My CEO Husband Says I'm Irreplaceable

Chapter 65: Chapter 65: President Hawthorne Is That Fierce?

"Yes, I took it," Vesper nodded, her tone matter-of-fact.

’Back then, she didn’t know he was Elias Hawthorne, so how could she have possibly let herself get pregnant?’

If she married into the Hawthorne Family pregnant with another man’s child, it would be a monumental scandal. The Hawthornes would never tolerate her, and the Graysons would be implicated, unable to ever show their faces in Northolme again.

Jared Hawthorne’s narrow eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze turning dangerous. "You don’t want to have my child?"

Vesper pressed her lips together and looked away. "Not right now, at least. As for the future... that will depend on your performance."

’Doesn’t he just love to judge people’s performance? Then I’ll say the same to him.’

"..."

’She’s quick to put what she learns into practice.’

"You know medicine, so you should know those pills are hard on your body. And it’s not like you get pregnant after just one or two tries," Jared Hawthorne said as he stood up. He pointed to the bedside. "I’ve laid out some clothes for you. Come downstairs and eat."

Watching his retreating back, Vesper quickly changed her clothes.

The fit was, once again, absurdly perfect, as if the clothes had been tailor-made for her.

The afternoon sun spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the entire villa in a warm glow.

Barefoot on the soft rug, she followed the aroma of food into the dining room. The sight of him emerging from the kitchen with a dish in hand made a flicker of surprise cross her eyes.

"President Hawthorne cooks?"

"Have a taste."

Shredded pork with green peppers, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and a tomato and egg soup. It was a simple two-dish, one-soup meal, but it looked incredibly appetizing and made her mouth water.

She hadn’t had a bite to eat since last night and was ravenous.

Vesper picked up her chopsticks and took a bite. Her eyes instantly lit up.

"I never thought that the pampered President Hawthorne would have this hidden talent."

’What a pleasant surprise.’

Jared Hawthorne ladled a bowl of soup for her, his tone even. "At the end of the day, I’m just a regular person. I have to eat too. Cooking is the most basic survival skill."

He’d been sent to live abroad by himself at a young age. He wasn’t fond of business schmoozing, so he had picked up many skills in his spare time.

Vesper nodded, seeing him in a new light.

"Do you cook often, President Hawthorne?"

A smile played on Jared Hawthorne’s lips, his gaze intense. "You’re the first woman to ever taste my cooking."

Vesper’s heart skipped a beat. "Then I’m truly honored."

After lunch, Jared Hawthorne drove her to The Imperial Hotel.

"Miss Sloan is in 606."

"Thank you, President Hawthorne."

She suddenly leaned over and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. Before he could react, she pushed open the car door and dashed off.

Jared Hawthorne froze for a second. As he watched her cheerful, retreating figure, his eyes darkened little by little.

’Little siren, teasing me again.’

Vesper found room 606. The moment she rang the doorbell, the person inside reacted like a cornered animal.

Shiloh Sloan checked the peephole to confirm it was her before yanking the door open. She pulled Vesper inside, shot a wary glance around the hallway, and quickly locked the door.

"Shiloh, you don’t have to be so on edge. It’s safe here."

The Imperial Hotel’s security is considered top-notch in Northolme.

"Better safe than sorry! You have no idea how dangerous last night was..."

Shiloh grabbed her and began to breathlessly recount the night’s events.

"My escape was cut off, so I just plunged into the restricted zone. I was doomed either way, so I took the chance. But I ended up getting caught and locked in a cage."

"I honestly thought I wouldn’t live to see the sunrise, or ever see you again..."

She grabbed Vesper’s hand, her eyes shining. "Bonnie, was it you who asked President Hawthorne to save me?"

"Mhm. To save you, I had to offer up my body and was thoroughly taken advantage of," Vesper said, poking her friend hard on the forehead. "You’ve got way too much nerve. How could you just charge into a place like that?"

"Didn’t you tell me to go to dojos and underground fighting rings to find some tough guys to help me collect debts?"

"Are the places I mentioned the same as the underground black market you barged into?"

Shiloh was instantly rendered speechless.

"You should stay here for now. Don’t go out until it’s safe," Vesper advised gently.

She had already described the men to the police last night, and a sketch artist had even prepared a composite drawing. The police had listed them as major drug-related fugitives and issued a city-wide APB, launching a full-scale manhunt.

"Okay. If worst comes to worst, I’ll move to Whispering Breeze Lodge and lay low for a while."

"Let’s wait a bit longer. They might be caught soon."

Shiloh nodded, but then her gaze landed on Vesper’s neck. She reached out and tugged. The silk scarf slid away, revealing a shocking spread of dark, intimate marks.

Her jaw dropped so wide you could have fit an egg in her mouth.

"Is President Hawthorne that wild?"

"..."

"You said you were going on a blind date, and then I heard nothing! Spill the details! When President Hawthorne saw a sexy little firecracker like you, was he totally captivated?"

"It’s not at all what you think," Vesper said, snatching the scarf back and retying it to cover the marks.

"Then what is it like? Is President Hawthorne handsome?" Shiloh was bursting with curiosity.

"He’s very handsome."

"More handsome than Luke Lockwood?"

"Mhm. Much more handsome."

’They’re not even in the same league.’

Luke Lockwood was, at best, conventionally handsome with a gentle air about him. But Jared Hawthorne was breathtaking at first glance, his beauty almost aggressive in its perfection.

Shiloh’s eyes narrowed into a sly, teasing smile. "If you ask me, it doesn’t look like you were ’taken advantage of’ at all. It’s obvious you’ve fallen for him."

The tips of Vesper’s ears grew warm. "I’m just being objective."

"Objective?" Shiloh raised an eyebrow. "Then I suppose those marks on your neck were left there ’objectively’ too?"

"I sacrificed my body to save you, and this is how you repay me? By making fun of me!" Vesper huffed.

Shiloh quickly threw her arms around her, rocking her gently and begging for forgiveness in a soft voice. "Okay, okay, my dearest Bonnie, I was wrong! I’ll never do it again."

"That’s more like it."

As the two were laughing and teasing each other, a measured knock suddenly sounded at the door.

They exchanged a look and fell silent instantly.

Vesper walked slowly to the door and asked in a low voice, "Who is it?"

There was no answer from outside.

She pressed her eye to the peephole and looked out. The hallway was empty, with not a soul in sight.

Remembering that every floor of The Imperial Hotel was under heavy surveillance, she hesitated for a moment before gently pulling the door open.

There on the carpet just outside the door sat a package with no sender information.

"Vesper, who is it?" Shiloh asked nervously.

"No one."

Vesper bent down, picked up the box, and walked back into the room.

"What is that?" Shiloh stared at the object in her hands, her brow furrowed slightly.

"I’m not sure. It was just sitting outside the door." Vesper gave it a gentle shake. The box was light, and she could only hear a faint scraping sound from within.

"Well, open it and see."

Vesper nodded and carefully began to unwrap the box.

A moment later, the contents of the box were revealed.

It was a dead bird, its neck brutally snapped, its feathers ruffled. A horrifying sight.

Her hands trembled in shock, and the box fell to the floor. Her face turned deathly pale as she stumbled back a few steps.

Shiloh’s breath hitched. Her blood seemed to run cold, her limbs growing icy and numb. Her voice trembled. "Ves... Vesper... D-did they... did they find me?"

It was a blatant warning.

’Was it telling her to shut her mouth, or was it a threat to silence her forever?’

The room fell terrifyingly silent, and they hardly dared to breathe.

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