The CEO's Hidden Love: Midnight Temptations and Deep Desires novel Chapter 706

"Call your dad, Karen," Jeffrey pleaded, his voice strained with desperation. "Tell him it's all a big misunderstanding, and I'll explain everything, okay?"

What was gnawing at Jeffrey more than anything was the thought of losing the good graces of his future in-laws, whom he had worked so hard to win over. And this wasn't just any setback—it was the kind that you couldn't bounce back from.

But Karen was unyielding.

She just stood there, waiting for her father to come and take her away.

"Karen! For heaven's sake, I'm begging you! Just call your dad and ask him to hold off for a bit! Let's talk this through, and then I'll drive you back myself, alright?"

Instead of responding, Karen turned her face away, refusing to communicate with him at all.

Out of options, Jeffrey reluctantly pulled out his cell phone to call Derek, but he couldn’t bring himself to press the buttons.

He knew Derek wouldn’t listen to him anyway. The more he’d try to explain, the more tangled the web would become.

“Just make the call, okay? Give me a chance to explain,” he implored again.

“It takes my dad at least fifteen, twenty minutes to get here. If you have something to say, say it," she responded without looking at him.

Jeffrey raked his fingers through his hair in frustration, marched back to his car to grab a pack of cigarettes, and returned. "Here's the thing, Karen. Paige's daughter got sick, and she asked me to help out yesterday. That's all it was! Nothing happened between us, I swear. Just wait and I'll show you the surveillance footage if I have to. I didn't lay a finger on her!"

Finally, Karen reacted.

She turned to look at him and snorted with laughter. "Your ex's kid, and you're all concerned? What's the deal, Jeffrey? Is the kid yours or something?"

"Take your calls or don't—it's got nothing to do with me anymore."

"How can you say that? You're my fiancée! Karen, please don't scare me. Be mad, yell, hit me if you have to, but don't throw the word 'break-up' around lightly!"

"Lightly?" Karen scoffed and laughed bitterly. "You think I'm being light about this? How would you feel if I did the same with Levi—stayed out all night and turned off my phone? Would you be understanding then?"

Jeffrey had no answer.

"I'm not saying this because I want to be entangled with you again. I just don't want to hear any more of your excuses! I could tolerate your past flings, but I can't stand you fooling around after you've got me!"

Jeffrey chain-smoked one cigarette after another, still at a loss for what to do next when Derek's car pulled up.