In Celine's version of story, she had grown quite weary of Jack's domineering nature and wanted to break up with him. But he had refused to let her go. She had no choice but to leave the city.
Celine wasn’t sure as to how much Rona would believe in her words, but she said it, nonetheless.
Rona believed Celine’s story at first. Celine often whined to her about Jack, and how she had to avoid him wherever she went.
After all, such things occurred before as well.
But as Celine said it over and over again, Rona started to doubt her.
Whenever Rona inquired about their relationship, Celine always groaned about Jack pestering her.
Rona had been her friend for a long time, and she knew Celine well.
She didn't believe Celine's story anymore.
She guessed that Jack might have dumped Celine.
Nevertheless, Jack had never said anything about their breakup in public.
Although Rona was suspicious that the couple might have split, she didn't see or hear anything personally.
She remained dubious about the couple's
relationship. However, when she saw Jack shopping with Rachel, it all became crystal clear to her.
Rona decided to snoop around a little and silently follow them until they paid for their stuff. She contemplated calling Jack and finally took out her phone to call him.
Jack led Rachel out of the underground supermarket at the shopping mall. He carried bags in both hands while she didn't take anything.
They looked like an ordinary couple who just went shopping. Nothing out of the ordinary happened.
Rachel often went shopping in the supermarket alone, while Jack had seldom done so before.
Apart from the business trips to a few big shopping malls, it was impossible for him to buy stuff from a supermarket like this.
As the couple was about to approach the elevator, Jack’s phone rang.
He had his hands full with carrying all the shopping bags, so he signaled to Rachel to help him take out his cellphone.
He stopped in his tracks and asked Rachel to take the phone out from his pocket.
Rachel took it out from his pants.
Rona’s name flickered on the screen. Although Rachel knew that Celine had a friend, she didn't know her name. Without any thought, she handed Jack his phone.
Seeing Rona's name on the screen, his mind went black, and he couldn't come up with a solution
of dealing with the situation. He gave Rachel a quick look, hoping that she wouldn't become suspicious of him.
Since Jack's hands were full, he pouted and said, "Help me answer the phone, I can't do it with all the stuff I’m carrying."
Rachel said, "You can put the bags down first." She then held it next to his ear.
"Mr. Fu?" Rachel could hear a woman’s voice.
Jack replied in a low and deep voice, "Hmm."
The woman on the other end of the line said, "I happened to see you in the supermarket, but I didn’t have the time to talk to you. Are you still there?"
Rona dared not to call him any other name except Mr. Fu. Although she appeared calm on the surface, she was so nervous that she tightened the belt of her dress around her.
She was afraid that Jack would refuse to meet her. "I have something to tell you. Can I take a few minutes out of your time?"
Instead of replying immediately, Jack turned to look at Rachel.
He barely knew Rona as an acquaintance. In fact, he only thought of her as Celine’s good friend.
Jack wasn't sure as to what she wanted from him. Was it something important that she wanted to confide in him? Jack guessed that she'd surely want to talk about Celine.
But he didn't want to talk about Celine with her. After pondering for a moment, Jack refused, "I’m sorry, but I’m not available today. Let’s talk about it
some other day."
After hearing what Jack had to say, Rona’s face filled with malice. She wasn't standing far away from the couple.
Therefore, she could clearly see them. Furthermore, she could distinctly make out the expression Jack had on his face while he was gazing at Rachel.
She further tightened the belt of her dress with a hint of ferocity on her face.
She sneered as she thought, 'Surely, a man is the worst thing in the world when he cheats on a woman.
Whenever he heard something about Celine in the past, his expressions were totally different than how he is reacting now.’
Rona witnessed how Rachel was holding Jack’ s phone next to his ear.
She thought Rachel might be able to hear her from the phone, so she deliberately said, "It’s about Celine."
As expected, Jack’s tone became sullen, although his facial expressions remained the same.
"What is it?"
Rona thought Jack might not be able to come to her with Rachel by her side.
She said hesitantly, "It's not convenient to talk over the phone. Can we talk in a cafe on the second floor if you haven’t left yet?
Please make it alone." Rona didn't have the
guts to say anything else.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: My Darling, My Dearest