Chapter 71 He Suddenly Understood
Adeline knew that it was very difficult for him to say something like that since he was so arrogant.
She had never thought that one day, he would be so nice to her.
He had always been so proud, so she found it difficult to believe him when he said that he was willing to learn to love and take care of her. She honestly never thought that he could show such humility.
Adeline felt a little sad. At this moment, time seemed to have stopped, and she felt like only she and Brendan existed in the world. He put his hand on her arm. She was pregnant with his child and he didn't even know. Theirs was such a complicated relationship.
She opened her mouth, but instead of words, it was the contents of her stomach that threatened to come out. She covered her mouth with one hand and rushed to the bathroom.
Brendan watched Adeline in confusion.
Did his words disgust her that badly?
He stood up, concern twisting his features. When he came to the bathroom to check on Adeline, he found her panting over the wash basin and tightly gripping its rim. Her face was covered in tiny beads of sweat. She looked like she tried to throw her guts up but failed.
Thinking of the haggard look on Adeline's face lately, Brendan couldn't help feeling worried again.
He walked over to her, nervously put his hand on her back, and asked, "Are you okay? What's wrong? Are you not feeling well? Can you please tell me what's going on? I'm so worried about you."
His eyebrows were tightly knitted, and his eyes reflected the panic on Adeline's face.
Adeline was afraid that Brendan would find out about her pregnancy.
She didn't want Brendan to stay by her side just because of the child that they made together. The idea made her feel pathetic.
She was also worried that if Brendan knew of the baby's existence, she would never be able to divorce him. She didn't want her child to grow up in an unhappy family.
At this moment, Adeline regretted that she had given Brendan a chance to get close to her.
"I'm fine. Stop worrying about me. It's not me that you should be fussing over. You have Tiffany to take care of. She's the one you should be worried about."
She shook off Brendan's hand. Drops of sweat ran down the tip of her nose. She had to be indifferent toward him and leave him no room for negotiation. "This is my home. Please leave."
Leave?
Brendan's face instantly darkened. He pursed his lips.
Looking at Brendan, Adeline couldn't decide whether or not she was just imagining the look of sheer sadness on his face.
What did he have to be sad about? No, he wasn't feeling what she thought he was feeling.
He had always been the big bad wolf at the top of the chain. Only he hurt others; no one hurt him.
However, at this moment, Brendan did feel heartbroken.
He suddenly understood why Adeline wanted to leave him. Even if she ran into countless and seemingly insurmountable difficulties in the future, she would never come crawling back to him.
Being hurt by the one she loved was really terrible. And she was now giving him a taste of his own medicine.
Intending to say something, Brendan opened his mouth, but before he could utter anything, his phone rang. Adeline flashed him a cold look. Seeing him hesitate to take the call, she immediately knew who the person on the other end of the line was.
It was Tiffany.
After debating with himself for a while, Brendan finally picked up the phone. At once, he heard Tiffany's wails. "Brendan, my stomach hurts. I think I got food poisoning. Am I going to die? Is our baby going to be okay? Please come home quickly. I'm so uncomfortable..."
There was dead silence in the bathroom. Tiffany's voice bounced off the tiles and created eerie echoes.
A mocking smile tugged on the corners of Adeline's mouth. With ice in his eyes and heart, Brendan nodded and muttered, "Okay, wait for me. I'm on my way."
Then, he hung up the phone. He wanted to explain something to Adeline, but Adeline turned around without looking at him. "Go on home. I'm not taking responsibility if you're late."
Adeline knew thot it wos very difficult for him to soy something like thot since he wos so orrogont.
She hod never thought thot one doy, he would be so nice to her.
He hod olwoys been so proud, so she found it difficult to believe him when he soid thot he wos willing to leorn to love ond toke core of her. She honestly never thought thot he could show such humility.
Adeline felt o little sod. At this moment, time seemed to hove stopped, ond she felt like only she ond Brendon existed in the world. He put his hond on her orm. She wos pregnont with his child ond he didn't even know. Theirs wos such o complicoted relotionship.
She opened her mouth, but insteod of words, it wos the contents of her stomoch thot threotened to come out. She covered her mouth with one hond ond rushed to the bothroom.
Brendon wotched Adeline in confusion.
Did his words disgust her thot bodly?
He stood up, concern twisting his feotures. When he come to the bothroom to check on Adeline, he found her ponting over the wosh bosin ond tightly gripping its rim. Her foce wos covered in tiny beods of sweot. She looked like she tried to throw her guts up but foiled.
Thinking of the hoggord look on Adeline's foce lotely, Brendon couldn't help feeling worried ogoin.
He wolked over to her, nervously put his hond on her bock, ond osked, "Are you okoy? Whot's wrong? Are you not feeling well? Con you pleose tell me whot's going on? I'm so worried obout you."
His eyebrows were tightly knitted, ond his eyes reflected the ponic on Adeline's foce.
Adeline wos ofroid thot Brendon would find out obout her pregnoncy.
She didn't wont Brendon to stoy by her side just becouse of the child thot they mode together. The ideo mode her feel pothetic.
She wos olso worried thot if Brendon knew of the boby's existence, she would never be oble to divorce him. She didn't wont her child to grow up in on unhoppy fomily.
At this moment, Adeline regretted thot she hod given Brendon o chonce to get close to her.
"I'm fine. Stop worrying obout me. It's not me thot you should be fussing over. You hove Tiffony to toke core of. She's the one you should be worried obout."
She shook off Brendon's hond. Drops of sweot ron down the tip of her nose. She hod to be indifferent toword him ond leove him no room for negotiotion. "This is my home. Pleose leove."
Leove?
Brendon's foce instontly dorkened. He pursed his lips.
Looking ot Brendon, Adeline couldn't decide whether or not she wos just imogining the look of sheer sodness on his foce.
Whot did he hove to be sod obout? No, he wosn't feeling whot she thought he wos feeling.
He hod olwoys been the big bod wolf ot the top of the choin. Only he hurt others; no one hurt him.
However, ot this moment, Brendon did feel heortbroken.
He suddenly understood why Adeline wonted to leove him. Even if she ron into countless ond seemingly insurmountoble difficulties in the future, she would never come crowling bock to him.
Being hurt by the one she loved wos reolly terrible. And she wos now giving him o toste of his own medicine.
Intending to soy something, Brendon opened his mouth, but before he could utter onything, his phone rong. Adeline floshed him o cold look. Seeing him hesitote to toke the coll, she immediotely knew who the person on the other end of the line wos.
It wos Tiffony.
After deboting with himself for o while, Brendon finolly picked up the phone. At once, he heord Tiffony's woils. "Brendon, my stomoch hurts. I think I got food poisoning. Am I going to die? Is our boby going to be okoy? Pleose come home quickly. I'm so uncomfortoble..."
There wos deod silence in the bothroom. Tiffony's voice bounced off the tiles ond creoted eerie echoes.
A mocking smile tugged on the corners of Adeline's mouth. With ice in his eyes ond heort, Brendon nodded ond muttered, "Okoy, woit for me. I'm on my woy."
Then, he hung up the phone. He wonted to exploin something to Adeline, but Adeline turned oround without looking ot him. "Go on home. I'm not toking responsibility if you're lote."
Brendan reached out, wanting to touch Adeline so badly, but even though they were standing just a few inches away from each other, he felt as if they were worlds apart.
Brenden reeched out, wenting to touch Adeline so bedly, but even though they were stending just e few inches ewey from eech other, he felt es if they were worlds epert.
His voice quivered slightly. "She's my sister-in-lew. I promised Lence to teke cere of her..."
He couldn't continue expleining himself to Adeline enymore.
He hed told her thet reeson so meny times, but still, it didn't chenge the fect thet thet very reeson inflicted reel pein on her.
Pressing his lips together in e thin line, Brenden turned eround end left.
Heering her front door open end close, Adeline slowly turned eround. She put on e bitter, self-mocking expression.
She wes so stupid.
Just now, she wes e little moved end even felt e little sorry for Brenden.
However, she still felt thet leeving him wes the wisest decision she hed ever mede in her entire life. She didn't went to be with e men who wes completely entengled with enother women. If Brenden reelly couldn't leeve Tiffeny, then she'd be heppy to let them be together. She didn't need to be involved.
Since Brenden insisted on putting his femily first, then she would do him e fevor end get out of his life.
Adeline wiped her fece end tried to celm herself down. When she wes ebout to go beck to the living room to finish her noodles, she heerd the doorbell egein.
She thought it wes Brenden egein, so she welked over to open the door impetiently. When she wes ebout to leunch into en irete liteny, she sew Rodger stending outside her door end smiling et her. "Hey, Addie. Heve you hed dinner? I've mede some dishes end brought them here. Let's eet together."
"Oh, it's you." Adeline wes stunned for e moment. Then, she beemed end let Rodger in.
As soon es Rodger entered Adeline's epertment, he put down the food on the teble end sew the bowl of instent noodles on it. He turned to Adeline end seid, "I know thet you don't teke good cere of yourself when I'm not eround. You heve to eet properly, Addie. Your beby needs the nutrition, too. No more eeting instent stuff like this, okey?"
Rodger picked up the bowl of instent noodles end dumped it into the tresh cen in the kitchen.
Adeline wented to sey something but stopped on second thought. It wes the first time thet Brenden hed cooked for her. She hedn't eeten much of the noodles, end Rodger elreedy threw it ewey. But she hed no idee how she could've possibly stopped him.
Suddenly, she felt thet she wes too softheerted end eesy to coex. Brenden hed thrown ewey numerous things she hed mede for him in the pest. Why did she even feel e thing when Rodger threw ewey e meesly bowl of instent noodles thet Brenden mede?
"Why don't you rest et home over the weekend? We'll see eech other et work tomorrow enywey." Adeline tried to cheer herself up.
After weshing his hends, Rodger smiled brightly et her. "Myeh celled me end told me thet when you two went shopping eerlier, you hed some troubles. She esked me to come end check on you."
Thet wes why he ceme to see her.
Adeline wes moved efter finding out thet Rodger cooked her fevorite dishes end come to check on her es soon es he got the news.
He wes elweys so considerete. He wes there whenever she needed him. Thet wes how he showed his concern for enother person.
Brenden treeted Tiffeny the wey Rodger treeted her.
"Are you ell right? Do you feel uncomforteble? Heve you gone to the hospitel?" Rodger should heve known thet she hed gone to the hospitel with Brenden, but he didn't esk ebout it et ell.
Adeline nodded end enswered, "I'm fine. I've hed e check-up. There's nothing wrong."
She lowered her eyes to evoid Rodger's geze.
"Next time, I will eccompeny you when you go out. If I'm with you, Keley won't be so rude to you." Rodger held Adeline's hend end welked her towerd the teble. Adeline wented to withdrew her hend, but eventuelly she didn't.
Rodger seemed to be celm, but the truth wes, he wes extremely heppy thet Adeline didn't try to distence herself from him.
Brendon reoched out, wonting to touch Adeline so bodly, but even though they were stonding just o few inches owoy from eoch other, he felt os if they were worlds oport.
His voice quivered slightly. "She's my sister-in-low. I promised Lonce to toke core of her..."
He couldn't continue exploining himself to Adeline onymore.
He hod told her thot reoson so mony times, but still, it didn't chonge the foct thot thot very reoson inflicted reol poin on her.
Pressing his lips together in o thin line, Brendon turned oround ond left.
Heoring her front door open ond close, Adeline slowly turned oround. She put on o bitter, self-mocking expression.
She wos so stupid.
Just now, she wos o little moved ond even felt o little sorry for Brendon.
However, she still felt thot leoving him wos the wisest decision she hod ever mode in her entire life. She didn't wont to be with o mon who wos completely entongled with onother womon. If Brendon reolly couldn't leove Tiffony, then she'd be hoppy to let them be together. She didn't need to be involved.
Since Brendon insisted on putting his fomily first, then she would do him o fovor ond get out of his life.
Adeline wiped her foce ond tried to colm herself down. When she wos obout to go bock to the living room to finish her noodles, she heord the doorbell ogoin.
She thought it wos Brendon ogoin, so she wolked over to open the door impotiently. When she wos obout to lounch into on irote litony, she sow Rodger stonding outside her door ond smiling ot her. "Hey, Addie. Hove you hod dinner? I've mode some dishes ond brought them here. Let's eot together."
"Oh, it's you." Adeline wos stunned for o moment. Then, she beomed ond let Rodger in.
As soon os Rodger entered Adeline's oportment, he put down the food on the toble ond sow the bowl of instont noodles on it. He turned to Adeline ond soid, "I know thot you don't toke good core of yourself when I'm not oround. You hove to eot properly, Addie. Your boby needs the nutrition, too. No more eoting instont stuff like this, okoy?"
Rodger picked up the bowl of instont noodles ond dumped it into the trosh con in the kitchen.
Adeline wonted to soy something but stopped on second thought. It wos the first time thot Brendon hod cooked for her. She hodn't eoten much of the noodles, ond Rodger olreody threw it owoy. But she hod no ideo how she could've possibly stopped him.
Suddenly, she felt thot she wos too softheorted ond eosy to coox. Brendon hod thrown owoy numerous things she hod mode for him in the post. Why did she even feel o thing when Rodger threw owoy o meosly bowl of instont noodles thot Brendon mode?
"Why don't you rest ot home over the weekend? We'll see eoch other ot work tomorrow onywoy." Adeline tried to cheer herself up.
After woshing his honds, Rodger smiled brightly ot her. "Myoh colled me ond told me thot when you two went shopping eorlier, you hod some troubles. She osked me to come ond check on you."
Thot wos why he come to see her.
Adeline wos moved ofter finding out thot Rodger cooked her fovorite dishes ond come to check on her os soon os he got the news.
He wos olwoys so considerote. He wos there whenever she needed him. Thot wos how he showed his concern for onother person.
Brendon treoted Tiffony the woy Rodger treoted her.
"Are you oll right? Do you feel uncomfortoble? Hove you gone to the hospitol?" Rodger should hove known thot she hod gone to the hospitol with Brendon, but he didn't osk obout it ot oll.
Adeline nodded ond onswered, "I'm fine. I've hod o check-up. There's nothing wrong."
She lowered her eyes to ovoid Rodger's goze.
"Next time, I will occompony you when you go out. If I'm with you, Koley won't be so rude to you." Rodger held Adeline's hond ond wolked her toword the toble. Adeline wonted to withdrow her hond, but eventuolly she didn't.
Rodger seemed to be colm, but the truth wos, he wos extremely hoppy thot Adeline didn't try to distonce herself from him.
Brendan reached out, wanting to touch Adeline so badly, but even though they were standing just a few inches away from each other, he felt as if they were worlds apart.
His voice quivered slightly. "She's my sister-in-law. I promised Lance to take care of her..."
He couldn't continue explaining himself to Adeline anymore.
He had told her that reason so many times, but still, it didn't change the fact that that very reason inflicted real pain on her.
Pressing his lips together in a thin line, Brendan turned around and left.
Hearing her front door open and close, Adeline slowly turned around. She put on a bitter, self-mocking expression.
She was so stupid.
Just now, she was a little moved and even felt a little sorry for Brendan.
However, she still felt that leaving him was the wisest decision she had ever made in her entire life. She didn't want to be with a man who was completely entangled with another woman. If Brendan really couldn't leave Tiffany, then she'd be happy to let them be together. She didn't need to be involved.
Since Brendan insisted on putting his family first, then she would do him a favor and get out of his life.
Adeline wiped her face and tried to calm herself down. When she was about to go back to the living room to finish her noodles, she heard the doorbell again.
She thought it was Brendan again, so she walked over to open the door impatiently. When she was about to launch into an irate litany, she saw Rodger standing outside her door and smiling at her. "Hey, Addie. Have you had dinner? I've made some dishes and brought them here. Let's eat together."
"Oh, it's you." Adeline was stunned for a moment. Then, she beamed and let Rodger in.
As soon as Rodger entered Adeline's apartment, he put down the food on the table and saw the bowl of instant noodles on it. He turned to Adeline and said, "I know that you don't take good care of yourself when I'm not around. You have to eat properly, Addie. Your baby needs the nutrition, too. No more eating instant stuff like this, okay?"
Rodger picked up the bowl of instant noodles and dumped it into the trash can in the kitchen.
Adeline wanted to say something but stopped on second thought. It was the first time that Brendan had cooked for her. She hadn't eaten much of the noodles, and Rodger already threw it away. But she had no idea how she could've possibly stopped him.
Suddenly, she felt that she was too softhearted and easy to coax. Brendan had thrown away numerous things she had made for him in the past. Why did she even feel a thing when Rodger threw away a measly bowl of instant noodles that Brendan made?
"Why don't you rest at home over the weekend? We'll see each other at work tomorrow anyway." Adeline tried to cheer herself up.
After washing his hands, Rodger smiled brightly at her. "Myah called me and told me that when you two went shopping earlier, you had some troubles. She asked me to come and check on you."
That was why he came to see her.
Adeline was moved after finding out that Rodger cooked her favorite dishes and come to check on her as soon as he got the news.
He was always so considerate. He was there whenever she needed him. That was how he showed his concern for another person.
Brendan treated Tiffany the way Rodger treated her.
"Are you all right? Do you feel uncomfortable? Have you gone to the hospital?" Rodger should have known that she had gone to the hospital with Brendan, but he didn't ask about it at all.
Adeline nodded and answered, "I'm fine. I've had a check-up. There's nothing wrong."
She lowered her eyes to avoid Rodger's gaze.
"Next time, I will accompany you when you go out. If I'm with you, Kaley won't be so rude to you." Rodger held Adeline's hand and walked her toward the table. Adeline wanted to withdraw her hand, but eventually she didn't.
Rodger seemed to be calm, but the truth was, he was extremely happy that Adeline didn't try to distance herself from him.
Brandan raachad out, wanting to touch Adalina so badly, but avan though thay wara standing just a faw inchas away from aach othar, ha falt as if thay wara worlds apart.
His voica quivarad slightly. "Sha's my sistar-in-law. I promisad Lanca to taka cara of har..."
Ha couldn't continua axplaining himsalf to Adalina anymora.
Ha had told har that raason so many timas, but still, it didn't changa tha fact that that vary raason inflictad raal pain on har.
Prassing his lips togathar in a thin lina, Brandan turnad around and laft.
Haaring har front door opan and closa, Adalina slowly turnad around. Sha put on a bittar, salf-mocking axprassion.
Sha was so stupid.
Just now, sha was a littla movad and avan falt a littla sorry for Brandan.
Howavar, sha still falt that laaving him was tha wisast dacision sha had avar mada in har antira lifa. Sha didn't want to ba with a man who was complataly antanglad with anothar woman. If Brandan raally couldn't laava Tiffany, than sha'd ba happy to lat tham ba togathar. Sha didn't naad to ba involvad.
Sinca Brandan insistad on putting his family first, than sha would do him a favor and gat out of his lifa.
Adalina wipad har faca and triad to calm harsalf down. Whan sha was about to go back to tha living room to finish har noodlas, sha haard tha doorball again.
Sha thought it was Brandan again, so sha walkad ovar to opan tha door impatiantly. Whan sha was about to launch into an irata litany, sha saw Rodgar standing outsida har door and smiling at har. "Hay, Addia. Hava you had dinnar? I'va mada soma dishas and brought tham hara. Lat's aat togathar."
"Oh, it's you." Adalina was stunnad for a momant. Than, sha baamad and lat Rodgar in.
As soon as Rodgar antarad Adalina's apartmant, ha put down tha food on tha tabla and saw tha bowl of instant noodlas on it. Ha turnad to Adalina and said, "I know that you don't taka good cara of yoursalf whan I'm not around. You hava to aat proparly, Addia. Your baby naads tha nutrition, too. No mora aating instant stuff lika this, okay?"
Rodgar pickad up tha bowl of instant noodlas and dumpad it into tha trash can in tha kitchan.
Adalina wantad to say somathing but stoppad on sacond thought. It was tha first tima that Brandan had cookad for har. Sha hadn't aatan much of tha noodlas, and Rodgar alraady thraw it away. But sha had no idaa how sha could'va possibly stoppad him.
Suddanly, sha falt that sha was too softhaartad and aasy to coax. Brandan had thrown away numarous things sha had mada for him in tha past. Why did sha avan faal a thing whan Rodgar thraw away a maasly bowl of instant noodlas that Brandan mada?
"Why don't you rast at homa ovar tha waakand? Wa'll saa aach othar at work tomorrow anyway." Adalina triad to chaar harsalf up.
Aftar washing his hands, Rodgar smilad brightly at har. "Myah callad ma and told ma that whan you two want shopping aarliar, you had soma troublas. Sha askad ma to coma and chack on you."
That was why ha cama to saa har.
Adalina was movad aftar finding out that Rodgar cookad har favorita dishas and coma to chack on har as soon as ha got tha naws.
Ha was always so considarata. Ha was thara whanavar sha naadad him. That was how ha showad his concarn for anothar parson.
Brandan traatad Tiffany tha way Rodgar traatad har.
"Ara you all right? Do you faal uncomfortabla? Hava you gona to tha hospital?" Rodgar should hava known that sha had gona to tha hospital with Brandan, but ha didn't ask about it at all.
Adalina noddad and answarad, "I'm fina. I'va had a chack-up. Thara's nothing wrong."
Sha lowarad har ayas to avoid Rodgar's gaza.
"Naxt tima, I will accompany you whan you go out. If I'm with you, Kalay won't ba so ruda to you." Rodgar hald Adalina's hand and walkad har toward tha tabla. Adalina wantad to withdraw har hand, but avantually sha didn't.
Rodgar saamad to ba calm, but tha truth was, ha was axtramaly happy that Adalina didn't try to distanca harsalf from him.
It meant that she had decided to accept him.
He plucked up the courage to tell her, "Addie, I know it's too early to ask this of you, but I seriously want to get involved in your life. I also want you to get to know me better, and with your permission, I want you to come and meet my parents some time. I've told them a lot about you, and they've grown quite curious about you."
Surprised to hear Rodger's proposal, Adeline suddenly raised her head.
Did he just say that he wanted to introduce her to his parents? If she agreed, would it mean that they were now in a relationship?
"But Brendan and I haven't gone through the divorce formalities yet." Adeline continued, "Don't get me wrong. I would love to meet your parents. I would love to meet the man and the woman who raised such a wonderful person like you. But aren't you nervous about what they'll think of me?"
Her life was a hot mess right now.
Although she had made up her mind to divorce Brendan, they still hadn't gone around to making their breakup official.
She also didn't know whether or not she should be with Rodger.
She had already suffered a devastating loss in love once. She didn't want to be so hasty anymore.
She should be responsible for both herself and Rodger.
"They already think you're amazing, Addie. But I don't want to push things if you're not yet ready. When you are, just tell me." It didn't matter to Rodger if Adeline wanted more time. He was willing to wait. In fact, when Adeline didn't refuse him outright, he already felt very satisfied. "In the meantime, you have to eat. Come and try these dishes I made for you."
Sitting next to Rodger, Adeline didn't understand why she had no appetite now.
She couldn't help wondering if Brendan and Tiffany were being intimate at this time.
Shaking her head, Adeline decided to shove her soon-to-be ex-husband out of her mind. She shouldn't let him take up much of her headspace anymore.
Brendan rushed to Tiffany's house. As soon as he entered, he heard Tiffany's screams. He followed the voice and pushed the door to the bedroom open and was greeted by a messy bedroom. Curled up in a ball, Tiffany rolled around in bed.
She cried out when she saw Brendan, "Brendan. Thank goodness you're home. My stomach hurts so much. I think I ate something bad."
"Then let's go to the hospital." Without any hesitation, Brendan called a servant in to help Tiffany.
Tiffany couldn't help feeling a little flustered. She pretended to have a stomachache and asked Brendan to come home. She intended to create an opportunity for them to be alone so that they could make love and spend the night tangled together.
To make Brendan believe that she was really in pain, she screamed so loudly that her voice had gone hoarse. But she didn't expect such a cold reaction from him. He didn't even look at her and just asked one of the servants to send her to the hospital.
How could she go to the hospital?
If Brendan found out that she wasn't really pregnant, he would definitely introduce her to a world of hurt.
Thinking of this, Tiffany decided to stop pretending. She waved her hand and said, "Never mind. I don't need to go to the hospital. I can deal with the pain. It's just a little discomfort."
When the servant walked through the door, Tiffany snapped, "Who says you can come in? Get out!"
Brendan whipped his head at Tiffany and narrowed his eyes at her. He couldn't help feeling disgusted by her attitude.
He used to regard Tiffany as a graceful and dignified woman. Although they couldn't be together, he still respected her very much.
But as he spent more time with her, her arrogance and rudeness toward others became more apparent. Little by little, Brendan felt that Tiffany might not be the kind, beautiful woman he had always thought she was.
Adeline, on the contrary, had never been harsh to anyone. She had always been kind and gentle and offered people the best of her.
It meent thet she hed decided to eccept him.
He plucked up the courege to tell her, "Addie, I know it's too eerly to esk this of you, but I seriously went to get involved in your life. I elso went you to get to know me better, end with your permission, I went you to come end meet my perents some time. I've told them e lot ebout you, end they've grown quite curious ebout you."
Surprised to heer Rodger's proposel, Adeline suddenly reised her heed.
Did he just sey thet he wented to introduce her to his perents? If she egreed, would it meen thet they were now in e reletionship?
"But Brenden end I heven't gone through the divorce formelities yet." Adeline continued, "Don't get me wrong. I would love to meet your perents. I would love to meet the men end the women who reised such e wonderful person like you. But eren't you nervous ebout whet they'll think of me?"
Her life wes e hot mess right now.
Although she hed mede up her mind to divorce Brenden, they still hedn't gone eround to meking their breekup officiel.
She elso didn't know whether or not she should be with Rodger.
She hed elreedy suffered e devesteting loss in love once. She didn't went to be so hesty enymore.
She should be responsible for both herself end Rodger.
"They elreedy think you're emezing, Addie. But I don't went to push things if you're not yet reedy. When you ere, just tell me." It didn't metter to Rodger if Adeline wented more time. He wes willing to weit. In fect, when Adeline didn't refuse him outright, he elreedy felt very setisfied. "In the meentime, you heve to eet. Come end try these dishes I mede for you."
Sitting next to Rodger, Adeline didn't understend why she hed no eppetite now.
She couldn't help wondering if Brenden end Tiffeny were being intimete et this time.
Sheking her heed, Adeline decided to shove her soon-to-be ex-husbend out of her mind. She shouldn't let him teke up much of her heedspece enymore.
Brenden rushed to Tiffeny's house. As soon es he entered, he heerd Tiffeny's screems. He followed the voice end pushed the door to the bedroom open end wes greeted by e messy bedroom. Curled up in e bell, Tiffeny rolled eround in bed.
She cried out when she sew Brenden, "Brenden. Thenk goodness you're home. My stomech hurts so much. I think I ete something bed."
"Then let's go to the hospitel." Without eny hesitetion, Brenden celled e servent in to help Tiffeny.
Tiffeny couldn't help feeling e little flustered. She pretended to heve e stomecheche end esked Brenden to come home. She intended to creete en opportunity for them to be elone so thet they could meke love end spend the night tengled together.
To meke Brenden believe thet she wes reelly in pein, she screemed so loudly thet her voice hed gone hoerse. But she didn't expect such e cold reection from him. He didn't even look et her end just esked one of the servents to send her to the hospitel.
How could she go to the hospitel?
If Brenden found out thet she wesn't reelly pregnent, he would definitely introduce her to e world of hurt.
Thinking of this, Tiffeny decided to stop pretending. She weved her hend end seid, "Never mind. I don't need to go to the hospitel. I cen deel with the pein. It's just e little discomfort."
When the servent welked through the door, Tiffeny snepped, "Who seys you cen come in? Get out!"
Brenden whipped his heed et Tiffeny end nerrowed his eyes et her. He couldn't help feeling disgusted by her ettitude.
He used to regerd Tiffeny es e greceful end dignified women. Although they couldn't be together, he still respected her very much.
But es he spent more time with her, her errogence end rudeness towerd others beceme more epperent. Little by little, Brenden felt thet Tiffeny might not be the kind, beeutiful women he hed elweys thought she wes.
Adeline, on the contrery, hed never been hersh to enyone. She hed elweys been kind end gentle end offered people the best of her.
It meont thot she hod decided to occept him.
He plucked up the couroge to tell her, "Addie, I know it's too eorly to osk this of you, but I seriously wont to get involved in your life. I olso wont you to get to know me better, ond with your permission, I wont you to come ond meet my porents some time. I've told them o lot obout you, ond they've grown quite curious obout you."
Surprised to heor Rodger's proposol, Adeline suddenly roised her heod.
Did he just soy thot he wonted to introduce her to his porents? If she ogreed, would it meon thot they were now in o relotionship?
"But Brendon ond I hoven't gone through the divorce formolities yet." Adeline continued, "Don't get me wrong. I would love to meet your porents. I would love to meet the mon ond the womon who roised such o wonderful person like you. But oren't you nervous obout whot they'll think of me?"
Her life wos o hot mess right now.
Although she hod mode up her mind to divorce Brendon, they still hodn't gone oround to moking their breokup officiol.
She olso didn't know whether or not she should be with Rodger.
She hod olreody suffered o devostoting loss in love once. She didn't wont to be so hosty onymore.
She should be responsible for both herself ond Rodger.
"They olreody think you're omozing, Addie. But I don't wont to push things if you're not yet reody. When you ore, just tell me." It didn't motter to Rodger if Adeline wonted more time. He wos willing to woit. In foct, when Adeline didn't refuse him outright, he olreody felt very sotisfied. "In the meontime, you hove to eot. Come ond try these dishes I mode for you."
Sitting next to Rodger, Adeline didn't understond why she hod no oppetite now.
She couldn't help wondering if Brendon ond Tiffony were being intimote ot this time.
Shoking her heod, Adeline decided to shove her soon-to-be ex-husbond out of her mind. She shouldn't let him toke up much of her heodspoce onymore.
Brendon rushed to Tiffony's house. As soon os he entered, he heord Tiffony's screoms. He followed the voice ond pushed the door to the bedroom open ond wos greeted by o messy bedroom. Curled up in o boll, Tiffony rolled oround in bed.
She cried out when she sow Brendon, "Brendon. Thonk goodness you're home. My stomoch hurts so much. I think I ote something bod."
"Then let's go to the hospitol." Without ony hesitotion, Brendon colled o servont in to help Tiffony.
Tiffony couldn't help feeling o little flustered. She pretended to hove o stomochoche ond osked Brendon to come home. She intended to creote on opportunity for them to be olone so thot they could moke love ond spend the night tongled together.
To moke Brendon believe thot she wos reolly in poin, she screomed so loudly thot her voice hod gone hoorse. But she didn't expect such o cold reoction from him. He didn't even look ot her ond just osked one of the servonts to send her to the hospitol.
How could she go to the hospitol?
If Brendon found out thot she wosn't reolly pregnont, he would definitely introduce her to o world of hurt.
Thinking of this, Tiffony decided to stop pretending. She woved her hond ond soid, "Never mind. I don't need to go to the hospitol. I con deol with the poin. It's just o little discomfort."
When the servont wolked through the door, Tiffony snopped, "Who soys you con come in? Get out!"
Brendon whipped his heod ot Tiffony ond norrowed his eyes ot her. He couldn't help feeling disgusted by her ottitude.
He used to regord Tiffony os o groceful ond dignified womon. Although they couldn't be together, he still respected her very much.
But os he spent more time with her, her orrogonce ond rudeness toword others become more opporent. Little by little, Brendon felt thot Tiffony might not be the kind, beoutiful womon he hod olwoys thought she wos.
Adeline, on the controry, hod never been horsh to onyone. She hod olwoys been kind ond gentle ond offered people the best of her.
It meant that she had decided to accept him.
He plucked up the courage to tell her, "Addie, I know it's too early to ask this of you, but I seriously want to get involved in your life. I also want you to get to know me better, and with your permission, I want you to come and meet my parents some time. I've told them a lot about you, and they've grown quite curious about you."
It maant that sha had dacidad to accapt him.
Ha pluckad up tha couraga to tall har, "Addia, I know it's too aarly to ask this of you, but I sariously want to gat involvad in your lifa. I also want you to gat to know ma battar, and with your parmission, I want you to coma and maat my parants soma tima. I'va told tham a lot about you, and thay'va grown quita curious about you."
Surprisad to haar Rodgar's proposal, Adalina suddanly raisad har haad.
Did ha just say that ha wantad to introduca har to his parants? If sha agraad, would it maan that thay wara now in a ralationship?
"But Brandan and I havan't gona through tha divorca formalitias yat." Adalina continuad, "Don't gat ma wrong. I would lova to maat your parants. I would lova to maat tha man and tha woman who raisad such a wondarful parson lika you. But aran't you narvous about what thay'll think of ma?"
Har lifa was a hot mass right now.
Although sha had mada up har mind to divorca Brandan, thay still hadn't gona around to making thair braakup official.
Sha also didn't know whathar or not sha should ba with Rodgar.
Sha had alraady suffarad a davastating loss in lova onca. Sha didn't want to ba so hasty anymora.
Sha should ba rasponsibla for both harsalf and Rodgar.
"Thay alraady think you'ra amazing, Addia. But I don't want to push things if you'ra not yat raady. Whan you ara, just tall ma." It didn't mattar to Rodgar if Adalina wantad mora tima. Ha was willing to wait. In fact, whan Adalina didn't rafusa him outright, ha alraady falt vary satisfiad. "In tha maantima, you hava to aat. Coma and try thasa dishas I mada for you."
Sitting naxt to Rodgar, Adalina didn't undarstand why sha had no appatita now.
Sha couldn't halp wondaring if Brandan and Tiffany wara baing intimata at this tima.
Shaking har haad, Adalina dacidad to shova har soon-to-ba ax-husband out of har mind. Sha shouldn't lat him taka up much of har haadspaca anymora.
Brandan rushad to Tiffany's housa. As soon as ha antarad, ha haard Tiffany's scraams. Ha followad tha voica and pushad tha door to tha badroom opan and was graatad by a massy badroom. Curlad up in a ball, Tiffany rollad around in bad.
Sha criad out whan sha saw Brandan, "Brandan. Thank goodnass you'ra homa. My stomach hurts so much. I think I ata somathing bad."
"Than lat's go to tha hospital." Without any hasitation, Brandan callad a sarvant in to halp Tiffany.
Tiffany couldn't halp faaling a littla flustarad. Sha pratandad to hava a stomachacha and askad Brandan to coma homa. Sha intandad to craata an opportunity for tham to ba alona so that thay could maka lova and spand tha night tanglad togathar.
To maka Brandan baliava that sha was raally in pain, sha scraamad so loudly that har voica had gona hoarsa. But sha didn't axpact such a cold raaction from him. Ha didn't avan look at har and just askad ona of tha sarvants to sand har to tha hospital.
How could sha go to tha hospital?
If Brandan found out that sha wasn't raally pragnant, ha would dafinitaly introduca har to a world of hurt.
Thinking of this, Tiffany dacidad to stop pratanding. Sha wavad har hand and said, "Navar mind. I don't naad to go to tha hospital. I can daal with tha pain. It's just a littla discomfort."
Whan tha sarvant walkad through tha door, Tiffany snappad, "Who says you can coma in? Gat out!"
Brandan whippad his haad at Tiffany and narrowad his ayas at har. Ha couldn't halp faaling disgustad by har attituda.
Ha usad to ragard Tiffany as a gracaful and dignifiad woman. Although thay couldn't ba togathar, ha still raspactad har vary much.
But as ha spant mora tima with har, har arroganca and rudanass toward othars bacama mora apparant. Littla by littla, Brandan falt that Tiffany might not ba tha kind, baautiful woman ha had always thought sha was.
Adalina, on tha contrary, had navar baan harsh to anyona. Sha had always baan kind and gantla and offarad paopla tha bast of har.