Chapter 123 You Don’t Seem to Get Jealous Anymore
Being asked such a question in public, I was momentarily at a loss. Kimberly wasn’t wrong; it was indeed her birthday celebration. She had every right to curate the guest list.
Before I could muster a response, Jerry glanced nonchalantly at Kimberly and smoothly interjected, “I practically had to beg her, plead, actually, before she agreed to accompany me. And now you want to shoo her away?”
With just a few words, he deftly defused my embarrassment. Kimberly pouted, clearly displeased. “Since when did you two get so close?”
Jerry’s eves namowed. “Do I need to report to you?”
Kimberly persisted, “Didn’t you know Christopher would be here? Did you invite her to embarrass me…?”
“Enough!”
The middle–aged lady, Skylar Green, smiled softly, her tone both tender and reproachful. “You two have been bickering since childhood; haven’t you had enough?”
She then turned to Kimberly, with gentle admonition. “And you, my dear, already planning a future with Christopher, yet still behaving so childishly?”
At that moment, my gaze inadvertently locked with Christopher’s dark eyes. I had anticipated feeling a pang of sadness or another intense emotion, but surprisingly, I didn’t. I reacted with calm resignation instead, finally understanding the situation.
So, this was why Christopher and Kimberly appeared together.
Kimberly clung to her mother’s arm and whined affectionately, “Mother!”
It dawned on me that the middle–aged couple were.Kimberly’s parents.
Skylar discreetly assessed me before turning to Jerry. “And this young lady is…?”
“Hope Royston, my friend. Didn’t you and Uncle Harris keep urging me to get married? Here’s someone for you to consider,” Jerry replied with nonchalance, as if he could marry me at the drop of a hat.
Christophers gaze sharpened, fixing on me with a sudden intensity.
Larry Harris chuckled, pointing at Jerry in mock exasperation. “You rascal, dragging an innocent girl into your schemes to placate me and your aunt, huh?”
Skylar echoed his sentiments with gentle reproach. “Jerry, weren’t you waiting for Bella’s return? It’s been so many years. If you wait any longer, your parents will be hounding us. Maybe it’s time to move on.”
Jerry laughed, a sound with an almost enigmatic depth. “Move on? Can a living person just vanish without a trace? If she’s alive, I want to see her; if she’s dead, I want to see her body.”
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Chapter 123 You Don’t Seem to Get Jealous Anymore
It seemed Cecil had told me the truth.
Beside me, Kimberly’s expression turned unusually dark upon hearing Jerry’s words, but she quickly returned to normal when meeting others eyes.
Skylar sighed, her eyes glistening with tears. “Why persist? We are about to give up…”
A tug of sorrow pinched my heart. It was as if I was feeling the Harris family’s agony for their missing daughter, whom I had never even met.
Larry draped a comforting arm around Skylar’s shoulder. “Alright, no more tears. Today is Kimberly’s birthday.”
Jerry, however, remained nonchalant. “Uncle Larry, do you remember, today is also Bella’s birthday.”
Larry and Skylar both stiffened, and Skylar hurriedly lowered her head to wipe her tears while Kimberly looked as if she had suffered a great grievance.
I was somewhat surprised that Jerry would, at such a moment, stand up for his absent fiancée and touch a sore spot. But it was Jerry’s style. Reckless and unrestrained.
Larry helplessly scolded, “Jerry! Do you have to make your aunt and sister unhappy?”
“They have you to care for them. I just want to know if Bella would be happy if she were here,” Jerry retorted, his voice edged with defiance, his gaze then shifting to me. “What are you standing there for? Let’s go.”
Jerry, with his tall stature and long legs, took large strides, his pace swift and purposeful. Struggling with the hem of my gown, I struggled to keep up.
Just as we were about to exit the hotel, a force grabbed my wrist from behind. “Hope Royston!”
I turned to see Christopher, whose face was cold and stern. Calming my emotions, I asked indifferently, “What’s the
matter?”
“Mr. Valence, is there something you need?” Jerry also turned back, raising an eyebrow slightly.
Christopher’s eyes were filled with a dark intensity. “Matters between husband and wife. Does Mr. Hammer wish to
interfere?”
Jerry chuckled, “Not interested. I just wanted to remind Mr. Valence that bigamy is illegal.”
Ignoring Jerry, Christopher tightened his grip on my wrist and pulled me away without a word. Jerry frowned slightly.
“I’ll wait for you in the car.”
Hearing this seemed to ignite something in Christopher; his grip tightened even further, and his strides grew longer
and faster.
He dragged me to a secluded area, pushing me against the wall. His deep, cold eyes were filled with inexplicable anger. “Are you very familiar with Jerry Hammer?
It felt like an interrogation.
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Chapter 123 You Don’t Seem to Get Jealous Anymore
My shoulder blades throbbed from the impact against the wall, and I retorted angrily, “What does that have to do with you?”
Christopher’s voice was edged with tension, each word seemingly torn from his lips. “It has nothing to do with me? You can remain indifferent, but I can’t!‘
A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “What are you trying to say?”
“Hope Royston… “Christopher’s voice suddenly softened, his forehead resting against mine. The depth and magnetism in his voice were now tinged with a touch of melancholy, “You don’t seem to get jealous anymore.”
There was disappointment in his tone, a profound loneliness.
a bit
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