Chapter 223 Humiliating Myself?
Pearl burst into the room, slamming the door behind her, cutting off the noise from outside.
The living room fell silent. Oscar sat in a chair, lost in thought for what felt like forever.
He just couldn't get Pearl. Why did she want to keep this kid?
What did she see in that man?
He had been oblivious to her pregnancy, unaware of her confinement in this cramped apartment, and had never truly cared for Pearl.
A surge of frustration swept over Oscar.
No matter his efforts, Pearl remained perpetually dissatisfied.
He had even prepared chicken soup for her, yet she believed it to be poisoned and refused a single sip.
Looking at his scalded hand, he felt like an idiot for trying to please a woman who didn't care.
Oscar's face grew colder as he stood up and headed for the door.
Harold was still waiting outside. Seeing Oscar come out, she was surprised. Oscar wanted to be with Pearl so badly, and now he was leaving?
Harold asked, unsure, "Mr. Brown, aren't you going to find Mrs. Brown?"
Oscar, his demeanor cold, replied in a deep, resonant voice, "Look for her? What for? To subject myself to further humiliation?"
With that, Oscar stormed out.
Harold was still clueless about what had happened. Things seemed fine just a moment ago, right?
She had only been away for a second, and now there was conflict again.
Harold quickly followed Oscar.
Sitting in the car, Oscar slammed the door shut. Feeling suffocated, he tugged at his tie and unbuttoned a couple of buttons on his shirt.
He lit a cigarette to calm his nerves, his demeanor suddenly more intense.
At that moment, his phone rang.
Oscar glanced at it, took a deep drag, and answered, "Hello?"
"Oscar, where have you disappeared to this time? I've been looking for you everywhere," James' cheerful voice echoed through the phone.
Oscar remained silent for a moment, taking a few more puffs before responding faintly, "Not at home."
"Obviously, I know you're not at home," James, cruising in his sports car, sensed Oscar's discontent. After a brief pause, he remarked, "Is it Pearl again causing you distress?"
Oscar maintained a composed facade and stayed quiet.
James reclined in his seat, adopting a more casual tone, "You handle everything so well, but why does Pearl seem to be the one thing you can't manage?"
Oscar's brow furrowed. "If that's all, I'll end the call."
"Wait!" James didn't want to see Oscar in such a despondent state. "I know Pearl has left. When she did, you acted like a lost soul, pretending not to care."
Oscar replied coldly, "But she won't appreciate it."
James chuckled, "How can you claim to care for her? Does she even know? Oscar, you seem to care more about Haley than Pearl!"
Oscar's frown deepened, his tone turning glacial. "James, don't talk nonsense. You know the nature of my relationship with Haley!"
"I do, but does Pearl know?" James persisted, "Women, if they choose not to be with you, it's either because they don't have feelings for you or you haven't provided them with a sense of security."
"She doesn't have feelings for me," Oscar retorted first, then added with a sneer, "She prefers a jerk over me!"
James countered, "Why don't you consider the second possibility?"
James firmly believed it was the second reason.
Think about it, Pearl had been by Oscar's side for seven years. A woman doesn't have many seven years to give.
If Pearl was unwilling, she wouldn't have stayed by his side, but James felt that Oscar didn't understand.
In the past, Oscar seemed to have no feelings for Pearl. It was a contractual marriage, a decision made by David.
Guys tend to have a rebellious streak; they often hate what others pick for them.
But now, James saw things differently.
Oscar really cared about Pearl!
"It can't be the second reason," Oscar said coldly. "She has someone else in her heart, she even has a kid!"
James was stunned.
A kid?
That couldn't be right.
"Are you sure?" James asked again.
"If I wasn't sure, would I be telling you?" Oscar replied in a low voice.
James paused, then asked, "Are you sure the kid isn't yours?"
He hadn't heard of Pearl being close to any other guy.
"I've never slept with Pearl!" Oscar said firmly.
"I admire you!" James concluded. "To have such a beautiful wife by your side and still hold back, no wonder Pearl betrayed you."
Oscar's face darkened. "Get lost!"
James hung up quickly to avoid making Oscar angrier.
Oscar finished his cigarette, but the fire inside him still burned.
He instinctively looked up through the car window at Pearl's apartment. The light was still on; she had been crying when she went back to her room.
Oscar felt even more agitated, like ants were gnawing at his heart, making it impossible to relax.
He pursed his lips and opened the car door again.
Harold thought they were leaving, but seeing Oscar get out, he instinctively said, "Mr. Brown, aren't you going to find Mrs. Brown to humiliate yourself..."
The words caught Harold by surprise, and he hastily covered his mouth, "No, Mrs. Brown must be quite upset at the moment. Mr. Brown, you should go up and console her. A little reassurance from you might bring joy to everyone!"
Harold swiftly attempted to inject some positivity into the situation.
Oscar's mind was consumed by the image of Pearl on the verge of tears. Lost in his thoughts, he didn't pay much attention and didn't catch what Harold had said.
Oscar didn't close the car door as he left.
When Oscar returned, Pearl didn't come out of her room.
The chicken soup on the table had gone cold. He took it back to the kitchen to heat it up again, thinking she might want to drink it if she wasn't angry anymore.
The soup was normal, and he wouldn't drug her without her knowing.
Coming out, he walked towards Pearl's room, gently opening the door to find Pearl lying on the bed.
Getting closer, he saw she had fallen asleep, with tear stains at the corners of her eyes and a red nose.
She had cried herself to sleep.
Seeing her pitiful appearance, Oscar's heart softened. He helped her get comfortable, adjusted her position, and covered her with the blanket.
Even in her sleep, Pearl would occasionally sob softly.
Oscar gazed at her face in the dim light, her eyelashes still wet with tears. He felt both heartache and helplessness, wiping away her tear stains with his fingertips and caressing her cheek.
"Oscar!"
Pearl mumbled in her sleep, her voice hoarse and weak.
Oscar leaned in closer, trying to hear what she was saying.
"You bastard!"
Towards her, Oscar couldn't hit or scold her. No matter how angry he was, he had to endure it. If he said too much, she would give him a bad attitude.
It was really helpless.
She looked a bit haggard, possibly due to the pregnancy and work.
In other places, she wouldn't be as relaxed as she was by his side.
Oscar gazed at her for a long time, as if trying to etch her into his memory forever. He leaned down, gently kissing her forehead with his soft lips, and in a hoarse voice, he called, "Pearl."
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