Chapter 18
Noelle jolted. Any of the projects Yarrow Group and Hartman Group collaborated on were worth billions of dollars and could affect the global economy, yet Hector was willing to give up Yarrow Group’s portion of the profits?
She backed away, putting distance between herself and Christian. He was Hartman Group’s CEO–there was no way he would turn down the deal, even if it was just for the company’s sake.
However, all he did was laugh coldly. “Yarrow Group’s profits? You make me laugh, Hector. Firstly, my care and concern for Noelle and Ian are genuine. I like Noelle–no, I love her and want to marry her. I also adore Ian, and I want to treat him well for the rest of my life.”
He held Noelle’s hand and interlaced their fingers. “Yarrow Group means nothing to me. Haven’t you seen how your share price has plummeted? Would anyone want to work with someone who’s of poor character and is blind to the truth?”
Hector staggered backward. Jealousy and hysteria filled his eyes when he saw Christian and Noelle’s clasped hands. “So what? I’m the one Noelle loves, and lan is my flesh and blood! Who do you think you are? We’re the ones who make a proper family!”
Ian had ducked behind Noelle at some point and grabbed her hand. At Hector’s words, he suddenly shouted, “You’re not my daddy! I don’t like you! You don’t love me or Mommy!”
Hector stared at him and Noelle in disbelief. Then, he put on an ingratiating smile. “Ian, I’m sorry. I’ll buy you limited–edition toys and build you an amusement park. I’ll send you to the best kindergarten and schools! When you’re old enough, I’ll leave Yarrow Group in your hands. I’ll make it up to you, okay?”
He sounded almost pleading as he asked, “Will you forgive me, Ian? Can you beg Mommy to come back to me, please?”
lan merely looked at him and said crisply, “No, I won’t! I no longer have a father!”
He looked up at Christian. “I want Mr. Hartman to be my daddy. He loves me and Mommy.”
Christian smiled at him and picked him up, pressing their foreheads together. “Since you said so, I’ll—”
“I won’t let that happen!” Hector’s expression turned manic. “Noelle and Ian have to come home with me! I’ll die before your eyes if you two don’t agree!
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He whipped out a dagger from nowhere and pressed it to his neck. “Are you coming with me or not, Noelle?”
Ian was so frightened that he burst into tears. Meanwhile, Noelle’s blood ran cold. “Have you lost your mind, Hector?”
“I have!” He stared at her and held out his free hand. “I won’t let you leave me! I want you to continue loving me, and I’ll love you too! Give me this chance, and everything will be fine. If you don’t, I’ll kill myself with Ian watching!”
Christian pressed lan’s face to his chest and shielded him. The latter trembled while crying.
Noelle felt like she was going crazy. She bit her lip so hard that she drew blood. Then, she took a deep breath and said, “I’ll go with you, but on two conditions.”
Hector’s eyes lit up. “I agree, no matter what they are!”
Christian looked at her worriedly. “Noelle…”
“Take care of lan before I get back, okay?” she asked.
He nodded. “Alright, I’ll make sure lan is safe, so don’t worry.”
Noelle nodded and turned back to Hector after receiving Christian’s reassurance. “My two conditions are as such–firstly, I’m the only one who will go with you. lan is staying here.”
Hector nodded. “That’s fine. As long as you come with me, I can let lan go.”
She said coldly, “I’ll give you this chance, but you only have a week. You’re not allowed to show up before lan and me after that. You can’t harass us anymore!”
Hector dropped the dagger and held her hand, smiling indulgently. “I’ll do whatever you say,
Noelle couldn’t help finding the situation ridiculous when she saw him smile. Once upon a time, she’d only dared to secretly look up to him and love him. But now, she no longer wanted to give him her love despite his begging for it.
Hector pulled her close and said tenderly, “Trust me, Noelle. I’ll make it up to you.”
