Chapter 116

Jim's expression was indifferent. He didn’t spare Arla a glance. Instead, he walked over to Alicia, tapped lightly on the gauze wrapped around her hand. “You haven’t even recovered from your injury, and now you’re busy prying into other people’s business?”

“I was just curious,” Alicia pouted, acting spoiled as she replied.

Just that simple exchange between them was enough to break Aria’s heart.

Aria’s eyes were red as she quietly stepped back, walked over, took my hand gently, and shook her head.

She picked up on the comfort I was trying to offer because she pitifully leaned against me.

I sighed and patted her shoulder. “It’s okay. Let’s go.”

Only then did Alicia seem to notice me. She stood up and walked out with an air of superiority.

“Elise, you should be spending more time with Jonathan instead of running around with random people,” she scolded.

“They’re not random people,” I replied calmly. “And honestly, if I really did start spending more time with Jonathan, you’d be the first one to panic.”

Alicia’s face darkened. She glared at me and said, “Elise, I know you’ve always resented me—admit it. Stop making a scene?”

She tried to salt my wound with the things Jonathan had said, but we’re just like siblings. Can you—

Unfortunately for her, nothing either of them said could hurt me anymore. Their words no longer had the power to leave even the tiniest scratch on me.

I leaned toward her and whispered, “Should I remind Jonathan what you said to me that day by the pool, when we both fell into the water?”

To be honest, I had never held her accountable for that.

She had pushed me into the pool that day, trying to prove once and for all who mattered more to Jonathan.

She had won that round. But even after that, Jonathan still didn’t choose her.

He hadn’t considered divorcing me.

If I can’t figure out what was going on in Jonathan’s head, how could she?

She was convinced she was the most special to him, but she still hadn’t received a single promise.

I figured she must be anxious too.

That was why she kept trying so hard to prove she was more important than me.

“Alicia, why don’t you just confess to him directly?” I suggested. “Honestly, I think Jonathan really does like you. If you asked him to marry you, maybe he’d say—”

Alicia clenched her fists and shot me a furious glare. “Elise, your little tricks won’t work on me. No matter what Jonathan feels for me, I know one thing for sure—you mean nothing to him! If you had any sense, you’d divorce him already! You’re not even fit to be his wife!”

I laughed.

“What are you laughing at?” she snapped.

Jim placed a hand on her arm and gestured behind me.

I stepped aside, making way for Jonathan.

He was standing there, staring coldly at Alicia.

Alicia faltered. “Jonathan, you—” she stammered.

She bit her lip lightly, suddenly realizing what she had just said. Her face turned pale.

“I didn’t mean to say that,” she said quickly.

Before he could respond, she rushed up to him.

“I never wanted you to get a divorce,” she blurted out frantically.

Jonathan’s eyes were dark, betraying what he was really thinking.

After a long silence, he finally said, “Hold on—I'm not divorcing Elise.”