Chapter 276: Misunderstanding
So, I just grinned and shook my head, "I've been swamped with some urgent stuff lately, so I can't make it. But seriously, I wish you both the best."
Louis looked bummed but didn't push it, maybe 'cause he was being selfish.
He thanked me and turned to leave. I watched him, his tall frame kinda slouched. Maybe he had one too many drinks, his steps were wobbly, and he looked a bit lonely.
I smiled and waved at him. Later, chubby, stay happy.
I turned around and kept heading towards the restroom.
As I passed the men's room, a gust of wind hit, and I rubbed my eyes. Didn't expect someone to come out, and bam, I bumped right into him.
The guy reacted fast, took a step back, then quickly stepped forward again. He grabbed my shoulders, calling my name in surprise.
I was startled and tried to shake him off.
But that familiar scent made me wanna sigh.
I stopped trying to shake him off.
"Jane? What are you doing here?" Brad's familiar voice sounded in my ear, with a mix of surprise and maybe a hint of panic? I wasn't sure.
Why panic? Was he scared I'd do something to betray him? How paranoid.
Seeing Brad here was a nice surprise.
But it kinda made sense. Brad was someone Larry valued, so he'd definitely inform Brad.
Larry was getting more interesting, not telling me Brad was here and not having Brad come with us. What was he thinking?
Actually, having Brad here made me feel at ease 'cause with him around, I wouldn't have to face those unfamiliar faces alone or be scared.
No matter what storms came, he'd always stand in front of me, like an indestructible wall.
"Larry brought me here. What about you? Weren't you busy with a project? Why are you here, looking so flustered? Did you do something bad to me?" I said happily, and poked his sharp jaw with my right index finger, squinting my eyes in a mock-threatening way.
Brad laughed. He grabbed my hand, kissed it, then whispered in my ear, "I can barely handle you alone. How would I have the time to do anything bad to you?"
A playful Brad was rare.
He bit my ear, making my face turn red.
Was this a new way to seduce someone?
I knew he had done something behind my back. Although it might not be a betrayal, he was definitely hiding something from me.
"Brad, I'm ready. Can you help me?" A soft, coquettish female voice called out.
My heart sank.
That voice was all too familiar and so annoying that I didn't wanna hear it.
My smile stiffened.
Brad was with Jenny. This wasn't a coincidence; he was waiting for Jenny.
And I knew nothing about it.
He came to this party, yet didn't tell me and instead brought Jenny along.
My heart felt like it had been struck by a heavy blow, causing excruciating pain.
I was suddenly a bit dazed.
How many things was Brad hiding from me? Why did he bring Jenny and not tell me? How far had their relationship developed behind my back?
Seeing the scene with my own eyes, it would be impossible not to overthink it. Unless my love for him was fake, just a lie to deceive both him and myself.
I thought any girl in this situation would overthink it.
Your boyfriend, who was rarely around except for sleeping, showed up at a party with another woman.
Wouldn't you wanna know why?
Wouldn't you feel like you were being kept in the dark and wanna scream out of frustration? Wouldn't you angrily demand why he lied to you?
I gotta admit, at that moment, I was shocked and pissed.
And feeling like someone you trust the most is hiding stuff from you, like you’ve been betrayed, is seriously the worst.
Jenny probably didn't expect to see me here. So, when she wheeled herself out and saw me standing next to Brad, her face changed. Beyond the initial discomfort, there was a clear anger at being caught.
I didn't get it. She came to the party with my boyfriend, and I wasn't mad. Why was she? Who gave her the nerve, who gave her the guts!
I glanced at Brad and Jenny.
Brad looked back at me calmly, not in a rush to explain. Instead, he placed his hands in his pockets, looking super chill.
Jenny's sharp eyes darted between Brad and me a couple of times before she lowered her head to avoid my stare.
There was a moment of awkward silence.
Jenny quickly composed herself, smiling softly and greeting me, "Jane, you're here too. What a coincidence."
She was pretending to run into me by chance, actually implying I was spying on them. She wanted Brad to misunderstand me and me to misunderstand Brad.
What boyfriend would like a girlfriend who constantly spied on him?
Seeing her like this, my tense mood relaxed a bit.
I suddenly thought of Zoe. Compared to Jenny, she had a lot to learn.
"I didn't expect to see you here either. Jenny, aren't you supposed to be doing rehab at the hospital? You must be feeling better to attend a party. Are you fully recovered?" I crossed my arms with a smile, ignoring her previous words and waiting for her response.
Jenny's expression faltered, glancing guiltily at Brad before saying, "It's too boring in the hospital. Brad brought me here to relax."
I didn't respond, but a chill ran up my spine.
I stood there calmly, but my mind was a whirl of complex emotions.
I stood straight, not turning back.
I was waiting, waiting for Brad to give me an explanation.
What I hoped for most was for Brad to expose her lies in front of her while explaining.
Jenny's words were untrustworthy, at least for now. My trust in her was less than in Brad. I might not be smart, but I wasn't foolish enough to believe only her side of the story.
She wanted me to misunderstand Brad, but I wouldn't let her succeed. Even if I did misunderstand, I would choose to discuss it later.
I wondered if I was being too sensitive. It was just a party, nothing significant, but bringing his admirer and hiding it from his girlfriend was unacceptable.
So, I needed an explanation.
I just wanted to know why. As Brad's girlfriend, I believed I had that right.
I also wanted Jenny to understand that my relationship with Brad was strong.
Brad put his hand on my shoulder. I glanced at his neatly trimmed nails and didn't say a word, suppressing the urge to shake his hand off.
He reached over to pinch my face, winking at me approvingly, then looked coldly at Jenny, "If you have memory issues, you should see a doctor. I know someone who can help."
"No, Brad, I don't have memory issues."
"Then speak clearly. You've had a good education, so you should be able to articulate yourself unless you don't want to. I don't want Jane to get the wrong idea about us."
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