Be My Man, Mr. Jenkins By Flora Julius
Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Arthur needed to rest after taking the stroll outdoors. He had limited patience. Even when the person that came looking for him was his nephew, Alexander.

Arthur sat haughtily in his wheelchair and nodded, indicating that Alexander should go straight to the point.

Alexander inherited the handsome look of Jenkins. He wore a black suit and a pair of brightly polished shoes that day. It made him look like a gentleman.

Ignoring Arthur’s cold attitude, Alexander began his act.

He slightly lowered his head and said sorrowfully, “Uncle, I’m sorry. Everything was out of my expectation. My subordinate saw me with Miss Stewart on

a few occasions, and he thought Miss Stewart and I had something going on between us. Without acknowledging me, he planned on asking Josie Burton to spoil your engagement with Miss Stewart. What a jerk!”

Just as Adriane expected, Alexander shoved all the responsibility on others once his plan went wrong.

Alexander continued, “I’ve brought that subordinate with me today for you to punish, uncle.”

“There is no need for that,” Without thinking twice, Arthur rejected Alexander’s offer.

Alexander put on a distressed look on his face. Adriane felt like puking when she saw that same old hypocrite look on Alexander’s face.

“Uncle Arthur, please don’t take that maid’s words to heart. With advanced medical skills, you will surely recover soon. Although I am not as good as you,

I will do my best to keep our family as prosperous as always. Just rest assured and take your time to recover.”

Alexander sounded like he was concerned about Arthur, but in fact, he was boasting about what he had taken away from Arthur.

Arthur gazed at Alexander coldly and tapped his slender fingers on the armrest of his wheelchair.

Alexander constantly comforted himself that he was facing a disabled man in a wheelchair, and he needed not to be afraid. Arthur could not threaten him. He would not have come personally and apologized if it were not because his Grandpa Albert told him to do so.

However, a chill ran down Alexander’s spine as Arthur’s cold gaze felt like it was piercing through his soul. The pressure almost suffocated him.

At the moment of tension, a melodious chuckle broke the silence.

Alexander looked at Adriane, who was standing behind Arthur, and asked in a puzzle, “Miss Stewart, why are you chuckling?”

Adriane might be able to suppress her rage in the engagement ceremony, but the flame of fury was burning in her now. It was engulfing her rationality. She wanted to beat up Alexander and tear off his disguise in front of everyone.

She wished she could make Alexander experience the feeling of having his blood sucked out of his body and the pain of losing his eyesight. There was only one thing in this world that she wanted to do most. It was to torture Alexander by making him experience what she had experienced in her previous life.

After taking a deep breath and calming herself, she told herself not to rush into things. She had to calm down and wait for the right moment to pounce like a lioness aiming at her prey.

Arthur was also looking at her. He was as puzzled as Alexander, wanting to know why Adriane chuckled.

The angrier Adriane was, the brighter the smile on her face was. Her beautiful eyes gazed at Alexander as she spoke, “I’m puzzled. Your maid, Josie, abused me. I’m the victim. Why are you apologizing to Mr. Arthur instead of me?”

Alexander was slightly startled, but he regained his composure and smiled as he apologized, “My deepest apology for everything, Miss Stewart.”

Adriane snorted, “Why do we need police and jail if apologizing after committing a crime is enough to compensate the victim and punish the wrongdoers?”

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Chapter 12

Alexander clenched his fist. Adriane would not dare to speak to him like this if she were not engaged to his uncle. She was a mere foster daughter of a moderately wealthy family.

But the issue was so serious that even his grandfather was investigating it. He knew that his grandfather’s spies were watching him from afar. So, Alexander had no choice but to compromise, “I wonder what you would like me to do to make it up to you, Miss Stewart?”

Adriane did not demand anything. Instead, she said, “It depends on your sincerity.”

Alexander could feel the rage overpowering him. He cursed that useless maid, Josie, silently. However, Alexander had no choice but to bear with it. He would have to sacrifice some of his dignity this time.

Arthur had no patience left in him anymore. He did not want the conversation between Alexander and Adriane to go on. So, he waved his hand and said, “You are free to leave.”

Alexander lowered his head and took a step back as he promised, “I’ll personally send my apology gifts after preparing them.”

When Alexander was about to leave, Adriane stopped him, “Wait.”

Alexander was taken aback. He turned back around and puzzlingly looked at Adriane.

Collecting her courage, she placed her hands on Arthur’s shoulder. She could feel the tension on Arthur’s shoulder when her hands were on it. But Adriane felt more confident than before because Arthur said nothing about it, nor did he shove her hands away.

Lifting her head slightly, she looked at Alexander arrogantly and said word for word, “There is just one tiny problem. I’m now engaged to your uncle. So, I’ll appreciate it if you address me as Aunt Adriane the next time you greet me.”

Adriane could see the change in Alexander’s face. Although Arthur was still expressionless as before, Adriane could vaguely see his eyes glowing with delight.

Yael, who was protecting Arthur in a hidden place, covered his mouth tightly. He feared that he might laugh out loud because the look on Alexander’s face was too hilarious.

“Hahaha! Mr. Alexander’s reaction is so funny. He looked like he had just stepped into a pile of cow dung,” thought Yael.

After several seconds of silence, Alexander squeezed out a few words from between his teeth, “Sure, Aunt Adriane.”

Then he paced away as if some ferocious beast was chasing him. Adriane knew that she might have sparked Alexander’s revengeful spirit because she could see that Alexander had begun to hate her.

Seeing Alexander’s defeated appearance, Adriane was in a good mood and grinned.

“Alexander, Juliette, I’ll make sure both of you pay for what you have done to me. So, be prepared!” thought Adriane.

Just as she was immersed in her joy, a monotonous voice shattered her moment, “Are you satisfied?”

Adriane hid her grin and cleared her throat awkwardly. Then she said, “Well, not quite. But it’s enough for now, I guess.”

“Are you planning to keep your hands on my shoulder all day?” That was a warning from Arthur.

Adriane chuckled awkwardly as she took off her hands. Then she dusted Arthur’s shoulder with the tip of her finger cautiously as though she was telling Arthur that she did not smudge his clothes.

Adriane had again and again, showed him various sides of her in just two days. He began to wonder how much more he would need to venture to get to

know all about her.

He withdrew his gaze on her coldly and added, “You have corrected others‘ way of addressing you, but have you forgotten what you had promised?”

“Huh?” Adriane looked at Arthur, confused. After a while, she realized that she used the title Mr. Arthur to address Arthur throughout her conversation with Alexander.

She felt embarrassed addressing Arthur as Artie in front of others. To make up for it, she had to please him. So, she looked around cautiously and made

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Chapter 12

sure there was no one watching them. Only then did she call out softly, “Artie.”

That soft voice of Adriane calling his nickname struck Arthur’s heart, making his heart hammer.

Looking away, he ordered coldly, “Take me upstairs.”

“Oh, okay,” Adriane could not understand her fiance at all. It was weird that he was still angry after she called him Artie.

“What a strange man!” thought Adriane.

Arthur did not let her into his room when they were on the third floor. Yael went in with Arthur and helped Arthur get onto his bed.

Adriane was not upset this time. She went straight back to her room. That evening, Alexander came with his gifts of apology. They were luxurious bags and jewelry of the season.

Adriane was not interested at all, but she kept them in her closet. They were her first trophy of successfully stepping stone of her revenge, after all.

Before dinner, Albert sent someone to take her to his mansion to have dinner with the family. Adriane did not say she would go rashly. Instead, she said that she wanted to ask for Arthur’s permission before going.

However, Arthur was having a nap when Adriane went upstairs to look at him. Yael told her that Arthur had given her the privilege to go anywhere she wanted in Jenkins‘ manor. So, it was up to Adriane whether to join Albert for dinner.

Out of politeness and wanting to replace out the situation of Jenkins currently, Adriane obediently agreed to join Albert during dinner.

When she arrived, she was taken directly to the dining area by one of the maids. Albert had a stern look on his face before Adriane came. When he saw her, he smiled amiably and said, “Adriane, come and sit beside me.”

Everyone at the table looked at her as soon as they heard Albert’s words.

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