Chapter 22
The doctor said Celestia could come home to recover, and Levi has always been really protective of her, so he got her a long leave from kindergarten.
I was planning to go to work, but I felt uneasy about leaving Celestia home alone. It's not that I worried Indigo couldn't take care of her - I was worried Jessa might do something to Celestia.
Everyone sat down for lunch together. I'd already made things clear that day, but Levi didn't make Jessa move to the guest house. She probably begged him not to - after all, Levi falls for that kind of thing.
"Auntie Jessa, when are you going back to your own home? Don't your mom and dad miss you?" Celestia asked curiously.
Jessa laughed awkwardly. "I'm already a grown-up; they don't worry about me."
"Don't you miss them? I missed Daddy so much when I was in the hospital these past few days."
Celestia turned to ask Levi, "Daddy, didn't you miss me? Why didn't you come visit me at the hospital?"
Levi was caught off guard. Between company matters and Jessa clinging to him every day, he'd been too busy. He seemed a bit ashamed - this was really neglecting his child for too long.
"Your daddy's been very busy with work, Celestia. You understand, right?" Jessa jumped in to answer, thinking she was helping Levi out.
I just kept eating, treating them like they weren't there.
"Daddy, is that really true?"
Levi nodded. "Yeah."
"Mom used to say you were busy too, but you always had time to play with me. Ever since Auntie Jessa came to our house, you haven't liked playing with Celestia anymore."
Kids always say shocking things - they just tell it like it is.
"Then come to my concert with Daddy." Jessa pulled an invitation from her bag and handed it to Celestia.
Celestia pouted and turned to ask me, "Mommy, are you going?"
I waved my hand. "Mommy doesn't have time. Mommy just got a new job."
"Levi, thank you so much for this. I was ready to give up, but thank you for sponsoring me and helping me achieve my dream of a national tour."
Jessa raised her glass, and they clinked.
So Levi was making her dreams come true. A national tour was no small thing. No matter how ticket sales went, for Jessa, it was just a matter of making more or less money.
Either way, Levi would cover any losses.
In all these years, I'd never talked about dreams with him.
They were talking about dreams right in front of me, while my life was just husband, child, and home.
I didn't feel that marrying Levi wasn't worth it. I just felt a bit sorry for myself - if I'd put even a little energy into my career, I wouldn't be so hesitant about certain things now.
"Blair, you should come too." Jessa was still putting on an act in front of Levi.
If I went, what would I be? Just another audience member?
As "Mrs. Morgan," did I really need to be a supporting character?
Watching them get caught up in gossip together, witnessing Levi's favoritism toward her in person?
I couldn't do it.
"If Mommy doesn't want to go, then don't go. I won't go either this time."
Celestia refused for me. She hugged Levi's arm. "Daddy, you shouldn't go either. The other kids at kindergarten all think Auntie Jessa is my mom."
"I told them I have a mom. My mom's name is Blair."
My heart ached. What had Celestia been going through at kindergarten these past few days? Those news stories had hurt my child after all.
"Okay, I won't go."
Levi actually agreed - that was really out of character.
Jessa's face turned red. Right now, it felt like the three of us were standing together as a family, so she didn't say anything more.
"Auntie Jessa, don't you have a family? Don't you have a husband?" Celestia struck again, making Jessa's face turn even redder.
"Um... we don't have plans to get married yet."
Celestia frowned. "Do you have someone you like?"
"Yes."
When Jessa answered, she deliberately looked at me with a challenging expression.
"Did you tell him?"
"I did."
Jessa looked at me smugly. I was afraid she'd suddenly blurt out something like "I like your daddy."
"Does he know? Will he marry you?"
Kids are just so curious - answer one question, and they'll come up with more.
Jessa's gaze fell on Levi. My heart started racing. I both wanted to know her answer and feared it would cross my bottom line.
"I think he will."
Jessa raised her glass and took a sip.
Celestia smiled. She grabbed both mine and Levi's hands at the same time, placing our hands together. The three hands felt warm instantly.
"Then I wish you could be as happy as my mommy and daddy."
This sincere blessing nearly drove Jessa crazy. Celestia's relentless questioning today was honestly a bit much for me to handle, too.
Levi hadn't held my hand in years. I guess this counted as holding it.
His warmth gradually pulled away. He put his hand on his lap. I couldn't read his expression - he didn't seem to dislike i,t though.
Suddenly, my phone vibrated, breaking the awkward moment.
Jessa drank her wine sullenly, and Celestia ate quietly.
I got up to take the call. I didn't hear them say anything more.
"Hello, what's up?"
Nola seemed to be eating too - I could hear chewing sounds.
"Blair, Jessa's interested in that series our company shelved before. Someone from her team came by, saying they hope to work with us to provide jewelry for her tour."
I was confused. "How does she know about that series?"
"I'm wondering the same thing. We did promote it at the time, but I quickly pulled it and replaced it with a new series."
"I remember you even personally modified part of it. I thought it was a bit of a shame at the time."
I kind of remembered that the designer had just returned from abroad, and no one appreciated their work, so my company took the chance.
"Oh, and they said your husband's company is sponsoring, so the price is negotiable."
"She can't have it."
I refused directly.
I don't take just any money. Rationally speaking, I could definitely take advantage of Levi's infatuation with her and make a good profit.
But not Jessa. She can't touch my work.
"How are things with you guys lately?"
"Same as always."
"Blair, can you really just let them bully you so openly like this?"
Of course, I didn't want to put up with it, but Levi never directly discussed divorce with me, and Celestia couldn't accept us separating.
Just now at the table, she was showing off our family of three, and the kindergarten kids were talking about her mom. She's pretty sensitive - if we divorced, it would really affect the child badly.
"We're already talking about divorce."
Nola sighed. "I don't think you two are getting divorced anytime soon."
"We will. It's not working out."
I feel like I can't hold on much longer...
"I'll let you go then. I'll just turn them down directly."
"Okay."
After hanging up with Nola, I saw Jessa having afternoon tea in my little garden again. Using my company's designs? In her dreams!