Chapter 281 You Haven't Confessed Yet
Jessica yanked open the wardrobe and grabbed a chunky, dark gray scarf she'd spent ages knitting. "It's gonna be freezing tomorrow. This is for you," she mumbled.
James glanced at the scarf. Back in the day, he might've been touched by such a gesture, but now? All he felt was suspicion. Was this another one of her tricks to get him on John's side? She'd told her friends they were just using each other, after all. The thought made his blood boil, and he tossed the scarf onto the small sofa like it was nothing. "I don't like wearing these," he muttered.
With that, he slid into bed, shut his eyes, and turned his back to her.
Jessica's face fell. Kylie had warned her—her homemade scarf wouldn't cut it for someone with his high standards. She sighed, climbed into bed, and felt her heart sink.
They lay there in silence, backs turned, each wrapped up in their own mess, until the house was dead quiet.
But in the still of the night, James heard Jessica's faint, muffled sobs. Guilt twisted in his chest. He turned to her, his voice low and soft. "Jessica," he whispered, giving her a gentle shake.
She shrugged him off angrily, her shoulders stiff against him. Not giving up, he applied a bit more force, turning her to face him. Her cheeks were wet with tears, and she stubbornly looked away.
"Are you mad?" he asked, gently wiping away her tears before planting a soft kiss on her lips. "My bad. No need to cry. Let's just hit the hay, okay?"
Her sobs got louder, her voice shaky with frustration. "You're always so all over the place! I just wanted to see you smile. Why do you act like I'm a bother, like I'm in your way?"
James's face hardened, his voice serious. "So, all you've done wasn't because you love me, but just to make me happy?"
Jessica was stunned. Had he really misunderstood her that much? But then she realized her actions were driven by fear—that if she didn't do everything right, he wouldn't help John. She sighed, admitting quietly, "I know I wasn't a good wife before. I tied our relationship to my dad's issues, and that was my mistake"
James sighed too, his voice softening, "Babe, I want you to be carefree, not this anxious version of you, tiptoeing around me. You say you weren't the best wife, but was I ever a good husband? We're both trying to do better, right?"
"Yeah," Jessica nodded, a small smile breaking through her tears.
Then her expression shifted to anger as she pouted. "Where did you go tonight? Why do you smell like smoke, booze, and women's perfume?"
James chuckled, pinching her cheek lightly. "I knew you couldn't keep up the sad act for long! I wish you'd always speak your mind like this."
Jessica pressed, "Come on, you haven't confessed yet!"
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