Chapter 84
Soon, the delicious smell of food filled the air.
Jason immediately said, "Sue, you're amazing. Just smelling this makes my mouth water. I've eaten food made by so many chefs, but yours is the best. I like it the most."
Seeing that I didn't respond, Jason moved closer. "Sue, getting to eat your cooking today, I feel like I'm definitely going to sleep well tonight."
My hand paused as I turned off the stove, and I almost couldn't keep the cold expression on my face.
Fortunately, Jason didn't say anything shocking during dinner.
We ate peacefully, and Jason volunteered to wash the dishes. Naturally, I didn't refuse.
Sitting in my chair, looking at my phone, Brian happened to send me a message.
Brian: [How are things now? Are you okay?]
I thought for a moment and replied as politely as possible: [No problems. Thanks for your concern. I'll be able to come to work normally, so don't worry about work.]
Brian: [I'm not trying to rush you back to work, just concerned. Message me anytime if anything comes up.]
I sent back an acknowledgment emoji.
There's no way I could turn to a boss who confessed his feelings to me!
Unless I'd really gone crazy.
Jason had just finished washing the dishes and came out. He glanced over and saw my conversation with Brian on my phone screen.
He frowned slightly and asked, "You're still not planning to resign? Don't tell me you want to work at DT Corp until you're old?"
I glanced at him, closed my phone, and answered, "That's my business. What does it have to do with you? I'm not resigning. So what?"
Jason said, "I've told you before, Brian is no good! He's a pervert who's after you. Only you would be naive enough to think of him as a good boss. Does he want to be your boss? He wants to be your husband!"
He got more and more worked up as he spoke.
Watching him look so angry, I felt a hint of amusement creep into my heart for some reason.
"Is this how the great Mr. Cooper talks about people behind their backs?"
"I'm concerned about you. I'm being honest and sincere with you," Jason said angrily.
I shrugged.
Of course, I couldn't tell Jason that I now not only knew Brian liked me, but that he'd also confessed to me.
I would resign eventually, but given how Brian helped me back then, I would stay at DT Corp until his marriage alliance with Elizabeth was completely stable.
Jason's expression suddenly became serious.
"This apartment you're renting is too small. Why don't you bring Jessica and move in with me?"
"No," I refused without hesitation.
"Why not?"
Jason asked, "Don't you think it's too cramped living here? At my place, there'd be a nanny to take care of you both. Wouldn't life be much easier?"
"I don't want to walk into a trap," I said, looking at him rather speechlessly.
Jason would take advantage of me whenever he got the chance, and now he was actually suggesting I live with him.
I would absolutely never agree.
Jason was momentarily at a loss for words.
He gritted his teeth and said, "I have other villas under my name. You and Jessica can move there. I won't come bother you normally, and I won't do anything to you."
He said that last sentence through clenched teeth.
I shook my head in refusal. "No need. I think living here is fine."
"Then let me give you a house. No matter what, Jessica is my daughter. I can't just watch you two struggle like this."
Jason thought for a moment and continued, "Not far from here, that villa on Maple Street would be perfect for taking Jessica to and from school."
I looked at him deeply and still shook my head in refusal. "No need. You don't have to go to such lengths to give me things. I didn't have Jessica for the Cooper family's money."
"I'd actually prefer if you were doing it for the money."
Jason looked at me, puzzled. "I don't understand. Back then, you married a rich man and broke up with me. Now I just want to give you things, but even so, you won't take anything from me?"
I paused almost imperceptibly and slowly lowered my eyes. "People's thoughts change."
"This is different. You were willing to have Jessica, which means you have feelings for me. Sue, admit it—you love me."
Jason stared straight at me, his voice extremely certain.
My heart felt like it had been stabbed through with a sharp knife, bleeding profusely.
Tears welled up uncontrollably in my eyes. I took a deep breath and asked back, "None of this matters, does it?"
"It matters a lot! You love me, I love you—we should just get back together!"
"I looked for you for five years, a whole five years, and I couldn't find you."
Jason's words came to an abrupt halt.
I continued, "Before, I didn't understand how a person could just disappear from my world so easily. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find you. Later, when I learned your true identity, I understood—because you're Mr. Cooper. As long as you didn't want to look back at me, I could never find you."
"If it weren't for that accidental reunion, we'd still be strangers now."
"From the day we separated, I've been full of regret. I regret speaking so harshly, so easily choosing to give up on our relationship. But you regretted being with me, regretted our time together, wishing you could completely erase me from your life."
"Now you say get back together, and we should just get back together? On what grounds? What do you take me for? A pet you can call over and dismiss at will? Play with me when you're happy, and disappear without a word when you're not?!"
The words I'd been holding in finally burst out all at once. My nails dug deep into my palms as I stared at Jason with red eyes.
Jason's face went pale, looking at me in panic.
He opened his mouth, seeming to want to explain, but in the end couldn't say anything.
I tried hard to calm my emotions and said quietly, "From now on, we'll only be Jessica's mom and dad."
The room instantly fell into deathly silence.
Jason stood up silently, walked to the door, then turned back to the kitchen, picked up the trash, and only then left.
After the door closed completely and I was alone in the house, I finally let myself relax.
What I didn't expect was that after leaving my place, Jason took the initiative to contact Lily.
In the coffee shop.
Lily sat across from Jason, looking somewhat surprised. "Mr. Cooper, you wanted to see me?"
Jason nodded, his voice a bit hoarse. "I wanted to ask you about... Sue's past five years. Would you be willing to tell me?"