Chapter 81
Bryant's eyes narrowed slightly, an air of nonchalance in his gaze as he looked at me, a smirk playing on his lips. "Why don't you give it a try?"
It was his usual smile, yet I felt a shiver run down my spine, as if daring me would result in my neck being snapped in the next moment.
"Give it a try? Fine, I'll take your dare," I said, driven by a stubborn refusal to be seen as weak.
His expression turned icy, a scornful laugh about to escape his lips when suddenly, his phone rang.
Margaret's name popped into my head instantly. You've got to hand it to women's intuition.
And indeed, it was Margaret.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Bryant didn't answer, allowing the ringtone to blare incessantly. He could ignore it in a hundred different ways if he wanted to, so clearly, he chose not to.
"Bry, where have you wandered off to? I'm craving strawberry shortcake, and the baby wants it too. Hurry up and bring some home!"
The car's confined space, coupled with its soundproof interior, made Margaret's sweet voice all too clear to my ears.
I swear, I wasn't eavesdropping on purpose.
Bryant, noticing this, stepped out of the car nonchalantly and stood by the roadside, leaving me with just a profile view of his face, which seemed tinged with irony.
I averted my gaze, unwilling to concern myself with their drama, and started fiddling with my phone.
What was it to me, anyway?
Their relationship had always been a roller coaster, a constant push and pull that seemed hostile but oddly codependent. From the outside, they couldn't stand each other, but in reality, they were inseparable, each indulging the other's whims.
But it wasn't long, maybe just a couple of minutes, before he opened the passenger door on my side.
His expression was conflicted, but his eyes conveyed a sense of guilt.
"Leaving already?"
I couldn't help but smirk cynically, realizing I had indeed become the other woman, the
mistress in their relationship.
Just a call from Margaret, and my husband couldn't wait to rush to her side.
She was much more the wife than I ever was.
Finally, he spoke, "I'll have Kevin drive you home.
"No need. I can get back on my own."
Perhaps I had been through enough sadness these past days because now, I felt nothing. Calmly, I got out of the car. "Your clothes and personal items will be couriered back to Lunar Lake Bay Villas. Make sure Emma signs for them."
With that, I turned and walked away briskly.
"Jane." Bryant called out.
I didn't stop or even slow down, in fact, I quickened my pace.
He caught up with me in a few long strides, grabbing my wrist without a word, "Jane!"
"What now?" I tried to keep my voice as calm as possible.
Bryant's lips were a thin line of determination. Give me some time. I'll sort things out with her."
"Sort things out with her?" I almost laughed. "As if her issues can ever be sorted. She's constantly threatening to harm herself, and you're always there to 'sort it out."
The chill of the night air made me shiver, Bryant, I don't care what you do with her. I just leave me out of it!"
at you to His demeanor turned icy, his eyes dark with a cold fury as he enunciated each word, "Say that again."
"I said I don't care what you do with her... Ugh!"
Mid-sentence, he gripped my chin fiercely, the man who was always gentle and reserved around me suddenly became aggressive. He ground his teeth as he spat out,
"Jane, don't you have a heart?"
That was my line, wasn't it? He was stealing my words right out of my mouth.
The pain from his grip brought tears to my eyes, but I met his gaze m I met head-on defiantly responding, "No."
"Still, you're going to have to deal with this!"
He shoved me back into the car, his voice as cold as the depths of winter, "Before Grandpa's birthday banquet, the boundaries between us aren't yours to draw!"
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