Revenge: Once His Wife, Now His Regret - Chapter 170: Chapter 170

In Jaxon's eyes, Sally caught a glimpse of a sincerity she had never seen before. Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, she couldn't help but feel a bittersweet pang well up in her heart.
Among the entire Zale family, only Howard genuinely cared for her. But for Brad and her, there was no turning back. They had long since passed the point of no return.
Gritting her teeth, Sally decided to play her trump card. "Mr. Zale, there's someone I have feelings for, but it's not Brad."
As soon as Sally said those words, Howard's face froze in utter shock.
Sally said, "Mr. Zale, I know it may sound absurd to bring this up, but before things spiral out of control, I want to nip all uncertainties in the bud. I sincerely hope you'll grant us your blessing, for both my sake and Brad's."
She had phrased it as tactfully as possible. Howard would surely understand both her position and feelings.
Behind the tree, Jaxon crossed his arms tightly over his chest, his fingers involuntarily clenching for a split second.
'So, she already has feelings for someone,' Jaxon thought. 'Who exactly is this person she loves?'
Previously, Jaxon had gone to great lengths to get Sally to divorce Brad, but no matter what he did, she flat-out refused.
Last night, Brad beat up Finn, and today Sally came to talk to Howard about the divorce. It was almost impossible for Jaxon not to suspect.
'Could Finn really be the reason behind her wanting a divorce?' Jaxon wondered.
The tension in the pavilion grew thicker by the second.
Howard asked gently, "May I ask who exactly is the one in your heart?"
Sally's lashes fluttered wildly. To be honest, even Sally herself wasn't sure if that person truly counted as the one in her heart. But this really was her ace up her sleeve, the one thing that could get her out of this marriage fast.
There was no way she could bring herself to say the name to Howard's face.
'If I said it out loud, it would only escalate the controversy,' Sally thought. She wasn't that foolish.
After a brief hesitation, Sally said quietly, "He's someone you wouldn't know, Mr. Zale."
Howard let out a resigned sigh before finally conceding, "Since you've both made up your minds, I'll respect your decision. You can divorce."
Upon hearing the clear answer, Sally felt the heavy weight in her heart gradually lift. "Thank you, Mr. Zale, for your understanding and kindness." Sally's voice was thick with unshed tears.
Howard reached out and gently patted Sally on the head, his eyes brimming with affection. "I hope that even after the divorce, you'll still be Nick's mother. The doors of the Zale Mansion will always be open to you. Feel free to come back whenever you wish."
"Okay," Sally said. Her heart felt so warm, the comforting sensation radiating throughout her entire being.
"It's getting chilly outside. Let's head in. Dinner should be ready soon," Howard said.
Sally quickly rose from her chair, supporting Howard as they hurried back inside the house.
Under the tree, Jaxon pulled out a cigarette, placed it between his lips, and lit it up. He smoked the cigarette down to the filter, his brows furrowed the whole time.
'So, Dad doesn't even know the one in her heart?' Jaxon thought, his eyes darkening. A dangerous glint flashed in Jaxon's eyes, colder and more ruthless than ever before.
A wave of intense jealousy threatened to engulf him in an instant. Jaxon's entire presence turned downright intimidating, the air around him practically crackling with danger.
Jaxon didn't enter until just before dinner, his steps slow and measured. Everyone else had already gathered when Jaxon finally entered.
As Jaxon entered, Sally's gaze flickered toward him. She could immediately sense an unusual tension radiating from him today, something distinctly different from his usual self. But she couldn't quite put her finger on what exactly was different.
Jaxon barely said a word during dinner, just listening and focusing intently on his meal. During the latter half of the dinner, he had some wine and appeared slightly tipsy. In the end, the butler assisted him back to his quarters.
Howard might have caught a chill that evening and was feeling a bit under the weather.
After dinner, Sally went up to the third floor to check on Howard. A quick examination revealed it was just a cold.
After making sure Howard was properly taken care of, Sally finally headed downstairs from the third floor.
The lively crowd downstairs had already dispersed, and Brad had probably taken his son back to the Orchard Villa.
Just as Sally reached the second floor, she looked up to find Jaxon leaning against the doorway. He watched her in silence, his gaze unwavering and unreadable.
Ever since Jaxon showed up tonight, Sally could sense his aura was off. That feeling was even more pronounced now.
She tried to walk past Jaxon with light steps, intending to head straight downstairs, when he suddenly caught her by the wrist, stopping her in her tracks. In a flash, he flung the door open and yanked her inside.
Bang. The door slammed shut with a heavy thud, echoing through the room. For a split second, Sally wondered if he wasn't drunk at all.
"Is Finn the one you like?" Jaxon demanded. He planted his hands firmly on her shoulders, pinning her against the door. Lowering his gaze, he locked eyes with her shimmering, charming stare.
Sally tilted her head up to meet Jaxon's gaze. When she caught the redness in his eyes, her heart sank inexplicably. 'Did he overhear something?' she wondered, her heart pounding.
Jaxon demanded, "When I asked you to divorce Brad before, you tried everything to stop me. But yesterday, after Brad went and beat Finn up, today you suddenly go to Dad and bring up divorce.
"So all this time, you kept turning me down because you already had feelings for someone else?"
Sally's spine instinctively stiffened. Turns out, he not only overheard her conversation with Howard, but also completely misinterpreted what she said. He thought the one she loved was Finn.
When Sally stayed silent, Jaxon suddenly reached out with his sinewy hand and clamped down on her chin. His grip was so tight it hurt, making her wince. Jaxon snapped, "Answer me. Are you in love with Finn?"
Normally, she would have denied it without a second thought. But just picturing him getting all cozy with Kendall left a bitter taste in her mouth.
Sally had no desire to argue with him any longer. "What if I did? What if I didn't? What does it have to do with you?"
The moment those words left her mouth, Jaxon's hand shot to the doorknob, locking it with a decisive click. The instant the lock clicked, Sally's heart leaped into her throat.
"What are you trying to do?" She shot him a wary look, her voice dropping to a guarded whisper.
"Did you forget what we had? If your memory's a little fuzzy, maybe I should help you remember," he sneered.
Sally caught a glimpse of a deep, smoldering desire in Jaxon's eyes.
Jaxon scooped her up in one swift motion and tossed her onto the nearby sofa. With a sharp tug, he ripped off his dark tie and flung it aside, then instantly advanced toward her.
As Jaxon drew closer, Sally caught the faint scent of alcohol on his breath, mingled with his signature sandalwood cologne.
Sally's throat tightened as she pressed her hands against Jaxon's chest. "Jaxon, have you lost your mind? This is the Zale Mansion. You can't just do as you please here."
"This is my home. Who's to stop me?" Jaxon didn't care.
"Don't—" Sally's protest was cut short as Jaxon abruptly lowered his head and claimed her lips in a searing kiss.