Mr. Gatson’s Bride Is Back - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: John Liam’s Confession

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Mary Hanks was suddenly jolted back into reality. She pushed Max Gaston away angrily. “Max Gaston!”

“Don’t move,” Max said as he stared at Mary’s lips, which were now tender from being kissed. His Adam’s apple moved sexily as he said in a raspy voice, “I’m only checking out the wound on your stomach.”

Mary stopped trying to push him away when he said that.

Max once again pulled the lower hem of her shirt aside with his slender fingers. He touched the fair skin on Mary’s stomach with his slightly coarse fingertips.

Mary immediately trembled. She had just laid her hand on Max’s chest without any force yet when he tightened his grip around her waist. Her hand was caught between their bodies. She could clearly feel the heartbeat through his chest. Her face became feverish and her mind was in utter chaos.

She heard Max’s raspy voice, which was now tinged with a little pity for her, reverberate around the office. “Jason said that you nearly lost your life when you gave birth to him and that you had a C-section. He said that your wound would act up whenever it is about to rain.”

Mary’s expression wavered. Max’s words had tugged on a specific memory. Her heart was suddenly filled with immense grief. She was not grieving about how she had almost lost her life when giving birth to Jason Hanks. Instead, she was grieving for the baby that she failed to deliver. That was a regret that she could not make up for even if she gave up her life.

Mary suddenly and forcefully pushed Max away just as he hooked his fingers into the band of her dress and was about to look at her belly.

Max’s muscular figure was forced a step back. He looked at Mary’s reddened eyes. His gaze turned a shade darker as he called her, “Mary.”

“Don’t call my name. Don’t touch me,” Mary said. She seemed to have suddenly transformed into a different person. She was breathing hard. The gaze she looked at Max with was foreign and spiteful. She fumed, “Get out. I don’t want to see you right now.”

It didn’t matter that Max had promised to take responsibility. She would not have lost one of her babies if she had not seen him being intimate with Sandra White when she woke up.

She had gone through much suffering and indignance to keep Jason. How was that something she could forget just because of one of Max’s pity-laden sentences?

She had been given daily injections, drugs, and undergone countless tests. She had been bedridden. Despite that, she was constantly afraid. She was afraid that she could not keep Jason and that Jason would not be healthy. The fear and worry she felt during those days were like an invisible hand tightly grasping her heart, refusing to let go. That feeling was something that only a mother would understand.

Back then, she had not only just narrowly escaped death, but she had also just become a legal adult. She could still be considered a child if her parents had been by her side. Yet, at that time, Max was getting involved with Sandra White.

“Mary,” Max called out again. He knitted his brows and looked at Mary with his deep eyes.

“Get out!” Mary shouted, much more agitated than before.

“Fine, I’ll leave,” Max said, his expression a little ugly. “Calm down for now. I’ll get back to work. I’ll wait for you downstairs when you’re done to head back together.”

Max opened the door to see Priscilla Johnson looking worried.

“Go in and accompany Mary,” Max said without emotion. He then surveyed the surroundings but did not find Jason. He left the office building alone.

Priscilla had come over when she heard Mary shout but she could not enter the room as Max had locked the door. She quickly walked toward her and asked with concern, “Mary, are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Mary replied. She looked into Priscilla’s eyes and forced a smile to reassure her.

Priscilla nodded and did not pursue the matter.

The office momentarily fell silent. Priscilla only whispered a question sometime later, “Mary, did you tell Max that his mother and Sandra were the ones who harmed you back then?”

“No,” Mary answered while shaking her head.

“You have to be careful now that they know that you’re back,” Priscilla warned.

“I know,” Mary responded. She suppressed the emotions in her heart. She had accepted Max’s bodyguards and his offer to stay with them to protect herself from those two. She had to guarantee Jason’s safety. As for herself…

A look of determination flashed in Mary’s clear eyes. All she wanted was to seek revenge for herself, her parents, her unborn baby, and the Johnsons. She would not be able to avoid them if she wanted to gather evidence.

—

Mary was exhausted as she had met both Sandra White and Sofia Garcia on the same day. She did not want to face Max again and followed Priscilla to the company dinner even though Priscilla was supposed to go alone.

The dinner was for the leaders of the various departments. Coincidentally, John Liam, whose dinner offer to her had been rejected, was also there. He was sitting at the end of the table. Three middle-aged men were on his left and a young woman was at his right.

Mary and the rest arrived a little later as they had been held up by traffic. John was looking down, going through the messages on his phone. He looked up when he heard some noise. His slender fingers stopped scrolling. His gaze turned from calm, to shock, then to elation. Unable to hide his emotions, he immediately stood up and called, “Mary!”

Mary was a little shocked. She then smiled. It had been five years since they last met. John no longer looked as young and inexperienced as he had. His actions exuded the charm of a mature man. He was the son of the Liams after all. He had an extraordinary disposition.

The people in the room saw that John Liam recognized Mary, and even friendly with each other. Thus, they immediately treated Mary and Priscilla warmly.

Mary and Priscilla settled into their seats after some formalities. John casually looked at the middle-aged man to his left. That man immediately understood his intentions and stood from his seat away with a smile. He offered Mary to take his place.

“Mary, we have not seen each other for a long time. Please sit here,” John said with a refreshing smile. Even his voice had an air of nobility.

Mary smiled and agreed, and took her seat beside John.

The atmosphere of the dinner was great. The department leader from the Network Intelligence Bureau praised their public media accounts for being positive and relevant to the masses, instead of being focused on celebrities. One of the accounts reported the deeds of the country’s unsung heroes, while the other shared heartwarming stories of ordinary people. The leader told them to keep up the good work.

John took the initiative to send Mary back home after dinner. Priscilla coincidentally received a call from Paul and she had to excuse herself. Thus, Priscilla left Mary in John’s care, saying, “Mr. Liam, please send Mary back home safe. Thank you.”

Priscilla ran away before Mary could even protest.

John looked at Mary and beamed when she nodded.

As he drove her home, John asked Mary about her life. He did not drive fast and it was already ten-thirty by the time they reached the Hanks villa.

John unfastened his seatbelt, then got off the car and took out a long box from the boot. He said, “Mary, I bought this gift for Jason. Please pass it to him.”

Mary raised a brow and declined, “John, I’m already very thankful that you sent me back. I can’t accept your gift.”

Mary bade her goodbye and had just turned around when John suddenly grabbed her wrist. He pulled her into his embrace, then gently and emotionally confessed his love, “Mary, I’ve been waiting for you all these years. We were too far apart when you were overseas. Now that you’re back, I hope that you’ll give me a chance to take care of you and Jason..”