Chapter 251: Grown Old with You
After dinner, more of Jerry's friends filtered in, and then there was an unexpected guest: Carlos, the infamous overlooked son of the Hammer family.
This was my first encounter with Carlos. He arrived clad in a sleek black suit, effortlessly pushing open the door to our private room. Leaning against the doorframe, he bore a mischievous smile that subtly echoed Jerry's features. He rapped his knuckles sharply against the door.
Jerry's face remained impassive, as if Carlos were invisible. He casually played a card.
Francis followed suit, tossing down his own card.
Jerry's slender fingers toyed with the last card before he laid it down with an arched eyebrow, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. “I won.”
Jared sat in shock, and the other two players were struck dumb. The stakes were enormous, and Jerry had just raked in a pretty sum—several million dollars on that hand alone.
Francis laughed, “Looks like your girlfriend brings you luck!”
“Not bad,” Jerry replied, modest but with a twinkle in his eye.
Elissa groaned, “Hope, your boyfriend is a real charmer. First, he sweeps you off your feet, now he's sweeping away my money.”
"A bet is a bet," Jerry chuckled, generously offering, "But, the rent for your store, Jared can waive it for you."
Jared smirked, shaking his head. “Jerry, you're quite the master at giving away my stuff to earn brownie points.”
“Any objections?” Jerry retorted smoothly.
Jared glanced at Elissa and shrugged with a smile. “None at all. Consider it a gift since it’s my first time meeting your girlfriend.”
I laughed, "Thank you, Mr. Blake!"
Elissa smiled sweetly at him. “Mr. Blake, you're too kind. Clearly destined for greatness, unlike some of these idle rich kids.”
Another knock came at the door, much heavier this time.
Carlos let out a smirk. “Such a lively party! Jerry, how come I wasn’t on the guest list?”
He sauntered in, eyes locking on me beside Jerry. “This must be Harris. Should I introduce myself?”
Jerry sneered, barely lifting his eyes. “Introduce yourself? Do you even dignify it? Who do you think you are?”
“Jerry, you’re such a jerk,” Carlos muttered as he dragged a chair over, plopping down. “We’re both Hammer blood. What's the difference between you and me?”
Jerry handed me a glass of juice, dismissing Carlos entirely. “The difference between a rightful son and a bastard.”
Carlos adjusted his glasses. “No need for hostility, brother. Since you're still alive, Dad wanted to know if you'll be home for tomorrow night’s dinner.”
Jerry laughed mockingly, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Why don’t you ask him if he’d be interested in watching your downfall?”
Carlos's cool facade slipped, his fingers curling. “What do you mean?”
Jerry toyed with a card, speaking casually. “The Hammer Group's AI project went sideways, losing billions. Can you still hold your position?”
Carlos's composure crumbled. “That news hasn’t gone public yet. How do you know?”
“Maybe because I orchestrated it?” Jerry’s smile turned malicious, his eyes eerily composed.
Fury twisted Carlos’s features. “You did this?”
Jerry’s tone was icy. “Just reclaiming a debt; it's all fair.”
Carlos shook his head, defiantly. “What debt? I have no clue what you’re talking about.”
Carlos's expression briefly shifted, but he quickly regained his composure. "You don't need to worry about my standing within the company. I'm just here to tell you to come home tomorrow night."
Jared, ever the hothead, shot back, "Hypocrite! Are you really going to sit there and act like the lab explosion had nothing to do with you? Don't think you've got the Hammer Group wrapped around your finger. You're just the product of an affair. What real claim do you have in the family?"
With a cool, measured smile, Carlos retorted, "For now, it seems I'm still part of the Hammer family, aren't I?"
Turning his gaze to Jerry, Carlos added, “Anyway, Dad's message has been delivered. Come or don’t—it’s your choice.”
As he made his exit, he couldn't resist a final jab. "By the way, happy birthday. I didn’t expect you to actually make it to another one."
The room was tense as Carlos left, leaving Jared fuming. "What does he mean by that? Is he sorry Jerry didn't die in the lab two years ago?"
Francis remained unbothered. "Enough, Jared. Arguing with him is pointless."
Seeing that both Francis and Jerry were unfazed, Jared's anger slowly subsided. He turned to Jerry. "You know Carlos was behind that bombing two years ago, right? And you’re only messing with one of his projects?"
Francis leaned back with a knowing smile. "You underestimate Jerry’s appetite for revenge."
Hearing this, anxiety gnawed at me.
Carlos seemed capable of anything. The memory of the explosion still haunted me. What if Carlos planned something even worse this time?
Jerry must have sensed my growing fear. He took my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Don’t worry, I won't let anything happen this time."
Francis cut to the chase. "So, are you going to the family dinner tomorrow night?"
Jerry’s lips curled into a subtle smile. "Of course. I wouldn’t miss it for the world."
After the party, we headed home. Elissa retreated to her room to play games, while Nolan took a bath and soon fell asleep, his round belly rising and falling with each peaceful breath. I tucked him in and quietly closed the door.
To my surprise, Jerry was still waiting in the living room.
"Why didn't you leave?" I asked, having told him to head home and rest while I bathed Nolan.
Jerry, sitting on the sofa, pulled me onto his lap. "I knew you’d be anxious. I stayed to comfort you."
His touch felt familiar and natural, like it was always meant to be. If I hadn’t known better, I’d think he was a playboy with a string of girlfriends.
I wrapped my arms around his waist, resting my forehead against his shoulder. "I am worried, Jerry. I don't want anything to happen to you again."
The thought of another explosion was unbearable. It would drive me insane.
Jerry rested his chin on my head and chuckled softly. "Do you care about me that much?"
"This isn’t just about caring," I protested, glaring at him. Under his expectant gaze, I softened and admitted. "Okay, I like you—I really like you. And I can't stand the thought of anything happening to you."
Reflecting on it, I couldn’t pinpoint exactly when I started falling for Jerry again. Was it when he carried me out of that kidnapping situation? Or when I was kneeling in the snow, desolate and frozen, and he showed up with an umbrella? Or perhaps when I was tied to a chair in that hospital, and he burst through the door like my personal hero?
He had saved me and stood by me countless times. Falling for him wasn't due to any single event. It was because Jerry consistently chose me—unconditionally—and I couldn’t ignore the depth of his devotion.
Jerry's eyes darkened with emotion, and he kissed me deeply, the tension in the room shifting to something far more intimate. "With you wanting me so much, how could I dare to die? Hope, I haven’t even married you, had kids with you, or grown old with you yet."
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