Chapter 71 Secret Affair

Chapter 71 Secret Affair
He was right, I must have lost my mind to say something so utterly absurd. I was well aware of Jake’s feelings and the complicated relationship he had with Henry. Yet, the words had simply slipped out.

Jake fixed me with a cold yet intense stare while I remained frozen, the memory of the climax I’d experienced just moments ago completely forgotten.

"You're right—I must be crazy. I'm sorry, Jake! I didn't mean to—"

"Why apologize?" Jake silenced me by pressing his lips against my ear. I was even more confused; what exactly was I feeling right now?

"Because I said something stupid."

"It’s okay. Sometimes we say stupid things that we end up regretting," He said.

Jake held me tightly; I could feel his body heat—still high, though not as intense as before. So comfort, that was the thought that crossed my mind as he held me like this. My heart began to wonder: was what I was feeling love? Or was it nothing more than a sense of comfort?

Jake was fast asleep in bed, this time, he didn't look restless or delirious. I hadn't realized that sex would be far more effective for him than medication.

The doorbell rang, and my thoughts immediately went to Henry. I hadn't told him anything about Jake's condition or the fact that Jake had chosen to come to my place instead of seeing him.

Glancing at the CCTV monitor facing the apartment entrance, I saw Henry standing right outside the door. For some reason, I felt uneasy; he visited often, yet this time his arrival made me feel unsettled.

"Henry?" I said right after opening the door, acting as though I hadn't known it was him who had rung the bell.

"Hey, babe?" He greeted me as usual, though his expression was slightly awkward.

"You didn't say you were coming over."

"Do I have to let you know when I'm coming?" His question left me speechless. He simply stepped inside and scanned every corner of the room, as if looking for something.

"If you'd told me beforehand, I would have cooked and—"

"Did Jake come here?" He immediately asked the one thing I least wanted to answer, given that Jake had asked me not to tell Henry about his visit. Yet, lying felt impossible, seeing as Jake was currently asleep in my room, exhausted after we’d had sex twice.

"Yes, Jake came here. He's resting in my room."

"Really? He came to your place and you didn't tell me?" His voice rose, as if I had said something that angered him.

I felt increasingly nervous, I truly didn't know how I was supposed to act in this situation. Henry and Jake had done something that drove me nearly mad when I first heard about it, yet now he was angry that I’d let Jake stay here.

"Jake has a fever, his temperature is really high. He’s resting right now. I actually wanted to tell you about it, but Jake asked me not to."

"Damn it, so it’s true—you two really were having a secret affair behind my back!"

"A secret affair? What do you mean?" I asked. Henry walked over and stood right in front of me, fixing me with an intimidating glare that made my courage crumble.

"We’re a couple, aren't we? So, bringing another man into your house without my knowledge—isn't that cheating?"

"Cheating? How can you call it cheating when you were the one who started all this? You were the one who brought Jake and me closer, and you were the one who forced us to have sex right in front of you, so how can you call this cheating?"

"THAT’S BECAUSE YOU LET HIM IN WITHOUT MY PERMISSION...!" Henry shouted, leaving me in shock, it was the first time he had ever yelled at me like that.

I stood frozen, my heart feeling like it was about to leap out of my chest. I was so terrified that I was left speechless.

"Why are you yelling at her?" Asked Jake, who was now standing in the doorway of my room. He must have woken up when he heard Henry’s voice.

Noticing Jake’s presence, Henry immediately turned toward him with a cold, piercing glare, clearly showing his displeasure at the situation.

"What are you doing here?" Henry asked. Jake appeared quite calm, showing no overreaction. Every now and then, he glanced at me, as if checking to make sure I was okay.

"I feel a bit feverish, and I think the only one who can take care of me if I get sick is Amy!"

"What did you say? Since when have you thought about anyone else caring for you but me? Have you forgotten that I’m the one who always looks after you when you’re sick, Jake? Have you forgotten that?"

"Of course not! I remember everything, Henry. But I feel like I need the warmth and tenderness of a woman—at least during the most vulnerable moments of my life."

"Hahaha...what are you saying? You’re joking about a woman’s tenderness as if I couldn't provide that for you."

I shuddered as I listened to every word they exchanged. Why was I here? Caught between the two of them—two men who seemed to love each other?

"Henry, I want to ask something of you, and this is my final request," Jake said. He began to walk toward me, standing right in front of Henry.

"What do you mean?"

"Amy told me she’s in love with me. So, could you give her to me?"

"Jake?" My voice failed me when I heard him say that—especially seeing the look on Henry’s face, which clearly showed his displeasure at such a shocking request. Yet Jake, he looked completely calm.

"Have you lost your mind? How could you want my woman like that?"

"You don't want her anymore, do you? So just give her to me!"