Chapter 21 Waiting Like a Wife
The food was plentiful and delicious, but she was full after just a few bites.
Counting the days, she realized she would soon be able to leave this place.
Her email inbox was eerily quiet, with no new messages.
It turned out that whether she was in the apartment or not, he knew everything.
He understood everything, so the moment she left the apartment, he would appear by her side.
Why did he insist on keeping her near Jack?
This question gave Alison a headache and left her feeling uneasy.
The injury on her chest became a convenient excuse for her to slack off, leaving all the housework undone as she spent her days watching the clock.
Outside the window, the city lights were bright again.
Jack probably wouldn't be back until very late.
In truth, she was quite afraid of seeing him now, really afraid.
Because she didn't know how to face him.
His gentleness, his coldness, his appearance, and his laughter.
When all these things surfaced in her mind, she found she couldn't bring herself to hate him.
Because he originally wanted to torment Emily, not her, Alison.
But her involvement had thrown everything into chaos.
The room was dark, with only the light from the TV illuminating the space.
She curled up on the couch, constantly thinking about what she should do when he returned.
Just then, the doorbell rang for the second time that day.
She looked up slightly. Could it be that Jack had ordered more food?
But when she reached the door, she saw it was the apartment security guard, whom she recognized.
Alison smiled as she opened the door and asked, "Is there something you need?"
"Miss, is this yours?" The guard extended his hand, revealing an old bracelet made of red fabric, a gift from her mother when she left home.
"It's mine. How did you get it?" She had been so careless that she hadn't even noticed it was missing.
"Oh, I found it while checking the rooftop earlier and thought I'd bring it to you. Since it's yours, please take it."
Alison was puzzled. "How did you know it was mine?"
"Well, last night, after you went to the rooftop, Mr. Winston couldn't find you, so he checked the security footage and saw you went up there. I was on duty these past few nights, so I knew about it."
No wonder Jack had been able to find her in such a hidden spot on the rooftop.
It seemed he had really put in the effort.
"Can you tell me around what time he went to the security room?" She knew she shouldn't ask, but the question slipped out.
"Around nine o'clock."
"Oh, thank you. I understand now."
At that time, she hadn't gone far.
Did that mean nothing had happened between him and the woman he brought back last night?
Yes, it must be. Even if it was quick, it couldn't have ended that fast.
Thinking of this, a smile appeared on her face, and her mood improved.
That day, both the lunch delivery girl and the apartment security guard made her feel Jack's kindness.
Maybe she should reconsider her view of the man she thought was so cruel.
That night, she waited for him like a dutiful little wife, but inside, she felt a sweet warmth. Maybe because she was in a good mood, even the pain in her chest seemed to fade.
She watched TV happily, and the happy couple in the drama seemed to give her hope. She realized that, unknowingly, Jack had quietly entered her heart and influenced her emotions. Because she knew he truly hated Emily, not her. So she always found excuses for everything he did to her.
The clock kept ticking. The midday news flashed through her mind; Jack was probably with his grandfather now. Maybe he wouldn't come back tonight. But she stubbornly sat on the couch, waiting.
She really wanted to ask him about the painting he bought at the charity auction years ago, painted by an orphan. She had searched the apartment but couldn't find it. For such an ordinary painting, he was willing to pay a high price, which proved he was a kind-hearted person who cared about orphans. He couldn't be a bad person.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but smile. Just then, the door opened quietly. In the dim light of the TV, Jack's tall figure walked in and gently closed the door. He didn't seem to notice her, as she was hiding in the dark corner, watching him quietly.
He walked towards the couch, seemingly looking for the remote, probably thinking she had fallen asleep and forgotten to turn off the TV. She chuckled softly and said, "Jack, I'm here."
He turned and saw her, a hint of frustration in his eyes. "I let you stay again, Emily. If you betray me again, I won't let you off." His voice was cold.
His tone was so harsh, but she wasn't angry. "Jack, thank you." She had been wanting to say this all day, and finally saying it made her very happy.
"Did you have dinner?" He took the remote and switched to his favorite financial channel.
"I did," she replied softly, sitting on the couch behind him.
"What did you eat?" he asked casually.
"The lunchbox," she said, referring to the one he had sent over at noon. It was quite large, and she had split it into two meals.
He glanced at the empty lunchbox by the coffee table and laughed. "You really ate the leftovers from lunch, silly."
"I didn't say that," she teased back, feeling like they were back in the warm times before he had driven her away. Even though he had been wary of her then, and those warm moments were all an act, she still wanted to believe in the goodness of the world.
"But I'm hungry. I want some noodles you made." He put down the remote and started taking off his jacket and shirt. Oh no, he was doing his striptease act in front of her again, like a muscle-bound hunk...
Alison quickly lowered her head, not daring to look at his toned, tanned body. She said gently, "Wait a moment, I'll go make it."
She actually wanted to ask if he hadn't gone to be with his grandfather and attended the family dinner. How could he not have eaten? But she realized that, given her current status, she had no right to inquire about his family affairs.