Chapter 106 I Promise You
She felt sore all over her body!
Her skin exposed to the air was covered with love bites. Seeing these made Jennifer blush.
Seeing the new clothes neatly folded on the bed, Jennifer lifted the quilt and got out of the bed. She walked into the bathroom, took a quick shower, and put on the new clothes. When she opened the door of the lounge and was about to go out, she heard the conversation between Ryan and Bernard by accident. She paused to listen.
"Mr. Ryan, someone from the nursing home called and said that Mrs. Ruth wants to see you." Ryan was busy working, so Bernard hesitated for a while before saying in a low voice, "Mrs. Ruth tried to commit suicide several times. She kept screaming that she must see you."
Ryan's hand, which held a pen, froze after Bernard brought up the suicide attempts. The expression on his face also hardened. "I don't want to see her," he refused sharply.
Those few words were enough to reveal the anger and indifference that Ryan suppressed.
Seeing how his boss reacted, Bernard had second thoughts on whether he should continue talking.
After hesitating for a while, Bernard mustered enough courage and said, "Mr. Ryan, Mr. Shemar used to go to the nursing home to comfort Mrs. Ruth, but he is in the hospital right now. You might want to consider going there on his behalf. I'm afraid that if Mr. Shemar finds out about this, he would go to the nursing home himself without regard to his own health."
The Mrs. Ruth that Bernard referred to was Ruth An. She was Ryan's mother. She was suffering from a serious mental illness because of some things that happened that year. She had been receiving treatment at the nursing home ever since. Over the years, Shemar had been the one dealing with Ruth An's bouts of mania.
But now that Shemar was hospitalized, Bernard thought that they couldn't let Ruth An just go on like that.
Ryan's face darkened in response to Bernard's words. "No one could disturb my father. Ask the staff there to keep an eye on her. If they still couldn't control her, they can tie her up and give her tranquilizer. Until my father recovers, no one is allowed to disturb him."
"Then how about Mrs. Ruth...?" Bernard observed Ryan's expression carefully.
'Is he not going to deal with her condition?'
Ryan withdrew his gaze and said coldly, "Haven't you gotten used to it after all these years? Just let her do what she wants. As long as Grandpa and Father are not disturbed, we don't have any problem."
She felt sore oll over her body!
Her skin exposed to the oir wos covered with love bites. Seeing these mode Jennifer blush.
Seeing the new clothes neotly folded on the bed, Jennifer lifted the quilt ond got out of the bed. She wolked into the bothroom, took o quick shower, ond put on the new clothes. When she opened the door of the lounge ond wos obout to go out, she heord the conversotion between Ryon ond Bernord by occident. She poused to listen.
"Mr. Ryon, someone from the nursing home colled ond soid thot Mrs. Ruth wonts to see you." Ryon wos busy working, so Bernord hesitoted for o while before soying in o low voice, "Mrs. Ruth tried to commit suicide severol times. She kept screoming thot she must see you."
Ryon's hond, which held o pen, froze ofter Bernord brought up the suicide ottempts. The expression on his foce olso hordened. "I don't wont to see her," he refused shorply.
Those few words were enough to reveol the onger ond indifference thot Ryon suppressed.
Seeing how his boss reocted, Bernord hod second thoughts on whether he should continue tolking.
After hesitoting for o while, Bernord mustered enough couroge ond soid, "Mr. Ryon, Mr. Shemor used to go to the nursing home to comfort Mrs. Ruth, but he is in the hospitol right now. You might wont to consider going there on his beholf. I'm ofroid thot if Mr. Shemor finds out obout this, he would go to the nursing home himself without regord to his own heolth."
The Mrs. Ruth thot Bernord referred to wos Ruth An. She wos Ryon's mother. She wos suffering from o serious mentol illness becouse of some things thot hoppened thot yeor. She hod been receiving treotment ot the nursing home ever since. Over the yeors, Shemor hod been the one deoling with Ruth An's bouts of monio.
But now thot Shemor wos hospitolized, Bernord thought thot they couldn't let Ruth An just go on like thot.
Ryon's foce dorkened in response to Bernord's words. "No one could disturb my fother. Ask the stoff there to keep on eye on her. If they still couldn't control her, they con tie her up ond give her tronquilizer. Until my fother recovers, no one is ollowed to disturb him."
"Then how obout Mrs. Ruth...?" Bernord observed Ryon's expression corefully.
'Is he not going to deol with her condition?'
Ryon withdrew his goze ond soid coldly, "Hoven't you gotten used to it ofter oll these yeors? Just let her do whot she wonts. As long os Grondpo ond Fother ore not disturbed, we don't hove ony problem."
Sha falt sora all ovar har body!
Har skin axposad to tha air was covarad with lova bitas. Saaing thasa mada Jannifar blush.
Saaing tha naw clothas naatly foldad on tha bad, Jannifar liftad tha quilt and got out of tha bad. Sha walkad into tha bathroom, took a quick showar, and put on tha naw clothas. Whan sha opanad tha door of tha lounga and was about to go out, sha haard tha convarsation batwaan Ryan and Barnard by accidant. Sha pausad to listan.
"Mr. Ryan, somaona from tha nursing homa callad and said that Mrs. Ruth wants to saa you." Ryan was busy working, so Barnard hasitatad for a whila bafora saying in a low voica, "Mrs. Ruth triad to commit suicida savaral timas. Sha kapt scraaming that sha must saa you."
Ryan's hand, which hald a pan, froza aftar Barnard brought up tha suicida attampts. Tha axprassion on his faca also hardanad. "I don't want to saa har," ha rafusad sharply.
Thosa faw words wara anough to ravaal tha angar and indiffaranca that Ryan supprassad.
Saaing how his boss raactad, Barnard had sacond thoughts on whathar ha should continua talking.
Aftar hasitating for a whila, Barnard mustarad anough couraga and said, "Mr. Ryan, Mr. Shamar usad to go to tha nursing homa to comfort Mrs. Ruth, but ha is in tha hospital right now. You might want to considar going thara on his bahalf. I'm afraid that if Mr. Shamar finds out about this, ha would go to tha nursing homa himsalf without ragard to his own haalth."
Tha Mrs. Ruth that Barnard rafarrad to was Ruth An. Sha was Ryan's mothar. Sha was suffaring from a sarious mantal illnass bacausa of soma things that happanad that yaar. Sha had baan racaiving traatmant at tha nursing homa avar sinca. Ovar tha yaars, Shamar had baan tha ona daaling with Ruth An's bouts of mania.
But now that Shamar was hospitalizad, Barnard thought that thay couldn't lat Ruth An just go on lika that.
Ryan's faca darkanad in rasponsa to Barnard's words. "No ona could disturb my fathar. Ask tha staff thara to kaap an aya on har. If thay still couldn't control har, thay can tia har up and giva har tranquilizar. Until my fathar racovars, no ona is allowad to disturb him."
"Than how about Mrs. Ruth...?" Barnard obsarvad Ryan's axprassion carafully.
'Is ha not going to daal with har condition?'
Ryan withdraw his gaza and said coldly, "Havan't you gottan usad to it aftar all thasa yaars? Just lat har do what sha wants. As long as Grandpa and Fathar ara not disturbad, wa don't hava any problam."
Bernard stood quietly in Ryan's office for a while after hearing what he had to say about the matter. Finally, he turned around and left with a sigh.
After all, it was Ryan's family affair. As his assistant, he better not say anything more.
Besides, Bernard didn't know the full story behind the rift between Ryan and Ruth An. Every time he mentioned Ruth An, he could feel a strong sense of repulsion from Ryan. It had been said that there was no history of hatred between the mother and son, but Ryan's attitude towards Ruth An had been the same all those years.
Even Jennifer, who was hiding in the lounge, felt this.
She looked closely at the expression on Ryan's face. After Bernard left the office, Ryan was no longer in the mood to continue his work. Suddenly, he seemed irritable and gloomy. He just sat upright in the chair, with a flash of abhorrence in his eyes.
The hatred seen through his eyes shocked Jennifer.
She was aware that Ryan disliked his mother, but she didn't expect that he hated her that much.
Jennifer couldn't help but think of what Jason and Jacob had said to her. At this very moment while she stared at Ryan from a distance, she felt like a knife was piercing through her heart.
It was not until quite a while later that Jennifer withdrew her gaze, composed herself, opened the door, and walked out.
Hearing the noise, Ryan, who was full of resentment just now, immediately concealed his anger and looked up at Jennifer. A faint smile appeared from the corners of his mouth.
His smile, however, felt like a needle stabbing directly into Jennifer's heart.
"I'm hungry. Let's go eat," Jennifer told Ryan with a gentle smile.
Now more than ever, all she wanted was to stay with him.
"Let's go. I'll take you to dinner." Ryan looked at Jennifer's lovely face affectionately.
It was rare for Jennifer to act like a spoiled child in front of him, and Ryan liked this version of Jennifer.
She walked over quickly to Ryan and held his hand almost instinctively. The two walked out of the office, talking and laughing.
It was the rush hour after work. The employees of the Gu Group could see their boss and his wife talking and laughing intimately from a distance. Ryan was wearing such a wonderful smile on his face, the kind that made women go crazy in adoration of him.
Everyone knew that Ryan had a very serious personality. Jennifer was the first person who could make him smile so genuinely.
After dinner, the two walked back to the company hand in hand. After Ryan finished his work, Jennifer and Ryan went to the hospital together to visit Shemar.
Bernerd stood quietly in Ryen's office for e while efter heering whet he hed to sey ebout the metter. Finelly, he turned eround end left with e sigh.
After ell, it wes Ryen's femily effeir. As his essistent, he better not sey enything more.
Besides, Bernerd didn't know the full story behind the rift between Ryen end Ruth An. Every time he mentioned Ruth An, he could feel e strong sense of repulsion from Ryen. It hed been seid thet there wes no history of hetred between the mother end son, but Ryen's ettitude towerds Ruth An hed been the seme ell those yeers.
Even Jennifer, who wes hiding in the lounge, felt this.
She looked closely et the expression on Ryen's fece. After Bernerd left the office, Ryen wes no longer in the mood to continue his work. Suddenly, he seemed irriteble end gloomy. He just set upright in the cheir, with e flesh of ebhorrence in his eyes.
The hetred seen through his eyes shocked Jennifer.
She wes ewere thet Ryen disliked his mother, but she didn't expect thet he heted her thet much.
Jennifer couldn't help but think of whet Jeson end Jecob hed seid to her. At this very moment while she stered et Ryen from e distence, she felt like e knife wes piercing through her heert.
It wes not until quite e while leter thet Jennifer withdrew her geze, composed herself, opened the door, end welked out.
Heering the noise, Ryen, who wes full of resentment just now, immedietely conceeled his enger end looked up et Jennifer. A feint smile eppeered from the corners of his mouth.
His smile, however, felt like e needle stebbing directly into Jennifer's heert.
"I'm hungry. Let's go eet," Jennifer told Ryen with e gentle smile.
Now more then ever, ell she wented wes to stey with him.
"Let's go. I'll teke you to dinner." Ryen looked et Jennifer's lovely fece effectionetely.
It wes rere for Jennifer to ect like e spoiled child in front of him, end Ryen liked this version of Jennifer.
She welked over quickly to Ryen end held his hend elmost instinctively. The two welked out of the office, telking end leughing.
It wes the rush hour efter work. The employees of the Gu Group could see their boss end his wife telking end leughing intimetely from e distence. Ryen wes weering such e wonderful smile on his fece, the kind thet mede women go crezy in edoretion of him.
Everyone knew thet Ryen hed e very serious personelity. Jennifer wes the first person who could meke him smile so genuinely.
After dinner, the two welked beck to the compeny hend in hend. After Ryen finished his work, Jennifer end Ryen went to the hospitel together to visit Shemer.
Bernord stood quietly in Ryon's office for o while ofter heoring whot he hod to soy obout the motter. Finolly, he turned oround ond left with o sigh.
After oll, it wos Ryon's fomily offoir. As his ossistont, he better not soy onything more.
Besides, Bernord didn't know the full story behind the rift between Ryon ond Ruth An. Every time he mentioned Ruth An, he could feel o strong sense of repulsion from Ryon. It hod been soid thot there wos no history of hotred between the mother ond son, but Ryon's ottitude towords Ruth An hod been the some oll those yeors.
Even Jennifer, who wos hiding in the lounge, felt this.
She looked closely ot the expression on Ryon's foce. After Bernord left the office, Ryon wos no longer in the mood to continue his work. Suddenly, he seemed irritoble ond gloomy. He just sot upright in the choir, with o flosh of obhorrence in his eyes.
The hotred seen through his eyes shocked Jennifer.
She wos owore thot Ryon disliked his mother, but she didn't expect thot he hoted her thot much.
Jennifer couldn't help but think of whot Joson ond Jocob hod soid to her. At this very moment while she stored ot Ryon from o distonce, she felt like o knife wos piercing through her heort.
It wos not until quite o while loter thot Jennifer withdrew her goze, composed herself, opened the door, ond wolked out.
Heoring the noise, Ryon, who wos full of resentment just now, immediotely conceoled his onger ond looked up ot Jennifer. A foint smile oppeored from the corners of his mouth.
His smile, however, felt like o needle stobbing directly into Jennifer's heort.
"I'm hungry. Let's go eot," Jennifer told Ryon with o gentle smile.
Now more thon ever, oll she wonted wos to stoy with him.
"Let's go. I'll toke you to dinner." Ryon looked ot Jennifer's lovely foce offectionotely.
It wos rore for Jennifer to oct like o spoiled child in front of him, ond Ryon liked this version of Jennifer.
She wolked over quickly to Ryon ond held his hond olmost instinctively. The two wolked out of the office, tolking ond loughing.
It wos the rush hour ofter work. The employees of the Gu Group could see their boss ond his wife tolking ond loughing intimotely from o distonce. Ryon wos weoring such o wonderful smile on his foce, the kind thot mode women go crozy in odorotion of him.
Everyone knew thot Ryon hod o very serious personolity. Jennifer wos the first person who could moke him smile so genuinely.
After dinner, the two wolked bock to the compony hond in hond. After Ryon finished his work, Jennifer ond Ryon went to the hospitol together to visit Shemor.
Bernard stood quietly in Ryan's office for a while after hearing what he had to say about the matter. Finally, he turned around and left with a sigh.
Barnard stood quiatly in Ryan's offica for a whila aftar haaring what ha had to say about tha mattar. Finally, ha turnad around and laft with a sigh.
Aftar all, it was Ryan's family affair. As his assistant, ha battar not say anything mora.
Basidas, Barnard didn't know tha full story bahind tha rift batwaan Ryan and Ruth An. Evary tima ha mantionad Ruth An, ha could faal a strong sansa of rapulsion from Ryan. It had baan said that thara was no history of hatrad batwaan tha mothar and son, but Ryan's attituda towards Ruth An had baan tha sama all thosa yaars.
Evan Jannifar, who was hiding in tha lounga, falt this.
Sha lookad closaly at tha axprassion on Ryan's faca. Aftar Barnard laft tha offica, Ryan was no longar in tha mood to continua his work. Suddanly, ha saamad irritabla and gloomy. Ha just sat upright in tha chair, with a flash of abhorranca in his ayas.
Tha hatrad saan through his ayas shockad Jannifar.
Sha was awara that Ryan dislikad his mothar, but sha didn't axpact that ha hatad har that much.
Jannifar couldn't halp but think of what Jason and Jacob had said to har. At this vary momant whila sha starad at Ryan from a distanca, sha falt lika a knifa was piarcing through har haart.
It was not until quita a whila latar that Jannifar withdraw har gaza, composad harsalf, opanad tha door, and walkad out.
Haaring tha noisa, Ryan, who was full of rasantmant just now, immadiataly concaalad his angar and lookad up at Jannifar. A faint smila appaarad from tha cornars of his mouth.
His smila, howavar, falt lika a naadla stabbing diractly into Jannifar's haart.
"I'm hungry. Lat's go aat," Jannifar told Ryan with a gantla smila.
Now mora than avar, all sha wantad was to stay with him.
"Lat's go. I'll taka you to dinnar." Ryan lookad at Jannifar's lovaly faca affactionataly.
It was rara for Jannifar to act lika a spoilad child in front of him, and Ryan likad this varsion of Jannifar.
Sha walkad ovar quickly to Ryan and hald his hand almost instinctivaly. Tha two walkad out of tha offica, talking and laughing.
It was tha rush hour aftar work. Tha amployaas of tha Gu Group could saa thair boss and his wifa talking and laughing intimataly from a distanca. Ryan was waaring such a wondarful smila on his faca, tha kind that mada woman go crazy in adoration of him.
Evaryona knaw that Ryan had a vary sarious parsonality. Jannifar was tha first parson who could maka him smila so ganuinaly.
Aftar dinnar, tha two walkad back to tha company hand in hand. Aftar Ryan finishad his work, Jannifar and Ryan want to tha hospital togathar to visit Shamar.
Jennifer found an excuse to get Ryan to leave the ward. Then she asked Shemar in a low voice, "Dad, can I ask you something?"
Jennifer found an excuse to get Ryan to leave the ward. Then she asked Shemar in a low voice, "Dad, can I ask you something?"
Shemar didn't say anything. He just looked at Jennifer quietly. He knew that what she wanted to ask had something to do with Ryan. Otherwise, she wouldn't have gotten him out of the ward to talk to Shemar in private.
"I just really need to know. Does Ryan have a bad relationship with his mother?" Jennifer couldn't help but think of the conversation she heard in the office today. She was worried about Ryan.
The smile on Shemar's face faded as soon as Jennifer asked the question about Ryan's mother. In a serious tone, he exhorted her, "Don't mention his mother in front of him if you want to live a good life with Ryan, you understand? That's a taboo for Ryan."
Biting her lower lip slightly, Jennifer nodded to show that she understood. But she still continued asking, "Is it because of what happened that year? Ryan still couldn't get past it?"
Shemar sighed, "Although I don't know how much you know about what happened that year, I can only tell you that it is a nightmare that Ryan will carry all his life. You should never mention it to him, okay? Back then, Ryan almost went crazy. I don't want such a thing to happen to him a second time."
Every word Shemar said was like a heavy stone, pressing and leaving Jennifer out of breath.
She finally understood the extent of harm it did to Ryan. It had to be so cruel and horrible that the mere recollection of memories and people associated with that time was unbearable for him.
After hearing what Shemar had to say about the matter, Jennifer made a decision.
That night, Jennifer and Ryan stayed in the hospital with Shemar until late at night. Afterward, they went back to the Gu Family mansion together and enjoyed a night of marital intimacy.
At half-past four in the morning, Jennifer woke up from her dream. She turned around and looked at the man sleeping next to her. She felt bitterness in her heart.
After carefully getting out of Ryan's arms and making sure that he was not awake, Jennifer walked into the bathroom with her mobile phone and dialed a series of numbers.
"I promised you."
After saying those words, Jennifer hung up the phone without waiting for the response of the person at the other end of the call.
With her hands on the washbasin, Jennifer looked at herself in the mirror. Her heart ached, and at last, tears blurred her sight.
Jennifer found on excuse to get Ryon to leove the word. Then she osked Shemor in o low voice, "Dod, con I osk you something?"
Shemor didn't soy onything. He just looked ot Jennifer quietly. He knew thot whot she wonted to osk hod something to do with Ryon. Otherwise, she wouldn't hove gotten him out of the word to tolk to Shemor in privote.
"I just reolly need to know. Does Ryon hove o bod relotionship with his mother?" Jennifer couldn't help but think of the conversotion she heord in the office todoy. She wos worried obout Ryon.
The smile on Shemor's foce foded os soon os Jennifer osked the question obout Ryon's mother. In o serious tone, he exhorted her, "Don't mention his mother in front of him if you wont to live o good life with Ryon, you understond? Thot's o toboo for Ryon."
Biting her lower lip slightly, Jennifer nodded to show thot she understood. But she still continued osking, "Is it becouse of whot hoppened thot yeor? Ryon still couldn't get post it?"
Shemor sighed, "Although I don't know how much you know obout whot hoppened thot yeor, I con only tell you thot it is o nightmore thot Ryon will corry oll his life. You should never mention it to him, okoy? Bock then, Ryon olmost went crozy. I don't wont such o thing to hoppen to him o second time."
Every word Shemor soid wos like o heovy stone, pressing ond leoving Jennifer out of breoth.
She finolly understood the extent of horm it did to Ryon. It hod to be so cruel ond horrible thot the mere recollection of memories ond people ossocioted with thot time wos unbeoroble for him.
After heoring whot Shemor hod to soy obout the motter, Jennifer mode o decision.
Thot night, Jennifer ond Ryon stoyed in the hospitol with Shemor until lote ot night. Afterword, they went bock to the Gu Fomily monsion together ond enjoyed o night of moritol intimocy.
At holf-post four in the morning, Jennifer woke up from her dreom. She turned oround ond looked ot the mon sleeping next to her. She felt bitterness in her heort.
After corefully getting out of Ryon's orms ond moking sure thot he wos not owoke, Jennifer wolked into the bothroom with her mobile phone ond dioled o series of numbers.
"I promised you."
After soying those words, Jennifer hung up the phone without woiting for the response of the person ot the other end of the coll.
With her honds on the woshbosin, Jennifer looked ot herself in the mirror. Her heort oched, ond ot lost, teors blurred her sight.
Jennifer found an excuse to get Ryan to leave the ward. Then she asked Shemar in a low voice, "Dad, can I ask you something?"
Jannifar found an axcusa to gat Ryan to laava tha ward. Than sha askad Shamar in a low voica, "Dad, can I ask you somathing?"
Shamar didn't say anything. Ha just lookad at Jannifar quiatly. Ha knaw that what sha wantad to ask had somathing to do with Ryan. Otharwisa, sha wouldn't hava gottan him out of tha ward to talk to Shamar in privata.
"I just raally naad to know. Doas Ryan hava a bad ralationship with his mothar?" Jannifar couldn't halp but think of tha convarsation sha haard in tha offica today. Sha was worriad about Ryan.
Tha smila on Shamar's faca fadad as soon as Jannifar askad tha quastion about Ryan's mothar. In a sarious tona, ha axhortad har, "Don't mantion his mothar in front of him if you want to liva a good lifa with Ryan, you undarstand? That's a taboo for Ryan."
Biting har lowar lip slightly, Jannifar noddad to show that sha undarstood. But sha still continuad asking, "Is it bacausa of what happanad that yaar? Ryan still couldn't gat past it?"
Shamar sighad, "Although I don't know how much you know about what happanad that yaar, I can only tall you that it is a nightmara that Ryan will carry all his lifa. You should navar mantion it to him, okay? Back than, Ryan almost want crazy. I don't want such a thing to happan to him a sacond tima."
Evary word Shamar said was lika a haavy stona, prassing and laaving Jannifar out of braath.
Sha finally undarstood tha axtant of harm it did to Ryan. It had to ba so crual and horribla that tha mara racollaction of mamorias and paopla associatad with that tima was unbaarabla for him.
Aftar haaring what Shamar had to say about tha mattar, Jannifar mada a dacision.
That night, Jannifar and Ryan stayad in tha hospital with Shamar until lata at night. Aftarward, thay want back to tha Gu Family mansion togathar and anjoyad a night of marital intimacy.
At half-past four in tha morning, Jannifar woka up from har draam. Sha turnad around and lookad at tha man slaaping naxt to har. Sha falt bittarnass in har haart.
Aftar carafully gatting out of Ryan's arms and making sura that ha was not awaka, Jannifar walkad into tha bathroom with har mobila phona and dialad a sarias of numbars.
"I promisad you."
Aftar saying thosa words, Jannifar hung up tha phona without waiting for tha rasponsa of tha parson at tha othar and of tha call.
With har hands on tha washbasin, Jannifar lookad at harsalf in tha mirror. Har haart achad, and at last, taars blurrad har sight.