Chapter 196 She‘s Tired
"What's wrong?"
Janetta noticed Pearl withdrawing her hand and the playful banter stopping. Concerned by her pale face, Janetta instinctively asked what was wrong.
She stood up, only to see Oscar standing there.
She panicked as well and thought, 'Why did Oscar suddenly appear?'
No one was more frightening than Pearl at this moment.
Originally intending to catch up with Janetta, it wasn't long before Oscar showed up.
Pearl instinctively adjusted her attire.
Oscar was still displeased, with a stern and cold expression.
Seeing them laughing so happily, Pearl had seemingly forgotten about him, which made him even more unhappy. He slowly walked over, his gaze shifting between them, sensing their unease, and asked in a deep voice, "What's so amusing?"
His deep eyes lingered the coffee and the corn chips they ordered, but he noticed the delivery box that shouldn't have been there, with a few books hidden underneath.
Pearl quickly took the books and the delivery box and placed them behind her. "Nothing, just chatting with Janetta."
"That's right," Janetta chimed in. "I didn't expect you to follow, Mr. Brown."
Janetta, trying to help Pearl, joked, "Mr. Brown, you're really clingy. Pearl just stepped out, and here you come. If others knew how you follow your wife closely, they'd be shocked."
Only Janetta laughed at her own joke.
The silence made Janetta feel quite awkward.
Oscar narrowed his eyes, his sharp gaze following Pearl's hand movements, and said, "Ms. Janetta, You usually find me unpleasant, but today why are you speaking to me so politely?"
The subtle tension between them made Oscar sense something was amiss.
Janetta, feeling guilty and afraid of being discovered, tried to explain, but it only exposed their odd behavior.
"I..." Janetta began to explain.
"Janetta is now a businesswoman. You'll inevitably meet in the business. It's better to have a friend than an enemy," Pearl spoke on her behalf.
"Yes, Mr. Brown." Janetta stood up, smiling at Oscar. "I have changed my career. I used to be proud, only focusing on my paintings to earn a reputation and not much money. Now I'm investing in business. I might need your help in the future, so please don't hold grudges over past matters!"
Janetta extended her hand, hoping to shake hands with Oscar.
Oscar's eyes never left Pearl, ignoring Janetta's gesture.
Seeing this, Janetta awkwardly withdrew her hand and rubbed it.
Looking at Pearl's tightly clenched hand, Oscar coldly asked, "When did you buy these books?"
Pearl replied, "For reading when I'm bored."
"Then why are you hiding them? Why are they here and not sent home? Did you bring books to read while out with Janetta?" This didn't make sense.
Pearl's unusual behavior aroused Oscar's suspicion.
Pearl said calmly, "Janetta bought them. I came today not just to hang out but to pick up the books she got for me."
Oscar frowned and extended his hand. "Let me have a look."
Pearl's fingers tightened, not handing the books to Oscar.
Janetta said, "I bought them for Pearl, Mr. Brown. They're just books for girls; you don't need to see them."
"Hand them over!" Oscar demanded coldly again.
His forceful attitude left no room for argument.
Pearl took a deep breath, her face looking rather displeased, and then took the books from under the delivery box and tossed them to him.
Oscar caught them, glanced through them, and found they were just novels.
Pearl, with a cold expression, stared at Oscar and said, "Are you satisfied now?"
Oscar looked at Pearl. "So why do you hide them? Is there something I can't see?"
"Romance novels, naturally read in private. Girls would feel embarrassed, Mr. Brown, you're overthinking it!" Janetta explained.
Pearl was always very cautious about everything she did.
Before buying the books, she had bought a few novels, not putting the parenting books on display.
Instead, she had placed them in her bag.
Pearl didn't want Oscar to know, so she made thorough preparations, not even overlooking such details.
Pearl, however, didn't want to talk much with Oscar. He was suspicious of her now, and regardless of whether she was pregnant, his forceful attitude made her want to leave in anger.
She grabbed her bag and immediately walked away from him.
Oscar threw the books on the table and called out behind her, "Pearl, stop right there!"
Pearl didn't halt her steps.
Oscar stepped forward and grabbed her hand, asking coldly, "Didn't you hear me? Are you now ignoring even my words?"
Pearl, unable to break free, turned back to him and said, "Mr. Brown, I'm off work now. I have my free time. Why should I listen to you?"
This statement left Oscar momentarily stunned.
In their relationship, Oscar had always been the beneficiary.
Pearl was very obedient to him, whether at work or at home, always considerate and attentive.
Oscar frowned tightly, and said in a low voice, "Hasn't it always been this way?"
Pearl gazed into his eyes. When he said this, he was somewhat guilty, and his tone was not as forceful.
Pearl pulled her hand away from his large palm and said with a bitter smile, "Yes, it used to be like that. I wouldn't speak loudly to you or resist you. I would comply with all your demands. Perhaps in your eyes, everything I did was taken for granted. After all, in the company, I was your secretary, and at home, I was your wife. You thought it was all my duty. But don't forget, I'm divorcing you and resigning from the company. So, all of this is unnecessary now."
Oscar realized this as well.
He had taken Pearl's gentleness, attentiveness, and care for granted, while neglecting her feelings.
Oscar softened his tone and asked her, "Pearl, if I change all this, will you not divorce me?"
Pearl looked into his earnest eyes. Perhaps in the seven years she had been by his side, she had never seen him so earnest.
In the past, he never cared about her.
He also thought she would never leave.
Over the years, he had grown accustomed to her kindness, her attentiveness in life, not letting him worry about anything. Naturally, he was reluctant to let her go.
Afraid that if she left, he would lose a free servant.
When she decided to leave and ignored him, he realized the loss and tried to win her back.
Pearl had now seen through it all.
Rather than being trapped in a cage, it was better to step out.
She truly wanted to give up on Oscar.
Tears welled up in Pearl's eyes, but she smiled and said, "Oscar, you can't force love"
Pearl now understood this truth.
No matter how much effort she put in, no matter how many years she waited, Oscar still didn't love her.
Whether he loved her or not was no longer important; what mattered was that she was tired.
Pearl walked out, and Harold came running in from outside with a bouquet, panting. "Mr. Brown, you forgot your flowers..."
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