Chapter 9 Prepare for Divorce
Sloane's POV
Thinking about this, a wave of regret and bitterness welled up inside me. I could only push down my emotions and give her a grateful smile.
I stayed with the old lady and chatted for a while longer. Only after making sure she had really fallen asleep peacefully did I tiptoe out of the room.
When I returned to the master bedroom, Jared was standing by the window, his back straight, showing signs of irritation.
Hearing the door open, he immediately turned around, his eyes fixed on me.
I knew he was just worried about whether I'd said something I shouldn't have.
"What did Grandma say to you?" he asked.
I closed the door, walked over to the sofa and sat down, glancing at him coolly. "What? Afraid I complained to Grandma about you?"
Jared's expression stiffened. He walked over and sat down on the single sofa across from me, his brow showing fatigue. "Sloane, I know what happened tonight upset you, but Keira, she..."
"Enough." I didn't want to hear his explanations anymore and cut him off directly. "I don't want to hear that name again."
I looked at him and calmly repeated what had been said. "Grandma just told me not to be afraid, said she'd back me up, and also said... she's waiting to hold her great-grandchild."
Great-grandchild, how ironic.
I was indeed pregnant, but Jared had no idea.
My last sentence made Jared's expression freeze instantly.
Emotions I couldn't understand churned in his deep eyes, as if something had stung him.
After a long while, he finally spoke hoarsely, "I'm sorry."
This was his second apology to me tonight.
But those three words sounded weightless and meaningless to me.
"I don't need your apology." I stood up, not wanting to share the same room with him anymore. "I'm going to take a shower."
When I came out of the bathroom, Jared was already lying in bed. He seemed to have washed up too and changed into a robe. Only a dim bedside lamp was on in the room, making the atmosphere quiet and somewhat oppressive.
I lifted the covers and lay down on the other side of the bed, keeping as much distance from him as possible.
Just as I was about to fall asleep, Jared's phone on the nightstand started vibrating.
In the darkness, I could feel him pick up his phone, the lit screen illuminating his tense jawline.
He glanced at it and hung up without hesitation.
But after just a few seconds, the phone rang persistently again.
Jared's brow furrowed tightly. He finally threw back the covers, got out of bed, and walked out of the bedroom with his phone.
He gently closed the door behind him. I opened my eyes, staring at the ceiling, completely clear about what was happening.
In the end, he still couldn't let it go and went to comfort his Keira, who had supposedly suffered such a terrible injustice.
I turned over, burying my face in the soft pillow, my lips curving in self-mockery.
The next morning, I woke up feeling warmly confined.
The moment I opened my eyes, I was face to face with Jared's sleeping face, so close.
I didn't know when he'd come back, but I was completely wrapped in his arms, as if we were a loving couple.
I immediately felt annoyed, my body stiffening as I carefully tried to move out of his embrace.
But the moment I moved, the arm around my waist tightened even more.
"Don't move." His deep voice, hoarse from just waking up, sounded above my head.
I jumped, and looking up, I realized he was already awake, looking down at me with half-lidded eyes. His dark eyes seemed especially deep in the morning light.
"Let go of me." I struggled a bit, my cheeks heating up.
Not only did he not let go, but he pulled me even closer into his arms, his chin resting against my forehead as he spoke lazily, "Sleep a bit more."
"You're crushing me." I pushed him irritably.
He chuckled softly, his warm breath brushing across the top of my head. "You're so thin, how could I be crushing you?"
He seemed especially patient today, his tone even carrying a hint of flirtation.
We were like a real couple, exchanging meaningless banter in the morning sunlight.
This brief closeness made my heart skip a beat, and the atmosphere unknowingly became intimate.
For a moment, I was in a daze, thinking maybe we really could go on like this forever.
Jared's gaze fell on my face, and the smile in his eyes gradually faded. I suddenly remembered his change in attitude was probably because of that painting he'd mentioned before, that man's back I'd been painting for so many years.
That thorn in his heart had never been removed.
He let go of me, the warmth in his embrace suddenly disappearing.
Jared sat up matter-of-factly, threw back the covers and got out of bed, as if the person who'd just been holding me wasn't him at all.
As he walked toward the dressing room, he said to me in his usual cold, indifferent tone, "I have an important business dinner tonight, I'll be back very late." He paused, then added, "As for Grandma, help me come up with an excuse."
I watched his back as he walked into the dressing room, feeling empty inside.
The business dinner was a lie—going to the hospital to be with Keira was the truth.
I laughed at myself mockingly, cursing my own weakness.
I'd clearly decided to let go, yet I still had my heart race because of his unconscious embrace, still felt bitter because of his sudden coldness.
Sloane, don't be foolish. He never belonged to you.
By the time I got ready and went downstairs, Jared had already left.
Mrs. Montclair was sitting at the dining table. Seeing me come down, she immediately waved me over. "Sloane, come have breakfast. Where's that boy Jared? Ran off early again?"
"He has a very important meeting at the company that he needs to chair personally." I lied for him without changing expression.
"Hmph, how can work be more important than keeping his wife company?" the old lady muttered in dissatisfaction, though her expression softened considerably. She served me a bowl of oatmeal. "Never mind him, we'll eat our meal. By the way, do you have any plans today?"
I paused, then shook my head.
"Perfect then, keep Grandma company for a walk around the estate."
I spent the entire morning with Mrs. Montclair, walking in the garden and trimming roses.
She told me many stories about Jared's childhood, her words full of love for her grandson.
In the afternoon, while the old lady was napping, I walked to a quiet corner of the garden and dialed Jared's number.
The phone rang for a long time before being answered. There was some noise on the other end, and I could vaguely hear Isabelle's voice.
"What is it?" Jared's tone was very impatient, as if my call had greatly displeased him.
I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice as calm as possible. "About Grandma—I don't think we can keep hiding this from her forever."
There was silence on the other end for a few seconds.
"I'll find the right moment to personally talk to Grandma and help her gradually accept the fact that we're getting divorced. That will be the least shocking for her health." I calmly presented my plan. "Once her emotions are stable, we can go through with the procedures."