Chapter 517

Jane's fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Her fingernails dug deep into her palms.

A sense of humiliation she had never known before washed over her like ice water.

She jerked her head up, her gaze locking onto Mrs. White.

Then she slowly turned to Nathan, her hands signing, "Do you think the same?"

The sign was simple. Nathan understood.

He shook his head frantically. "No! I don't! Jane, don't misunderstand!"

Jane's tense shoulders relaxed slightly.

But Mrs. White suddenly let out a cold laugh. "Nathan, are you sure you don't think that way? If I help her, I'll really be letting her go!"

Nathan froze.

His eyes instinctively drifted to Jane, a thick wave of reluctance surging in their depths.

Mrs. White continued to fan the flames. "Miss Evans is still young. She won't be marrying for at least five years. In those five years, you can keep her by your side. I'll ask you one last time. Are you sure you don't want her? This is your own choice to give up. Don't blame me later for not giving you the chance!"

Nathan's throat tightened.

His burning gaze fell on Jane's face, a flicker of greed flashing deep in his eyes.

He wanted her.

He truly liked Jane. He liked her enough to defy his mother for her. But his mother had threatened suicide, forcing him to compromise.

If he could have the best of both worlds...

The thought made Nathan's heart pound.

He wavered for just a moment before forcing himself to calm down.

But Mrs. White's voice wormed its way into his ears like a curse. "Nathan, you've sacrificed so much for her. Are you really willing to just let her go? If she truly loves you, is that piece of paper really so important?"

Nathan murmured, "It's not important..."

Mrs. White smiled. "Right, it's not important. So why hesitate? Be a good boy. Let her be your mistress. Then you won't be so miserable..."

Nathan suddenly grabbed Jane's hand. "Jane..."

His voice trembled. "Can we try? If you love me, make this sacrifice for me, okay? That Miss Evans might not even work out. If it doesn't in the end, we can be together forever..."

Jane stared at him in shock.

She looked at Nathan with disbelief.

If before, when Nathan chose his mother over her, she would have only felt regret.

She knew Nathan had flaws. He was too obedient to his mother, like a child who never grew up.

But she was willing to accept that.

Yet she never imagined that when his mother proposed such an outrageous suggestion, Nathan would actually agree?

This was no longer about status or position.

This meant that in Nathan's heart, she was never worthy of being his wife!

To Nathan, she was just a toy he had longed for since childhood but couldn't have. Once obtained, she was no longer precious.

Jane lived a simple life, but that simplicity had kept her clear-headed.

She stared at Nathan, slowly pulling her hand back.

But Nathan held on tighter. "Jane, if you're with me, I won't treat you badly! I'll even let you have a child later... I just can't give you the title. Can you compromise for me?"

Jane yanked her hand back with force and slapped Nathan hard across the face.

Her lips trembled.

His words made her feel more humiliated than all of Mrs. White's insults from yesterday!

She wanted to speak, but no sound came out. She could only glare at Nathan fiercely, pulling out paper and a pen to write quickly, "You're a jerk!"

"I am a jerk."

Nathan, having been hit, just stood there dazed for a moment before stepping forward to grab her arm again. "But Jane, I really can't lose you! I know this wrongs you, but I can give you money! Give you the best life. Just agree, and we can be together. Please agree with my mom!"

Jane struggled desperately but couldn't break free.

Her eyes gradually reddened.

She had come today intending to tell Nathan she was the Evans family's young lady.

Now she felt like the biggest joke.

She could understand Nathan choosing his mother.

But she could never understand him doing something so despicable!

She shook her head, refusing firmly.

Mrs. White immediately flared up in anger. "You don't have the right to refuse! You've offended the Evans family now. Only I can put in a good word for you! If you refuse, believe me, the Evans family will make you and your brother disappear from New York forever?!"

Jane snapped her head toward Mrs. White.

The timid, pitiful expression from yesterday was gone from her face.

Her eyes now held a cold hatred.

That hatred made Mrs. White pause for a second before she started cursing. "What are you glaring at? Who gave you the nerve to look at me like that?!"

She turned to Nathan. "Son, do you see? This is her true face! You were willing to die for her, and what about her? She won't even be your mistress! She's just after our family's power and influence! She's afraid that after being a mistress for a few years, she'll end up with nothing!"

Nathan looked at Jane. "I can give you money!"

Slap!

Jane slapped Nathan across the face again, even harder.

She glared at him furiously.

All the past tenderness and affection now turned into poison, piercing her heart, making it hard to breathe.

She gasped for air.

Nathan, having been hit again, didn't dare hit back. He just stared blankly at Jane...

But Mrs. White couldn't take it anymore.

The first slap had pained her. Now another one...

She shoved Nathan aside, her finger almost jabbing into Jane's face. "Who said you could hit my son? You little bitch!"

Before the words finished, Mrs. White raised her hand.

Slap! Slap!

Two hard slashes landed on Jane's face as she raged, "Letting you be my son's mistress is already doing you a favor! Otherwise, you're not even fit to shine his shoes!"

She pointed toward the Evans family mansion. "See that? That's a real wealthy family! My son is going to marry Miss Evans! With your shabby, poor appearance, why don't you take a piss and look at yourself in it? Where do you get the face to refuse my son?!"

Jane covered her face, glaring at her venomously.

Then she looked at Nathan.

Nathan frowned, his voice low. "Jane, don't be foolish. Only by being with me will you and your brother be safe. If you don't, my mother won't plead for you."

The last flicker of hope in Jane's eyes was completely extinguished.

He was actually threatening her.

Jane let out a bitter laugh, steadied herself, and took out her paper and pen to write, "I don't need her help!"

Mrs. White sneered. "Oh, still putting on a brave front? Don't need my help? Then rot on the streets of New York! You won't even know how you die one day! You little bitch!"

Jane trembled with rage.

She glared at them, wanting to say something...

Just then, a stern shout came. "What are you doing?!"

Everyone turned sharply.

Mrs. Evans was striding over!