Chapter 77 Impossible to Have a Future
"No, thanks," she replied coldly. With Aimée in the picture, he shouldn't be bothering her anymore. Her heart couldn't take any more turmoil.
Halfway through the drive, they came across a gas station. Jack pulled over to refuel. After filling up, he shut the car door and said to Alison, "Let's grab a bite."
"I'm not hungry. You go ahead. I'll wait here," she said, feeling no appetite at all.
"Trying to run away again? Trying to cause me trouble?" Jack's temper flared. He grabbed Alison's arm and started dragging her towards the gas station's diner.
"What are you doing?" she protested, his grip hurting her wrist.
"Getting you something to eat!"
"I don't want to eat."
"You will," he insisted, still pulling her along, completely disregarding the fact that she might now be his sister-in-law.
"Aren't you afraid your brother will see you holding my hand?" she taunted. She really didn't want any entanglements with Aidan, but Jack seemed determined to push her towards him.
"I'm just taking you to eat," he snapped, letting go of her hand. "You're such an idiot, not appreciating a good gesture."
Seeing a flicker of hurt and embarrassment in his eyes, she smiled faintly. Maybe she was the first woman to ever refuse him like this. "Jack, I really can't eat."
"Just watch me eat then. Don't even think about leaving my sight. I'm starving and I need to eat now!" he shouted, still shaken from her sudden disappearance and not wanting to experience that fear again.
"Fine, I'll keep you company."
He dug into his food while she watched. It was a compromise of sorts.
Honestly, it was a bit awkward, but she had agreed to it.
Once inside the diner, she expected him to order a big steak and a huge loaf of bread. Instead, he spoke to the server briefly, who then bent down and pulled out two bags from under the counter.
Alison was stunned to see that the diner sold Chinese instant noodles. She had tried them during a trip to China and found them delicious!
In Canada, instant noodles were considered junk food.
Jack paid for the noodles and waved them in front of Alison with a smug look.
Seeing the noodles, Alison finally felt hungry.
Jack walked up to her. "You don't get to eat. You can only watch me."
And he really did just that. He prepared two bowls of noodles, added the seasoning, mixed them well, and started eating heartily. He quickly devoured more than half a bowl. Clearly, he was starving.
He focused on his food, not even glancing at her, letting her stare at him.
Despite his messy eating, she couldn't take her eyes off him.
The bowl was soon empty. He finally looked up, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and leaned back in his chair, looking completely relaxed, not in any hurry to get back on the road.
Alison watched Jack finish the noodles, feeling her mouth water despite herself. He ate those two packs of noodles as if they were a gourmet meal, savoring every bite.
After finishing, he leaned back and said, "How about that? Bet you didn't expect to find such a treat here."
She nodded. She hadn't expected it. He said, "I had someone get these specially. If you want to eat, now's your chance. Once we leave this gas station, there won't be any more."
It was a huge temptation. She was already starving.
But seeing his smug expression, she changed her mind. "No, let's go."
She might lack resolve sometimes, but she had to have some pride. She couldn't always let him win; it was too humiliating.
But as soon as she stood up, her stomach growled loudly.
Jack stifled a laugh, shaking his head at her retreating figure. Then he called out loudly, "Fine, I beg you to eat, okay?" Aidan had already chewed him out for her sudden disappearance, and he did feel somewhat responsible.
Luckily, she was safe. Otherwise, he'd never forgive himself. In half a day, they'd be in Paris, and he'd hardly have any more chances to be alone with her. The thought made him feel a bit down.
When had this little woman started tugging at his heartstrings?
And they were pulled so tight, it felt like a slight touch would make them resonate loudly.
No, no, her presence always made him uncomfortable.
But Alison was genuinely hungry. For the sake of her stomach, she decided to give in. Eating wasn't a crime, after all. So she turned back and sat down across from Jack. "I'll have a bowl too," she said, her mouth watering.
Jack snapped his fingers, and the server quickly brought over a bowl of noodles, as if it had been prepared in advance.
He had known she would give in.
Looking at the bowl, she thought of the phrase "a warm gesture."
Could she still find warmth from him?
For a moment, she felt like crying.
This jerk always managed to pull her into an emotional whirlpool without her realizing it, yet she couldn't face him honestly.
This was her deepest, most painful wound, endless and boundless.
It was just the simplest food, but at this moment, because of this simple food, her heart was full of him.
She ate the noodles, but her mind was filled with thoughts of him.
If only time could stop at this moment, she loved the feeling of being with him.
But he always saw her as his brother's woman.
Thinking back to that night with Aidan, her heart grew heavy again, unable to feel light.
It was impossible, truly impossible.
She couldn't turn back, and he would never accept a woman who had been with his brother.
With that thought, the once delicious noodles lost their flavor.
She finished quickly and said, "Jack, let's go."
The more time she spent with him, the more she wanted to stay, but what was the point?
The point was that there could never be a future between them.