Chapter 727

I stood frozen in the doorway for a few seconds, both men turning to look at me. I walked in, carrying a bag of groceries. I looked at Jared and asked, “Why are you here?”

Jared replied, his tone subdued, “Since you said you were taking a day off, I thought you might be feeling under the weather, so I came to check on you.”

As I walked past the living room toward the kitchen, I spotted the breakfast laid out on the table and instantly knew Jared was here being thoughtful again. But I’d left Edward at home, and when Jared knocked, it was Edward who opened the door. I couldn’t help but wonder if Jared felt hurt again.

“When did Mr. Jennings get here?” I asked Jared. He must’ve just arrived, too, since the two of them were just sitting on the couch and hadn’t even made any coffee yet.

I quickly set the groceries down, got the water going, and added some Blue Mountain Coffee to the coffee machine. While waiting for the water to boil, I put the groceries that needed to go in the fridge away one by one.

The two men just watched in silence as I went about my business. Even after the water finished boiling, my mind was still a mess. I brought over a pot of coffee and poured Edward a cup of hot water.

“What’s up with Mr. Jennings?” Jared asked, watching my meticulous movements with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“He’s got a cold,” I replied.

Jared’s expression darkened.

Edward chuckled, “The weather in Braylin is unpredictable. I probably caught a chill.”

Jared let out a skeptical “Oh,” then asked, “Are you really serious about this, Edward?”

Edward shot back in a calm but sharp tone, “Is that your way of saying feelings don’t have to be genuine?”

Jared’s face stiffened. No doubt about it–he’d finally run into someone who could spar with him, word for word.

“Mr. Jennings, you know about her and your nephew, don’t you?” Jared knew exactly where to twist the knife.

“Yeah, I do. I was a witness to it all–how they got together, and how they fell apart,” Edward replied, his smile never reaching his eyes.

Jared’s jab landed on soft ground. Edward knew everything, yet he still came after me. Jared must’ve been thinking, ‘Is there really someone out there with nerves of steel like this?’

For someone as cautious as Jared, Edward’s brazen attitude was just another blow.

“Mr. Jennings, would you marry her?” Jared asked, dropping the most crucial question.

I immediately looked at Mr. Jennings, who was already watching me. “That depends–I’d have to ask her if she’s willing to marry me.”

“And if she isn’t? Would you force her?” Jared pushed further.

I shifted my gaze from Edward to Jared, and for some reason, it felt like he was asking the very questions I wanted to ask myself.

Edward paused, then replied earnestly, “Of course not. If you have to force love, then it’s meaningless.”

“Good. Hope you mean it,” Jared said as he stood up. “I won’t keep you two any longer.”

With that, he turned and opened the door. I walked him to the door, and when Jared glanced back at me, the loneliness and hurt in his eyes made my heart clench.

But that didn’t make me pity him.

In my previous life, I was even lonelier, more alone, and more wounded than he could ever imagine. I never asked him to build a prison for himself because of me. All these unnecessary feelings–he was the one who chained himself down with them.

I returned to the couch, eyeing the untouched cup of coffee. I picked it up and took a sip. “Sorry, I didn’t expect him to ask all that.”

“It’s fine. Maybe you wanted to know too, didn’t you?” Edward said, his eyes dark and thoughtful as he looked at me.

I couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed. He was right–when it comes to feelings, you can’t just keep beating around the bush. Sometimes, being upfront makes it easier to figure things out.

“It’s already past nine. Why don’t you just have the breakfast Jared brought?” I suggested.

Edward nodded. “Sure, I’m easy.”

“When are you heading to the hospital?” I asked.

Edward just smiled. “No need, someone will come by to check on me soon.”

“Oh, wow!” I couldn’t help but be surprised–so people really do make house calls.

Edward and I had some breakfast, then he stretched out on the couch with his eyes closed to rest. I sat on the other end, working through emails on my laptop.

At ten on the dot, there was a knock at the door. Three people arrived, each carrying a medical bag.