Chapter 157
"We Coopers are upright and honest. We do things openly and take responsibility for our actions."
I stood to the side and said calmly, looking at Chris with contempt, "To be specific, at least the Coopers don't play with people's feelings and then refuse to let them go."
Every word I said was a dig at Chris.
Kelly clapped extra hard, "Well said! You're truly the woman Jason chose. Every word you say speaks to my heart!"
Chris's face darkened.
His gaze paused on Kelly, then he said, "I'm here for Lily. This has nothing to do with you."
I crossed my arms, "Of course it has nothing to do with us. After all, we're here getting in the way of you brainwashing Lily."
Kelly chimed in, "Playing the devoted lover now? Where were you before?"
I added, "Busy brainwashing people. Now he's putting on his devoted lover act."
Kelly couldn't help but sneer, "How disgusting! Just thinking about what a disgusting person you are, I feel sorry for your fiancée. Maybe I should do a good deed and tell her what you're really like?"
Kelly and I took turns mocking him, successfully driving Chris away.
Before leaving, his face was terribly dark, his eyes cold and sinister as they swept over us.
But no one cared.
Kelly happily high-fived me, her voice full of excitement, "Oh my god! I always thought you were the gentle, sweet type who never says mean things, but you're amazing! Your comebacks just now were so good!"
I nodded in agreement, "After all, I have such a good teacher in you. It'd be hard not to improve."
"You're really interesting. I like you more and more!"
Kelly's eyes lit up.
I took two steps back and shook my head seriously, "You can't say that in front of Jason. He'll get jealous."
A few days later, I got a message from Luke.
Luke: [Mom and I are already on the high-speed train to Seaside City.]
Attached was the ticket information.
Although he didn't say it directly, I knew what he meant—he wanted me to pick them up when they arrived in Seaside City and bring Cora back to stay at my place.
Luke really had no intention of respecting my wishes.
I pressed my lips together and casually booked a hotel online, sending Luke a screenshot of the reservation.
When they arrived in Seaside City that day, I didn't go pick them up. Instead, I stayed in the sunroom tending to my flowers.
Luke's message came.
Luke: [Mom doesn't want to stay at the hotel you booked. We've checked into a hotel near my office.]
I raised an eyebrow, quite pleased to cancel the hotel reservation.
Even better that they weren't staying—wasn't this saving me money?
But Luke was clearly very unhappy with my behavior.
Luke: [What's wrong with you now? Do you know how hurt Mom is by your behavior? She's your mother, and she can't even stay at your place? Sue, you're becoming more and more cold-hearted.]
Luke: [And today when we arrived in Seaside City, you weren't even willing to pick us up?]
Luke: [Are we still family? Is there any family feeling left in you?]
Before, if Luke had sent these messages, I would have uncontrollably fallen into self-blame, wondering if it was my fault.
But now, I just glanced at them twice and deleted the messages.
Lately I've been obsessed with decorating the sunroom.
A couple days ago I bought a lot of pretty flower pots and stands online. The delivery came today, so I was transferring the plants to their new pots.
Jason walked in carrying a plate of cut fruit.
He sat down next to me and picked up a piece of fruit, bringing it to my lips, "Try this, it's very sweet."
The fruit was cut into perfect bite-sized pieces.
I took a bite—it was sweet, making me squint with pleasure.
I simply took off my gloves and took the plate, eating piece after piece myself.
Jason's gaze fell on the nearly finished sunroom and he nodded, "Very beautiful. You have great taste."
I smiled, "But I think it's still a bit empty. I'll go to the flower and bird market later to buy some other plants."
"We can go now. I'll go with you."
Jason was straightforward.
I thought about it and agreed, "Okay."
Coming downstairs, Tamsin was sitting on the sofa watching TV.
I called out to her, "Grandma, we're going to the flower and bird market."
Tamsin immediately stood up, "I'll come with you."
I was about to agree when Jason beat me to it, "Grandma, you stay home and look after Jessica. The two of us can go."
With that, he took my hand and strode toward the door, not giving me a chance to speak.
Jason walked very fast, putting me in the passenger seat and hitting the gas pedal without hesitation.
I saw Tamsin just coming out in the rearview mirror, and in a blink she was out of sight.
I turned to look at him helplessly, "If Grandma wanted to go, we could have gone together. Why did you run off so fast?"
Jason drove with one hand, his posture relaxed and casual.
"No way. I want alone time with you."
His voice was lazy, making my ears tingle.
My face turned a bit red, "But running off like that, Grandma will definitely be angry."
"She won't."
Jason was quite certain about this.
He glanced at me and smiled, "Want to know why?"
"Why?"
"Because if we hurry up and give her a great-grandchild, she won't be angry."
Jason said this matter-of-factly.
My heart skipped a beat, and I turned to look out the window, "Who said I'm having one with you?"
"Of course it's you. I've decided you're the one for this lifetime. You're my only wife in this life, and you're the only one who can have children with me."
Jason said frankly, "Of course, if you don't want to have children, we won't. Having Jessica is enough."
I couldn't help but think to myself.
This man is really domineering.
But in the five years Jason and I were apart, I never thought about being with another man.
Even when I did have physical desires, I never thought of finding someone else.
What about Jason?
I turned back to look at Jason with curiosity, "I heard quite a few women like you. Haven't you ever been tempted?"
Jason said without hesitation, "My heart is all yours. Other women are no different from cabbages to me—they don't even count as human. My heart and my body belong only to you."
He's getting better and better at sweet talk now.
My heart felt sweet, and I smiled slightly, "The Millers want to marry their daughter to you."
"How do you know?"
"I have my ways. Flora is interested in you and wants to marry you and be your wife."
Jason frowned, "Flora? Who?"
I propped my head on one hand, looking at his profile with a half-smile.
"You know the Millers want to marry their daughter to you, but you don't know who Flora is?"
"I only know Tyler Miller has a daughter. I don't know what she's called or what she looks like."
Jason's voice grew heavy, "Tyler did mention wanting our families to unite through marriage, but I made it very clear that I have a girlfriend."
Seeing his obviously nervous look, I couldn't help but reach out and poke his handsome face, "Why are you so nervous?"