Chapter 115 Taking Advantage of Her


    Chapter 115 Taking Advantage of Her


    Jericho had received an eight-year prison sentence for the charge of intentional injury, all in an attempt


    to protect Mia.


    Throughout her college years, she made numerous visits to the prison, yearning to see him, but the


    warden consistently met her with icy indifference. "He doesn''t want to see you," they''d say.


    Thest visit urred after her college graduation when she secured a job offer. She wanted to share


    this momentous news with him.


    Anxiously standing outside the visitation room, she heard the resounding nk of the iron gate and saw


    him disheveled and sitting on the other side of the transparent partition.


    Mia''s tears flowed uncontrobly.


    "Don''t cry." Those were both Jericho''s first andst words to her. "It''s not worth shedding tears for


    someone like me."


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    Following this brief statement, he locked eyes with her onest time and rose to walk back behind the


    unforgiving iron gate.


    She pounded on the transparent partition with all her might, but the warden firmly held her back.


    Shortly thereafter, a message was conveyed from within.


    With a solemn expression, the warden ryed Jericho''s message that Mia should cease her visits, and


    if she persisted, he would feign ignorance of her existence.


    A deafening buzz filled her ears, and her thoughts fell into a disorienting void.


    After her departure, his health took a severe turn in prison, and he teetered on the brink of losing his


    life. In his fevered state, her warm words andughter intermingled with the stern visage of the gang''s


    leader in his thoughts.


    "Jericho, you vowed to protect me for a lifetime, and promises are meant to be upheld!"


    "Jericho, if you seed in trafficking our goods, I''ll grant you a thirty percentmission!"


    "Jericho, I want to attend a university in Emberfall. If you''re not inclined to pursue higher education,


    how about working there? That way, we can be together forever!"


    "Heh, I remember you have a girlfriend. Jericho, I''ll find someone else if you don''t want to take this job.


    But I can''t let my mates down, so we can only let them have their fun with your girlfriend!"


    Jericho''s brow furrowed, with heavy beads of sweat coursing down his forehead.


    "I won''t let anyone hurt her... I won''t allow it!"


    He had made a solemn vow to safeguard Mia for life, and his integrity was unwavering. He could not


    renege on thatmitment, yet he understood that the foremost condition was to stay alive.


    An intentional injury might lead to a sentence of up to ten to eight years. However, when it came to


    getting caught trafficking drugs, especially with the volume of that shipment, there was only one


    inevitable oue: a death sentence.


    Jericho was well aware that her stepbrother had provoked the ire of the gang leader, and he had used


    this as an opportunity to render her stepbrother permanently incapacitated.


    This action ensured that the gang leader would no longer pose a threat to her, as Jericho had faithfully


    served him and gotten into prison.


    Exchanging his own eight years for Mia''s safety, he regarded it as a worthwhile sacrifice.


    "Heh, I want to stay alive..." he mumbled with a faint smile. "to protect her."


    "I want to protect her for a lifetime."


    ...


    In the kitchen, Aiden put the finishing touches on a pot of soup.


    Noah ascended from the lower floor with a couple of cold beers, spotting Aiden lost in thought. He


    longed to provide Aidenfort but grappled with the right words.


    Approaching, he handed Aiden a can of beer.


    Their eyes met, and they exchanged a knowing smile before settling on the living room couch. A pause


    hung in the air before Aiden broke it. His smile tinged with bitterness, and he asked in a subdued tone,


    "Did you... already know about the man who came looking for trouble?"


    Noah hesitated briefly before quietly responding, "It''s all in the past. There''s no need to dwell on it."


    "I also want to regard this as the past." Aiden sighed softly. "But it''s clear that Mia still can''t get over


    it..."


    Noah''s brow creased with concern.


    He knew Aiden well, and Aiden was not one to dwell on Mia''s past. Aiden embraced her history and


    focused on building a shared future with her.


    Nheless, when one heart had not fully moved on, it could cast a shadow over the other.


    "That man had deep ties in the criminal underworld." Noah paused briefly before adding in a serious


    tone, "He''s like a rat that can''t survive in the light."


    Aiden looked at him.


    "And you''re a doctor." Noah continued, "You can openly hold Mia''s hand and walk under the sun. You


    can offer her a stable life. Just for that, you''re already a step ahead."


    "Is that true?" Aiden managed to muster a smile. "Yes, I''m a doctor, but I can''t mend her."


    Noah contemted patting Aiden''s shoulder, but his hand hovered in the air for a while before he


    withdrew it.


    ...


    As the couple returned home in the evening, Ste snuggled in Noah''s arms, and they leisurely


    reclined on the expansive bed.


    As the night deepened, she found herself unable to fall asleep. The starry constetions twirled outside


    the window, and their shimmering light gently cast a glow in the softly illuminated room. Ste blinked,


    seemingly captivated by the evening''s tranquil beauty.


    Concerned she might be feeling warm, he fanned her with a small hand fan. His gaze shifted to her


    delicate and captivating profile, a warmth swelling within his chest.


    Shenguidly shifted in his arms, turning to face him with a sweet smile.


    Noah''s throat tightened, and a subtle heat surged within him.


    Observing a glistening bead of sweat forming on the tip of his nose, Ste remembered their infrequent


    use of the air conditioner to economize on electricity costs, which made her suddenly self-conscious.


    "Darling, if you''re feeling too warm, feel free to switch on the air conditioner. It won''t make much of a


    dent."


    "Mhm... There''s no need." He licked his lips.


    The warmth he was experiencing and the warmth she referred to were distinctly separate sensations.


    Noah inhaled deeply, his gaze locked on her lovely neck and slightly parted cherry lips. He smiled and


    reached beneath her clothes with his huge hand. He was determined to find release in his longing.


    At that instant, he caught a soft sigh escaping from the petite woman.


    "What''s the matter?" He promptly ceased his actions.


    Ste seemed lost in thought, her gaze fixed on something distant.


    She did not even notice Noah''s hand on her chest.


    Therefore, he cheekily took advantage of the situation and let his hand continue to rest there.


    "Honey, why the sigh?" he asked.


    I was just thinking about Mia and Jericho," Ste replied.


    "Oh..." Noah''s mouth twitched. "Their rtionship is beyond repair. Why are you pondering them?"


    At a time like this, why are you thinking about them? Think about me!


    He moistened his lips repeatedly.


    "I just have this feeling that it won''t conclude this way." Ste''s wide, luminous eyes fixed on him. "Mia


    told me their story. Can I tell it to you?"


    Noah was momentarily silent.


    "Darling, you''re not interested in hearing it?"


    He gazed at her. Observing her earnest desire to share, he could not bring himself to let her down.


    And so, for Noah, who had been the focal point of attention for over two decades, it was an unfamiliar


    experience toprehend the true meaning of "forcing a smile."


    He rather awkwardly stretched the corners of his lips and managed to say, "I''d like to hear it."


    Ste beamed with joy, snuggling against him as she began recounting the tale. Even though he had


    been acquainted with these details for quite some time, he nodded in agreement now and then, smiled


    in understanding, furrowed his brows thoughtfully, and interjectedments to demonstrate his


    genuine engagement.


    He aimed to convey to her that he was wholeheartedly listening and sincerely empathizing with her.


    After what felt like a considerable period, Ste concluded her narrative, her wide eyes gleaming like


    stars.


    "Darling, what''s your take on it?"


    "Hmm?" Noah was momentarily lost in thought, attempting to recall the details of her story.


    He cleared his throat and hesitated for a moment.


    In truth, after discovering that Jericho had ended up in prison for defending Mia, Noah had gained a


    measure of respect for the man.


    Noah surmised that Jericho had repeatedly provoked him in an attempt to safeguard Mia due to the


    misconception that he was the actual Liam.


    While Noah held the belief that a man who shouldered such responsibilities had a certain


    "I believe... Jericho isn''t as heartless as he seems." His eyes took on a somber hue. "Otherwise, he


    wouldn''t have gone to such great lengths for Mia."


    "Is that how you see it?" Ste bit her lip. "But I hate how he treated you! Are you now taking his side?


    What exactly is the history between you two, anyway?"