Restoring a Life After Seven Years of Wrong Love novel Chapter 8

Yvette picked up her cup and took a slow sip, completely avoiding Jabez's gaze.

Jabez's brooding eyes locked onto Yvette. Seeing that she had absolutely no intention of getting up, he shrugged off his own jacket, changed his shoes, and walked over to a single armchair.

Yvette looked up, noting that he had chosen the seat furthest away from her.

Jabez's gaze swept casually over the coffee table, landing on the unrolled fertility charm still lying there. His deep, pitch-black eyes shot Yvette a mocking glance before his lips parted to offer a critique: "It's cute."

Catching his look, Yvette knew exactly what he was thinking—he was entirely misunderstanding the situation. She wanted to explain, but with Sybil sitting right there, it wasn't exactly a conversation she could have.

And then she heard his comment.

Of course. Love really did make people blind. Jabez, a man who usually frowned in annoyance the second he saw a child acting up, was actually calling babies cute? It was probably because he was about to become a father himself.

At that thought, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly, forcefully burying the irritation bubbling in her chest.

Sybil's eyes practically sparkled as she beamed at Jabez, entirely agreeing. "Right?! If you think it's cute, then hurry up and give Yvette a baby! No one else's kids could ever be as adorable as your own!"

Her motives for pushing them were blindingly obvious. Jabez didn't reply, but he cast a smirk—half-amused, half-cruel—in Yvette's direction.

To Yvette, that look was nothing but pure mockery. He was mocking her for foolishly wanting a child that had no right to exist, for attempting to use a baby to chain him to this dead marriage.

"You two catch up. I'm going to check on the kitchen."

Sybil kept shooting Yvette frantic winks, practically begging her to go sit next to Jabez.

Yvette quickly pulled out her phone, pretending to be deeply engrossed in something important. She didn't look up until she heard Sybil leave the room.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jabez typing away on his phone. A faint, genuine smile played on his lips. He was clearly texting Willow.

Sensing her gaze, he glanced up at her. Then, he deliberately shifted his body away, shielding his screen as if disgusted by the idea of her catching even a glimpse of their sweet romance.

Yvette glanced up toward the second floor. "Okay."

Heading upstairs, she figured there was a ninety percent chance Jabez was in his study. She had barely stopped outside the study door when she heard Jabez's voice drifting faintly from inside. He was on the phone, his tone entirely devoid of its usual frigid edge, replaced by a soft, warm intimacy.

It felt like a wad of wet cotton had been shoved down her throat. She couldn't speak.

Just as she raised her hand to knock, the study door swung open.

Seeing Yvette standing there, a flash of surprise crossed Jabez's eyes, instantly followed by an icy glare. "What are you doing at my study?"

His sheer defensiveness stabbed Yvette like a thousand fine needles slowly being driven into her heart. As his legal wife, she wasn't even allowed to step foot near his study. Yet Willow, a mistress, was given free rein to wander in and out of his corporate office whenever she pleased.

Yvette looked up at the man's handsome face. It was this exact face that had made her fall in love at first sight. Like a moth drawn to a flame, she had thrown herself at him.

Pulling her thoughts back, she said flatly, "Grandma told me to call you down for dinner."