Seeing I was pissed, Edward immediately moved over and sat right next to me, closing the gap between us. I tensed up, instinctively edging away from him, trying to keep my distance.
“Alright, don’t be mad. Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way,” he said, trying to make peace.
I was just sulking for a bit, but honestly, I didn’t let it get to me.
‘It’s snowing again,’ I muttered to myself, watching the snowflakes drift down outside the window. This winter just seemed endless. Outside, the air was thick with the vibe of the New Year–bright, festive colors everywhere, and you couldn’t help but feel a little happier.
Edward moved back to his seat on the other side, putting some distance between us. As we neared the restaurant, my nerves were stretched tight as a wire. With each security checkpoint we passed, my anxiety grew heavier.
Edward tried to reassure me. “Don’t be nervous. I’ll speak up for you.”
“Okay,” I replied, realizing I was actually starting to lean on him a bit.
When the car finally stopped, I followed Edward into a grand living room, up the stairs to the second floor, and into a fancy private room. There, I saw Jeffrey Jennings–and for a second, I was sure I’d seen that face before. Then it clicked: I must’ve seen him on TV.
“Ms. Murphy, please, have a seat,” Jeffrey said. He looked strict, but there was something approachable about him.
“Thank you,” I replied politely, sitting down next to him. My palms were practically sweating.
“Don’t be nervous. I just want to have a chat with you,” Jeffrey said, noticing my unease and trying to put me at ease.
“Okay,” I said, but there was no way I could relax.
Edward pulled up a chair and sat down next to me, totally at ease.
Jeffrey let out a soft sigh. “Looking at you, I think I finally understand why Ryan fell for you. You’re beautiful, graceful, and warm–you make up for some of the things he’s missing emotionally.”
That caught me off guard, and I shot a glance at Edward.
Edward chimed in, “Maybe he’s just got a bit of a mommy complex…”
Me: ‘…‘
I’m only three years older than him–how does that make me some kind of mother figure? If anything, I’m more like an older sister.
Jeffrey just nodded, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. “Ryan’s always missed out on a bit of motherly love, so maybe he was looking for that in you. Ms. Murphy, you seem like someone with a gentle personality. Ryan told me that when he’s with you, he feels completely at ease, no pressure at all.”
I couldn’t help but feel awkward. ‘Why are we even talking about this? This is so embarrassing,’ I thought.
“Ms. Murphy, you and Ryan have broken up, right?” Jeffrey asked.
I nodded. “Yes, it’s all settled. We won’t be seeing each other anymore.”
“Thank you for being so understanding and thinking of the bigger picture,” Jeffrey said, then pulled out a small redwood box. “As an elder, let me give you this as a token of our meeting.”
I jumped a little and quickly shook my head. “No, I really can’t accept this.”
“Go ahead and take it. It’s my way of thanking you for looking after Ryan all this time, and for supporting his marriage to the Chamberlain Family,” Jeffrey said, his tone firm.
Hearing that, my heart twisted, and I realized I really had no choice but to accept. Once I took it, that would be the end for Ryan and me. From now on, we’d just be strangers. It felt like someone was twisting a knife in my chest, my eyes burned with unshed tears. With shaking fingers, I took the redwood box and whispered, “Thank you, Mr. Jennings. I’ll accept it.”
“That’s very mature of you,” Mr. Jennings said, sounding a bit more satisfied. “Now that you’ve accepted the gift, you and Ryan shouldn’t see each other anymore. Don’t interfere with his new life.”
“I won’t!” I bit down hard and said seriously, “I won’t see him anymore.”
Mr. Jennings seemed to believe me, but then he pressed further, “What if Ryan comes looking for you? How would you turn him away?”
I was caught off guard for a moment, but quickly steadied myself and replied, “I’ll make it clear to him. He’s proud and knows how to put the bigger picture first.”
Mr. Jennings let out a low chuckle. “Seems like you really do understand Ryan. I’m sorry if it feels like I’m coming between you two, but I have my reasons.”
“I understand,” I replied, nodding solemnly.
“It’s good that you see things so clearly–it shows you’re a good person. If you ever need anything, just ask Edward for help. If Ryan ever tries to bother you, you can go to Edward, or even call me directly,” Mr. Jennings said, and to my surprise, he handed me a slip of paper with his contact information.
I stared at the note in shock, a wave of sorrow washing over me. ‘It’s like the whole world is set on keeping Ryan and me apart,’ I thought.
“Okay, I will,” I replied, feeling utterly crushed inside. In that moment, I let go of every last hope I had.
Gathering my courage, I looked up at Jeffrey Jennings and asked, “Will the Chamberlain Family give me trouble because of my past with Ryan?”
Jeffrey Jennings paused, then gave a reassuring smile. “No, don’t worry about it. I’ll make sure it’s handled.”
“Thank you for looking out for me,” I said, finally letting out a quiet sigh of relief.
As long as the Chamberlain Family didn’t stir up any drama, I could still stay in Braylin. Of course, if the Chamberlain Family decided to play dirty, even with the Jennings family backing me, I’d still be in danger. Still, having one more guarantee was always better than nothing–it never hurts to have an extra layer of protection.
In the end, Jeffrey Jennings didn’t stay for lunch–he had some business to take care of and needed to leave.
“Edward, make sure you take good care of Ms. Murphy. After lunch, drive her home,” Jeffrey said before getting up and walking out.
So now, in that huge private room with a whole table of food, it was just the two of us–Edward and me.