Chapter 70: Chapter 70: She Lost Her Bargaining Chip
Every decision Cecilia Croft had made recently had taken him by surprise.
Not telling him about her grandmother’s death, selling the villa, firing Assistant Zimmer.
He knew that Vantage was dear to her heart, so he was certain she would never leave.
But she had fired an assistant she’d had for nearly seven years. She could have easily transferred Assistant Zimmer back to her side after returning to Vantage, but instead, she let him go, even paying him double severance.
Her actions made it seem as if she wasn’t coming back either, making it unnecessary for Assistant Zimmer to remain at the company.
The lawyer was silent for a long moment, thinking that Jude Sheridan’s worries weren’t entirely baseless.
But for now, he was still willing to say what Jude Sheridan wanted to hear.
"President Sheridan, Miss Croft founded Vantage with you. Your interests have long been intertwined. Miss Croft is a calm and rational person. I doubt she would maximize her own losses over such a small matter."
The lawyer’s words put Jude Sheridan at ease.
The thick anxiety in his eyes gradually subsided.
"You’re right. I was worrying for nothing."
’How could she bear to leave?’
’She poured her blood, sweat, and tears into Vantage, too.’
’She values profit and status so much. Without me, who else could give her such glory?’
Seeing that he had calmed down, the lawyer was about to leave when his phone rang. It was a call from the local office.
After answering the call, the lawyer’s expression immediately turned grim as he listened to the person on the other end.
"President Sheridan, Ms. Keller is having stomach pains. The staff from the office just took her to the hospital. Do you want to go see her?"
After all, Jessica Keller was carrying Jude Sheridan’s child.
Jude Sheridan’s expression darkened slightly. He was silent for a moment before rising from his chair.
"I’m going."
「Hospital.」
Jessica Keller’s stomach was hurting badly.
She had already shown signs of a threatened miscarriage, and yesterday Jude Sheridan had pushed her to the ground. Today, after enduring a high-pressure interrogation from the staff, she finally collapsed under the stress at the office.
When the doctor told her the baby was fine, Jessica Keller let out a huge sigh of relief.
Just as Cecilia Croft had said, the baby in her belly was her bargaining chip.
Without this chip, Jude Sheridan would surely abandon her.
’I only gave Mrs. Sheridan a small suggestion. Mrs. Sheridan was the one who contacted Zane Keller. It has nothing to do with me. As long as I deny any involvement, even Mrs. Sheridan won’t be able to find any evidence that I was part of it.’
’After all, ever since Mrs. Sheridan came to the city to take care of me, I’ve barely left the house, let alone met with Zane Keller or his people.’
Thinking about how Cecilia Croft had caused such a huge scene at the wedding, successfully escaped from Zane Keller’s grasp, and remained undefiled—all while thoroughly branding her as ’the other woman’—the resentment in her heart was hard to quell.
When Jude Sheridan arrived, he personally witnessed the venomous resentment in her eyes.
He stood at the door with a grim face, a hint of disappointment showing in his eyes.
’Six months ago, what the hell was I thinking, believing that Jessica Keller was anything like the Cecilia Croft of the past?’
’Where is there even the slightest resemblance between them?’
Jessica Keller heard the noise at the door and turned her head to see Jude Sheridan standing there.
The venom in her eyes instantly vanished, replaced by an aggrieved look as she gazed at Jude Sheridan.
"Jude, I thought you weren’t going to see me... that you were going to abandon me."
Jude Sheridan walked to the bedside.
Jessica Keller immediately threw her arms around his waist, sobbing quietly.
Yesterday, she had begged Jude Sheridan to bail her out, but he hadn’t even glanced at her, leaving without a backward glance.
Her anxiety had reached its peak, and only now, seeing him, did she feel a slight sense of relief.
Jude Sheridan raised a hand and patted her head, but there wasn’t a trace of tenderness in his eyes.
"Don’t overthink things. You’re not well, so get some rest."
Jessica Keller nodded obediently. "The doctor said our baby is fine, but I can’t be put under any more stress from now on."
Jude Sheridan didn’t answer, but the hand on her head paused for a moment.
Jessica Keller bit her lip lightly and tilted her head up to look at the man before her, her eyes full of innocence.
"Jude, what happened with Cecilia really had nothing to do with me. It was Zane Keller who contacted your mother. I never thought she would be so reckless. You know I never wanted to compete with Cecilia. I just hoped you would occasionally turn back to look at me and our child. That’s all I ever wanted."
"Mm, I know." Jude Sheridan tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, the corners of his lips curling into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, carrying a bone-chilling coldness.
Jessica Keller felt a faint sense of unease, but in the next second, Jude Sheridan gently helped her lie back down on the hospital bed and tucked the blanket in for her.
"I just spoke with the doctor. She said you need to rest well and not let your imagination run wild. Since this matter has nothing to do with you, don’t dwell on it."
Jessica Keller nodded obediently.
The lawyer walked in carrying a fruit basket. Jude Sheridan took it from him, pulled up a chair to sit by her side, and began to thoughtfully peel fruit for Jessica Keller.
Seeing this, Jessica Keller’s unease gradually faded.
She watched Jude Sheridan with a tender expression, her eyes filled with adoration.
"Jude, thank you for coming to be with me."
’So what if Cecilia Croft turned the world upside down?’
’In the end, Jude Sheridan is here with me today.’
During this time, a doctor came in, holding a few IV bags.
Jessica Keller asked warily.
"Didn’t the doctor say my baby was fine? Why do I need an IV drip?"
Jude Sheridan handed the peeled apple to Jessica Keller and said calmly.
"It’s just a nutritional drip. You were already showing signs of a threatened miscarriage. Just listen to the doctor."
Only then did Jessica Keller stop asking questions. She nodded, took the apple from Jude Sheridan, and began to eat it in small bites.
Jude Sheridan stayed by her side the entire time, only getting up from his chair after the IV drip was finished.
"Jude, are you leaving?" Jessica Keller’s heart tightened, and she quickly grabbed his arm.
Jude Sheridan removed her hand from his arm, the tenderness in his expression completely gone.
"I’ve transferred a breakup fee to your account. From now on, let’s not contact each other."
Jessica Keller’s face went pale. She was so shocked by Jude Sheridan’s sudden announcement that she was speechless.
She couldn’t understand how the man who had just been so tenderly caring for her could change so completely in such a short time.
"Is it because Cecilia forced you to break up with me?"
’It must be. It has to be that bitch, Cecilia Croft!’
She took a deep breath, her chest heaving violently. It was at this moment that a sharp, intense pain shot through her abdomen.
"Jude, my stomach hurts so much! Quickly, call the doctor!"
The pain was so overwhelming that she felt on the verge of fainting.
But the man before her was completely indifferent, not caring at all about the child in her belly.
A jolt of alarm went through Jessica Keller. She suddenly realized something, her gaze falling on the IV bag, and then she fainted completely.
’My bargaining chip... it’s gone.’
’And the one who gave it to me was the one who took it away.’
