Jeff didn't take the jade bracelet. He pushed it gently back toward Old Madam Harper.
"I don't take back gifts I've given. Besides, I don't want people saying I lived off the Harpers for three years and left with nothing in return."
For three years, the family had supported him—at least on paper. He refused to give them any ammunition for gossip.
Old Madam Harper nodded slowly and slipped the bracelet back onto her wrist. She had always adored it; learning yesterday that it came from Jeff had made her so happy she'd slept holding it.
Jeff, still cradling Flowers, glanced around. "If there's nothing else, I'm leaving."
"Wait." Emily's voice stopped him. She spoke softly but urgently. "I want to talk to you alone. It won't take long."
Susan hurried over. "Yes, Jeff— you've barely been here a minute. You haven't even sat down. It's too rushed."
Old Madam Harper added her plea. "A night of marriage is worth a hundred nights of kindness. You were husband and wife for three years. If you refuse, Emily will kneel again."
Jeff's eyes flicked to Emily's raw, red knees. The sight made his stomach twist—he really didn't want to see her on the floor again.
"Fine."
Emily couldn't manage the stairs yet, so Jeff rode the elevator with her to a second-floor guest room.
The moment they stepped inside, Jeff froze. The room had been carefully styled—soft neutrals, plush bedding, elegant accents—almost identical to Emily's bedroom back in the New City apartment they'd shared.
For a split second, it felt like stepping back three years.
"Jeff… there aren't any chairs. Let's sit on the bed and talk."
Emily eased herself onto the edge of the mattress first.
Jeff stayed standing. "I'll stand."
Emily didn't push. She lowered her head, knees pressed together, hands fidgeting in her lap like a shy middle-school girl. Her voice was gentle, almost fragile.
"Um… thank you for yesterday."
She lifted her eyes to meet his.
In that moment, she looked exactly like the girl he'd first met—nervous college senior on their wedding night, arranged marriage looming, speaking in that same soft, hesitant tone.
That version of Emily had been the one Jeff had fallen for hardest.
Of course, every bit of it was orchestrated by Sophia. She'd drilled it into Emily: *The most beautiful part of any relationship is the beginning. Recreate that first-meeting feeling—he won't be able to resist.*
"Thank me?" Jeff raised an eyebrow.
Yesterday he'd been merciless—letting her kneel in pouring rain for two full hours without a glance.
Emily didn't hate him? She was *thanking* him?
Emily's cheeks flushed. "The nurse… told me everything."
She looked down again, shy.
Jeff understood immediately. The nurse had ignored his instructions and spilled the truth—that he'd carried her inside.
But so what? It wasn't shameful. She'd fainted in the storm; he'd brought her in out of basic decency. He'd have done the same for a stranger—or even a stray dog.
He shrugged. "Okay."
Emily's voice dropped even softer. "Jeff… what you did to me last night… I don't blame you."
Jeff froze. The way she phrased it sounded like he'd taken advantage of her while she was unconscious!
Anger flared. "Yes, you fainted. I carried you from the courtyard into the villa. That's it."
"What—am I not allowed to pick you up? You're going to blame me for just carrying you?!"
The words burst out hotter than he intended. For three years she'd treated him like he had no right to touch her.
Not even a hug. Not a hand on her shoulder.
He remembered one afternoon test-driving a vintage 1980s Porsche—manual transmission. Emily had scooted too close to the center console; when he shifted gears, the back of his hand brushed her thigh by accident.
She'd exploded—called him shameless, accused him of groping her, lectured him for twenty minutes straight.
Husband and wife—and he couldn't even touch her leg by mistake.
His grandfather had wanted him to marry in as a true son-in-law, not a servant. But without the right to touch his own wife, what was the difference?
"No—no, don't be mad, honey!" Emily rushed forward and wrapped her arms around him. "You can do whatever you want to me. How could I blame you?"
Jeff pried her off firmly. "Don't call me honey. Call me Jeff."
Emily's leg was still injured; she couldn't cling like yesterday. She stepped back, eyes glistening with hurt.
"Jeff… I almost betrayed you, but weren't you wrong too?"
"You're clearly from one of the richest families in the country, yet you lied—told us you were a broke nobody. You deceived me for three whole years!"
"If you'd told me the truth from the start, I never would've given Ryan a second glance!"
Jeff exhaled. She had a point. The secrecy had been part of his trial—but it had also been unfair to her.
"You're right," he admitted. "I hid the truth for three years. That was wrong too. How about this: once you're recovered, I'll take you out to dinner. I'll make it up to you."
"Make it up to me?"
Emily's eyes lit up like fireworks.
Compensation? Did that mean reconciliation? Remarriage?
My God—the Maybach Landaulet, the Phang Wa Cape villa in Phuket—would they all be hers again?
She grabbed his hand excitedly. "I'm fine! I'm not hurt at all—I can go tomorrow! Let's have dinner tomorrow!"
Jeff glanced at her bandaged knees, then nodded. "Okay. Tomorrow."
"Where? That little noodle shop outside the city?" Emily asked, beaming.
Jeff gave a small smile. "I'm a CEO now. Why would I take you to a hole-in-the-wall? Let's go to Longjing Teahouse—you always loved the atmosphere there."
"Mmm!" Emily nodded vigorously, happier than she'd been in months.
Jeff gently disentangled his fingers. "I should go."
"I'll walk you out."
"No need. Rest."
Jeff carried Flowers out of the room and down the stairs.
Susan was waiting at the bottom, looking disappointed. "Jeff? You're already leaving? You only talked for a few minutes—why not stay longer?"
The whole family had been hoping for more—hoping Jeff would finally give in, that he still craved Emily's body after all these years.
Jeff answered calmly. "No need. We have a dinner date tomorrow."
Susan's face lit up. The others exchanged thrilled glances.
Progress!
Jeff had actually agreed to dinner with Emily!
That meant there was still a real chance!
Jessica's jealousy flared. She stepped forward quickly. "Jeff, I think we need to have a private talk too!"
Jeff didn't break stride. "Go play somewhere else."
He walked out the front door without looking back, Flowers tucked safely in his arms.