The CEO’s Ex-Wife Can’t Escape

To Love You Again, My Husband

Chapter 19: Genuineness

Jackson, in astonishment, touched his cheek confusedly. He only wanted to make sure she was well and wanted to take care of her since of what had happened to her father. But she had slapped him without presenting evidence as to why. Did he do something wrong? He was considerate enough not to get upset due to her consistent harmful words. However, what she did was unforgivable. Why was she mad at his appearance?

He staggered, balancing himself to stand straight, and then slowly turned his head at her, intending to confront and yell at her. But his plan was demolished upon witnessing her despondent expression, and a glum written all over her face. He widened his eyes, as his heart thumped in frantic and anxious.

First and foremost, she had already slapped him yet why was she still crying? Was it because of her father? But he will do anything to help her, hence she doesn’t need to shed tears since he felt it was unnecessary. No, rather, seeing her cry crushes his heart. Despaired, he unhurriedly approached her as his hand reached out to her crying face. Before Airina knew it, his hand had already wiped her tears away from her eyes.

He had an ugly, downcast frown as he spoke, “… Don’t cry.”

Airina slapped his hand. Her tears, instead, didn’t stop falling.

“I really d-don’t want to see you r-right now. Just disappear from my sight…”

“I’m sorry, I can’t do that.”

“W-why can’t you do it? You heartlessly divorced m-me and n-now you w-want me back? W-why? Guilty or pitying me? W-what is… ugh.” She turned around, panting heavily and clutching her chest. She couldn’t breathe properly because of her overwhelmed emotions.

Why do unwanted things keep occurring only to her?

Jackson reluctantly swallowed his saliva and touched her shoulder.

He said, “I’m sorry. I… will talk to you after your father is well”, he sighed, “For now, why don’t you take a rest? I will keep my eyes on your father.”

She glanced at his hand, having no energy to slap it away. She closed her eyes hopelessly and shook her head.

“I don’t want to be indebted to others”, she sniffed, wiping her tears roughly, and faced him. “I will do it on my own so you can go.”

“Airina, listen to me. This is a little debt if you compared how your mother and father saved me, no, I mean… your stepmother.”

At the mention of her stepmother, her frown got deeper, and she looked away. She hasn’t even taken her revenge, yet it felt aggravating to hear her name. It was annoying.

He exhaled, “Just… rest. I will wake you up tomorrow.”

She sighed. “I don’t want to. I appreciate if you’re truly concerned for my father but I’d prefer if I’m alone here.”

“That is exactly why I don’t want to leave. You’ll be alone here, so what if something happens to you? Who will you call, and will you have time to make a call?” She scoffed, “Do what you want, I want to see my father.”

As she was about to take a step forward, he held her shoulders, stopping her.

“Airina, just… rest. Look at your condition now, you’ll get sick if you stay late. Please, just this once… listen to me. I won’t ask for anymore.”

When he said ‘please’, it was when she knew her heart was swayed again. She lowered her gaze, calming her nerves as she didn’t want to make the same mistake again. It might be better if she listens to him, it wouldn’t hurt her to rest. Just a little while.

His grasp slowly loosened, but rather than completely letting go of her, he wrapped his hands around her back and leaned forward. Slightly yet surely, he was already half-hugging her. Airina flinched and her emotions swirled again. While her heart was pounding, her eyes flickered with hesitance and their eyes managed to lock with each other.

She found out that rather than his usual intimidating, cold eyes, his eyes contained genuineness and care. Was that gaze for her or was it reserved for her father? She doesn’t know. With a deep sigh, she escaped from his arms as if it wasn’t their first hug with a furrow of her brows.

“… I’ll sleep in my father’s room”, Before he could stop her, she warned, “I’ll let you stay if you abide by that one thing.”

And he gulped, unable to say no.

***

In haste, Evan headed inside, and he didn’t panic when he saw Jackson since he was more worried about his father’s state.

He yelled, “F-father! How did you… can you see me? How much am I holding in my hand?” As if his father got comatose, he asked unneeded questions.

Airina folded her arms watching Evan’s understandable actions and sighed. Originally, Evan would have gone here last night but since there was no taxi or bus at that hour, he had to wait for the next day. Even so, his heart and senses were shrouded with anxiety and it returned each second he thought his father would be fine.

Airina stepped forward, patting his back. “He’s better than yesterday.”

Evan glimpsed at Jackson then swiftly placed Airina behind his back and seriously asked him.

“Why are you here and what did you do to my father and sister? I am telling you, I may not have the same wealth and power but I can sue you.”

Jackson blinked his eyes. He hadn’t done anything wrong but Evan had already threatened him.

It wasn’t enough and scary for Evan so he added without much thought, “You know what, you would have been a great in-law and husband if your looks matched that personality of yours”, he tilted his head, “But you’re so stupid, unequal with your CEO position. Tch.”

In the room, no one stopped Evan’s words, they allowed him as if it was a natural occurrence. Their father, Kevin, coughed uneasily. Nonetheless in Evan’s words, Jackson was still a high and respected person. If he wanted, Jackson could easily do evil deeds to him.

Jackson cleared his throat. “How is your college, Evan?”

“So, you still know me after all?”, he shrugged, “Well of course since you’re chasing my sister.” Then he nonchalantly turned away from him as if he hadn’t dropped a shocker. Kevin unconsciously looked toward Jackson, questioning his intention through his gaze.

Shy, Jackson looked at his dirtied shoes.

Airina held her father’s hand, “How are you feeling now? Are you hungry? Let me get you a porridge.”

Jackson said, “Let me do it.”

He then smoothly went out on his own accord while the rest gazed at him strangely. Evan pointed at his vanished figure and asked Airina.

“He had been bothering you for the past month?”

Airina nodded her head, “I don’t know what food he eats but I think he feels guilty… more preferably to say he pities me.”

Evan angrily exhaled, “He left you and now he chases you? Just how retarded could he be?”

Airina almost blurted a laugh when he said that, thankfully she had prevented herself. “He came here past midnight and insisted to stay because he’s worried about Pa.”

Evan frowned, “Probably. Pa saved his life previously, it’s only natural that he repay what he owed.”

Airina comprehended his words and added, “After this, he should move on to his way and forget about us. This is what all he had to do.”

Kevin looked down on his daughter and seriously asked her, “Do you still like Jackson?”

Airina flinched and her lips twitched but her action responded otherwise. She lowered her head, uncomfortably answering, “To be in fact, it was upsetting and unsettling to have him around.”

Kevin had a faint smile on his face. “… I won’t tell you what to do anymore so, Rina, I want you to think about yourself more. I lacked as your father, I’m sorry.” His eyes lingered on his children, who sighed expediently.

Airina smiled, “Don’t worry about us and think of yourself, instead. We grew up well so all you have to do is recover.”

Kevin looked at his hands, “Did you tell it… to your stepmother and Nicole?”

Evan pursed his lips. “We haven’t told them yet”, he then stared at his father, “Ah, where are they?”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Airina hastily nudged his arms and frowned as a signal to say it was a sensitive topic. At the same time, Jackson headed inside while carrying the said meal. The air was different than before but oblivious as he was, he could only keep up with them.