Revenge: Once His Wife, Now His Regret - Chapter 190: Chapter 190

"What's wrong with the Orchard Villa?" Jaxon asked casually. "This was your home. Shouldn't you feel more at ease coming back here? What are you so nervous about?"
Jaxon's tone was nonchalant, but when his words reached Sally's ears, she looked up sharply in shock, meeting his gaze.
Sally thought, 'He's asking on purpose.
'Even though the nanny went upstairs, she could come down any minute.
'And Brad could be home any minute.
'If they caught us in this compromising situation, there's no way I could explain it away.'
Sally said sharply, "Mr. Zale, what did I tell you last time at Windmere Estates? Did you already forget what I said?"
"You know about Windmere Estates, Ms. Smith," Jaxon repeated pointedly, "but this isn't Windmere Estates. This is the Orchard Villa..."
Sally was momentarily speechless.
Jaxon leaned in with a teasing smirk. "Let me guess, Ms. Smith. Are you worried your ex-husband might walk in on something... inappropriate?"
Jaxon suddenly tightened his grip around her waist, his voice dropping to a dangerously seductive tone.
Suddenly, Kendall's words flashed through Sally's mind, and an inexplicable surge of irritation welled up in her chest.
Sally said, "Mr. Zale, Ms. Harper came to see me at Windmere Estates today."
Jaxon froze momentarily at her words.
Suddenly releasing her, Jaxon walked toward the sofa. "What did she want with you?" he asked.
Sally thought to herself, 'Just as I thought, only when Kendall is mentioned does he finally back off.'
She strolled over, her tone deliberately casual. "What else would Kendall want with me? It's either about you or Lillian."
Sally was about to sit across from him when Jaxon casually patted the sofa beside him. "Come here."
Sally stopped dead in her tracks. After a brief pause, she walked over to him.
She leaned in, lowering her voice to a whisper meant only for Jaxon. "Ms. Harper told me herself today. She wants both the man and the child..."
The moment her words faded, Sally gave a low, sardonic chuckle.
Jaxon happened to turn his head just then, catching that mesmerizing smile of hers. An inexplicable heat flared in his chest.
Jaxon composed himself and said bluntly, "Don't take her words to heart. Just treat it as a joke and let it go."
"Is that so?" Sally's smile vanished, her voice turning icy. "How could I possibly just brush off words like that?"
Jaxon suddenly leaned in again, his arm encircling her waist. "So, Ms. Smith, what do you really care about, me, or Lillian?"
His words sent Sally's lashes into a frantic flutter, betraying just how flustered she really was.
She fell silent for a long moment, unable to find her words.
'That question was a total trap. No way I'm dumb enough to answer it head-on,' Sally thought.
Jaxon seemed to read her mind, the corners of his lips curling into a faint, knowing smile.
"Don't worry," Jaxon murmured, leaning in close. "Lillian is yours, and I am yours too." His lips brushed her ear as his voice dropped to a dangerously low whisper.
The moment those last three words reached her ears, her heart pounded out of control.
A sudden tension flashed in her eyes, lingering stubbornly without fading.
Sally tried to steer the conversation away. She looked over and asked, "Honestly, what brings you here?"
She swiftly pried his hand off her waist.
Jaxon leaned back against the sofa. He pulled out a cigarette and rolled it idly between his fingers, making no move to light it.
After a brief pause, Jaxon replied softly, "Last time, when we were talking in my office, you barged in and interrupted our business discussion, so we couldn't continue. I've been swamped these past few days and only had time tonight, so I made a special trip here."
"About last time," Sally said softly, "I'm sorry."
"It doesn't matter, Ms. Smith. I know you didn't mean it. It was all for the child's sake," said Jaxon.
Hearing his words, Sally felt especially warm inside.
For a split second, she thought Jaxon was just too perfect.
Being with someone like him just made everything feel brighter.
Jaxon drawled, his voice growing even more languid, "So, Ms. Smith, what brings you here this time? Don't tell me you came because you missed your ex-husband?"
Sally was just about to respond when footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the door.
She turned at the sound and saw Brad walking gracefully into the living room.
Brad's eyes widened in shock when he saw Sally. "Sally? What are you doing here?"
Sally slowly rose from the sofa. "I came to discuss something with you today, but since Jaxon wants to talk business with you, I won't intrude tonight. When you're free, just drop by the clinic."
Brad's brow furrowed slightly. Before he could respond, Jaxon cut in, "Drive safe on your way home, Ms. Smith."
Sally had just started to leave, but Jaxon's words made her freeze in her tracks.
Sally quickly turned back and met Jaxon's knowing gaze. Her face instantly flushed with nervousness.
Sally quickly composed herself, masking her nervousness as she replied softly, "Thank you for the reminder, Jaxon."
Without waiting for his response, Sally turned and hurried out of the living room.
Yet the turmoil and nervousness flickering in her eyes hadn't escaped Brad, who stood nearby.
Somehow, Brad had begun to sense that the atmosphere between Sally and Jaxon was growing increasingly off.
Yet, he couldn't quite put his finger on what exactly was off.
Anyway, it just rubbed him the wrong way.
"Uncle Jaxon," Brad said slowly, "I never noticed before that you could care about someone this much..."
Brad walked slowly to the far end of the sofa, his steps measured and deliberate.
He sat down across from Jaxon and began preparing coffee.
"Even though you and Ms. Smith are divorced, she's still Nick's mother after all. At the very least, she's still considered part of the Zale family. So isn't it only natural for me to check in on her for your sake?"
Jaxon brought the cigarette to his lips, flicked his lighter, and took a slow drag.
"But I can't help noticing you two have been getting awfully close lately," said Brad.
Jaxon smirked, "My goddaughter is with Ms. Smith, so isn't it only natural for me to stay in touch with her? Did you really think being a godfather is just an empty title, that I don't actually need to step up and do my part?"
Brad's grip on the coffee pot involuntarily tightened for a brief moment as he processed Jaxon's words.
He thought, 'Uncle Jaxon does have a point. Whatever. Maybe it's all just my imagination.
'How could someone like Uncle Jaxon, with his impossibly high standards, ever be interested in someone like Sally?'