Chapter 329

Jameson stopped dead in his tracks at the door.

‘Is this really the same woman I know—soft-spoken, who once treated me like her entire world? How quickly Natalie revealed her ugly side now that I’m down on my luck,’ he thought.

“Mom, cut Dad some slack,” Jason pleaded.

“What’s the harm in telling the truth? He’s a failure. If he weren’t, would I still be stuck in the shadows? Would you still get called a bastard?” Natalie retorted.

Jason wasn’t as resentful as his mother. He knew firsthand how well Jameson had treated him—light-years better than Shermaine or Ross.

As siblings, he already felt he’d come out on top.

Jameson stood stunned as if trapped in an unreal dream. Overwhelmed, he turned and walked away without entering.

For all her complaining, Natalie had no plans to leave Jameson. Looking like this, she doubted she could attract another man. Best to play it safe and wait.

Jason only blamed himself, hated that he wasn’t as powerful as Shermaine, and hated his repeated losses that had led him and his parents there.

He thought, ‘Why couldn’t Shermaine just die? And Ross—why didn’t he die in Lightspring City? How is he alive, and worse, how did he steal Dr. Shelly, the woman I want?’

Like father, like son. He never once took responsibility for his own failures.

In the adjacent ward, Ross, with his extraordinary healing, was already on his feet within days, despite nurses warning that his stitches were still fragile and too much movement could reopen the wound.

Danielle had a huge circle of friends. After returning injured from Lightspring City, she had so many daily visitors that Ross barely got a moment alone with her.

As yellow leaves blew in on the crisp wind, Ross tossed aside his blankets, stood up, and headed straight to the next room.

At that moment, Danielle was hosting a friend who’d traveled far to visit her. Being from old-money families, they’d known each other since childhood, so the sight of them sitting together chatting was warmly intimate.

The man, Conan Yaeger, was two years Danielle’s senior. As a pianist, he had an artistic air—refined, upbeat, and as agreeable as a spring day.

His face practically radiated kindness.

Standing outside, Ross watched Danielle take a peeled apple from Conan. She took a bite and said casually, “Thanks.”

“Since when do we need to be polite?” Conan grinned.

“Fair point.”

They’d been friends since toddlerhood. If neither had seen the other romantically, their families would’ve pushed for a relationship ages ago.

Outside the door, Ross’ expression darkened. The primal possessiveness of a man for someone he liked was rising, making him feel as sour as biting into a lemon.

“Mr. Jean, how many times have I told you not to keep getting up?” the nurse chided, spotting him by the neighboring ward. “You could rip your stitches.”

Chapter 329

Inside, Danielle turned at the voice and saw Ross standing outside, wearing a clear scowl.

She took another bite of the apple. When she noticed Ross’ eyes landing on Conan beside her, she smiled.

‘If I’m right, is Ross jealous of Conan?’ she thought.