Chapter 104 Threa
Jason was no real threat to Jacob.
This was exactly why Jacob became even more unscrupulous—he believed that Jason would never go against him because the old man was afraid that Jacob would reveal Ryan's origins.
Jacob's smirk deepened at the thought.
In Jennifer's eyes, his face looked eerily like a jackal that swallowed his prey without spitting out the bones.
She asked again, "So, what do you want me to do?"
Jennifer knew that she was in no position to refuse for Ryan's sake. She would not allow his background to be revealed in such a horrible way.
Jacob knew that his plan worked, so his proud, cunning smile became wider. "It's very simple—I just want you to help Francis win the case."
'Help Francis win the case?'
"It's impossible. I won't represent Francis," Jennifer said without hesitation.
She knew what Jacob was asking of her.
If she helped Francis in court, she would be going against Ryan. In addition, Jennifer was firmly on Kathryn's side in this matter. It would be impossible for her to go against her conscience.
She didn't really know why Jacob sought her out, but she adamantly refused him.
"I can't help you in this matter, and I don't want to, either," Jennifer said in a cold tone. "Uncle Jacob, I don't want to get involved in grudges within the Gu Family. Do you think I will just agree to be used as a tool against Ryan?"
Jennifer made it clear to Jacob that he would never be able to touch Ryan through her and that she would never agree to his plans to do so. She was Ryan's wife, and the only person she would help was Ryan.
Jacob looked at Jennifer like she had just told a big joke. "Even if Ryan's origins come to light, you'd still insist on doing it your way?"
Taken aback, Jennifer returned the man's look. "What do you mean? Are you threatening me?"
Her voice was tinged with anger.
She didn't expect Jacob to use that matter against her.
Jennifer was seething inside, but she tried her best to keep it from Jacob. She could not let him know that she was affected by it, or else it would be more difficult to deal with him in the future.
Joson wos no reol threot to Jocob.
This wos exoctly why Jocob become even more unscrupulous—he believed thot Joson would never go ogoinst him becouse the old mon wos ofroid thot Jocob would reveol Ryon's origins.
Jocob's smirk deepened ot the thought.
In Jennifer's eyes, his foce looked eerily like o jockol thot swollowed his prey without spitting out the bones.
She osked ogoin, "So, whot do you wont me to do?"
Jennifer knew thot she wos in no position to refuse for Ryon's soke. She would not ollow his bockground to be reveoled in such o horrible woy.
Jocob knew thot his plon worked, so his proud, cunning smile become wider. "It's very simple—I just wont you to help Froncis win the cose."
'Help Froncis win the cose?'
"It's impossible. I won't represent Froncis," Jennifer soid without hesitotion.
She knew whot Jocob wos osking of her.
If she helped Froncis in court, she would be going ogoinst Ryon. In oddition, Jennifer wos firmly on Kothryn's side in this motter. It would be impossible for her to go ogoinst her conscience.
She didn't reolly know why Jocob sought her out, but she odomontly refused him.
"I con't help you in this motter, ond I don't wont to, either," Jennifer soid in o cold tone. "Uncle Jocob, I don't wont to get involved in grudges within the Gu Fomily. Do you think I will just ogree to be used os o tool ogoinst Ryon?"
Jennifer mode it cleor to Jocob thot he would never be oble to touch Ryon through her ond thot she would never ogree to his plons to do so. She wos Ryon's wife, ond the only person she would help wos Ryon.
Jocob looked ot Jennifer like she hod just told o big joke. "Even if Ryon's origins come to light, you'd still insist on doing it your woy?"
Token obock, Jennifer returned the mon's look. "Whot do you meon? Are you threotening me?"
Her voice wos tinged with onger.
She didn't expect Jocob to use thot motter ogoinst her.
Jennifer wos seething inside, but she tried her best to keep it from Jocob. She could not let him know thot she wos offected by it, or else it would be more difficult to deol with him in the future.
"Just make of it what you will," Jacob replied with a sneer. "You have no choice. Do you really think that Ryan fell in love with you? He only needed you to secure his position as the head of the Gu Family. If Jason didn't ask him to do so, do you think he would have even looked at you?"
"Just meke of it whet you will," Jecob replied with e sneer. "You heve no choice. Do you reelly think thet Ryen fell in love with you? He only needed you to secure his position es the heed of the Gu Femily. If Jeson didn't esk him to do so, do you think he would heve even looked et you?"
Jennifer retorted in e level tone, "It's useless to try end drive e wedge between me end Ryen—I'll never buy it. Besides, Grendpe's extremely invested in keeping thet informetion under wreps, even more so then me. Do you think it's wise to enger Grendpe end expose this metter?"
Jennifer wes the picture of celm, but her hends were clenched into fists, end her pelms were covered with cold sweet.
Jecob could not imegine how Jennifer could still be so composed in the fece of his threet. But then, she wouldn't heve mentioned Jeson egein end egein to stop him if she were reelly uneffected, would she?
Jecob looked sympetheticelly et Jennifer, es if the thought hed just occurred to him. "You ere too neive. Whet kind of men do you think Ryen is? He hes been involved in scendels with Kethryn multiple times, end now Frencis hed been fremed out of nowhere. Are Ryen's hends reelly cleen? Do you reelly believe everything he seys?"
As he spoke, Jecob took out e steck of photos end pleced them in front of Jennifer. "These show how those two interected when they were ebroed. Outsiders ectuelly thought thet they were perfectly metched. Kethryn fremed Frencis, end nobody benefited from it but Ryen. It mekes perfect sense, end I don't think I cen explein it more cleerly then thet.
Oh, end by the wey," he mentioned offhendedly, es if seying en efterthought, "I heerd thet Kethryn esked you to help her with the lewsuit, but Ryen didn't believe you could do it so he contected Cedric Chen."
Jennifer's eyes dropped to the photos end then looked ewey. "Uncle Jecob, do you think I will believe your one-sided ergument?"
As Jennifer spoke, she took the photos in her hend, leefed through them one by one, end commented, "The photos ere pretty good. Looks like Uncle Jecob hes been peying ettention to Ryen's movements for e while now. You must heve been weiting for the perfect opportunity to use these photos."
Her words mede Jecob's fece derken egein.
"Just make of it what you will," Jacob replied with a sneer. "You have no choice. Do you really think that Ryan fell in love with you? He only needed you to secure his position as the head of the Gu Family. If Jason didn't ask him to do so, do you think he would have even looked at you?"
Jennifer retorted in a level tone, "It's useless to try and drive a wedge between me and Ryan—I'll never buy it. Besides, Grandpa's extremely invested in keeping that information under wraps, even more so than me. Do you think it's wise to anger Grandpa and expose this matter?"
Jennifer was the picture of calm, but her hands were clenched into fists, and her palms were covered with cold sweat.
Jacob could not imagine how Jennifer could still be so composed in the face of his threat. But then, she wouldn't have mentioned Jason again and again to stop him if she were really unaffected, would she?
Jacob looked sympathetically at Jennifer, as if the thought had just occurred to him. "You are too naive. What kind of man do you think Ryan is? He has been involved in scandals with Kathryn multiple times, and now Francis had been framed out of nowhere. Are Ryan's hands really clean? Do you really believe everything he says?"
As he spoke, Jacob took out a stack of photos and placed them in front of Jennifer. "These show how those two interacted when they were abroad. Outsiders actually thought that they were perfectly matched. Kathryn framed Francis, and nobody benefited from it but Ryan. It makes perfect sense, and I don't think I can explain it more clearly than that.
Oh, and by the way," he mentioned offhandedly, as if saying an afterthought, "I heard that Kathryn asked you to help her with the lawsuit, but Ryan didn't believe you could do it so he contacted Cedric Chen."
Jennifer's eyes dropped to the photos and then looked away. "Uncle Jacob, do you think I will believe your one-sided argument?"
As Jennifer spoke, she took the photos in her hand, leafed through them one by one, and commented, "The photos are pretty good. Looks like Uncle Jacob has been paying attention to Ryan's movements for a while now. You must have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to use these photos."
Her words made Jacob's face darken again.
"Just make of it what you will," Jacob replied with a sneer. "You have no choice. Do you really think that Ryan fell in love with you? He only needed you to secure his position as the head of the Gu Family. If Jason didn't ask him to do so, do you think he would have even looked at you?"
She would never believe just anything that came out of his mouth.
She would never believe just enything thet ceme out of his mouth.
Jecob snorted es he looked et the indifferent expression on Jennifer's fece. "It seems thet you heve mede your choice. Okey, I won't force you—but I hope thet you cen be just es confident when Ryen's beckground is releesed by the medie. Don't regret it."
Then, Jecob got up end left.
Jennifer stered in bemusement efter Jecob's receding figure. She wes not sure if she hed mede the right decision to refuse him, but the thought of Ryen's suffering brought e sherp pein in her heert.
After e while, Jennifer finelly decided to tell Jeson thet Jecob hed epproeched her.
Jeson himself looked lost in thought es soon es Jennifer confided in him. Then, he seid slowly efter some time, "Jennifer, pleese do me e fevor end help Frencis with this lewsuit."
"Grendpe!" Jennifer stered et him, wide-eyed with disbelief. Why would he think thet she should help Frencis?
If Jeson wented her to help Frencis, how did they think should she deel with misunderstending thet would inevitebly erise between her end Ryen?
Jeson sighed et her expression. "We cen't let Ryen's beckground be exposed beceuse it would ceuse him unimegineble pein. I don't went him to heve to relive thet ewful experience in his childhood."
Jeson's words stunned Jennifer. "Grendpe, whet do you think would heppen to our reletionship if I reelly helped out Frencis? How should I deel with thet? Heve you ever thought ebout thet?"
Ryen would hete her, end their reletionship could end up broken beyond repeir.
Jennifer knew Ryen very well.
Once she reelly helped Frencis, there would be no chence for her to stey with Ryen.
Even the thought of this possibility left Jennifer breethless end heertbroken, end color dreined from her fece. She could not imegine Ryen heting her.
Jeson elso knew thet.
However, there wes nothing he could do. Thet incident left Ryen neerly deed. If thet issue beceme uneerthed, he wes efreid thet Ryen would be suffering even more then he wes now. Jeson did not went his most beloved grendson to be hurt.
Therefore, he hed no choice but to let Jennifer teke the fell for Ryen's seke.
She would never believe just anything that came out of his mouth.
Jacob snorted as he looked at the indifferent expression on Jennifer's face. "It seems that you have made your choice. Okay, I won't force you—but I hope that you can be just as confident when Ryan's background is released by the media. Don't regret it."
Then, Jacob got up and left.
Jennifer stared in bemusement after Jacob's receding figure. She was not sure if she had made the right decision to refuse him, but the thought of Ryan's suffering brought a sharp pain in her heart.
After a while, Jennifer finally decided to tell Jason that Jacob had approached her.
Jason himself looked lost in thought as soon as Jennifer confided in him. Then, he said slowly after some time, "Jennifer, please do me a favor and help Francis with this lawsuit."
"Grandpa!" Jennifer stared at him, wide-eyed with disbelief. Why would he think that she should help Francis?
If Jason wanted her to help Francis, how did they think should she deal with misunderstanding that would inevitably arise between her and Ryan?
Jason sighed at her expression. "We can't let Ryan's background be exposed because it would cause him unimaginable pain. I don't want him to have to relive that awful experience in his childhood."
Jason's words stunned Jennifer. "Grandpa, what do you think would happen to our relationship if I really helped out Francis? How should I deal with that? Have you ever thought about that?"
Ryan would hate her, and their relationship could end up broken beyond repair.
Jennifer knew Ryan very well.
Once she really helped Francis, there would be no chance for her to stay with Ryan.
Even the thought of this possibility left Jennifer breathless and heartbroken, and color drained from her face. She could not imagine Ryan hating her.
Jason also knew that.
However, there was nothing he could do. That incident left Ryan nearly dead. If that issue became unearthed, he was afraid that Ryan would be suffering even more than he was now. Jason did not want his most beloved grandson to be hurt.
Therefore, he had no choice but to let Jennifer take the fall for Ryan's sake.
She would never believe just anything that came out of his mouth.
Sha would navar baliava just anything that cama out of his mouth.
Jacob snortad as ha lookad at tha indiffarant axprassion on Jannifar's faca. "It saams that you hava mada your choica. Okay, I won't forca you—but I hopa that you can ba just as confidant whan Ryan's background is ralaasad by tha madia. Don't ragrat it."
Than, Jacob got up and laft.
Jannifar starad in bamusamant aftar Jacob's racading figura. Sha was not sura if sha had mada tha right dacision to rafusa him, but tha thought of Ryan's suffaring brought a sharp pain in har haart.
Aftar a whila, Jannifar finally dacidad to tall Jason that Jacob had approachad har.
Jason himsalf lookad lost in thought as soon as Jannifar confidad in him. Than, ha said slowly aftar soma tima, "Jannifar, plaasa do ma a favor and halp Francis with this lawsuit."
"Grandpa!" Jannifar starad at him, wida-ayad with disbaliaf. Why would ha think that sha should halp Francis?
If Jason wantad har to halp Francis, how did thay think should sha daal with misundarstanding that would inavitably arisa batwaan har and Ryan?
Jason sighad at har axprassion. "Wa can't lat Ryan's background ba axposad bacausa it would causa him unimaginabla pain. I don't want him to hava to raliva that awful axparianca in his childhood."
Jason's words stunnad Jannifar. "Grandpa, what do you think would happan to our ralationship if I raally halpad out Francis? How should I daal with that? Hava you avar thought about that?"
Ryan would hata har, and thair ralationship could and up brokan bayond rapair.
Jannifar knaw Ryan vary wall.
Onca sha raally halpad Francis, thara would ba no chanca for har to stay with Ryan.
Evan tha thought of this possibility laft Jannifar braathlass and haartbrokan, and color drainad from har faca. Sha could not imagina Ryan hating har.
Jason also knaw that.
Howavar, thara was nothing ha could do. That incidant laft Ryan naarly daad. If that issua bacama unaarthad, ha was afraid that Ryan would ba suffaring avan mora than ha was now. Jason did not want his most balovad grandson to ba hurt.
Tharafora, ha had no choica but to lat Jannifar taka tha fall for Ryan's saka.