Chapter 206 Learning and Using It Right Away.
I was taken aback and looked at Jerry, my annoyance evident. "Did I ever say I wanted to marry you?"
Jerry's lips curved into a slight smirk. "Everything else can be up to you. But this decision, it's mine to make."
I glared at him, my temper flaring. "And if I don't want to? Are you going to tie me up and drag me down the aisle?"
I shot these words at him while making my way downstairs. Seeing him follow me to the car, I couldn't help but ask, puzzled, "Where's your car?"
For once, he didn't fall asleep immediately after getting into the car. As I started the engine, he broke the silence. "Did you find out anything from Beata?"
"Yes, a little." I replied, a heaviness creeping into my voice at the mention of Beata. "I was indeed kidnapped back then. I escaped and ended up in my dad's car, and he saved me. They heard the people searching for me mention something about 'Mrs. Harris.'"
I asked Jerry, "Do you think the person who kidnapped me could be Mrs. Harris?"
Jerry frowned thoughtfully. "It's very possible. But before the kidnapping, she was always kind to you. That's why I never suspected her all these years."
I pursed my lips. "That explains why she felt somewhat familiar when I saw her for the first time."
After all, she was someone who treated me well when I was young; I even used to call her Mom.
Jerry seemed deep in thought. "Any other clues?"
Just as I was about to continue, he said at a traffic light. "Turn left here."
"Where are we going?" I asked, momentarily confused; this wasn't the direction to the hotel, but I still followed his instructions.
Jerry's voice was relaxed and mysterious. "I’m taking you somewhere special. You'll see soon enough."
I nodded, albeit with curiosity. "Okay."
"Go on," Jerry prompted.
"I'll tell you when we get there," I teased, deliberately creating suspense.
He chuckled lazily, "You pick that up quick enough."
Following Jerry's guidance, I carefully maneuvered into an old-style residential area in downtown Maple Valley. After parking, I got out, still puzzled, but Jerry was already opening the trunk and handling my luggage.
I looked at him, thoroughly bemused.
"This time, we're not staying at a hotel." Jerry announced nonchalantly, pushing the luggage ahead and leading the way.
When I hesitated, he glanced back. "What, already imagining me forcing myself on you?"
"Who's thinking about that?" I retorted, my cheeks flushing.
Jerry smirked. "Whoever's thinking it, knows."
Admittedly, Jerry's ribbing worked, and I quickly caught up. "I know you're not that kind of person. Jerry, I've always trusted you."
He laughed, "Really?"
"Yes." I replied, unsure if I was genuinely praising him or just trying to ease the tension, but my tone was resolute.
It was a small house with two units per floor, and the environment was charming and serene. The moment he opened the door, I was greeted by a wall filled with Doraemon figurines, and I couldn't help but smile. "You can be this childish?"
"You're the childish one." Jerry shot back, noticing my puzzled expression. He raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Don't you like it now?"
I realized that the entire wall of figurines was meticulously arranged according to my preferences.
This neighborhood showed its age from the outside, but the interior was spotless and elegantly clean. The lighting was perfect, casting a warm and inviting glow, and the decor was a cozy, delicate country style that any girl would adore.
I was curious why Jerry would choose this style, but he handed me the key to the fingerprint lock and explained, "It's all decorated according to your childhood preferences. I originally planned to give it to you as a birthday gift back then but didn't get the chance."
I initially wanted to refuse but, upon hearing this, took it and joked, "So there was a time when you were this extravagant?"
Now he wouldn't go to such lengths without benefits, but back then, he had bought a whole house.
Jerry raised an eyebrow. "I'm flattered. After all, I did trick a lot of good stuff out of you when we were kids."
A leopard can not change it's spots, then.
After stepping into the room, he carried the luggage straight into the bedroom. "All the daily necessities are stocked. If anything's missing, buy it yourself."
"Okay." I nodded, looking around and feeling an inexplicable sense of security.
The early spring sunset poured in, bathing everything in a golden light. Jerry leaned casually against the door frame, his voice lazy, "Can you continue now? What else did you find out at Jacquar?"
"This." I said, pulling out my necklace from my collar. "You recognize it, right?"
His expression tightened slightly. "Of course. You've been wearing it all along?"
"Yes, not long after I saw you at Jacquar, Beata gave it to me."
"Impressive." He laughed and pinched my cheek, gritting his teeth. "Who taught you to hide it so well?"
If he had seen it earlier, many things wouldn't have taken so long.
My face contorted from his pinch. I mumbled, "I didn't expect this thing to be so useful."
Jerry let go of me and shot me a look. "You're so clueless. And then? What's the deal with this necklace?"
I looked at him seriously. "It has 'Ortiz' engraved on the bottom of it. Do you know where this necklace came from?"
Jerry frowned, as if trying to remember. "Supposedly it was given to you by your mom, Mrs. Harris, when you were born. We even asked Claire about this 'Ortiz' back then. Claire said Mrs. Harris was from the Ortiz family."
I was puzzled. "But she doesn't have the surname Ortiz."
He explained, "She took her mother's surname. Something happened back then, and after she married into the Harris family, the Ortiz family cut ties with her."
The more he explained, the more confused I became. But deep down, I still felt that Skylar couldn't be my biological mother.
Jerry chuckled and straightened up. "No rush, the truth will come out eventually."
I smiled, feeling a wave of calm wash over me. "Yes."
There was no point in hurrying. Many things were from the past, and tracing them back was not easy.
I glanced at the time. "How about I treat you to dinner?"
Just as I finished speaking, the doorbell rang. He went to open the door and took two bags of fresh groceries from the delivery person. As he walked to the fridge, he asked nonchalantly, "How’s Christopher’s cooking?"
I answered honestly, "Pretty good."
Thanks to Evelyn's training, Christopher indeed had good cooking skills, though I didn't get to enjoy it often.
"Really?" Jerry responded nonchalantly, asking what I wanted to eat before putting the rest in the fridge.
I walked over, offering. "Let me cook."
He certainly didn’t seem like someone who could cook. The last time I'd been at his place, the kitchen looked more like a showroom than a functional space.
Something in my offer seemed to have touched a nerve with Jerry, and he glanced at me, his tone lazy. "Afraid I'll poison you?"
I lied, "Of course not. Your cooking is at a state banquet level."
He was quite satisfied with this answer and nodded toward the living room. "Then stay on the couch and wait for dinner."
I agreed, "Okay."
Hearing Jerry speak so confidently, I assumed dinner was in capable hands.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
