Chapter 7 A Glimmer of Hope

• I could accept his indifference and aloofness. I could even gracefully step aside if he fell in love with someone else.
• But it couldn't be Carol, that vicious woman.
• My hatred for her was not just because she destroyed my family.
• Henry pulled his wrist free, leaned in, and warned sternly, "Jasmine, don't threaten me."
• He turned and walked towards the stairs, and then coldly added, "If you need to go to the hospital, call Ruby and have her take you."
• I pressed on my aching stomach, leaning against the wall as I watched his back, giving a sad smile.
• He rushed to be with Carol whenever she needed him, but when I had a problem, I could only reach out to his secretary.
• I took some stomach medicine I had at home. The pain eased a bit, but I still couldn't sleep all night. It felt like my heart had a huge tear, with the cold wind blowing in.
• What were he and Carol up to?
• A man and a woman alone together all night.
• I couldn't settle down for a single moment throughout the night. My chest felt tight and it was hard to breathe.
• The next morning, my stomach pain came back and I even started throwing up. After calling in sick, I drove to the hospital for a check-up.
• Luckily, it wasn't serious—just acute gastritis. The doctor said a couple of days of medication should fix it.
• "Henry, the doctor says Brian's condition is stable now. You can go to work and not worry. I'll call you with the results when I have them."
• As soon as I picked up my medicine, I heard a soft female voice behind me.
• Even after four years, I instantly recognised it as Carol's. I tightened my grip on the test results, feeling a surge of unease.
• Brian? What's the news?
• Then, I heard Henry's familiar deep voice say, "Okay."
• His voice hit me hard, making me feel like ants were crawling all over me. I didn't have the courage to turn around and look.
• This wasn't how it was supposed to be.
• I was his wife. In this situation, they should be the ones feeling scared, not me.
• "Jass, Jass … It's really you!"
• Just as I was about to leave, Carol suddenly grabbed my arm, looking surprised and acting very friendly.
• I coldly shook her off and said flatly, "Is there something you need?"
• Carol's hand paused in mid-air, and then she hooked her arm around Henry's elbow. She bit her lip and said, "You haven't been home in these four years. We've been quite worried about you. How have you been?"
• How fake.
• It used to be an act for my father, and now it was just for Henry.
• Since marrying Henry four years ago, I had never returned to the Newton villa. Only the Campbells knew about our marriage.
• It seems Carol still doesn't know.
• Watching them side by side, I swallowed my sadness and deliberately said, "I'm doing well. Oh, and I forgot to mention, I'm married now."
• Carol looked shocked. "Married? Who are you married to?"
• I was about to answer when a cold, threatening glare landed on me. The warning was clear without needing words.
• I met Henry's gaze with a hint of sarcasm, feeling a chill in my heart. I could only respond nonchalantly, "What does it matter to you?"
• As I spoke, a wave of nausea rose in my stomach. I lifted my hand to cover it and forced myself to hold it down.
• She smiled awkwardly, noticing my discomfort and glancing at the test results in my hand. She asked in surprise, "Why are you at the hospital? You're not pregnant, are you?"
• I caught Henry's sharp gaze by accident and quickly stuffed the test results into my bag. I forced a smile and said, "I have to go. I'm leaving now."
• Before she could say anything more, I hurried out of the hospital, feeling like I had a target on my back.
• Yes, I did it on purpose—trying to make them think I was pregnant.
• I wanted to know, if I really were pregnant, would Henry accept it? Would he let me keep the baby?
• Even though I had taken the whole day off, I still drove toward the office. Just as I entered the main road, Henry called. "Where are you?"
• I gripped the steering wheel and said, "On my way to the office."
• He was silent for a moment, as if thinking something over. Then his voice came through, cold and clear. "Go home. I'm waiting for you there."
• Before I could say anything, he hung up.
• He was waiting for me to come home? That was a first.
• I took a deep breath, turned around at the traffic light, and headed back. My eyes suddenly filled with tears.
• In the four years of marriage, he either stayed out all night or came home very late.
• I always came back to that empty house alone, feeling incredibly lonely. I often hoped that when I opened the door, he'd be there.
• Even though I knew he was waiting for me at home, I still felt nervous when I opened the door, worried he might not be there.
• When I saw his cool figure sitting on the couch, I finally relaxed.
• I walked over, my hands clenched into fists with nerves, and couldn't help but smile. "You're really waiting for me … "
• This simple, ordinary thing between a husband and wife filled me with so much happiness that I felt like I might burst.
• I even forgot that just last night, he left me to go see Carol.