Chapter 152 Can't Do Anything About Him (Part 1)
Just a few steps from the staircase, she heard Jack's breathless voice.
She immediately caught his familiar scent.
She didn't dare look back. She quickly ran to her room, swiped her key card, and slipped inside, just in time to shut the door on Jack.
Then came the knocking. "Alison, open up."
She pretended not to hear, not wanting Jack to ruin her mood.
"Alison, come on, open the door," Jack called from outside. If this were his place, he might have just barged in.
After just two knocks, the door of the room next to hers opened, and a disgruntled voice complained, "What's going on? It's the middle of the night!"
"Honey, call the police. There's a crazy person out here."
Jack sat down in front of Alison's door, his stubble seeming to grow longer by the second, making him look particularly dejected.
He couldn't give up so easily. He had finally found her after driving all day to get here. If he backed down now, he wouldn't be Jack.
He nodded to the angry couple, smiling apologetically. "I'm sorry."
"Don't let it happen again." The couple didn't call the police or the front desk, but they slammed their door as a warning.
Was he really going to sit here and wait for Alison to open the door?
That would be a waste of time.
He quickly calculated in his mind, trying to come up with a plan.
Inside the room, Alison had already stripped off her clothes and stepped into the bathroom. That little run had made her break out in a sweat. She carefully washed herself with warm water, changed into a fresh set of pajamas, and came out.
But after that scene, she was wide awake, with no trace of sleepiness.
Listening to the gentle snores of her two kids on the bed, she felt not just envy, but a bit of jealousy.
Being able to sleep soundly was such a blessing.
She walked barefoot to the balcony, hoping the night air would help calm her chaotic thoughts.
Reclining on the long bamboo chair, she felt a coolness that made the night even more beautiful.
The Christmas lights on the trees were still twinkling, like little stars winking at her.
The snow had stopped, but the ground was still covered in a pristine white blanket.
She gazed quietly, her mood gradually settling.
She decided not to think about him, not to think about anything, just to enjoy the peace.
There were no more shouts or knocks from outside the door. He must have given up.
Thankfully, the kids were sleeping soundly and hadn't been woken up, or she would have had to soothe them.
He was such a troublemaker, annoying and infuriating. She hated him, that rotten Jack.
She twisted the hem of her shirt, counting the stars in the sky as time quietly slipped away.
However, in the darkness, a shadow was quietly climbing over the balcony railing next door.
Six floors up, he told himself it wouldn't be too bad if he fell. He moved nimbly.
When he landed silently, he found her standing just a couple of steps away.
The night gently bathed her in its light as she gazed into the darkness, lost in thought.
But he knew she was still mad at him.
Thinking about the past four years, how she had raised Sophia and Ethan on her own, filled him with a mix of emotions.
He approached her quietly. She was so focused on the night that she didn't notice him.
He could smell her faint fragrance, the scent of her shampoo lingering in the air, her short hair slightly damp.
He imagined her with long, flowing hair, standing silently behind her, not moving as she didn't move.
The night grew deeper, dreamlike.
The Christmas lights had gone out at some point, having fulfilled their purpose.
A heavy sigh broke the long silence. She sat up from the chair, resting her chin on her hand, continuing to stare into the night.
That sigh cut through him like a knife. He had no idea how much sorrow she was hiding.
Instinctively, he moved closer, gently wrapping his arms around her waist, whispering in her ear, "Alison, I'm sorry."
His voice was soft, as if it came from a distant place.
She looked up at the stars, thinking she must be dreaming. In a place like this, on a night like this, who wouldn't be enchanted? She must have misheard.
She didn't respond, which made him anxious; but she didn't resist, which gave him a bit of relief. He leaned down, his lips brushing her hair, inhaling the faint scent, closing his eyes, his mind filled with her image. "Alison, I'm sorry."
The voice and the gentle touch on her hair finally made her react.
"Ah..." she gasped softly, trying to turn around, but he held her tightly, not letting her go.
"Alison, I'm sorry." He said it a third time, each time louder, each time more sincere.
"How... how did you get in?" she asked in surprise.
He smiled, glancing towards the balcony next door. He pretended to be mysterious. "I can walk through walls."
She was still a bit angry, but his words made her laugh. "Nonsense. If you can walk through walls, so can I."
"If you could walk through walls, I'd turn them into solid steel. I'd have to keep an eye on you, or you'd disappear in the blink of an eye." He had learned his lesson. That night, he had been caught up with Aimée and her mother. By the time he got free and went after Alison, she was gone. Then the company called with an urgent matter. By the time he finished and went to her place, she and the kids were nowhere to be found. He asked the housekeeper and Laura, but they didn't know either.
He searched everywhere, finally getting a lead at the ticket counter. Their twin kids were too eye-catching. Wherever they went, they drew attention. Just mentioning the four-year-old boy and girl, everyone knew. That's how he tracked them down here. Those two kids were his lucky stars.
"I don't want to see you. Go away." She laughed, then realized he had affected her mood again. She told herself not to laugh, not to soften. She couldn't forgive him.