Chapter 85
Chapter 85
Not long after, I was discharged from the hospital.
Being in the hospital was really boring. Plus my recovery was going great, so I checked out earlier than planned.
Bailey drove me back to Sterling Estates. The housekeeper cooked a hearty lunch for me. I ate a lot, feeling all recharged.
Suddenly, Oscar called, “Irene, how are you doing? I went to the hospital, but they told me you had already left.”
“Oscar, how did you know I was in the hospital?” I was a bit surprised, as I hadn’t posted anything about it on social media.
Oscar was silent for a few seconds before he told me, “Bonnie told me this morning.”
Why would Bonnie tell Oscar about my injury? Thinking about what she had said before about Oscar having special feelings for me, I seemed to understand her intention. Was she trying to help Oscar pursue me?
Just then, Neil also called. After handling Oscar with a few words, I picked up his call.
He was pis sed, “Why didn’t you tell me when you were discharged?”
“Did you go to the hospital?” I asked.
“Of course!” Neil sounded pretty pis sed, “What a waste of my time!”
Suddenly, it clicked. Bonnie knew that Neil was going to the hospital this morning, so she told Oscar about my hospitalization. This way, both men would run into each other at the hospital. Too bad she didn’t expect me to check out early.
I never thought she could be so cun ning.
Neil had already hung up, and I didn’t bother calling back.
Winter days are short and nights are long. It was not even half past five in the afternoon, and the sky was already gloomy. I slept all afternoon and didn’t wake up until then. After putting on a coat, I headed to the snowman in the yard.
The snowman was a bit out of shape. With the heavy snowfall these days, it had swollen a lot.
“Madam, it’s too cold outside. You should go back inside,” the housekeeper kindly reminded me.
“I’m fine, I’m bundled up,” I smiled and told her, “Go and cook something. I’m not hungry yet, and you can prepare something as you wish.”
“Yes, madam.”
Once the housekeeper went inside, I took a few steps back and looked at the mansion in front of me. I used to think it was a love nest for Neil and me Now I realized it was more like a giant cage, and I had willingly stayed in it for five years.
In these five years, apart from missing Neil and waiting for Neil, I had nothing else to do.
Stella enjoyed flirting with handsome guys, Barbara was always striving to become a pop star, and Alicia was hustling for her career. Only me, after giving up on Neil, I became extremely hollow.
Maybe after the divorce, I should plan what to do, whether to continue pursuing my music dream or to return to family’s company to learn some business.
Anyway, I won’t go back to Whitmore Co. as his personal assistant.
I was so lost in thoughts that I didn’t notice when Neil stood behind me.
“Sigh,” I let out a deep breath, turned to leave. When I saw Neil, I screamed, patting my chest, “You scared me! Are
you a ghost?!”
“Guilty conscience?” Neil had his hands in his trench coat pockets. He wore a handmade black and white checkered scarf around his neck, which suited him nicely.
I didn’t respond to him but pointed at the scarf, “It’s nice. Did Bonnie knit it?”
I had seen this scarf in my past life, but it appeared much later than in this life. In my past life, Russel told me that it was knitted by Bonnie herself for
Neil.
Neil treasured this scarf as if it was the most expensive luxury in the world.
He raised his eyebrows, seemingly admitting it, waiting for me to continue.
“It looks warm. Can I borrow it?” I suddenly reached out to take off his scarf. I thought he would refuse, but he bent down slightly to cooperate with me.
As he bent down, the distance between us shortened. I slowed down my movements, staring at his face. It was hard to imagine that I had loved this face for ten years, and now I was really going to let go.
Neil’s gaze became probing. He asked, “Still want it?”
Only then did I speed up, pulled off the scarf quickly, and casually wrapped it around my neck. Maybe due to full love on it, the scarf was indeed very
warm.
“If Bonnie knows, she might be upset,” I rubbed the scarf with my chin, deliberately saying, “Her attitude towards you has just softened a bit, don’t blow
it.
“She’s not that petty.” Neil answered lightly, as if the Bonnie in his mind was the woman who trusted and understood him the most in the world.
I sighed deeply, really wanted to play that recording to Neil right now, and tell him that Bonnie deliberately sent Oscar to the hospital to see me this mokning.
But with the divorce imminent, I had no need to do so. That would only prolong the divorce, and the effect of the recording would not be optimal.
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11:08
Chapter 85
The scarf around my neck seemed to be slowly sprouting thorns, making me uncomfortable. I took off the scarf and returned it to Neil, “Thanks. I’ve had enough.”
After saying that, I turned and walked back. Neil followed behind me with the scarf.
The house was warm, not as cold as outside. I took off my coat and threw it aside. So did Neil.
“Did you bring the divorce agreement this time?” I sat on the sofa, holding a cup of hot chocolate, and looked at Neil indifferently.
“No.” Neil’s answer surprised me.
“Why is it not ready yet?” I was a bit frustrated, “I don’t want your money. Shouldn’t it be simple?”
Neil frowned, “Are you really in such a hurry to get a divorce?”
This line sounds so familiar!
In my past life, I also asked Neil angrily. Then, the answer I got was that he wanted to give Bonnie a formal identity, instead of letting her be his mistress forever.
I was a bit stunned. The scenes of the two worlds seemed to overlap, even our identities were swapped.
“Why not divorce?” I came back to my senses, and the turbulence in my heart gradually subsided, “We have been pretending to be husband and wife for five years. Isn’t that enough? Now you’ve found someone you truly love, and I’m willing to let go of the past. Isn’t that great?”
Seeing him staying silent, I went on, “Neil, what’s the matter with you? What are you hesitating for? Can’t you really give up with the little profit my family can bring you?”
My question made Neil’s facial expression change drastically. I saw his hand slowly clenching into a fist, with the veins on the back of his hand becoming prominent due to the exertion.
A certain guess in my heart was getting stronger. It prompted me to continue, “Could it be…you’ve fallen for me?”
“Irene!” Neil’s voice was full of impatience, “Will you ever stop being so full of yourself?”
I was at a loss for words. The growing expectation in my heart was shattered in an instant. I was indeed overthinking. How could something that hadn’t been achieved in ten years be accomplished in just a few months?
