I looked at her dainty features for a minute or two but still failed to recall when and where I had ever met this girl.
The girl giggled at my confusion. “Ms. Stovall, did you forget? We just met. My name is Yvonne Wilde. You and Mr. Stovall saved me at the Imperial Hotel.”
I paused for a second and finally remembered. I asked in confusion, “You’re from J City too?”
She nodded and smiled. “Yep. I’m from S County, but I study in K City.”
After a pause, she said awkwardly, “I’m not from a very well-off family, you see. My parents managed to send me to high school but they couldn’t afford to send me to college after that. That’s why I had to work the night shift at Imperial Hotel to get enough money. I ended up getting mistreated because I wouldn’t leave with a client. Thankfully you and Mr. Stovall saved me!”
I nodded in acknowledgment. I was never a sociable person, so I didn’t know how to carry on the conversation from there and fell silent.
She seemed to enjoy talking to me nonetheless and smiled when she saw the book I was reading. “Ms. Stovall, do you like The Hunchback of Notre Dame as well? I just read it a couple of days ago.”
I nodded in response and paused before asking, “The New Year is in a couple of days. Why didn’t you choose to work a couple more shifts in K City before going back?”
“Mr. Stovall arranged some shifts for me in J City so I can work closer to home and return at the end of the month,” she said with a smile. She seemed happy just talking about John.
I nodded but remembered that John didn’t seem to have any businesses in J City. What shifts could he have given her?
Out of curiosity, I asked, “What shifts did he arrange for you?”
“I study accounting, so he contacted an audit company for me called Harrison Credit. They only started growing these past few years. They have plenty of work that needs to be done since it’s the end of the year, so I can also get commission on top of my salary.”
She smiled and asked me, “Ms. Stovall, is Mr. Stovall also going back to J City for the New Year?”
Could it be this girl have a crush on John?
I shook my head. “I’m not sure. He’s probably staying in K City.”
She murmured softly, “He said he was going to J City, though…”
I didn’t ask any more questions. It was almost time for my flight anyway, so I said goodbye to her and got on the plane.
Jackson was already waiting for me at the airport. Once we got in the car, he started nagging at me.
“Can you turn off your phone the next time you’re doing that stuff with Ashton? It made me seem like some sort of pervert.”
I pressed my lips together and felt my face heat up. “I’m sorry, I’ll turn it off next time.”
He glanced at me and narrowed his eyes. “You used protection, right?”
I was especially sensitive at the topic of conception and stiffened momentarily before replying, “Yeah.”
He nodded. “Good. Your body is in no state for another pregnancy. Anyway, follow me somewhere later once we get back.”
“Where?”
“To see the doctor. You coughed up blood last time, and the doctor said even though it stopped, it’s still very dangerous and your life is at risk if it continues. I managed to contact a traditional doctor who can help you take a look,” he explained as he drove.
He took a look at my pale visage and asked, “Have you been burning the midnight oil again?”
I pressed my lips together and pinched my brow. “I just can’t sleep.”
If chronic illnesses could be cured once and for all, of course I’d do my best to follow the doctor’s instructions. But chronic illnesses took forever to treat and that took time and energy that I didn’t have.
He sighed. “If you and Ashton really are on such bad terms, then you should take a break until you get better. Dragging this on for so long isn’t good for either of you.”
“He isn’t willing to get a divorce!” I said as Jackson slammed the brakes at the red light in front of us.
He looked at me with wide eyes. “Are you crazy? Who’s thinking of getting a divorce? He has money, he’s fit and he’s good-looking. Why would you get a divorce?”
I looked at him in annoyance. “Would you like to take my place then?”
He suddenly started stammering and managed to say, “I already have someone else in mind, so no thanks.”
I paused in suspicion. His tone sounded a little off. “You have someone else in mind? Who is it? What’s her name? Are you two already together? How long have you been dating?”
He was struck speechless by my onslaught of questions and looked at me as he started to drive again. “Calm down! Damn, I never thought a woman could be this nosy.”
“Have you never met a woman before? That’s exactly why I’m so curious!” If I were a man, would I be this curious?
After a few more minutes, he finally cleared his throat and said, “You’ll know soon enough.”
I hummed in response and finally stopped bombarding him with questions.
I wasn’t exactly willing to go see a doctor the very moment I arrived in J City. After all, who enjoyed being treated like a patient all the time?
After bickering with Jackson for a little while, he finally gave in and brought me back to Glenwood Apartments.
