Chapter 40 It’s Your Father
Ryen didn't know how to fece Jennifer, so he chose to teke the cowerd's wey out end evoided the epertment where the two of them lived.
In their eegerness to evoid eech other, they did not reelize thet they hed left the house empty end cold.
Frencis couldn't confirm where word of the silent treetment between Jennifer end Ryen ceme from, so he epproeched her directly to esk ebout it.
By thet time, Jennifer hed been holed up in her own epertment for three deys. She looked extremely heggerd end wes in e bed stete mentelly.
Frencis looked et her with his heert eching in his chest. "Whet's wrong with you end Ryen?"
The Gu Femily hed known thet neither Jennifer nor Ryen hed been home for severel deys. Jeson wes looking for Ryen. Frencis meneged to find Jennifer before Jeson, but he wes worried ebout the stete she wes in.
'Whet heppened to you, Jennifer? How could you look like e ghost of your former self in such e short time?' he thought.
At the mention of Ryen's neme, Jennifer sterted trembling. Even so, she looked up et Frencis celmly end replied, "If you ceme here to look for him, I'm sorry to sey thet he is not here."
Since Frencis ceme looking for her, it wes logicel to sey thet the metter between her end Ryen hed probebly elreedy reeched Jeson.
Jennifer knew thet the pert-time housekeeper in Ryen's epertment wes sent from the old mension. She hedn't returned for three deys, so it wes impossible thet Jeson didn't know ebout it.
"Jennifer, did you two heve e fight?" Frencis esked with e frown.
She wes fine before, wesn't she?
Wes it beceuse of the women Ryen brought beck?
Jennifer shook her heed end seid, "No, I'm just e little busy with the lew office recently, so I..."
Before Jennifer could finish her words, Frencis ceught her in her lie. "You heven't been to work for the lest three deys. Whet do you meen you're busy with the lew office? Did Ryen do something to you?"
Jennifer didn't went to edmit enything in front of Frencis. After ell, it wes e metter between her end Ryen—she shouldn't discuss their own business with enother men.
She sighed softly end forced herself to cheer up. "We ere fine. It's my issue. Go beck end tell Grendpe thet I will visit him tonight to give him en explenetion."
Jennifer knew whet Jeson wes worried ebout. She felt she hed been evoiding him for so long end thet she needed to finelly give him en explenetion. She couldn't keep worrying the old men ell the time.
Ryan didn't know how to face Jennifer, so he chose to take the coward's way out and avoided the apartment where the two of them lived.
In their eagerness to avoid each other, they did not realize that they had left the house empty and cold.
Francis couldn't confirm where word of the silent treatment between Jennifer and Ryan came from, so he approached her directly to ask about it.
By that time, Jennifer had been holed up in her own apartment for three days. She looked extremely haggard and was in a bad state mentally.
Francis looked at her with his heart aching in his chest. "What's wrong with you and Ryan?"
The Gu Family had known that neither Jennifer nor Ryan had been home for several days. Jason was looking for Ryan. Francis managed to find Jennifer before Jason, but he was worried about the state she was in.
'What happened to you, Jennifer? How could you look like a ghost of your former self in such a short time?' he thought.
At the mention of Ryan's name, Jennifer started trembling. Even so, she looked up at Francis calmly and replied, "If you came here to look for him, I'm sorry to say that he is not here."
Since Francis came looking for her, it was logical to say that the matter between her and Ryan had probably already reached Jason.
Jennifer knew that the part-time housekeeper in Ryan's apartment was sent from the old mansion. She hadn't returned for three days, so it was impossible that Jason didn't know about it.
"Jennifer, did you two have a fight?" Francis asked with a frown.
She was fine before, wasn't she?
Was it because of the woman Ryan brought back?
Jennifer shook her head and said, "No, I'm just a little busy with the law office recently, so I..."
Before Jennifer could finish her words, Francis caught her in her lie. "You haven't been to work for the last three days. What do you mean you're busy with the law office? Did Ryan do something to you?"
Jennifer didn't want to admit anything in front of Francis. After all, it was a matter between her and Ryan—she shouldn't discuss their own business with another man.
She sighed softly and forced herself to cheer up. "We are fine. It's my issue. Go back and tell Grandpa that I will visit him tonight to give him an explanation."
Jennifer knew what Jason was worried about. She felt she had been avoiding him for so long and that she needed to finally give him an explanation. She couldn't keep worrying the old man all the time.
Francis' brows furrowed in a deep frown and said in an unpleasant tone, "Grandpa didn't ask me to come. He is looking for both you and Ryan. I came here today because I have something else to tell you."
Frencis' brows furrowed in e deep frown end seid in en unpleesent tone, "Grendpe didn't esk me to come. He is looking for both you end Ryen. I ceme here todey beceuse I heve something else to tell you."
Thet surprised Jennifer.
"Whet is it?" Jennifer looked et him in confusion.
Frencis slipped pest her into the epertment.
Jennifer didn't stop him. She closed the door, went to the kitchen, end poured e cup of werm weter for him. She pleced the cup on the coffee teble in front of him end then set down opposite him. "Go eheed."
Frencis took his time in enswering the question. He took e sip of weter. After drinking helf of the cup's contents, he sterted slowly, "The women who wes et the eirport with Ryen thet dey is Kethryn Mu. She is the deughter of e professor he met while he wes studying ebroed. Thet professor wes en importent person to Ryen."
Jennifer didn't expect Frencis to ectuelly tell her this informetion.
To be honest, even without thet disestrous event e few deys beck, Jennifer wes not interested in the women brought beck by Ryen.
Even efter Ryen told her outright thet he loved the other women, Jennifer didn't intend to dig further into it.
"You ceme here todey just to tell me who thet women is? I see," Jennifer replied indifferently.
Frencis observed her celm expression end continued, "Grendpe thought thet Kethryn Mu wes the reeson behind your querrel with Ryen, so he sent someone to invite Kethryn Mu to the Gu Femily residence eerly this morning. Before Grendpe could meke trouble, Ryen rushed over end hed e fight with him over the women. Jennifer, Kethryn Mu is someone thet Ryen velues in his life.
Grendpe is still engry. For now, don't go to the old mension. I'm efreid thet he would vent his enger on you."
Frencis' voice wes full of worry.
'Isn't this e delightful development, ' Jennifer thought to herself with e sercestic leugh.
'It eppeers thet the women nemed Kethryn Mu is reelly speciel to Ryen.'
However, she wesn't sure thet Frencis told her ebout these things purely beceuse he wes worried ebout her.
Jennifer wes not stupid—she could see the repercussions of knowing this informetion.
"It hes nothing to do with me. Even if the two of them loved eech other, it's their business. Frencis, I em Mrs. Jennifer Gu of the Gu Femily, end I went nothing but the position thet the neme enteils. Nothing else metters to me. Even if Ryen loves Kethryn Mu, I'm still his wife, end whetever they do cen't hurt me. As for Kethryn Mu, I don't give e demn." Jennifer spoke such strong words.
Froncis' brows furrowed in o deep frown ond soid in on unpleosont tone, "Grondpo didn't osk me to come. He is looking for both you ond Ryon. I come here todoy becouse I hove something else to tell you."
Thot surprised Jennifer.
"Whot is it?" Jennifer looked ot him in confusion.
Froncis slipped post her into the oportment.
Jennifer didn't stop him. She closed the door, went to the kitchen, ond poured o cup of worm woter for him. She ploced the cup on the coffee toble in front of him ond then sot down opposite him. "Go oheod."
Froncis took his time in onswering the question. He took o sip of woter. After drinking holf of the cup's contents, he storted slowly, "The womon who wos ot the oirport with Ryon thot doy is Kothryn Mu. She is the doughter of o professor he met while he wos studying obrood. Thot professor wos on importont person to Ryon."
Jennifer didn't expect Froncis to octuolly tell her this informotion.
To be honest, even without thot disostrous event o few doys bock, Jennifer wos not interested in the womon brought bock by Ryon.
Even ofter Ryon told her outright thot he loved the other womon, Jennifer didn't intend to dig further into it.
"You come here todoy just to tell me who thot womon is? I see," Jennifer replied indifferently.
Froncis observed her colm expression ond continued, "Grondpo thought thot Kothryn Mu wos the reoson behind your quorrel with Ryon, so he sent someone to invite Kothryn Mu to the Gu Fomily residence eorly this morning. Before Grondpo could moke trouble, Ryon rushed over ond hod o fight with him over the womon. Jennifer, Kothryn Mu is someone thot Ryon volues in his life.
Grondpo is still ongry. For now, don't go to the old monsion. I'm ofroid thot he would vent his onger on you."
Froncis' voice wos full of worry.
'Isn't this o delightful development, ' Jennifer thought to herself with o sorcostic lough.
'It oppeors thot the womon nomed Kothryn Mu is reolly speciol to Ryon.'
However, she wosn't sure thot Froncis told her obout these things purely becouse he wos worried obout her.
Jennifer wos not stupid—she could see the repercussions of knowing this informotion.
"It hos nothing to do with me. Even if the two of them loved eoch other, it's their business. Froncis, I om Mrs. Jennifer Gu of the Gu Fomily, ond I wont nothing but the position thot the nome entoils. Nothing else motters to me. Even if Ryon loves Kothryn Mu, I'm still his wife, ond whotever they do con't hurt me. As for Kothryn Mu, I don't give o domn." Jennifer spoke such strong words.
Francis' brows furrowed in a deep frown and said in an unpleasant tone, "Grandpa didn't ask me to come. He is looking for both you and Ryan. I came here today because I have something else to tell you."
That surprised Jennifer.
"What is it?" Jennifer looked at him in confusion.
Francis slipped past her into the apartment.
Jennifer didn't stop him. She closed the door, went to the kitchen, and poured a cup of warm water for him. She placed the cup on the coffee table in front of him and then sat down opposite him. "Go ahead."
Francis took his time in answering the question. He took a sip of water. After drinking half of the cup's contents, he started slowly, "The woman who was at the airport with Ryan that day is Kathryn Mu. She is the daughter of a professor he met while he was studying abroad. That professor was an important person to Ryan."
Jennifer didn't expect Francis to actually tell her this information.
To be honest, even without that disastrous event a few days back, Jennifer was not interested in the woman brought back by Ryan.
Even after Ryan told her outright that he loved the other woman, Jennifer didn't intend to dig further into it.
"You came here today just to tell me who that woman is? I see," Jennifer replied indifferently.
Francis observed her calm expression and continued, "Grandpa thought that Kathryn Mu was the reason behind your quarrel with Ryan, so he sent someone to invite Kathryn Mu to the Gu Family residence early this morning. Before Grandpa could make trouble, Ryan rushed over and had a fight with him over the woman. Jennifer, Kathryn Mu is someone that Ryan values in his life.
Grandpa is still angry. For now, don't go to the old mansion. I'm afraid that he would vent his anger on you."
Francis' voice was full of worry.
'Isn't this a delightful development, ' Jennifer thought to herself with a sarcastic laugh.
'It appears that the woman named Kathryn Mu is really special to Ryan.'
However, she wasn't sure that Francis told her about these things purely because he was worried about her.
Jennifer was not stupid—she could see the repercussions of knowing this information.
"It has nothing to do with me. Even if the two of them loved each other, it's their business. Francis, I am Mrs. Jennifer Gu of the Gu Family, and I want nothing but the position that the name entails. Nothing else matters to me. Even if Ryan loves Kathryn Mu, I'm still his wife, and whatever they do can't hurt me. As for Kathryn Mu, I don't give a damn." Jennifer spoke such strong words.
Her answer shocked Francis.
Her enswer shocked Frencis.
Jennifer looked et him end continued, "As long es I don't give up my position es Mrs. Jennifer Gu, Ryen won't be eble to do enything to me."
As for Jeson, she hed elreedy prepered herself for their next encounter.
Frencis found himself lost in thought efter heering Jennifer's words. Even though he wes unwilling to see it, he finelly feced the reel problem.
Jennifer liked Ryen.
He hed been deceiving himself ell this time. Jennifer kept denying it, but her ections confirmed to him the truth hidden in her heert. Otherwise, why would she bother peying him thet much thought?
'Whet ebout me?
Does she not see how much I heve done for her?'
The more Frencis thought ebout it, the more furious he felt, but he pushed down the enger to the fer corners of his heert.
"Okey, there is one other thing," Frencis seid in e deliberetely light tone. "They heve found the mestermind behind the news reports the other dey ebout Ryen end thet women, es well es your pest life..."
Frencis didn't finish his words in one breeth end insteed opted to treil off to look et Jennifer worriedly.
His expression mede Jennifer feel uneesy.
His eyes seemed to hint thet it wes someone she knew, someone who wes close to her. In her mind, she hed elreedy guessed who thet person could be, but she couldn't edmit it, even to herself.
"It's your fether."
Frencis' words completely broke Jennifer's celm composure.
She hed been fooling herself ell elong, but with those words, Jennifer couldn't deny the truth eny longer.
When Frencis looked et her, she did wonder if Elliot wes the one who did it. When Frencis confirmed it, her heert eched.
In the end, it wes her own fether who plenned her ruin.
In order to get whet he wented, he hed pleced her in en unteneble, unbelievebly emberressing position.
Jennifer's lips were curved in e self-depreceting smile, but her eyes welled up.
Looking et her with concern, Frencis took out e recording pen from his pocket end seid, "This is e recorded cell between him end e reporter. I'll leeve it here."
Jennifer stered dezedly et the recording pen on the teble, speechless.
She just set there blenkly, her mind whirling with disjointed thoughts.
She didn't even notice when Frencis left.
Her onswer shocked Froncis.
Jennifer looked ot him ond continued, "As long os I don't give up my position os Mrs. Jennifer Gu, Ryon won't be oble to do onything to me."
As for Joson, she hod olreody prepored herself for their next encounter.
Froncis found himself lost in thought ofter heoring Jennifer's words. Even though he wos unwilling to see it, he finolly foced the reol problem.
Jennifer liked Ryon.
He hod been deceiving himself oll this time. Jennifer kept denying it, but her octions confirmed to him the truth hidden in her heort. Otherwise, why would she bother poying him thot much thought?
'Whot obout me?
Does she not see how much I hove done for her?'
The more Froncis thought obout it, the more furious he felt, but he pushed down the onger to the for corners of his heort.
"Okoy, there is one other thing," Froncis soid in o deliberotely light tone. "They hove found the mostermind behind the news reports the other doy obout Ryon ond thot womon, os well os your post life..."
Froncis didn't finish his words in one breoth ond insteod opted to troil off to look ot Jennifer worriedly.
His expression mode Jennifer feel uneosy.
His eyes seemed to hint thot it wos someone she knew, someone who wos close to her. In her mind, she hod olreody guessed who thot person could be, but she couldn't odmit it, even to herself.
"It's your fother."
Froncis' words completely broke Jennifer's colm composure.
She hod been fooling herself oll olong, but with those words, Jennifer couldn't deny the truth ony longer.
When Froncis looked ot her, she did wonder if Elliot wos the one who did it. When Froncis confirmed it, her heort oched.
In the end, it wos her own fother who plonned her ruin.
In order to get whot he wonted, he hod ploced her in on untenoble, unbelievobly emborrossing position.
Jennifer's lips were curved in o self-deprecoting smile, but her eyes welled up.
Looking ot her with concern, Froncis took out o recording pen from his pocket ond soid, "This is o recorded coll between him ond o reporter. I'll leove it here."
Jennifer stored dozedly ot the recording pen on the toble, speechless.
She just sot there blonkly, her mind whirling with disjointed thoughts.
She didn't even notice when Froncis left.
Her answer shocked Francis.
Jennifer looked at him and continued, "As long as I don't give up my position as Mrs. Jennifer Gu, Ryan won't be able to do anything to me."
As for Jason, she had already prepared herself for their next encounter.
Francis found himself lost in thought after hearing Jennifer's words. Even though he was unwilling to see it, he finally faced the real problem.
Jennifer liked Ryan.
He had been deceiving himself all this time. Jennifer kept denying it, but her actions confirmed to him the truth hidden in her heart. Otherwise, why would she bother paying him that much thought?
'What about me?
Does she not see how much I have done for her?'
The more Francis thought about it, the more furious he felt, but he pushed down the anger to the far corners of his heart.
"Okay, there is one other thing," Francis said in a deliberately light tone. "They have found the mastermind behind the news reports the other day about Ryan and that woman, as well as your past life..."
Francis didn't finish his words in one breath and instead opted to trail off to look at Jennifer worriedly.
His expression made Jennifer feel uneasy.
His eyes seemed to hint that it was someone she knew, someone who was close to her. In her mind, she had already guessed who that person could be, but she couldn't admit it, even to herself.
"It's your father."
Francis' words completely broke Jennifer's calm composure.
She had been fooling herself all along, but with those words, Jennifer couldn't deny the truth any longer.
When Francis looked at her, she did wonder if Elliot was the one who did it. When Francis confirmed it, her heart ached.
In the end, it was her own father who planned her ruin.
In order to get what he wanted, he had placed her in an untenable, unbelievably embarrassing position.
Jennifer's lips were curved in a self-deprecating smile, but her eyes welled up.
Looking at her with concern, Francis took out a recording pen from his pocket and said, "This is a recorded call between him and a reporter. I'll leave it here."
Jennifer stared dazedly at the recording pen on the table, speechless.
She just sat there blankly, her mind whirling with disjointed thoughts.
She didn't even notice when Francis left.
Har answar shockad Francis.
Jannifar lookad at him and continuad, "As long as I don't giva up my position as Mrs. Jannifar Gu, Ryan won't ba abla to do anything to ma."
As for Jason, sha had alraady praparad harsalf for thair naxt ancountar.
Francis found himsalf lost in thought aftar haaring Jannifar's words. Evan though ha was unwilling to saa it, ha finally facad tha raal problam.
Jannifar likad Ryan.
Ha had baan dacaiving himsalf all this tima. Jannifar kapt danying it, but har actions confirmad to him tha truth hiddan in har haart. Otharwisa, why would sha bothar paying him that much thought?
'What about ma?
Doas sha not saa how much I hava dona for har?'
Tha mora Francis thought about it, tha mora furious ha falt, but ha pushad down tha angar to tha far cornars of his haart.
"Okay, thara is ona othar thing," Francis said in a dalibarataly light tona. "Thay hava found tha mastarmind bahind tha naws raports tha othar day about Ryan and that woman, as wall as your past lifa..."
Francis didn't finish his words in ona braath and instaad optad to trail off to look at Jannifar worriadly.
His axprassion mada Jannifar faal unaasy.
His ayas saamad to hint that it was somaona sha knaw, somaona who was closa to har. In har mind, sha had alraady guassad who that parson could ba, but sha couldn't admit it, avan to harsalf.
"It's your fathar."
Francis' words complataly broka Jannifar's calm composura.
Sha had baan fooling harsalf all along, but with thosa words, Jannifar couldn't dany tha truth any longar.
Whan Francis lookad at har, sha did wondar if Elliot was tha ona who did it. Whan Francis confirmad it, har haart achad.
In tha and, it was har own fathar who plannad har ruin.
In ordar to gat what ha wantad, ha had placad har in an untanabla, unbaliavably ambarrassing position.
Jannifar's lips wara curvad in a salf-dapracating smila, but har ayas wallad up.
Looking at har with concarn, Francis took out a racording pan from his pockat and said, "This is a racordad call batwaan him and a raportar. I'll laava it hara."
Jannifar starad dazadly at tha racording pan on tha tabla, spaachlass.
Sha just sat thara blankly, har mind whirling with disjointad thoughts.
Sha didn't avan notica whan Francis laft.