Chapter 264 I Feel Like I'm Falling for You
Pearl clenched her fists and looked away, worried she was just imagining things. "Why do you care so much?"
Oscar replied, "You're my wife."
Pearl stirred her soup without eating. "We're getting divorced. Just being your wife isn't enough. You never changed for me before, so why now?"
Oscar just stared at her, deep in thought.
Feeling his gaze, as he remained silent, Pearl started eating.
"I think I'm falling for you."
Pearl choked on her spicy soup, making her eyes water. Oscar quickly poured her some water. "Are you okay? Drink this!"
Tears blurred Pearl's vision. Was she crying because she had waited so long to hear those words, or because of the spiciness?
She drank the water, but the spiciness lingered, making her cough and her cheeks flush.
Oscar patted her back until she calmed down.
Pearl finally processed his words. 'Did he just say he's falling for me?'
She never expected Oscar to say that.
"Are you feeling better?" Oscar asked, concerned.
Pearl, shocked, asked, "What did you just say?"
Oscar repeated, "I think I'm falling for you."
Pearl looked away. If this had happened earlier, she might have been happy. Now, it just felt bitter.
Oscar, nervous, clenched his hands, fearing rejection. Their marriage hadn't been great from the start.
"You don't have to answer. Just knowing my feelings is enough."
He was scared to hear her response, thinking she still had feelings for someone else. He figured that he wouldn't win her back in an instant and hoped there was still time.
Pearl, still shocked, fell silent. She accidentally spilled some oil on her nightgown.
Oscar wiped it off with a napkin. "Take your time, no one's taking it from you."
"Okay," Pearl said, her eyelashes trembling with hidden panic.
Oscar stayed by her side and watched her, pouring water and handing her napkins as she ate.
After the meal, Pearl felt satisfied and sleepy.
Seeing he wasn't leaving, she asked, "Aren't you going back?"
Oscar replied, "If you're sleepy, go rest. I'll close the door when I leave."
He kept his distance but couldn't help caring for her.
Pearl noticed he wasn't as domineering as before. Instead, he seemed cautious.
So, she decided to go with the flow.
Back in her room, Pearl closed the door, still feeling confused. She sat on the bed, glancing at the door, knowing Oscar was just outside, but she couldn't sleep.
Her mind kept replaying Oscar's words. She was scared to show her true feelings, yet her heart was restless.
Soon, the door opened, and Oscar walked in. Pearl stared at him, speechless, just like when they first met.
Oscar handed her a glass of milk. "Drink this before bed. It's sweet and can help you relax."
Pearl looked at the milk and Oscar's veined arm, feeling a sense of déjà vu.
Lately, she felt off, paranoid, and experiencing scenes she hadn't lived through. Her head started to ache, and she instinctively held it.
Oscar noticed. "Does your head hurt?"
Pearl shook it off. "It's nothing."
She took the milk, curled up, and sipped it. The sweetness eased her tension.
Oscar watched her, lost in thought. After a while, he asked, "Pearl, you mentioned being kidnapped in middle school, right?"
Pearl tightened her grip on the cup, shocked. She felt her secret was about to be exposed.
She thought, 'Does he know?'
"Why are you asking? It's not a secret anymore."
Oscar saw she was deep in thought, unaware she was sharing someone else's memory. Should he tell her the truth?
Her parents preferred she accept this memory rather than remember the painful summer she disappeared in high school.
Oscar hesitated. He wanted to tell her "Magee" was fictional but didn't want to hurt her.
"It's nothing," he said. "Go to sleep."
He hesitated, and Pearl furrowed her brow.
She thought Oscar's question meant he knew her secret, even that Magee was him. But he suddenly stopped asking.
Had he forgotten, or didn't he know?
It was strange.
Pearl watched as Oscar tucked her in. "The weather's getting cold. Keep warm; or it's not good for the baby."
"Do you not resent this child anymore?" she asked.
"You threatened me with your life; I don't dare to," Oscar replied.
Pearl pressed her lips together, gripping her hands. After a while, she asked, "You know about my middle school accident. You should know about Magee, the hero who saved me."
"I know," Oscar said, maintaining the lie. "A few robbers, after a bank heist, kidnapped some students, including you. Magee saved you; you were the only survivor."
Pearl was stunned.
She thought, 'Since he knew Magee saved her, why didn't he know it was himself?'
"Is that all?" she asked.
Oscar looked up, hesitating. "What else do you want to say?"
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