Chapter 324 He Would Not Give Up
He even wished to see Jean jealous. However, she continued to remain calm no matter what he said. He could not trick her into revealing her true feelings. A few minutes later, Edgar looked at the empty chair before him with a bitter smile. He felt like laughing at himself.
Jean’s words before she left still rang in his ears. “Mr. Royden, don’t think too highly of yourself. What I feel for Gigi is only pity. It doesn’t matter to me whether your marriage with her lasts.”
After saying that, she called Ben and left. However, her footsteps were unstable. She kept walking faster. Once she reached Ben’s car, she gripped the door handle and breathed in hurriedly a few times.
“Jean, are you all right?” Ben looked at her with concern. Jean nodded dully. “Let’s go. I fear there might be reporters around.”
Edgar had been deliberately playing with her. On the day of the press conference, he purposefully let her listen to Andy and Sam’s conversation. Today, he even predicted that she would come here.
It turned out that everything was under his control. Jean clutched her forehead and could not calm down even after a long time. No wonder Gigi was agitated. It turned out Edgar made her sign the agreement.
Based on Gigi’s character, she would keep pestering Edgar and not let go. Otherwise, she would keep finding ways to get close to him.
Jean tightened her coat and seemed down.
Ben noticed it immediately and turned on the heater in the car. “What did Edgar show you just now?”
He heard Jean and Edgar’s conversation but could not see what Edgar had shown her.
“He signed an agreement with Gigi stating that their wedding registration was invalid.” Jean continued slowly, “Why can’t he be loyal to one woman? Why did he do all that for?”
“Jean…”
“I know Gigi committed many wrongs, but it would be good if they could be together.”
Jean grew more agitated as she spoke. Her voice became louder.
Ben gripped the steering wheel and frowned. He steered the car to the right and stopped by the road.
“Jean, would you be happy if they loved each other?” Ben sounded doubtful.
Jean was stunned.
She gradually turned to him.
“Stop lying to yourself. Even Edgar could guess this. So how long are you going to remain in denial? Even if Gigi is your sister, you don’t have to do this for her. Unless you have another reason.”
Ben had been thinking about this matter for the past few days.
Jean was not the kind of person who would sacrifice herself for someone.
But she changed after the shocking matter. The change was so drastic that even she could not even recognize herself.
Jean looked down and said, “Ben, I don’t have a choice.”
She did not know what to do.
“I thought between the three of us, at least some of us could be happy.” She sounded lonely and helpless.
Ben felt sad as he looked at her in this state.
“What about you? Are you going to keep neglecting yourself?” Ben had more to say but could not bring himself to tell her.
She loved Edgar so much that she acted this way.
It was to such an extent that she would toss all her feelings aside.
Jean did not say anything but curled up in the front passenger seat, sinking into deep thoughts.
“I’m also a man. If my family forces me to marry a woman I don’t love, I would never be happy,” Ben added before stepping on the accelerator and speeding away.
“There’s going to be a race this weekend. You should join if you don’t have anything.”
Ben kept his focus on the road ahead and felt a hint of pain in his heart.
He sent Jean home before heading back straight away.
Farra rushed to him as soon as he came in. “Did you meet with Jean? Don’t let your father know. Recently, he said…”
Myer came downstairs before she could finish speaking.
“Where did you go?”
Ben put down his car keys and answered, “I sent Jean home just now.”
“You!” Farra sighed and rushed to stop Myer. “I haven’t had the chance to tell him yet. Don’t be impatient.”
But Myer had already lost his temper. “He wastes all his thoughts on that woman. What’s the point of it? She doesn’t even spare him a glance and keeps getting involved with Edgar. I shall not accept such a woman into our family.”
His words grew harsher as he spoke.
“You must break off all contact with her. I’ll break your legs if you meet with her again.”
Silence followed.
Ben suddenly paused his step.
Farra saw that Ben and his father were about to fight and shook her head helplessly. “Benny, go to your room.”
Ben smiled calmly. “Dad, you don’t have to worry that I would abandon the company for Jean. Since I’ve gotten involved in the family business, I won’t return to my old ways.”
Farra’s eyes brightened.
What Ben said could be construed as offering an olive branch to his father.
However, what he said next rendered his parents speechless.
“When I was about to be disabled, Jean remained by my side. How can I hide and ignore her now that she is facing difficulties? Furthermore, I don’t plan on giving up on her. I never will.”
After saying that, he headed upstairs.
Myer pointed at him furiously. “You…”
“That’s enough. Jean seems like a good girl. What the news wrote was nonsense. Why would she get entangled with her ex-husband? She is not that kind of person.”
“I still won’t allow it!”
Myer said fiercely, “The Ludwig family will never accept that kind of woman as a daughter-in-law. I need to preserve our family business for Benny.”
“Sure, sure.”
Farra did not argue with him. After Myer returned to the bedroom to rest, Farra knocked on Ben’s door. “Benny, can we have a chat?”
Ben hesitated before opening the door.
Farra handed him a necklace case. “You should give this to Jean.”
Ben frowned. “Mom, she is not like Ally. She won’t change her mind because of a gift.”
If Jean desired wealth and status like Ally, Ben thought he would have a good chance. Unfortunately, even his wealth meant nothing to Jean.
Farra saw how dejected her son was and kept pushing the necklace case to him.
“I know you truly love her, so I won’t do anything detrimental to you. You should open it and have a look.”
Ben frowned and opened the necklace case.
It was a bright green emerald necklace. Ben could immediately tell that it was expensive.
“Mom, this must have been costly.”
“Do you finally understand that I’m on your side?” Farra pulled Ben to sit down. “This necklace originally belonged to the Eyer family. However, when they were in trouble, someone took much of their jewelry and sold them. I heard it was that woman.”
“I saw this necklace by coincidence. If you bring this to Jean, it might bring the two of you closer. But even if she rejects you in this end, this necklace is my way of thanking her for taking good care of you.”
Ben looked at the necklace. “Mom, thank you for understanding me.”
