My Precious Family [Jenlisa]

Chapter 175: Building rapport

[FLASHBACK]    

"Did you find it? The rope. Did you find it under the shelf in the wine cellar?"     

Not only surprised, but Bear felt a sudden chill down his spine. Bear kept a tight lip about what he found in the cellar, resorting to observing his boss's wife, as she was the most suspicious of all. Before the incident that night, Jennie had been going back and forth in the wine cellar.    

At first, Bear thought she was just secretly chugging down wines. However, many factors somehow made it hard to believe.    

Why would she need to lock the cellar securely?    

Why was she being so discreet about it?    

And why did she purposely leave it unlocked from the outside when she last visited the cellar?    

Bear could think of believable answers and excuses if that incident didn't happen the same day. However, after Jennie was rushed to the hospital and Andrea was taken into custody, Bear had all the time in the world to put two and two together.    

Andrea had bruises around her wrist, arms, ankles, and even some small wounds on her neck. One could tell she got it from being tied up as the rope marks were very clear. The result of the investigation gave out a clear explanation, but Bear had been in the underground for more than half of his life to know what one could see might just be a small part of a bigger picture.     

And this... her questions right now proved his suspicion.     

"If you did, what did you do about it, Bear?" she followed up, still not looking at him.     

Bear didn't answer immediately, keeping his eyes on her back. For some reason, Jane's back overlapped with Jennie's, making him mentally shake his head at the sudden idea that crossed his mind.     

"I burned it," he answered under his breath, recomposing himself as he convinced himself to see where this would lead. If he ever found out she was a mad person underneath that angelic appearance, Bear would unhesitatingly resign.    

He made a promise to the person he owed his life to, and Bear wouldn't allow a stranger to deter him from fulfilling that promise. Jane's last order... was the only real order he would listen to until he take his last breath. He wouldn't have a face to show her once he joined her in hell where she was reigning if he broke his promise.     

"Good." Jennie planted her hands on the floor, pushing herself up. She marched toward the speaker, picking up a towel and water jug on the way.     

When Jennie turned off the speaker and faced him, all that welcomed him was a smile. "I knew it. No wonder your resume impressed my husband. You're quick to catch on."    

"Madam, I burned the rope because I do not want any other problems in my workplace while I am here. However, it doesn't mean I approve of being an accessory to any of your games." Bear maintained a firm countenance with a benign tone.     

"I am not playing any games, Bear." Jennie chuckled, wiping her neck with the towel. "Though I'm a bit surprised. Shouldn't you be asking me what I did with the rope?"    

Bear didn't answer, as he already got a conclusion that he was hundred percent certain was the truth.     

"Will you answer my question?" he inquired, making her arch a brow. "That night... did you know that maid will be there? Did you plan that incident?"    

Bear kept his eyes fixed on Jennie, trying to detect any answer from the slightest change of her expression. In that case, even if she denied it, he would have enough answers. Much to his dismay, Jennie just smiled, which left him puzzled.    

He couldn't read her.     

Bear held his breath for a second. There was only one person... or rather, he only met three people in his life whom he couldn't read. First was the unpredictable Vicenzo, the second one was the ruthless Elena, and lastly, their daughter, Jane.     

"I did." His wide eyes slowly locked with hers when Jennie answered without a second hesitation. "Everything that happened, from start to finish, even the after-effects. I considered everything while watching you investigate the greenhouse."    

Jennie marched in his direction, stopping two steps from him. "I knew you would come running that night; the very first person who will come and save the damsel in distress." — he was always like that, after all.     

Within the Manoban Mansion grounds, Bear was the only person who was alert enough to hear even the faintest scream. This man doesn't just sleep with one eye open, but he would sleep with two eyes open. That was how he managed to last in the underground.    

"And I also know you will eventually come back to the wine cellar for your peace of mind. That's why I left the rope there, so you can tidy things up for me while I'm in the hospital." She continued with a tinge of confidence in her glinting eyes. "Was my answer satisfactory, Bear?"    

This woman...     

Bear assessed her eyes and her overall expression, and this time, he could tell she was telling the truth.     

"Why?" he blurted out quietly, eyes glinting with wariness as if one wrong answer, and he would leave this instant. "Why are you telling me all of this?"    

"Because I believe we need to build a rapport." The corner of her lips curled up subtly, raising her brows for a second to show a knowing look. "And also, I am scared to death."    

Scared? Her face and eyes said otherwise.    

Again, this way of speaking reminded him of someone he knew very well in the past. Someone who would claim to be terrified but then would go marched into her enemies' den through the front door.     

"I need help," Jennie continued after a moment of silence. "Another reason I told you this is to show you proof of what I can do and to gain credibility in my words. I promise you will not get implicated in this. As long as my family is safe, blood will never spill."    

Bear's lips were drawn into a thin line, staring at her pair of sincere eyes. "One question," he breathed out, telling himself her answer would be a deciding factor for him.    

"Did you allow her to stab you to secure her a spot in prison for attempted murder?" he asked, only for his pupils to dilate upon noticing the growing smirk on her face. "You... stabbed yourself?"