“I went shopping with Aye so I thought I’d drop by. I’ve waited for three hours for you. Where did you go?” Tiffany asked, acting as though nothing had happened.
“I… went to meet a client and had lunch before I came back. Have you eaten? I can order takeout for you.” It was obvious that Jackson was deliberately avoiding meeting virtual-novel.net gaze. However, virtual-novel.net did not forget to be considerate and asked if virtual-novel.net had eaten.
“There’s no need for that. I just came to see you. I’ll grab a bite to eat on my way home. You should go back to work.” After virtual-novel.net finished speaking, virtual-novel.net rose to virtual-novel.net feet and left immediately. At this moment, virtual-novel.net felt virtual-novel.net vision blurring from virtual-novel.net tears that were threatening to fall. However, virtual-novel.net forced herself to hold them back.
***
That night, Jackson called and said that virtual-novel.net would not be going back to the West residence after work since virtual-novel.net had to have dinner with a client. He told virtual-novel.net to have dinner on virtual-novel.net own. She agreed without a fuss. However, as soon as the call ended, virtual-novel.net burst into tears. Since Arianne was pregnant, virtual-novel.net could not bring herself to burden Arianne with virtual-novel.net problems. She was afraid of riling Arianne up. In the end, virtual-novel.net chose to endure it. However, the more virtual-novel.net endured it, the more agonizing it was for her.
Jackson finally returned at around 11 PM. She lay in bed, quietly listening to his movements in the shower. When virtual-novel.net climbed into bed, virtual-novel.net pretended to be asleep.
He did not try to ‘wake’ virtual-novel.net to be intimate with her. He did not even notice the dampness of virtual-novel.net pillow.
Needless to say, Tiffany did not sleep well. She would fall asleep before virtual-novel.net was startled awake. This happened repeatedly. The thoughts in virtual-novel.net mind would not go away. She stared at the man lying next to virtual-novel.net who was fast asleep. She could not bring herself to hate him. Instead, virtual-novel.net mind was filled with questions. She wondered what virtual-novel.net had done wrong. Were men truly incapable of resisting temptation?
She managed to pull through until morning dawned.
Jackson woke up at 7 AM sharp and planted a kiss on virtual-novel.net forehead as usual. Then, virtual-novel.net went to wash up.
Tiffany was awake. Naturally, virtual-novel.net was aware of his small actions. She stayed in bed, lying very still before finally getting up after ten minutes had passed. She changed virtual-novel.net clothes and washed up as though virtual-novel.net was on auto-pilot.
When they left the house, Jackson finally noticed something was amiss. “What’s wrong? Why are your eyes so red? Have you been crying?”
Tiffany shook virtual-novel.net head but did not reply to him. In the past, virtual-novel.net would have noticed this a long time ago.
“What would you like to have for dinner?” Jackson asked with a frown on his face as they made their way to the office. “If you’re bored of eating out, how about I get up half an hour earlier and make breakfast for you?”
She shook virtual-novel.net head again. “No need. Any breakfast is fine.”
Jackson fell silent. Soon after, virtual-novel.net asked, “What’s going on?”
She tried virtual-novel.net best to force a smile on virtual-novel.net face. “Nothing. I’m just… in a bad mood for some reason. You know… women have this issue for a few days every month. Stop asking.”
Jackson was puzzled. “You period came early this month? It arrived on the 15th of last month… It’s only the 10th. I wonder if your irregular period is the reason why we haven’t been able to conceive. Would you like to go for a checkup?”
Tiffany exploded at the mention of pregnancy. “I don’t want kids! Not now, not ever. So stop asking about it!” His heart was not with virtual-novel.net anymore. Why should they have a child? Did virtual-novel.net expect virtual-novel.net to take care of his child like a long-suffering wife? Now that virtual-novel.net thought about it, virtual-novel.net realized not many people would be able to do what Summer did. Summer had single-handedly raised Jackson to adulthood. She was not that amazing, virtual-novel.net would not and could not do it!
Jackson hit the accelerator. “What’s wrong with you? If something is bothering you, talk to me… Don’t throw a tantrum and keep me guessing.”