abcnovels
Chapter 388
Chapter 388
Chapter 388
If my memory serves me right, Jennifer Qistrin—Jethro’s cousin—is a little devil. She started playing violin when she was little and got some big accolades overseas, which contributed to her haughty, arrogant attitude. Everyone knows she has a short temper. My men got me that intel, so there shouldn’t be any false information.
Just when Elspeth was wondering how she should deal with Jethro’s cousin, he came to stand beside her. “You’re spacing out. Are you scared of my cousin?”
“No. Why would I?”
“Oh, so that means you’re nervous.” Jethro bent over and noticed the frown on her face. Then, he chuckled. “I see you’ve heard of her attitude problem.”
“Yes, but I need to meet her to see if the rumors are true,” she said, trying to change the subject.
“True. She’s beside the flower bed. Want to go say hi?”
Elspeth shook her head. “No. You say hi to her. I’ll stay out.”
Their conversation attracted the girl beside the flower bed. The moment she saw Jethro, the girl pounced at him, her eyes gleaming. “Jethro!” When she noticed Elspeth, her face fell. “Who is she? Why is she with you?” she asked, jealousy filling her voice. It felt like Elspeth had taken her boyfriend away.
“Hi, I’m Elspeth.”
Elspeth extended her hand, but the girl smacked it away. “Don’t touch me. Who are you?”
“Your cousin doesn’t seem to like me very much. I’ll wait for you somewhere, then.” Elspeth shrugged and moved aside.
Already annoyed in the first place, Jennifer’s attitude lit the flame of anger in Jethro. “What are you doing? She’s our guest, not someone you can show your attitude to.”
“Guest? You’ve never been so nice to any guest before.” Jennifer was infuriated seeing them so close together. He has never been so gentle to anyone before. Not even me.
“That’s because she’s going to be my wife.”
Jennifer’s world shattered as soon as the words came out of his mouth. “You want to marry her?” She clenched her fists in fury, her eyes gleaming with anger. “I won’t agree to this. I won’t let you date her!” What’s so good about her? She’s pretty, yeah, but other than that, she’s not friendly. I bet she’s a witch. Jethro’s mine. Mine alone!
He shot his cousin a look. “You don’t get to dictate whom I marry.”
“I’m your cousin.”
“Yeah, so? What makes you think you can control me?”
Jennifer said in disbelief, “You’d lecture me for an outsider?”
And that erased what patience Jethro had left. “She is not an outsider. She’s going to be my wife.”
“You want to marry her? Fine, let’s see what’s so good about her.” She took a deep breath and approached Elspeth. Then, she grabbed Elspeth’s chin.
Not good. Elspeth took a step back and broke away from Jennifer’s grasp. Then, she slapped the girl. It was a heavy slap, thanks to her training. Jennifer’s cheek swelled up, and she lost her balance and fell.
The searing pain from her cheek alone told Jennifer that her face must have swollen up. Nobody has ever done this to me before! Nobody slaps me! At that moment, something within her snapped, and
she roared, “Look at her! She slapped me. You can’t let her do that!”
Oops, that was a little heavy-handed. Elspeth swung her hand and looked at Jethro. “Do what you want.”
The man frowned, seemingly worried. Elspeth thought he would slap her or teach her a lesson, at the very least. She did hit his cousin, after all. And Elspeth wasn’t even his family. She thought he would at least come to Jennifer’s defense, but instead, he held her hand and looked at it. Then, he blew on her hand, trying to lessen the little swelling on it. “That was a hard slap. Did it hurt?”
Jethro’s ‘misplaced’ concern made Jennifer look like a joke. “Are you mad, Jethro?” He never cared about anyone but me. However, now that she had seen how he treated Elspeth, she realized Jethro’s special treatment for her was just a figment of her imagination. It was nothing but her delusion.
“She’s my girlfriend and the woman I will marry. She’s going to be part of my family one day. If anyone here is the outsider, it’s you.” Jethro smiled calmly. “I tolerate you because you’re my cousin, but if you speak rudely to my lover, I will punish you.”
He was smiling, but what he spoke sent shudders down Jennifer’s spine. What happened to him? What happened to the Jethro I know? He’s scary.
This is not good, Elspeth thought. He might be defending me, but he’s telling everyone I will be dating him. If this gets out, it’d be bad for me. She cleared her throat and said, “Don’t listen to him. We’re just friends.”
Jennifer didn’t believe her words at all. She thought they were already dating, and Jethro didn’t come to her defense because of that. “Shut it, you witch!” The young lady buried her face in her hands, crying. “His ex is coming home, witch! Aldea won’t let this slide. She’ll go after you!”
Elspeth had no idea who this Aldea was, but seeing Jethro tensing up was enough to tell her that this woman was not one to be trifled with. Yet, she didn’t care. Jethro wasn’t Callum, and Aldea wasn’t Emma. She cared for none of them. Elspeth bent over and looked into Jennifer’s eyes. Then, she smiled. “Don’t drag me into your messy relationship, or you’re getting it.”