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CHAPTER 8
Xavier, Rose, Caleb’s mother and Lillian, his sister, were at the restaurant waiting for their arrival. Lillian, ever the chatterbox, was gushing about how beautiful and smart Jane must be. “I’ve heard so much about her already, and I can’t wait to meet her. I bet she’s stunning!” she exclaimed, her excitement palpable.
“Lilian, would you compose yourself? There are eyes everywhere” Rose mumbled, her face indifferent as she grabbed a glass of wine from the table and took a sip.
Xavier watched Lilian silently, his eyes absorbing her excitement. The way her eyes
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lit up and the way she smiled when she talked about his nephew’s wife.
“You’re not saying anything uncle,” Lilian said and pouted her lips.
“What can I say?” Xavier muttered. “I’ve never really been impressed with the girls Caleb hangs out with.”
“Not Jane though. I promise you’ll love her uncle,” she said.
“I bet I would” Xavier smiled, a smile that didn’t touch his lips and when he noticed no one was paying attention to him, the smile disappeared from his face and was replaced with a cold look.
“I haven’t met her but I love her already! I
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can’t believe Caleb is finally married!” Lilian squeaked again but Xavier was able to hide his irritation with a smile.
Rose sighed, smoothing the napkin on her lap. “Lillian, try to act reasonable. This is an important dinner.”
The city lights gleamed against the evening sky as Caleb and Jane arrived at La Belle Époque, one of the fanciest restaurants in town. As they stepped out of the car, Caleb wrapped his arm around Jane’s waist, and she took a deep breath, steadying herself for the night ahead. This dinner was more than just a family gathering–it was a test, and she had to pass it convincingly.
Inside, the restaurant was a combination of
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elegance and refinement. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a soft, warm glow over the white–clothed tables. The sound of soft piano music mingled with the murmur of well–dressed patrons. Jane felt a flutter of nerves in her stomach as they approached the table where Xavier, Rose and Lillian were already seated.
Xavier’s eyes were fixed on them, sharp and probing, as they approached. Rose wore a serene smile, and Lillian was practically bouncing in her seat with excitement. As they reached the table, Caleb gave Jane’s waist a reassuring squeeze and smiled broadly.
Rose’s eyes were filled with disapproval and indifference, Xavier who was very keen at reading people’s countenance wasn’t able to
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see this as his attention rested on the new bride,
Jane.
“Sorry we’re late,” Caleb said smoothly. Jane leaned over to kiss Rose’s cheek in respect but Rose pulled away from her, and Xabier observed this. He kept mute and watched as Lilian stood and gave Jane a warm hug.
“You must be Jane! I’m Caleb! You’re sister
in–law. I’m so excited to meet you” Lilian squeaked.
“Me too, Ehh…”
“Lilian” Lilian helped her out.
“Yes, Lilian. Caleb has told me a lot about you” she grinned, surprised as the lie came out
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smoothly.
“Really? Caleb barely talks about anyone” Lilian said, still in excitement.
“Enough, Lilian. Sit and don’t bother the young lady” Rose rolled her eyes and rested her back on her chair, unable to hide her disappointment and disapproval.
Xavier’s eyes wandered to the diamond wedding band Jane wore as Lilian finally let her be.
Caleb then turned to his uncle, keeping his arm securely around Jane. “Uncle Xavier, meet my wife, Jane Lockwood.”
Xavier’s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Jane. “Jane?” he repeated, his voice thick with
ཡིན་དུ་ང་ང་ང་ང་ག་ག་ག་ག་ག་ག་ན་
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HIC CAletiue u ner nana with a warm smile. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Uncle Xavier.”
Xavier shook her hand, his grip firm. “The pleasure is mine,” he said, though his tone suggested otherwise. But he was able to keep a warm smile which made Jane doubt everything
Caleb had told her about his uncle.
As they all settled into their chairs, the tension was thick. Jane could feel Xavier’s gaze on her, like a hawk watching its prey. They placed their orders, and light conversation ensued. Jane tried to engage with Lillian who was the only one that seemed to be very excited to meet her, but her mind was on high alert, ready for Xavier’s inevitable probing questions and
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waiting for his mom’s unpalatable remark.
“So,” Xavier began, leaning back in his chair, “how did you two meet?”
Jane blinked, caught off guard. She forced a smile and said, “We met at an art gallery.”
Xavier’s eyebrows lifted in mock surprise “An art gallery? I don’t recall Caleb ever having an interest in art.”
Caleb’s expression didn’t waver. “People change, Uncle,” he said coolly.
Xavier’s eyes flicked between them. “Indeed. What’s Caleb’s favorite food?”
Jane hesitated, searching for an answer. “Well,
h
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Caleb has been working on his choice of food lately.”
Lilian interjected smoothly, “The two of them are still figuring each other out. It’s a new marriage, after all.”
“Lilian, you don’t interrupt when elders are talking” Rose murmured harshly. Even if she hated Xavier, she loved the fact that he was making Jane uncomfortable with his questions.
Lilian, who couldn’t contain her excitement, completely ignored her mother’s remark and said “So, now that you have a wife, does that mean I can finally spend as much as I want? Will I get my own credit card?”
Rose shot her daughter a stern look. “Lillian,
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that’s enough. This is a serious matter.”
“But mom, isn’t that what you wanted too? Isn that why you wanted Stella for Caleb?” Lilian spoke before her mom could stop her.
“I said shut up! Besides, marriage is a very important thing and it’s not nice for someone to marry the first person they bump into” Rose said, fumbling with her food she had no appetite with
At that point, Xavier was able to note the disapproval of Rose toward Jane and he
grinned. At least, Rose was on her side, even if they didn’t have a good relationship.
“Your mother is right, Lilian” Xavier smiled and ate slowly from his plate.
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Lillian pouted but fell silent, her excitement barely contained. The family had suffered under Xavier’s stringent financial control, and the prospect of regaining their freedom was exhilarating.
As the dinner progressed, Caleb couldn’t help but notice Xavier’s barely concealed irritation. The older man had been so sure of his victory, confident that Caleb would never find a wife in time. Xavier had already started spreading rumors about his impending takeover, convinced that one more year wouldn’t be difficult to wait out. But now, his plans were unraveling.
“Caleb,” Xavier said, his voice warm, “It’s a relief to see that you’re married now. It still feels
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surreal that my young nephew is all grown up
and married.”
Caleb glared at his uncle and shifted uncomfortably.
“I recall how hurt you were at the time. You even swore you would never marry after she broke your heart years ago. It’s a good thing you’ve healed.”
Caleb’s jaw tightened, but he maintained his composure. “That’s in the past, Uncle. This is about the future.”
“What’s her name again? I think Lilian mentioned it…” He stopped as if thinking of the
name.
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“Ah… Of course it’s Stella. You never got over
her, did you?”
“Enough, Uncle” Caleb spat.
Jane said nothing about listening and watching the family talk. She felt a little bit jealous. She had seen the chemistry between Caleb and the Stella girl and she had genuinely saw Caleb loved that girl. All she could wish was that Marcus, if only Marcus had loved and looked at her that way.
Xavier’s smirk didn’t waver as he continued to speak, cutting Jane from her thoughts “I thought after that incident, you had sworn off love entirely. The only girl you’ve ever loved but had ended in heartbreak… who could forget?”
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“It’s not the end. I believe they still have a chance together” Rose added.
“But mom, Caleb is married already” Lilian spoke again and her mom glared at her, which made her shut up and face her food.
Jane glanced at Caleb, curiosity piqued. But Caleb’s eyes met hers with a silent warning. She understood: it wasn’t her place to ask. But still she wondered, so powerful men also go through heartbreaks?
Later, after the dinner concluded, Caleb and Jane headed for home. She didn’t like the
awkward meeting with his uncle but she didn’t mention it. Caleb told her in the car that he would prepare her better next time.
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When they got home, they retreated to their
rooms. But after a minute, Caleb came to find
Jane in her room. His demeanor was cold as h
handed her a contract. “Sign this,” he said, his
tone devoid of any warmth.
Jane took the document, her eyes scanning the contents. The terms were clear and unyielding:
~They were not to back down until Dragon Corporation was taken down.
~They were to sleep in separate rooms (which they already did)
~They were not to interfere with each other’s personal business.
~They were not to cause a scandal that would
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make people suspect their arrangement.
Scandal like infidelity.
Jane’s heart sank at the strict terms, but she knew she had no choice. “Really?”
“What? Is it so hard?”
She signed the contract and handed it back to Caleb. “Satisfied?” she asked, her voice soft. “One thing about me, Mr Lockewood, I abide by the rules. But you’ve also got to abide by mine, stay out of my business too and clean up those extra people around you. Whether it’s a first love or a one night stand. I don’t want this agreement to be binding only on me!”
Caleb couldn’t meet her eyes as he knew she was talking about Stella. He didn’t want her to
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ask about Stella as he couldn’t go through the pain of reminiscing about it. So he has to add the rule of no meddling in each other’s affairs.
“Good,” Caleb replied, barely looking at her. “Remember, this is purely business. Don’t meddle in my affairs.”
“I’m not interested in you Caleb and I have too much of my own business to deal with,” she said with a shrug of her shoulders. “I don’t need an extra.”
Caleb nodded, his gaze finally softening, but Jane’s eyes were hard and tight as all her mind flooded back to his mom and Stella. She felt it wasn’t her business, and shrugged, then her mind drifted right to her business, Marcus and Abigail as she thought of how they would carry
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out the revenge.
