Dead at Heart (Ariel and Jayson) novel Chapter 787

"Why are you here?" Wade set down the bag in his hand and turned to look at her.

Janice felt an indescribable awkwardness, mixed with emotions she didn't even dare to think about.

"I brought you your jacket." She waved the jacket in her hand, almost as if to prove she hadn't been eavesdropping.

Bradley rubbed his nose. For some reason, as an outsider, he felt a twinge of awkward guilt.

He didn't know Janice well since Wade never talked about her. But it wouldn't have been good if she had overheard that conversation just now.

"I'll leave you two to talk." Bradley smiled at Janice warmly.

But Janice couldn't help thinking that since he was closer to Alicia, he would probably side more with her.

"Thank you." She nodded.

Bradley stepped aside and helpfully closed the door behind him.

Janice finally entered and handed Wade the jacket. "Have you settled in?"

She actually wanted Wade to give some kind of explanation about his call with Alicia earlier.

He could just tell her he was joking, that she shouldn't take it to heart, or that she was his fiancee.

In fact, she felt a little pathetic. She was easy to pacify.

Wade took the jacket and carried it toward the bathroom to toss it in the washing machine.

"Almost," he said.

His nature was cold and stern, and he rarely wasted words. Explanation wasn't something he would do.

Janice felt a pang of disappointment.

She looked up at him in surprise. It was as if she were a stranger stepping into a territory he fiercely guarded.

Wade rubbed the emerald charm with his thumb, a hint of softness flickering in his eyes. Realizing something belatedly, he put the phone away and looked at her. "I'll probably have a meeting soon. I won't be able to have dinner with you."

It was clear he was subtly sending her off. She wasn't a fool. She could tell just how important that emerald charm was to him. He valued it deeply.

Her thoughts drifted to the good luck charm she had hung in his car, now "discarded" in some forgotten corner. Compared to the care he gave the emerald charm, hers seemed completely unvalued.

Janice felt her throat tighten. She looked at him stiffly. "Oh, okay."

Wade noticed Janice's mood. Even when she asked about his call with Alicia, he could guess what she meant. But he really didn't think it was worth mentioning, and there was no need to make a fuss. Why waste energy explaining something so trivial?

Janice lowered her head and turned. Perhaps lost in thought, her arm bumped into the corner of a table, which wasn't well made and was painfully sharp.

A sharp pain shot through her. She looked down to see a fine cut forming.