Chapter 13: Tina, are you trying to murder your own husband?

Tina's gaze grew slightly stern, her cool eyes fixating on him for a moment before she took a seat across from him. Then she said to the waiter, "Bring us the most expensive dish from every category on the menu."

The waiter was taken aback and kindly reminded her, "Miss, our hotel offers over a hundred dishes, and each is quite expensive. Since there are only two of you, isn't that a bit much?"

Tina lifted her gaze, her red lips curving into a faint smile, her delicate and slender finger pointing at Jared across the table, her voice melodious, "Then let's start with the three signature dishes, and have the rest packed and sent to Pinkwater Ally. He'll pick up the tab."

The waiter looked towards Jared.

Jared, with a smile lurking at the corner of his lips, took out a bank card and handed it to the waiter, "As she says."

With a nod, the waiter left.

Soon, all three dishes were served.

Tina didn't hesitate to start eating.

Jared poured her a drink and then filled his own glass with wine, raising it to say, "Miss Reed, I owe you my thanks for saving me at Serenity Ridge last time."

He didn't mention any repayment.

He could almost guess that once he offered repayment, this girl would surely demand the cancellation of their engagement as her due.

Tina's eyes lifted slightly, narrowing into a smile, "As for repayment, just cancel the engagement."

Jared, "..."

His handsome face almost couldn't maintain composure for a moment!

Could this girl read minds?

"Indeed, a repayment is due," Jared said, taking a sip of his wine, his voice smooth and lingering, "How about I offer myself in marriage instead?"

"Not interested!"

Tina's gaze appraised Jared, whose good looks were quite appealing—shame about the lack of modesty!

"Then..." Jared took out the pendant again, his long fingers caressing it, still maintaining his gentle composure, "What if I exchange this pendant for your agreement to our engagement?"

Tina's expression darkened, a coldness enveloping her exquisite face, "Are you threatening me?"

"It's a repayment!" Jared's smile deepened, "I found a pendant that is very important to you, shouldn't you be grateful?"

Tina felt an urge to beat Jared up.

Had she known he was such a rogue, she should have left him in the mountains of Serenity Ridge to be fed to the dogs!

Tina looked up at him, suddenly smiling, "The pendant isn't that important to me. Since you're reluctant to give it back, just throw it away!"

Jared's smile twitched; this girl... was not so easily fooled.

He placed the pendant in front of Tina, "I have one of these pendants too."

Tina suddenly looked up, her face serious, "Where did you get it?"

She and her mother had each had a pendant, but after her mother's death, while sorting through her belongings, Tina discovered her mother's pendant was missing.

She recalled the information she had someone gather: after her mother's death, Jared had also visited their residence, searching for someone.

Was he searching for a person or an object?

Tina's eyes grew colder, a fierce air about her.

"A keepsake from an old friend!" Jared looked up, his tone no longer light, but heavy, "Miss Reed, I invited you here today to thank you for saving my life that day, and secondly, to ask you to reconsider our engagement."

If the pendant weren't Tina's, he wouldn't insist on not canceling the engagement!

But since he found the pendant, and she was the Miss Reed to whom he was engaged, this marriage—could not be broken off!

Tina lowered her eyes to the pendant on the table, seemingly in thought.

After a while, she put the pendant away, "I will reconsider."

"Good!" Jared smiled warmly, "I'll await your answer."

Tina didn't say more and stood to leave, but Jared suddenly remembered something, "There's another thing, I need your help to save my sister."

Tina's eyes curved into a smile, her mouth holding a mischievous grin, "Mr. Farrell, do you think that just because I saved you, it means I'm inherently kind-hearted?"

Jared's lips parted to speak, but Tina suddenly leaned forward, closing the distance between them to mere inches, a small dagger appearing in her hand, resting against his neck.

Her whisper was seductive, "I could save you, or I could kill you."

Her warm breath on his ear made his body temperature soar.

Jared tensed for a moment, his long fingers touching the sharp dagger, taking it away, "Tina, are you plotting to murder your own husband?"

Tina's cheeks reddenedunexpectedly at his sudden closeness, her eyes flickering away in discomfort.

Jared reached out to encircle her waist from behind, drawing her closer, his voice tempting, "I'm quite capable in many ways; killing me would be a waste, wouldn't it?"

His voice seemed to carry a magical power, especially those eyes, electrifying Tina's heart with a thud.

Ah!

This damnable man!

The suffocating atmosphere!

After a moment, she chided herself for falling into his trap without even realizing it, despite her usual discipline and restraint.

She stood up, putting some distance between them, and slowly put away the dagger, "It would be a shame to ruin such a handsome face."

Jared's smile deepened, "Then, Tina, would you consider helping treat my sister? There's a reward!"

Tina composed herself, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly, "You've got the wrong person. I can't help you. It was someone else who helped you that day."

Jared was taken aback, but before he could speak, Tina added, "Whether or not the engagement is canceled depends on Mr. Farrell's sincerity."

With that, she turned and left.

Tina hailed a cab back to Pinkwater Ally.

Just as she arrived at the entrance of the complex, she saw Hugo and Jennie, both with frantic expressions, blocking the car.

"Hurry, to Kongham Kindergarten..."

Tina's brow furrowed slightly as she got out of the car, "Mr. Reed, what happened?"

Hugo turned abruptly, spotting Tina, and paused, "Tina?"

She nodded, asking, "Where are you rushing off to?"

"Your brother's school called. They said Zackary got into a fight with another child, and someone was hurt. They've asked us to come quickly!"

Jennie's eyes were rimmed with red, "Zackary is well-behaved and timid. How could he suddenly hit someone? I'm so worried."

Hugo turned to Tina and said, "Tina, you go home. We'll go to the school."

Tina's eyes lowered thoughtfully, then after a moment, she pressed her lips together and said, "Let's go together."

At Kongham Kindergarten, in the principal's office.

"Miss Walker, you shouldn't have admitted such a poor, uncultured creature into the school..."

As Tina and the others approached the door, a sharp, harsh voice was heard.

Though Hugo was a bit gentle in disposition, he was fiercely protective of his children.

He could not stand anyone speaking ill of them.

Hearing such words, he rushed in immediately, "Who are you calling uncultured?"