Chapter 258: Everything Is Strange (Part 1)
“Jack… carry me to the bathroom,” Alison whispered, cheeks flushed.
“Don’t move. I’ll handle it. Where’s the sanitary pad?” Jack pressed gently on her shoulders.
“I—I can do it myself.”
“Just tell me where it is,” he said, voice clipped with impatience.
“In the red handbag,” she murmured, remembering the nurse had placed it there.
“Got it.”
He let go of her hands and rushed to the bag lying on the floor.
He overturned it in one motion — sanitary pads scattered everywhere. “Alison, this thick one?” he asked helplessly.
Blushing deeper, she said, “Yeah… but the extra-long overnight kind’s better.” Jack grabbed one and strode back.
Alison stretched out her hand. “Give it to me.”
“No. Don’t move. I’ll do it,” he said, tone firm.
He slipped one arm beneath her back and, with the other, began to unfasten her clothes.
She wanted to resist, but her body wouldn’t obey. I can’t fight him… not now. Her eyes stayed shut as he moved her like a doll.
When he finished, his hand lingered — then drifted upward, reaching for her top.
Startled, Alison gasped, “Jack!”
“Easy. I’m just changing you into pajamas — you’ll feel better,” he murmured, his tone oddly tender.
His voice lulled her despite the unease curling in her stomach.
Once she was in clean pajamas, he said, “I’ll grab new sheets. Eat a little while I’m gone.”
As his back disappeared through the door, unease tightened her chest.
Softly, she asked, “Jack… if Emily came back… would you leave me?”
The question froze him mid-step; Officer Clark’s words from yesterday flashed through his mind.
After a pause, he murmured without turning around, “She’s… not back yet.”
His answer hit her like ice water.
Does that mean he would leave me if she did?
So Emily never left his heart… not once.
Alison said nothing. She just closed her eyes.
“Mommy! Are you sick?” The children suddenly burst in, faces bright with worry and excitement.
Holding back tears, Alison smiled. “Sophia, come here — let Mommy see you.”
“Mommy, are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine now,” she lied gently.
“Good! Can we go hiking? With Mommy and Daddy?” Sophia chirped.
“Sweetheart, Mommy’s not that sick, but hiking would make her worse right now,” Alison said softly.
“Really? So Mommy’s not better yet?”
“Not yet. So you both need to be good and let me rest, okay?”
“Then can we bother Daddy instead?” Ethan piped up.
Jack chuckled. “No, not me either. I have to sleep with Mommy. If you wake me, you wake her.”
Sophia pouted. “Then Daddy has to make it up to us, right?”
Jack tapped her gently on the back. “Already learning to negotiate, huh? What do you want Daddy to do?”
“Tell us a story tonight!” Ethan grinned.
“Deal.” Jack smiled.
The two nestled beside Alison. “Mommy, get better soon, okay? Then take us to the playground!”
“All right, all right,” Jack said, scooping them up. “Let Mommy rest.”
“Jack! Don’t take them away!” Alison cried, reaching out weakly.
“You need to rest,” he said gently. “I’ll take them to the playroom. Dinner’s coming soon.”
A while later, a tray of dishes arrived. Jack hadn’t cooked, but he stood by until she’d eaten every bite.
He had barely left her side these past days.
Yet unease gnawed at her. Was this love… or guilt?
“Alison, come on — let me help you wipe down.”
“It’s fine, Jack. You should rest,” she protested weakly.
But his gaze lingered too long; his hands moved too slowly. Her pulse spiked with unease.
“Be good,” he murmured. “You’ll feel better after. Just relax.” And with that, he began unbuttoning her nightgown.