Chapter 127 Who Made You Resign
"Did you go to Winston's place? Is it about the $1.2 million?" Jackson slurred, clearly drunk.
Alison frowned, not wanting him to jump to conclusions. "No, I was working another job."
"I don't buy it. Tell me the truth, where did that money come from?"
"I earned it from my flower shop," she replied quickly, hoping to stop his guessing. She had already hurt him once and needed to make things right. They used to be so in love, but now it felt like a distant memory.
"I don't believe you! You're lying! Where did you get that $1.2 million?" Jackson grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to face him. Under the streetlight, his eyes were filled with pain.
As a man, having to rely on the woman he loved to solve his problems made him feel both unwilling and humiliated.
But the truth was, without Alison, he would have been finished this time.
"It's really my own money, Jackson. I'm tired and exhausted. Let me go upstairs and rest." She couldn't stand his alcohol breath; it made it impossible to talk properly.
"I'm not letting you go, Alison. I don't want you out of my sight, and I don't want you going to Winston. Alison, do you know? I waited for you all night at Rebel, almost going crazy. I want to go upstairs with you, watch you fall asleep peacefully, just like before, okay?" He cupped her face, his eyes full of tenderness.
Smelling the alcohol on him, she gently said, "Alright, let's go upstairs and have a cup of coffee. You'll feel better."
He played with her short hair with his fingers, saying, "Alison, you look good with short hair. I really like it."
"You're talking nonsense again. Let's go." She supported his arm as they walked up the stairs to her small apartment. He was unsteady on his feet and heavy from the alcohol.
It took a lot of effort to get him inside, and she was sweating by the time they made it.
The nanny and the kids were all asleep.
Alison led Jackson into her bedroom, afraid of waking the children.
She made a cup of coffee and handed it to him. As she did, she sighed, feeling helpless.
That night, he slept on the couch while she slept in the bed. The night quietly passed with the sound of gentle snoring.
The next morning, the sun was shining brightly. She didn't know when he had left, but the faint smell of alcohol in the air proved Jackson had been there.
She guessed he must have left quietly, too embarrassed to face her when he sobered up.
These emotional entanglements were always so complicated, impossible to untangle.
Alison went to the beauty center for a minor surgery. In six or seven days, the scar on her chest would be completely gone.
She paid the bill and lay on the operating table, her mind suddenly filled with images of Jack and Jackson. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't merge their faces.
He was who he was, and no one could replace him.
The surgery was successful. She took a cab back home, and the kids rushed over. "Mommy, are you sick?"
"No," she smiled, covering her chest, which was wrapped in layers of bandages.
Sophia asked mysteriously, "Mommy, did someone come over last night?"
"No," she blinked innocently.
Sophia pulled out a set of keys from behind her back. "Mommy, what is this?" The keys looked like Jackson's.
"Sophia, give those to Mommy."
Sophia's eyes widened with anticipation. "Mommy, whose are these? Are they Uncle Winston's?" She and Ethan had been arguing about it. Ethan said they were Uncle Jackson's, and she said they were Uncle Winston's. The loser had to sweep the floor for a week. So now Sophia really wanted to know the answer.
"No, don't say that."
"Are they Uncle Jackson's?" Ethan perked up. If he was right, he could watch Sophia sweep the floor and laugh at her for not doing it properly.
"Neither. They're a colleague's keys. Give them to Mommy." Alison urged, wishing she could grab them if she could move more.
"No way, Mommy. You have to tell the truth, or you're a lying mommy."
What a headache. She had indeed lied. Helpless, Alison said, "They're your Uncle Jackson's. He's your godfather."
"Ha! Sophia, I won. You have to start sweeping the floor today."
Sophia scratched her head, looking frustrated. "What bad luck."
Watching the two kids playfully wrestle on the floor, Alison shook her head. "Mommy isn't feeling well and needs to rest. You two behave, okay?"
"Okay."
"Okay."
They answered in unison. But then, Sophia winked at Ethan, and Ethan winked back, thinking that if Mommy wasn't feeling well, she wouldn't have the energy to chase them if they went out to play.
That seemed like good news.
Ethan pulled Sophia to the playroom, slammed the door shut, and the two began whispering.
Alison just wanted to rest. Although the scar removal surgery was minor, her body still felt weak. She felt she really needed to nourish herself during this seven-day break.
She picked up the keys and called Jackson, but the phone rang for a long time without an answer.
So, Alison sent Jackson a text, telling him he had left his keys at her place. But after sending the message, it was like a stone sinking into the sea, with no reply.
Alison played with the keys in her hand, her mind replaying the events of the past few days. Thinking about the scenes from last night and the night before, her face involuntarily turned red.
She really didn't know how to face Jackson, even fearing being with him.
Just then, the doorbell rang. The nanny opened the door, and a voice came through, "I'm here to see Alison. I'm here for the keys."
Alison's heart tightened. Jackson had seen the message but didn't come himself, sending Erin instead.
"Nanny, let her in," Alison instructed from her bed.
Erin quickly came in, looking at Alison with disdain. She held out her hand, "Give me Jackson's keys."
Erin still had that arrogant, rough demeanor. Alison looked up at her, worried about Jackson. She quietly asked Erin, "Is he okay?"
Erin raised an eyebrow and glared at Alison. "As long as you don't bother him, as long as you don't show up, he's fine."
Alison smiled. Despite Erin's bad temper, she knew Erin genuinely liked Jackson. Otherwise, Erin wouldn't have fought so hard for him that day.
Women always go to great lengths for the men they love.
Alison handed the keys to Erin. "Erin, take care of him for me. He doesn't need to repay the money."
"Got it," Erin said, turning to leave, muttering under her breath, "It's just some dirty money. Who knows how she earned it. Shameless."
Alison felt deeply wronged. She had done all this for Erin and Jackson's safety, yet Erin's words were so hurtful.