Chapter 328 What Is It That You Really Want
Jarrod’s brows knitted together as he mulled over the situation. Damir’s tactics were ruthless. This unexpected marriage had left Jarrod with little
choice.
So much for the rumors about Damir spoiling his sister. They were nothing
but lies.
Finally, Jarrod lifted his gaze and locked eyes with Devyn. His voice was as cold as ice. “Mr. Payne certainly has a way with strategy. In that case, I
have one demand.”
Devyn’s smile didn’t waver, but something in her eyes shifted. A quiet confidence settled there. “Mr. Doyle, I’m listening.”
“I want to meet Miss Payne first.”
As if she had expected that response, Devyn remained unfazed.
“Naturally.” She checked the time and added, “Miss Payne is already on the plane. She’ll be landing in half an hour. If you leave now, you’ll get there just in time to pick her up.”
Jarrod’s expression darkened. Damir had planned everything down to the last second, even predicting how he would react. Sylvia’s schedule had been locked in without any room to maneuver.
Damir wasn’t just an opponent. He was a strategist.
Without another word, Jarrod grabbed his jacket and strode out of the office. Bryce followed closely behind.
As the car sped toward the airport, memories of Sylvia crowded Jarrod’s
thoughts.
The laughter. The betrayal. The way she once looked at him.
The city blurred past the windows, but his mind was elsewhere.
Thirty minutes later, the car glided into the airport parking lot. Jarrod wasted no time, stepping out and heading straight for the terminal. His eyes scanned the exit, heart tightening with anticipation.
At last, he spotted her. Sylvia stood among the crowd, dragging her suitcase behind her. Fatigue clung to her, but she was unmistakably the
same.
She lifted her gaze and met his eyes. For a brief moment, she froze. A storm of emotions flickered across her face surprise, guilt, but above all,
resignation.
Jarrod closed the distance between them, but before he could say a word,
she spoke first. “I never thought you’d want to see me again.”
He studied her, his emotions tangled and unreadable. His voice was steady,
but firm. “Let’s get in the car.”
Without another glance, he turned and walked away.
Sylvia bit down on her lip. Her eyes burned, but she swallowed whatever words she wanted to say and followed.
Jarrod slid into the driver’s seat. Sylvia hesitated before getting into the passenger side. The moment she shut the door, he hit the lock and stepped on the gas.
“I already booked a hotel,” she murmured.
Jarrod didn’t respond. His grip on the wheel tightened, and the speedometer climbed.
Sylvia turned to the window. The road outside was painfully familiar. He was taking her home.
Her chest tightened as realization sank in.
“Jarrod, I…”
“Sylvia.” His voice was ice. “The moment you betrayed me, I swore that if you ever showed up in front of me again, I wouldn’t let you leave.”
Her breath caught. He wasn’t bluffing. She knew him well enough to know that. She turned to look at him. Despite the hard set of his jaw, the anger in his eyes didn’t scare her.
“Alright,” she said.
Jarrod went rigid, questioning whether he had heard her correctly. But then Sylvia’s voice came again, light with amusement. “Jarrod, if you’re going to keep me locked away, you’d better make sure no one else can steal me.”
His grip on the wheel tightened before he slammed on the brakes. A second later, he once again pressed the accelerator hard.
The car jerked violently. Sylvia was thrown forward, but then sent crashing back against her seat as the momentum shifted. Her fingers dug into the armrest, her pulse hammering. But fear never came. Instead, her gaze carried something steady determination, maybe even something softer.
Jarrod stole a glance at her. The fire inside him flared at the way she looked at him, but just as quickly, it faded. Conflicting emotions twisted in his chest, leaving him unsettled. “Sylvia, what is it you really want?!”
