The orange hue of the setting sun poured through the office window, casting a warm glow on the minimalist and elegant office space. Jane Eyre instinctively looked up to see Edward Cullen standing before her, his expression devoid of any warmth. In that moment, she struggled to find the right words, but his cold words chilled her heart.
“Jane Eyre, why did you accept the money from my mother?! Are you still unrepentant? Is money all you care about?”
His tone was laced with sarcasm, striking her like a slap in the face. She retorted, “Your father hit and injured my grandmother while driving under the influence and fled the scene. Shouldnt he be held accountable for his actions?”
Why shouldnt she accept the money? World-class medical facilities and exorbitant medical expenses – he always thought he had bestowed countless favors upon her, but these were what the Cullens owed her.
On a night three years ago, Bill Compton, Edwards father, had been driving under the influence when he hit her grandmother and then used money to force the Eyres to disappear from Evergreen City.
And thus, their relationship ended, and until just now, this was the first time they had seen each other in three years.
“I have arranged for your grandmother to be admitted to the best hospital and even exceptionally hired you into Cullen Enterprises. Are you now pushing your luck with me?!” Edward looked down at Jane Eyre with contempt in his eyes.
“Pushing my luck?” A pang of sorrow struck her heart, and she chose not to explain. She had left without saying goodbye back then, and now she indeed accepted his mothers money. What qualifications did she have to explain?
Edward seemed even angrier because of her words: “Do you think Cullen Enterprises is a place you can come and go as you please?”
He advanced step by step, his face full of malevolence.
Seeing this, Jane couldnt help but retreat in fear until her back was against the desk, with nowhere else to go.
The vibration of her phone, which she had placed on the desk earlier, rang out. Edward caught a glimpse of the bright screen with the name "Noah" deeply wounding his heart, and a scene of Jane smiling as she got into a white sports car flashed through his mind.
Edwards rationality was completely shattered by the incoming call.
Suddenly, he flipped Jane around, pinning her against the desk.
“Let me go, what are you doing?” Jane struggled, a mix of anger and fear in her eyes as she stared at him, as if she had never known this man.
“What am I doing! Exercising the rights I should exercise! You took my mothers money but didnt obediently leave Evergreen City as she wished. Werent you just playing hard to get, waiting to seduce me?” A sinister smile played on Edwards lips. “Jane Eyre, I fulfill your wish!”
“No, I was desperate, my grandmother cant be transferred to another hospital, nor can her treatment be discontinued. Edward, its not what you think... ”
The cold lips pressed against Janes hot lips without any affection, preventing her from speaking.
The vibration of the phone rang over and over, and the fire in Edwards heart burned more and more fiercely.
“What are you worried about? Is the person downstairs waiting for too long? Dont you just love money? Its the same no matter who youre with!”
The blatant sarcasm was like her bare presence beneath him, utterly devoid of dignity.
“Let go... um... you... let... ”
Her hands were tightly gripped by him, the sound of her clothes tearing echoed, and the heart-wrenching pain from below made her cry out, “No... ”