Chapter 167 So Close to Becoming Mrs. Torres
Jasper looked down at the little guy's palm-sized face, his expression unreadable. " What answer are you hoping to get by asking that?"
The intensity in his stare was sharp and unsettling.
Even if Jasper was a jerk, Bennett had to admit the guy had a gaze that seemed to penetrate the soul.
He turned his face away, unable to meet Jasper's eyes. "I'm just curious, that's all."
"A casual question gets a casual answer." Shifting to a more comfortable position on the couch, Jasper's lips curved into a faint smile. "I still love her."
He closed his eyes, whispering, "I still love who she used to be."
Bennett's eyes widened. 'Love who she used to be? Wasn't that my mom, Adeline?'
He leaned in earnestly, staring intently at Jasper. ""And what about now?""
Now?
Jasper shifted again, eyes remaining closed, leaning back on the couch, silent.
He didn't know.
On one hand, he felt he shouldn't have moved on so quickly. After all, he had loved her and waited for her for six years. On the other hand, he couldn't accept that the woman he loved had turned into the person he despised most.
To love, or not to love was the question in his mind.
Even just now, when Adeline asked whether he should stop her from going public with Stella's misdeeds, he genuinely didn't know the answer.
"Why aren't you answering?" Bennett pouted and rolled his eyes when Jasper kept his silence.
"Bennett." Lauren furrowed her brows and pulled Bennett aside. "C'mon, stop bugging Daddy. He's in a bad mood."
After a playful wink at Jasper, she whispered, "I found something super cool in Mommy's room, let's go check it out!"
Bennett shot Jasper one more glance before reluctantly allowing Lauren to tug him into Adeline's room.
Jasper shook his head with a smile at the sound of the kids' footsteps.
They were calling him "Daddy" and Adeline "Mommy."
To an outsider, it might seem like he and Adeline were the true married couple.
At that thought, he turned his gaze toward the kitchen.
From where he stood, he could see the busy silhouette of Adeline.
The sizzle of cooking in the kitchen, combined with the laughter and play of the children in the bedroom, left Jasper feeling a bit dazed.
This place, unlike the cold and empty Blue Bay, seemed to be the home he had always wanted.
It was lively, warm, and filled with the aroma of home-cooked meals.
'However, if it were Adeline...I mean...Adeline Collins...in the kitchen, everything'll be perfect,' as he thought of this, Adeline in the kitchen turned off the stove. She deftly plated the food and tried to open the door with a dish in one hand.
However, it seemed she had too much in her hands, as the door didn't budge. She tried again, but her hand slipped.
Adeline turned back to set the dish on the counter before attempting the door again, but this time it swung open from the outside.
Jasper, with a nonchalant expression, opened the door for her and took the dish from her hands to set it on the table.
After the exchange, he turned to the still daydreaming Adeline. "Need any more help?"
Adeline hesitated for a moment, then quickly shook her head.
Jasper frowned and took a glance inside the kitchen.
On the counter, there were a few more dishes waiting to be brought to the table. Coming back to her senses, Adeline carefully carried each dish out to the table.
In no time, the small dining table was filled—four dishes and a soup, a feast for the senses.
Jasper stood there, taking in the sight of the food and the bustling Adeline, feeling a twinge in his heart.
Back when Jasper was with Stella, she used to cook him a full spread almost every day, eagerly awaiting his return home.
Sometimes, she would wait up until the wee hours of the morning. When he walked in, he would either find her fast asleep at the dining table or stretched out dozing on the couch.
Despite always claiming he didn't care for her, his heart couldn't help but warm deeply whenever he saw her like that. Then, he would carry her upstairs to bed.
Meanwhile, the housekeeper would have the staff reheat the dinner, and he would sit down at the table alone.
The dishes were simple but carried the warmth of her touch.
Now, six years later, Stella, now going by the name Stella Collins, had lost all her former tenderness toward him.
In fact, since her return, she hadn't once prepared a meal for him like she used to.
She had been gentle and compliant, always dreaming of a simple and loving marriage. Whereas Stella constantly had high society and prestigious families on her lips. She had even picked up the competitive antics of those socialite women.
"Daddy, dinner's ready!" Lauren's voice suddenly snapped Jasper back to reality.
He looked up to find Bennett, Lauren, and Adeline already seated at the table. Lauren and Adeline sat on one side, Bennett on the other.
Jasper smiled and took his seat next to Bennett.
"Tonight marks the first time our family of four is dining together—let's celebrate!"
Lauren poured orange juice into the glasses in front of everyone. When she got to Jasper, she frowned slightly, hopped off her chair, and fished out a bottle of wine from the cabinet beneath the TV.
"Daddy should have this!" she declared.
Jasper shook his head with a chuckle. "Daddy has to drive later."
Lauren pouted. "Then, we can just ask Uncle Ryan to drive."
Without missing a beat, she skillfully opened the wine bottle.
Watching her adept movements, Jasper raised an eyebrow. "Where did you learn that?"
As she poured the wine, Lauren grinned. ""From my godfather! He likes drinking wine, and I like watching him, so I learned!""
This was the first time Jasper had heard her mention her godfather. He vaguely remembered that the girls referred to Adeline's best friend Violet as "godmother."
Accepting the glass, he asked with a smile, "So, did you join your godfather for a drink? Where's your godmother?"
Lauren paused. "She and godfather don't know each other. They are two separate beings."
Bennett cast a cool glance toward Jasper. "Just like how you and my mom don't necessarily make a family, godfather and godmother don't have to know each other either."
He took a sip of his orange juice and added nonchalantly, "Our godfather is Brandon Torres. You might know him."
Jasper's grip on his drink tightened at the mention of that name.
Brandon Torres was the businessman who always seemed to be at odds with him in their dealings. He even once suspected Adeline was his mole.
His face grew cold. "How is he your godfather?"
Bennett shrugged. "Because we're close. You might not be aware, but my mom almost became Mrs. Torres."
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