Chapter 289

Jameson felt an unexpected pang as Ruth mentioned divorce without hesitation. When Madeline had been posing as Ruth, he had been desperate to end the marriage. Yet now, faced with the real Ruth’s indifference, it stung.

He couldn’t explain this feeling. Gritting through the pain, he stood and studied Ruth. Fourteen years had treated her well. Her hands were still delicate, and her hair was elegantly half-pinned. That simple white dress made her look ethereal. She was more striking than aging starlets.

Madeline had deceived him for fourteen years, and he hadn’t noticed a thing. Or perhaps he had suspected something but chose not to dwell on it.

Ruth added coolly, “I’ve heard about your attempts to undermine Ross at Jean Group. The company’s success has nothing to do with you. If you want to keep your title, tread carefully. I’ll let that shareholder meeting slide. Cross me again, and you’ll regret it.”

Jameson’s expression flickered. He had been scheming, though now, under her glare, he wasn’t sure whether to scrap those plans or double down.

The frustration was suffocating. Fourteen years ago, Ruth had dominated him like this, stripping him of any dignity as a husband. It was nothing like the sense of power he got from being with Natalie.

Without another word, Jameson limped out. This place hadn’t been his home for years. Natalie’s arms were where he belonged now.

Natalie had been waiting for Jameson’s replies impatiently after her shower, eager to hear how he had put Ruth in her place, preferably back in the hospital.

The doorbell rang. Natalie hurried to answer it, finding Jameson on the threshold. “Jamie, did you see Ruth?”

“Yeah,” Jameson grunted, his expression stormy.

Natalie eyed the bag in his hand. “What’s that?”

“Medicine,” Jameson replied curtly.

Baffled, Natalie followed as he slumped onto the sofa and ordered her, “Rub this on me.”

Still confused, Natalie obeyed and walked toward him. When he lifted his shirt, her breath caught. Red welts crisscrossed his back, and some were swollen to grotesque ridges. She asked in shock, “Did… your mother do this?”

Jameson stayed silent. Admitting Ruth humiliated him was too much.

“Answer me. What happened?” Natalie pressed.

“Just fucking do it,” Jameson snapped.

Biting back her irritation, Natalie complied.

That night, pain and Ruth’s warnings kept Jameson awake. Finally, he grabbed his phone and went outside. “Cancel the assignment I assigned you,” he muttered. “You’ll still get paid.”

Natalie, who had followed stealthily, went rigid when she heard that. She thought, ‘He is backing out? Disabling Ross isn’t even killing him. What coward. All these years, he still can’t give Jason and me our rightful place.

I’m so sick of living under people’s noses like this. If he won’t act, I will!’