Chapter 1938
Chapter 1938
Sierra told Jefferson everything she saw and heard the night before.
"Jeff, I'm not kidding but I really thought that I saw a light shining on Adrienne when she refused to sign the papers; she was shining brilliantly and she had a determined look in her eyes. She really isn't the little girl we thought she was anymore. She's grown up now; she knows what she wants and what she's doing. If you really end up in some sort of sticky situation, I'm sure she'd want you to tell her so that you two could shoulder the burden together. It would be better than you hiding everything from her."
Jefferson had heard all that from Adrienne before, but he didn't think too much about it. He had always felt like he was making the right choice for her, but now it seemed like he might have been mistaken.
Jefferson got up and said, "Sierra, thank you for telling me this. I know what I should do now."
"Yes," Sierra replied as she nodded with satisfaction. "You've matured quite a bit yourself, Jeff." "Sierra, I won't be able to have dinner with you tonight but Adrienne and I will treat you to a meal tomorrow," said Jefferson as he walked out.
"Sounds good. You go do you." Sierra smiled.
She never intended to actually have dinner with Jefferson anyway. She just wanted someone to talk to.
Sierra looked out of the window. On the street outside, people were coming and going, and the traffic was endless. Everyone seemed to have a clear direction as to where they were going, but she herself felt lost.
It was easy to give advice to others, but taking her own advice was hard. Even though Sierra knew she would never be able to see the light she wanted in the darkness ahead, she still insisted on going forward.
Even if it devastated her, it was her own choice.
From the restaurant, Jefferson drove straight back to his parents' house.
Britney was elated to see him, but her gaze kept darting behind him. She asked, "Rascal, did you come alone? Where is Adrienne? Why didn't you bring her with you?"
"Mom, where's Dad?" When addressing his mother, Jefferson still showed Albert his due respect and acknowledged him as his father.
Otherwise, he would have just called Albert by his name.
"Your father is in the study. I think he's busy with work." Britney pointed to the second floor with a smile. Noticing the strange look on Jefferson's face, she piped up again, "You came all the way here just to see him? Is something wrong?"
"Nothing, everything's fine." As he spoke, Jefferson was already on his way up the stairs.
Jefferson arrived at the study. He didn't bother to knock as he pushed the door open right away and went in. Then, he locked the door from the inside and strode to Albert's desk. In a stern tone, he asked, "Albert, haven't I made myself clear enough?"
Albert raised his head slowly, took off his glasses, and pinched the bridge of his nose gently. "I'm your elder, yet not only did you not knock on my door before entering, you bombarded me with some nonsensical questions. Is that how you should behave?"
"You, talking about respect?" Jefferson sneered. "If you want my respect, you have to be worthy of it. You should reflect on what you've done so far."
"What have I done?" The moment Jefferson stepped through the door, Albert had already known the reason he was here, but he didn't plan on being upfront about it.
In contrast, Jefferson did not beat around the bush. "You know what you gave Adrienne last night."
"Oh..." exclaimed Albert with a smile. "So she complained to you about it, huh?"
"She didn't tell me anything," Jefferson seethed.
"Oh? If it wasn't her, then who would it be? Secretary Allen?" Albert obviously did not believe Jefferson. He knew that Jefferson would always be in Adrienne's defense.
"Albert, I'm the one asking you questions here. You're not in the place to ask who told me that." Rage was evident in every word Jefferson spat out.
"What were you asking again?" Albert mused.
Jefferson retorted, "I'm asking you why you did that! Why are you so against Adrienne? You watched her grow up too. What did she do that you kept wanting to drive her away?"
"She didn't do anything in particular which upset me." Albert's reply was placid and calm. Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
Jefferson slammed his palm on the desk and questioned, "Then why do you always find fault with her?" "Don't you already know the reason?"
Albert spoke in a commanding tone. Every blow that Jefferson tried to throw at him with his words felt like he was punching thin air. "I don't care what your reason is. I'm telling you now that she is my
wife and I will love her for the rest of my life. No one can ever break us up. If you dare to do anything to her behind my back again, don't blame me for getting back at you."
"Oh? How are you going to get back at me? Are you going to sever ties with me?" Albert shook his head and said, "Jefferson, oh, Jefferson. Just look at you. You are willing to forgo the most basic sense of respect for your own father for a mere woman. I'm disappointed in you."
Jefferson shot back, "A mere woman? Huh... that's because you don't love my mother at all. You claim you do, but I know you married her just to climb further up the ladder."
"You b*stard!" Albert could not tolerate anyone who questioned his feelings for Britney, what more to say when it was his own son. He raised his hand to slap Jefferson, but under Jefferson's fierce gaze, he retracted his arm.
He took a deep breath and said slowly, "Jefferson, you are the son of the Hefner and Yard families. Both families have been honorable for generations. I will not let you taint our reputation."
"What do you mean?" Jefferson asked.
Albert answered, "Do you think I don't know who you went to see last night?"
"So you knew about it already?" Jefferson asked.
Albert began to elaborate, "I found it out many years ago. Back then, I realized that something was off with Sheridan, but I had no evidence against him. Later, he supposedly died so I stopped my investigations into him out of respect as I initially thought he was dead. To my surprise, he wasn't dead at all. He was living a good life, even better than you and I."
Upon hearing Albert's explanation, Jefferson felt a chill run down his spine. There were so many things on the tip of his tongue, but no words left his mouth.
Albert continued, "I watched Adrienne grow up. She's a wonderful young lady, but with such a father, who knows if she might follow in his footsteps one day."
Before Albert could finish his sentence, Jefferson cut in with a voice like ice, "First of all, there's no way Adrienne would ever do something like that. Secondly, even if she did begin acting questionably one day, she would still be the woman I want to protect for the rest of my life."
Albert raised his eyebrows. "You'll protect her to the end even if she chooses a life of crime?"
"Whether she walks in light or darkness, I will be by her side. No matter what she does, she will always be my wife." With that, Jefferson strode out of the study firmly under Albert's gaze.