremy drooped his head. “Mommy, I understand.”
The two waved goodbye. Madison stood in place, watching Jeremy leave with fier assistant.
At this moment, a hand patted Madison on the back. “Miss Guzman, what a coincidence. Are you going on a business trip?” Ryan was standing behind her, looking at her with a half-smile.
Madison’s heart s k p p e d a beat. She didn’t know how much Ryan had heard or if he had seen Jeremy’s face.