The Ruthless CEO's Revenge Wife
Chapter 49: THE BACKSTABBING DEAL

Chapter 49: THE BACKSTABBING DEAL

"I want to reintroduce the deal. But on your terms," Mr. Kim said.

"Publicly, we’ll announce a new partnership between Kim Chong Yu & Company and Devine Beauty. Privately, we’ll bury every ounce of Junho’s betrayal. No damage to your name. No more schemes."

Junho finally spoke, his voice low. "I’m sorry, Jean. I never thought things would go that far."

Emma scoffed. "You’re only sorry because you got caught."

Mr. Kim ignored the jab. "You walk out of this with your reputation stronger than ever, Ms. Adams. I will protect my company’s name. And Junho..." he turned, giving his son a cold glance, "will no longer be involved in anything to do with your business or Kingsley Corp. Ever."

Jean was quiet for a moment. Her eyes flicked to Emma, then back to Mr. Kim. The offer was tempting... too tempting.

She didn’t speak yet. She didn’t trust herself to say the right thing without first figuring out why her chest felt heavy at the mention of Logan’s name.

Jean’s jaw tightened. "I’m not agreeing to anything yet. I want the proposal in writing. Clear clauses. No loopholes."

Mr. Kim gave a slow nod, a hint of respect in his eyes. "You’ll have it within the hour. You have my word."

Jean leaned forward. "And what about Logan? Are you offering him a deal too?"

Mr. Kim didn’t falter. "Yes. There’s a deal for him as well, but I came to you first."

Emma stepped in, her tone sharp. "Of course you did. Trying to play both sides, are we?"

Junho fidgeted behind his father, clearly wishing he could disappear.

Emma turned to them fully, hands on her hips. "Are you done? Because we are. Now get lost before I call security."

Mr. Kim didn’t push it. He simply nodded again, turned on his heel, and walked out. Junho gave Jean a final, sheepish glance... then followed his father like a scolded child.

The room fell silent.

Jean didn’t say a word until the door shut behind them.

"I don’t trust him," Emma muttered.

Jean exhaled slowly, her eyes still on the door. "Neither do I. That’s why we make the deal work for us... not the other way around."

______________________________

Logan had just gotten back from his final evaluation when the last two people he wanted to see showed up.

Junho.

And right behind him, Mr. Kim... calm, poised, like he wasn’t dragging a walking scandal through the hospital doors.

Logan’s blood boiled.

"You’ve got to be kidding me," he muttered, stepping forward before security could. "This is a hospital, not a circus."

Junho flinched like he’d been slapped. Mr. Kim, however, raised a placating hand. "Logan, I’m not here to fight."

"Then leave. Now," Logan growled, chest rising with restrained fury. "Because if you think you can walk in here after what your son did..."

"I know exactly what he did." Mr. Kim’s voice was quiet but firm. "And I’m not here to justify it. I’m here to offer you a deal."

Logan’s glare didn’t ease. "A deal? Are you offering hush money now? That’s your solution?"

"I’m offering a resolution. One that protects your name... and the company you’ve built," Mr. Kim said. "You can reject it. But I came to you respectfully, just as I did with Ms. Adams."

That stopped Logan cold.

"She already heard your pitch?"

Mr. Kim nodded once. "I approached her first. She deserved that."

A muscle ticked in Logan’s jaw.

He turned his attention to Junho, eyes sharp as daggers. "You’re lucky we’re not stranded anymore. If this were the island... I would’ve buried you in the sand."

Junho paled, lowering his eyes.

"I’ll consider it," Logan snapped, "but don’t mistake that for forgiveness."

Without waiting for a response, Logan turned and stormed off down the hall, pulse still hammering in his ears.

They really have no shame, he thought. And now, more than ever, he wanted to know what kind of deal Jean was offered... and whether she’d taken it.

Logan didn’t bother knocking.

He pushed the door open with the same force burning through his veins. His chest was heaving, jaw tight, and the second he saw Jean sitting upright in her hospital bed, it only fueled his fury.

Emma jumped up from her seat beside Jean, startled. "Mr. Kingsley...!"

But Jean, oddly calm, met his eyes without surprise. "So," she said evenly, "he finished talking to you?"

Logan narrowed his gaze. "You knew?"

Jean nodded slightly. "He said he’d go to you next."

Emma stepped forward, defensive. "Jean, I really think he should come another time. You’re not..."

"It’s okay," Jean said, cutting her off gently but firmly. "Let him speak. Can you wait outside, please?"

Emma hesitated, clearly not wanting to leave her alone with him, but finally gave a tight nod and stepped out, throwing Logan a sharp glare on her way out.

The door clicked shut.

Silence hung between them for a moment.

Then Logan took a step forward. "So that’s it? You listened to his offer and didn’t think to warn me?"

Jean looked at him, expression unreadable. "You would’ve done the same."

"That’s not the point!" Logan snapped. "You’re acting like this is just business as usual, but in case you forgot... we almost died, Jean. Because of them. Because of Junho."

Her jaw clenched. "You think I don’t know that? You think I don’t wake up every day furious about it?"

"Then how the hell can you sit there, calm as ever, like he didn’t try to ruin us both?"

"I’m not calm," she said, voice rising now. "I’m being smart. You can punch walls and throw tantrums, but that won’t fix anything."

Logan’s hands curled into fists at his sides. "You’re planning to accept it, aren’t you?"

Jean looked away. "I haven’t decided yet."

"That’s a lie."

Her eyes flashed. "And what if it is, Logan? What if I do accept? This deal could fix the damage he caused."

Logan stared at her, heart pounding. "At what cost, Jean? Your integrity? Or mine?"

She swallowed, her eyes shifting to the floor for a second. "You don’t get to talk about integrity. Not after what you did back then."

Logan’s voice dropped, cold and low. "Don’t you ever get tired of being the ice queen?" He came closer to her bed, searching for her eyes to find if she’s telling the truth.

"Some people never change, you started this with backstabbing and now you are ending this with another backstab... but don’t worry, there will be a day when you will value me too. You will pay for this Adams."

Jean finally looked at him again... eyes sharp, full of heat and heartbreak.

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out anymore, he was tired of this shit show already. So instead, he turned toward the door. Paused.

"If you accept that deal... don’t expect me to stand beside you."

Then he walked out, not looking back.

Logan stormed out of the room, his hand dragging roughly through his hair as he exhaled sharply, trying to steady his fury. The hallway felt too quiet, too sterile for the storm raging inside him.

"Damn it," he muttered under his breath, jaw clenched as he paced a few steps away, cursing low.

That’s when Emma, who had been standing quietly just a few feet from the door, approached him. Her expression was softer now, no longer full of resistance or suspicion.

"Thank you," she said.

Logan turned slightly, still fuming. "What?"

Emma folded her arms loosely. "I said thank you." She met his eyes steadily. "If it was any other person... they wouldn’t have jumped into the ocean without a second thought. But you did. You saved her."

He blinked, momentarily taken aback by the sincerity in her voice.

"About time someone said that," he muttered, his voice low, gruff.

Emma gave him a small, almost reluctant smile. "Doesn’t mean I like you."

A dry chuckle escaped him, one that lacked humor but somehow made the tension ease just a little. "Wouldn’t expect anything else."

She nodded toward the door. "She’s just scared, you know. Everything’s catching up to her."

Logan’s expression tightened. "Yeah, well... me too."

And with that, he walked down the corridor but then...

Logan had barely taken a few steps before something itched at the back of his mind. He turned on his heel, his voice cutting through the quiet corridor.

"Is it only you for her?" he asked Emma sharply. "Where are her parents?"

Emma, caught off guard, hesitated. Her lips parted but no words came out at first. Logan narrowed his eyes.

"Where is her family?" he asked again, more pointedly this time.

Emma swallowed. Then, in a rush of defensiveness and instinct, she said, "I am her family. I’m actually her cousin. Her parents... they knew I’d always be there for Jean. So they... they can rest assured because I’m here."

Logan stared at her, unmoved. "So they just leave everything on you?"

Emma looked away, lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t offer any more explanation.

He tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing... not in anger now, but in quiet contemplation.

So they just disappear when she needs them the most?

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