Chapter 88 Can Only Be Friends
The bond between the brothers was even deeper than Alison had imagined. "Jack, thanks for sharing all this with me." She realized that if he didn't trust her and see her as a friend, he wouldn't have opened up like this. Over the three months they spent together, he had always been kind but never revealed his inner thoughts. She understood he was a man who didn't easily open his heart to others.
Suddenly, he changed the subject: "Alison, my second brother is the closest person to me besides my mom. Please take good care of him."
His words made her heart tighten, almost making it hard to breathe. There was already an unbridgeable gap between them. She was his brother's woman, so he could only see her as a friend.
Just a friend.
She tried to keep the smile on her face, not wanting it to fade. If that was his wish, she would maintain the status quo.
"I will, I promise." She agreed to take care of Aidan, but she would never marry him. She couldn't bear the thought of living her life with one man while her heart belonged to another. That night had already shown her the pain of such a situation.
But nothing could change now.
As they talked, they ended up lying on the bed together. She knew he wouldn't touch her, treating her like a gentleman would treat his future sister-in-law. So, she listened to him recount stories from the past, remembering every detail.
She didn't know when she fell asleep or when he left. But from that night on, she felt her heart grow closer to him. Yet, love seemed to drift further away, perhaps forever out of reach.
Pushing Aidan's wheelchair, she saw Jack walking side by side with Aimée. She understood that Jack's heart was still occupied by the woman he hated, not Aimée. This thought filled her with pity. Aimée was also pitiful, living in the shadow of another woman, never truly finding peace and happiness despite the outward appearance of contentment.
In the following days, the four of them toured the famous sights of Paris. When the midnight bells rang, she saw the Eiffel Tower illuminated by neon lights, a breathtaking sight that moved her deeply. She silently wished for Jack and the children to be happy, forgetting to wish for herself.
Paris was truly beautiful, leaving her with many memories. When she told the children they would be returning home the next day, they cheered excitedly over the phone, eager for her to come back immediately. She secretly took many photos of Jack, downloading them onto a USB drive each night at the hotel. These photos captured Jack alone, whether deep in thought, smiling brightly, or animatedly talking with Aimée.
Through Paris, she realized she had fallen in love with Jack. Love had always been there. But she could only watch over his happiness from afar.
A sleeping pill helped her sleep from Paris until the plane landed, avoiding the embarrassment of getting sick on Jack again. On the return trip, Aimée joined them. Isabella didn't come to see them off, and she didn't see the woman again. She only knew that Jack and Aimée had visited Isabella's place before leaving Paris.
Stepping off the plane felt like waking from a dream. She was home, back with her children. As soon as she saw the people who came to pick her up, she handed over Aidan's wheelchair and said goodbye to Jack and Aimée.
Her heart pounded as she unlocked the door. She hadn't told the kids when she would be back, wanting to surprise them. Thinking of the gifts in her luggage, she hoped they would like them.
The door opened to a warm and familiar home. It felt so good to be back.
She stood quietly at the entrance, watching her little boy and girl playing with blocks on the floor. They were her Sophia and Ethan.
She stood there for a while, but the kids were so focused on their blocks that they didn't notice her. She couldn't help but move closer, standing beside them.
Her shadow fell on the blocks, and Ethan finally noticed, turning his head and shouting, "Mommy!" He jumped up and threw himself into her arms, hugging her tightly. Sophia looked at Ethan enviously and said, "Mommy, I want a hug too."
Alison smiled, bending down with Ethan in her arms, and gathered both kids into her embrace. She had missed them so much. It had only been a little over ten days, but it felt like forever.
But after a moment, the kids couldn't stay still and started making requests. "Mommy, I want to see the photos!" "Mommy, we want to see Uncle Winston's photos!" Alison smiled at their eager faces, knowing they wanted to see Jack.
"Hold on, I'll turn on the computer, and you can look at them yourselves. Mommy needs to take a shower first." After a long flight, she felt uncomfortable and needed to freshen up.
"Okay, Mommy, is it this button to turn it on?" Sophia asked. Alison tapped her nose and said, "You have such a good memory. Yes, that's the one." She guided Sophia's little finger to press the button, and the computer whirred to life.
Once it was on, Alison opened the folder with the photos. Ethan quickly grabbed the mouse and started clicking through the pictures. "You guys look at the photos. Mommy's going to take a shower." She had another task today; they couldn't stay here any longer. She was afraid Aidan might find their address through the kids' phone call. She had to protect her two little ones. She knew they wanted to find their dad, but she wouldn't allow it.
It wasn't that she was cruel, but Jack couldn't give them happiness right now. It was better for her to raise them alone, ensuring they had a peaceful and happy life.
The scar on her chest became more visible under the shower's spray, reminding her of a question: If Jack ever met Emily again and discovered the real Emily didn't have this scar, what would he think?
When she stepped out of the bathroom, the kids were standing at the door like little guards, watching her intently. She was puzzled by their expressions. Sophia asked, "Mommy, why are there two Uncle Winstons? Why do both of them look like me?" Sophia really wanted to know which one was their uncle and which one was their dad.
Alison couldn't help but laugh. "They're brothers, of course they look alike."
Ethan pointed to his nose and asked, "Mommy, which one looks more like me?" They had argued about it while looking at the photos and couldn't decide.
Alison's heart skipped a beat. She had once suggested Aidan be their godfather, so she smiled and said, "The one in the wheelchair looks more like you."
Ethan scratched his head, still puzzled. "Really? I think the one standing next to the lady looks more like me."
"It's just a resemblance, don't take it too seriously. Don't keep thinking one of them is your dad. It's not true." She poured cold water on their hopes, not wanting them to seek out Jack.
"Okay, we won't look for him." Ethan stuck his tongue out at Sophia. They had a plan, but it had to be secret. If Mommy found out, she wouldn't let them go through with it.
"That's my good kids. Come on, let's eat." The smell of food wafted from the kitchen; the housekeeper had prepared dinner.
Eating with the kids, everything felt like it used to. She was so happy. Their carefree joy lifted her spirits.