It was unclear what Jason Forrester said, but he managed to calm down the reporters outside.
However, the rumors and gossip online showed no signs of stopping.
Forrester Group's stock continued to fall as many people rushed to sell off their shares, afraid of being stuck with them.
Jason Forrester sat on the plush leather sofa, puffing on a cigarette, his expression unreadable.
Megan Kane tiptoed cautiously, afraid of disturbing the man before her.
"Where are you going?"
Jason Forrester's eyelids lifted slightly as he looked at Megan Kane standing before him.
He had heard her footsteps long before she arrived.
"Just going out for some fresh air."
"I've been cooped up in the house for too long lately. It's getting stuffy."
Megan Kane didn't know if the matter had been resolved, but she lied through her teeth.
'Her affairs abroad had all reached a critical stage.'
'It was time to prepare for the escape, but she couldn't let the man in front of her find out.'
A smile tugged at the corner of Jason Forrester's lips. Without another word, he slapped a white bill from his pocket onto the table.
"If you want to leave, you can pay this off first."
"Once you've paid it all back, we'll talk."
"It's for all your family's expenses from a while ago. You can take a look."
Jason Forrester stubbed out his cigarette and waited for Megan Kane to speak.
'He wanted to see just how this woman planned to pay off such a massive bill.'
"I never said I was leaving. I'm just going out for some air. Besides, you made it clear before—if we moved in, you'd cover all the expenses. You can't go back on your word."
"Otherwise, I'll just move out. It just so happens I don't want to live here anymore anyway."
Megan Kane pouted. She really couldn't understand how Jason Forrester could be so fickle, his words carrying no weight.
"Are you sure you want to move out? I'll give you a chance to rephrase that. Think carefully before you answer."
Jason Forrester tugged at the tie on his chest, narrowing his eyes as he sized up Megan Kane.
Megan Kane forced a placid smile onto her face. "I was just kidding. Sit down and rest. Oh, and you've had a lot going on lately, you must be exhausted, right?"
"How about I go make you some chicken soup?"
'She had already decided: if force wouldn't work, she'd use cunning. Worst case, she'd just put some sleeping pills in the chicken soup.'
'A small dose wouldn't kill him. It wouldn't be a big deal.'
"I already found the sleeping pills you hid in the cabinet. Are you going to put them in right here in front of me, or are you going to sneak off to the kitchen to do it?"
Jason Forrester tossed the bottle of sleeping pills he was holding toward Megan Kane, waiting to see what else she could possibly say.
"Why do you always misunderstand me? I've had insomnia lately, that's why I bought sleeping pills."
"Is this how a married couple should act? Spouses should be considerate and trusting. Look at you, you're suspicious of my every move. How is our relationship supposed to work out like this?"
"I think you're just paranoid by nature."
Despite what she was saying, Megan Kane's hands still moved to snatch the bottle of sleeping pills back.
'She figured it didn't matter if she'd been exposed or not; she would just be stubborn and deny it to the bitter end.'
"Then there's the list I found in your locked drawer."
Jason Forrester's face was a triumphant smirk as he slowly pulled another list from his pocket.
Megan Kane's eyelid twitched violently. That list detailed all of her foreign assets.
It seemed there was truly nothing left to say between them.
"Ahem. Aren't my parents getting old? They're preparing to retire abroad. This is all under their names. I fully support them."
"There's no point in them staying here anyway, don't you think?"
"We shouldn't meddle in our elders' affairs."
Megan Kane chuckled weakly, but it did nothing to hide the fury brewing on Jason Forrester's face.
Jason Forrester stood up. He truly couldn't understand where this woman got the audacity to treat him like a fool.
Rowan Monroe had been hiding around the corner, watching the two face off. But she lost her footing and tumbled out, interrupting their conversation.
Megan Kane's gaze shifted to her, wondering how she had appeared here.
"Um, you two carry on. I was just cleaning and accidentally tripped. I'll get back to cleaning now. Don't mind me."
Rowan Monroe was purely there for the drama, but she never expected to actually fall. It was completely unexpected.
But before she could get up, two more people suddenly stumbled out, pushing her right in front of Jason Forrester again.
Mrs. Kane shot a reproachful look at the old man who had suddenly appeared behind her, nearly scaring her into a heart attack.
Everyone wore an awkward expression, but no one could break the silence.
A cool, detached smile hung on Jason Forrester's face. He didn't know what to make of it all.
"Is your family full of comedians?"
"You're just like a sitcom family."
He shook his head. It wasn't that he was letting this go, but right now, he needed to hurry and deal with company matters.
He had just taken a step out when Megan Kane tried to follow, only to be stopped by the butler.
The butler wore a smile, but his words were chilling enough to make one shiver in the dead of winter.
"The master has given his instructions. You are not to take a single step outside for the time being. Please rest well at home. Besides, things are chaotic for the Forrester family right now, and we wouldn't want you to be in any danger."
The butler's every word was pleasant, but Megan Kane wasn't listening at all. She was still fuming about why she wasn't allowed to leave.
But whether she understood it or not, the fact remained: she couldn't leave. It's not like she could just force her way out.
She heaved a heavy sigh and sank back onto the sofa.
Rowan Monroe, her face a mask of embarrassment, slowly walked over and sat down beside her best friend.
"Don't be so down. Even if you can't go out, I can! I can bring things back for you. Is there anything you want to eat? I'll get it for you."
It would have been better if Rowan Monroe had said nothing. Her words were like twisting a knife in a wound.
Megan Kane's cheeks twitched into a forced smile. 'What kind of thing is that to say? Is she mocking me for being unable to leave?'
Mr. and Mrs. Kane went back to their room, not wanting to deal with Megan Kane. They were furious because the assets they had worked so hard to accumulate abroad had all been confiscated.
The escape plan they had all worked so hard to put together was now in shambles, and no one could leave.
'They shouldn't have agreed to take Megan Kane with them in the first place.'
'Otherwise, it wouldn't have come to this—their assets confiscated and unable to even leave the house.'
It was pouring rain outside. Rowan Monroe tried, but she couldn't get out either.
Now, no one could leave. Everyone looked miserable.
But Megan Kane felt a sense of satisfaction. At least now the treatment was equal for all.
'Her biggest fear had been that everyone else could leave while she was the only one trapped.'