Love Until Death Do Us Part novel Chapter 7

Newman laid it out for her with an ironclad tone, "I'm not gonna marry you, no way the head honcho of the Bradshaw family would marry into the Dempsey family!"

Last night, Newman just saw her as some fresh-faced model called up for service by Zoey, not even sparing Athena a glance afterward.

Now that he knew she was Ms. Dempsey, thinking that last night's quick fling meant he was gotta put a ring on it, she was dreaming!

Athena's lips curled into a mocking smile when she heard his words. With her hands clasped behind her back, she lifted her radiant face before Newman.

"Newman, don't flatter yourself. A lousy lay like you doesn't have the chops to step foot in the Dempsey family’s house! I wouldn't marry into the Bradshaw family if you were the last family on earth! Do me a favor and take Zoey and get the hell out of Stardale City, will ya?"

Newman's voice turned icy gradually as he negotiated with her patiently, "My son needs the hot springs at Mystic Ridge to heal, Ms. Dempsey. Name your price, anything within my power, I'll do my best to meet all your demands!"

Athena's eyes sparkled with even more brilliance at his words, "The Dempsey family isn't hurting for cash. No matter how much dough you throw at us, Newman, we won't lend you the Mystic Ridge Spring!"

Newman's breath hitched, a frosty layer clouding his handsome face as he lowered his voice, switching tactics, "I hear, Ms. Dempsey, you have a son too."

Athena's heart skipped a beat and she grilled him, "What are you getting at?!"

Her out-of-wedlock son wasn't a secret in Stardale City. And her child was this man's.

Newman's voice was chilling to the core, with a hint of ruthlessness, "If you kick us out of Mystic Ridge Villa and anything happens to my son, Ms. Dempsey, you better weigh the cost you'll pay!"

His words hit her like a punch to the gut! Through clenched teeth, Athena spit out her words, "Are you suggesting you'd kidnap my son to blackmail me?!"

The man's eyes were cold as ice, "I've never been much for conscience! If my son is harmed, the whole Dempsey family will pay!"

The man, usually so suave, let his nasty true colors show in that moment! He warned Athena, "To keep my son alive, to use the Mystic Ridge hot springs, even if I've slept with you, I still can marry Zoey off to become the Dempsey family’s in-law! Ms. Dempsey, I was giving you a chance to name your price and you rejected it. If you don't take it, you'll be left with the short end of the stick!"

Newman wasn't just some thuggish bandit; he was an absolute tyrant! Athena knew Newman was a man of his word!

Five years back, right after Cornelia passed, this guy sent her packing when she was eight months pregnant, setting her up for a car crash, leaving her to give birth in the freezing cold. For his own kid, he wouldn't hesitate to harm hers!

The absurd look in Athena's eyes vanished in a flash, replaced by mockery and sarcasm. She played along, lips curving into a smile, eyes demurely lowered, "Alright, I'll set a condition for you and your son to recuperate at Mystic Ridge Villa."

Memories of her hard life at the Bradshaw family flashed through Athena's mind. Newman treated her like a servant, made her do the menial work, and let other servants boss her around, heaping their chores on her.

She couldn't cook and got burned by hot oil and boiling water over and over. The calluses on her fingers from those burns hadn't faded in five years. Her left ring finger, once smashed by a hammer, healed crooked because she didn't get medical attention.

Five years later, Newman never recognized from these details that she was the once silly girl - he never cared when she was hurt, sick, or in pain!

She wanted Newman to experience everything she endured at the Bradshaws! Athena's smile brightened as she laid out her terms, "Newman, I'm short a jack-of-all-trades nanny. Nowadays, finding a good nanny is harder than hiring a department manager! While your son's staying at Mystic Ridge Villa, you'll be my nanny, bodyguard, and driver, dealing with all my trivial tasks! Newman, my terms aren't too much, are they?"

Newman's forehead twitched, "Be your nanny?"