active

320815617697069

person_profile

eligible

NONE

161163937074221

Massive story

120207862110510240

beokn.com

Learn More

NONE

dco

😍Read the next chapters👉

https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11037&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}

Massive story

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440108258_921949033271497_5412151620752708860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vGpeGF2ricEQ7kNvgFPhfs4&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCBTJ4Qu5TfWy5SuxFWSj-WD12-dssrjLTlzC9RjBLMSA&oe=6673EB10

person_profile

Massive story

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440315951_7667872636604929_270040588575752734_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=laGzDgc479EQ7kNvgGSnGp9&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDz95fkU_p-yMul5UHWWGd_wsT13v5G68OC_yhmxCN-Ow&oe=667407F5

It was 2:00 am. Wendy Maxon hadn't been sleeping for long when she was once again awoken by the sound of her children crying.

She sat up groggily and took her daughter, Jasmine Walker, from the nanny, Jane Seele's arms. She was half asleep, but her actions were quick as she unbuttoned her pajama top.

Silence descended upon the room again. She'd just shut her eyes to rest them for a while when a sound came from the door.

Wendy thought Jane was bringing her son, Daniel Walker, into the room. But when she opened her eyes, she saw a familiar figure.

Her heart clenched as her gaze landed on the man's handsome face. It was 2:00 am, and her husband, Jason Walker, had finally returned.

Two hours ago, their second wedding anniversary had passed. Jason obviously didn't remember a thing about it.

Their gazes met for a split second. Then, they looked away from each other without saying anything. Jason strode into the bedroom, bringing with him the strong stench of liquor.

Wendy frowned imperceptibly. She hated it when men got drunk. When Jason approached her and saw that the cot was empty, he asked, "Where's Danny?"

Wendy didn't even look up. She said coldly, "Jane's taken him away."

Silence descended upon the room again, but her grogginess had thoroughly disappeared. Jason stood there without saying a word. He merely tugged his tie loose with one hand while unbuttoning his shirt.

He didn't intend to stare at Wendy, but her open shirt and glowing skin caught his attention. Jasmine drank her milk—the sound of her sucking was loud and clear. She looked like she was enjoying herself so much that it somehow made Jason feel hungry. He found himself wanting to try Wendy's milk to see whether it was really that good.

When he realized what he was thinking, a wave of irritation washed over him. He cursed himself for his freakish thoughts before turning to head to the bathroom.

The sound of him slamming the door shut didn't just make Wendy jump. It even made Jasmine shudder a little. Wendy glared in the direction of the bathroom, thinking that Jason was a lunatic; no one had done anything to offend him.

Just then, her phone pinged, catching her attention. No one else would message her at this hour—it had to be spam. But when she grabbed her phone and checked it, she felt like she'd been slapped.

"Jason had a bit too much to drink, so you need to make him some hangover soup. Otherwise, he'll have a headache tomorrow." The message was from Catherine Locke.

Wendy stared at the screen for a long while, unable to stop herself from clenching her fist around her phone. Her knuckles turned white from the force.

This was a blatant challenge and insult from her rival in love—Catherine was obviously telling her that Jason had been with her. And what was with that imperious tone? She made it seem like she was the lady of the household while Wendy was nothing but a maid.

It took Wendy a while to calm down. She suppressed her annoyance and replied, "How about I give up my position as Mrs. Walker so you can take it?"

Catherine didn't reply; Wendy's message had probably pissed her off royally. After all, Catherine was also a married woman.

Wendy set her phone aside, looking stoic. Though she'd won the fight, she didn't feel good about it. Her husband had gone drinking with the woman he loved deeply on their second wedding anniversary, and they'd even stayed out so late.

What had they talked about? Had Catherine's husband, Connor Gale, been with them? Had they been alone?

A barrage of questions flooded her mind.

Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Jason stood under the shower, allowing the hot water to pour over his toned body. It washed his fatigue and tipsiness away, but it also lit a small fire of desire within him.

He shut his eyes and raised his head to allow the water to wash his face. He couldn't help thinking about the scene he'd just witnessed—Wendy was nothing but a scheming woman, but oddly enough, he'd detected a hint of motherly love in her when she'd been feeding Jasmine.

A strangled curse escaped his lips. What had just possessed him?

Jason's expression turned frosty. He turned the water temperature down. Soon, ice-cold water poured over him, making the irritation, frustration, and even desire in his eyes disappear. All that was left was indifference and aloofness.

He deliberately took his time in the bathroom so that Wendy would already be in bed by the time he was done. But he'd underestimated the difficulty of breastfeeding two children in one go.

When the bathroom door swung open, Wendy had just finished feeding Daniel. Jane had already taken Jasmine away so she could sleep.

Wendy didn't even look at Jason. She held Daniel in her arms and turned to place him on the bed beside her. As Jason approached the bed, she could feel the iciness he exuded and the dominance in his demeanor.

As the bed sank under his weight, her heart trembled. Though they'd already been married for two years, the number of times they'd interacted in private could be counted on one hand. She'd always been this cautious and tentative when they were alone.

It was all because there weren't any feelings between them to set the foundation for their marriage. Besides, their families weren't of equal standing. The only reason Wendy had been able to marry Jason was because of their respective grandfathers' friendship.

Decades ago, Jason's grandfather, Albert Walker, and Wendy's grandfather, George Maxon, had fought in the same war. George had risked his life to save Albert, losing a leg in the process. After leaving the army, the two men lost contact with each other.

They'd only been reunited a few years ago when George had been admitted to the hospital due to a serious condition. Albert had tracked him down from there. It was too bad the reunion had been short. George had died a few days later.

Albert had been overcome with guilt. He felt that if he'd managed to track George down earlier, he would've had more time to repay George for saving his life.

This guilt had transformed into affection and fondness for Wendy. From that day on, Albert had treated Wendy like she was his own.

Unfortunately, Albert had been diagnosed with stomach cancer two years ago. Knowing that he hadn't had long to live, he wished to find Wendy a good husband before his death.

He hadn't wanted Wendy to end up marrying someone he didn't know, so he'd done his best to set Jason and Wendy up. He'd hoped they would end up together. And that was how Jason and Wendy had ended up marrying.

It was too bad Jason was in love with another woman. Besides, Wendy knew she wasn't worthy of him. Their original plan had been to get a divorce after Albert passed away, but they'd accidentally slept together—Wendy had even ended up giving birth to twins.

It wouldn't be as easy to get a divorce anymore. No one knew where the marriage would go from there.

Wendy had prepared herself for the chance that Jason would ask for a divorce whenever he came home. It left her uneasy. But in truth, he couldn't even be bothered to talk to her.

That was how things went on that night. Though they were sleeping in the same bed, the iciness in the atmosphere was enough to make the temperature in the room drop.

Amidst the smothering silence, Wendy slowly stopped patting Daniel when she was sure he was asleep. She'd wet her underwear earlier when breastfeeding, so she reached out to get some tissues. At the same time, she turned off the lamp.

Jason, who was still feeling the effects of the liquor he'd had, had already fallen asleep. He lay on his back with his eyes shut; his breathing was deep and slow.

Wendy glanced at him as she sat on the bed. When she saw that he was already asleep, she quietly dealt with her damp pajama top. When she was almost done, Jason's displeased voice suddenly rang out, "What are you still doing? Go to bed!"

It made her jump. She turned and said, "I'm almost done."

Daniel was sleeping on her other side. Afraid of squishing him, she instinctively scooted closer to Jason as she lay down. But as she reached out behind her before lying down, her hand landed on his arm.

He hissed, making her jolt. "Sorry, I didn't do it on purpose. You—"

Jason was pissed. "Do you have to glue yourself to me when the bed's so huge?"

Wendy was scared by his sudden anger, but she quickly composed herself and explained, "I was just afraid of squishing Danny. Since you're so repulsed by me, you can always go to another room."

She wasn't wrong. They didn't have feelings for each other, so why did they have to sleep in the same bed? There were plenty of rooms in the house—he could sleep wherever he wanted.

Jason's intense displeasure was apparent even in the dark. "What right do you have to kick me out, Wendy? Do you think there's no threatening your position as the lady of the Walker household now that you've given birth to twins?"

"That's not what I meant."

"What did you mean, then?"

It was almost 3:00 am, and Wendy was exhausted from waking up a few times to feed the kids. She didn't want to argue with Jason, so she fell silent for a few seconds before saying, "Let's divorce, Jason."

Chapter 2
A smothering silence descended upon the room as soon as the words were out of Wendy's mouth. Jason turned to look at her. His tone was colder than before as he said, "It's the middle of the night. Have you lost your mind?"

"I'm being serious," Wendy said calmly. She couldn't stop thinking about how he and Catherine had been together until the wee hours of the night. She also thought about how Catherine had tried to provoke her.

What was the point of staying in a marriage like this?

"Don't worry about telling Granddad about this. I'll speak to him and tell him I'm the one who wants the divorce. You're not at fault in this." Wendy's tone remained calm. She lifted the sheets to get out of bed. "I'll sleep somewhere else tonight. I don't want to disrupt your sleep."

She'd just gotten out of bed when Jason dragged her back and pinned her down. She yelped, feeling dazed from the impact. When she focused on Jason, she saw him hovering above her, looking furious.

She lost her cool; her heart raced. "What are you doing, Jason? Danny's right there!"

She was afraid he would use his drunkenness as an excuse to do something crazy, hurting Daniel in the process.

Jason said coldly, "A divorce? You've already had the twins—don't you want to use them to solidify your position in the Walker family? It'd be such a waste to get a divorce now."

"I want no such thing! The conception was an accident, and you were the one who made it happen. What right do you have to push this on me?" Wendy snarled.

"An accident? You could've done so many things to prevent the conception."

"I already told you that I took the morning-after pill!"

"Ha!" Jason snorted. He obviously still didn't believe her.

He'd underestimated her in the past. That was why he'd fallen for her trap and given her the opportunity to tie him down with the kids.

Wendy knew he didn't believe her. In fact, he was sure she'd lied to him and deliberately skipped out on taking the morning-after pill, leading to her getting conceived. To him, she'd done it all so she could get a steady foothold in the Walker family. She couldn't be bothered to defend herself anymore.

Jason continued pinning her down amidst the silence. As his eyes got used to the darkness, he was finding it easier to see things. Beneath him, Wendy's eyes were burning with anger.

They were so close that he could smell the fragrance she exuded. The scene of her breastfeeding popped into his mind again. The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward yet slightly amorous.

If his memory served him correctly, it was their second wedding anniversary today. As a husband, it was only right for him to exercise his right and fulfill his duty.

Wendy noticed something was wrong with Jason. She turned to look at him, wanting to say something when he leaned down, enveloping her with his pheromones.

She widened her eyes in fear, finding it hard to believe that he was suddenly leaning down for a kiss when he'd been furious just seconds ago.

Jason kissed her, but she didn't respond. She merely lay there like a puppet without moving. Those lips of hers had been quick to part when arguing with him earlier, but now, they were sealed.

He lost his patience. When she didn't respond after he'd kissed her for a few seconds, he moved his lips downward to kiss her neck and collarbone.

The closer he got to her, the stronger the fragrance became. The drunkenness that his earlier shower had washed away seemed to numb his mind again—in this moment, Jason's rationality disappeared as he gave in to his body's hunger and desire.

Wendy returned to her senses. The sensation of the cool air grazing against her bare skin made her heart tremble. She stammered, "L-Look closely at me, Jason. I'm W-Wendy Maxon, not Catherine L-Locke…"

A sharp pain pierced her before she could get any further. She cried out and instinctively tried to fight back, but Jason pinned her arms down and kissed her again. "It's not your first time. Drop the act."

In the darkness, tears trickled down the sides of Wendy's face. She wasn't putting on an act—it genuinely hurt. Yes, this wasn't their first time, but it was her first since giving birth. Now she knew what it felt like to have her body ripped in half.

Jason tasted Wendy's tears when he kissed her again. He frowned. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he tensed as he waited for her to adjust to him. Then, when he started moving again, his actions were much gentler than before.

…

The next morning, Wendy was awoken by the pain in her breasts. It had been more than three months since she'd become a mother, so she was already used to this sudden pain.

The first thing she did when she opened her eyes was to check on Daniel—she knew she'd feel better after breastfeeding him and Jasmine.

Today, however, she didn't see him anywhere. Her mind went blank for a second. Then, she realized she'd messed up.

She scrambled to sit up. Daniel had learned to turn on his side a few days ago—had he rolled off the bed and onto the floor?

She shot over to the side of the bed, looking down at the floor. Fortunately, there weren't any babies on the floor. Then, her body's soreness caught up with her, turning her expression of panic into one of pain.

Wendy supported her waist with one hand while propping herself up on the bed with the other. The memories of last night flooded her mind.

She'd asked Jason for a divorce after being provoked by Catherine. It had pissed him off. He'd slept with her until the wee hours of the morning.

Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have been against their intimacy. After all, Jason was handsome and had incredible stamina.

But he had been rough with her, and she didn't have much experience. Last night had been her first time having it after giving birth, and the intimate act became one of torture to her.

Wendy had almost passed out by the time they were done. She hadn't even noticed Jason getting out of bed and Jane coming into the room to take Daniel away.

She sat there dazedly as she recalled what had happened the night before. After her initial bout of anger, she couldn't help feeling shy and embarrassed.

If her memory served her correctly, Jason had been gentle with her after she'd cried from the pain. He'd even given her time to get used to him.

But he was such a cold, aloof person. He hadn't said a single nice thing to her since their marriage. Why would he suddenly be so nice to her?

No, it was impossible. She had to have been hallucinating.

She'd seen Jason's loving and gentle side before, but it hadn't been for her, his wife. He'd only acted like that with Catherine, the childhood sweetheart who'd gotten away.

In fact, Wendy and Jason had only slept together because Catherine had married someone else. Jason had drunk himself silly because of how devastated he'd been. Then, he'd mistaken Wendy for Catherine. That was how they'd ended up sleeping together.

And it was also because of this that she'd been kind enough to remind him who she was last night. It was too bad it hadn't done anything but piss him off even more.

Maybe it was because he didn't think she had the right to even utter Catherine's name.

Wendy was still in a reverie when someone knocked on the door, making her jolt. She instinctively curled up in bed again, pretending to be asleep. She thought it was Jason; she didn't know how to face him after what had happened last night.

But Jane's voice was the one that rang out. "Mrs. Walker? Are you awake?"

Wendy immediately opened her eyes and sat up, feeling a little awkward. "Jane… are Minnie and Danny awake?"

"Yeah. I fed them around 5:00 am, but they're hungry again now," Jane said softly.

Wendy nodded. "I'll go wash up right now."

Jane left to tend to the children while Wendy hurried to the bathroom. But as soon as her feet touched the floor, the soreness in her body made her frown. She blushed again.

Jason looked cold, but he was oddly enthusiastic and lustful when it came to sleeping. Wendy headed to the bathroom with her hands on her burning face, feeling like she'd been sullied. She needed some time to collect her thoughts.

Half an hour later, she was done feeding the kids. Her stomach started growling. She headed downstairs to get some food. Upon exiting the elevator, she saw Jason in the dining room.

Wendy's heart skipped a beat as her mind went blank. It was already 9:00 am. Why was Jason still at home?

Chapter 3
It had taken Wendy some time to compose herself earlier. Now, the sight of Jason made her panic again. She didn't know how to face him after the events of the night before.

When a maid saw her, she hurried forward with a smile. "I've already reheated breakfast, Mrs. Walker. Hurry up and have your meal."

"Oh, uh… thanks." Wendy gulped and headed to the dining room.

Jason bathed in the sunlight in his sharp suit—he was flawless. He seemed like a completely different person from the man who'd had his way with her last night.

Wendy had to admit that Jason's face was one of the reasons she'd agreed to the marriage. She thought they would learn to love one another as time passed, that they would spend the rest of their lives together in harmony.

Who would've known… It had been two years since then, yet he couldn't even be bothered to give her the respect she deserved.

She sat down without saying a word and picked up her spoon to have her oatmeal. Though she didn't make a peep, she was still thinking about the divorce.

Wendy had been serious. It'd be bad for the children, but she and Jason would only suffer if they were to remain in a marriage where they weren't on equal standing and had no feelings for each other. Even if they were to stay together for the children, it would affect the children's growth and personalities.

When she was halfway through her oatmeal, she mustered the courage to look at Jason. "About what I said last night… You should seriously consider it. Don't worry—I won't take any of your money, and I'll leave the kids behind."

She figured this was probably enough to show that she wasn't trying to pull any tricks.

Jason had been drinking his hangover soup while reading a finance magazine. At Wendy's words, he set his bowl down, his eyes darkening as he looked at her icily.

It made Wendy's scalp tingle. Her heart trembled, but she forced herself to stay strong.

"Grandpa fainted and was admitted to the hospital this morning. Things aren't looking good. Do you want to put him on an express ride to the underworld by insisting on getting a divorce at this juncture?"

"What?" Wendy's expression shifted, and she dropped her spoon. She looked worried as she asked, "Grandpa's been admitted? Is it… Is it because his condition's taken a turn for the worse?"

Jason's expression turned uglier. "I don't know. We'll have to see what the doctor says once we get to the hospital."

Wendy lost her appetite. She would've immediately left the table if not for the fact that she had to eat because she was breastfeeding. She picked up her bowl and gulped down the oatmeal in a few mouthfuls. Then, she grabbed two bagels. "Let's head to the hospital."

Jason stared at her, his gaze appraising. His lips parted. He looked like he wanted to say something. He didn't believe for a second that she actually cared about Albert that much when she wasn't related to him at all.

He bet it was because she was worried no one would stand up for her once Albert was gone. After all, Albert was the one who'd made them marry in the first place. Who knew what she was actually thinking despite her demands for a divorce?

Maybe it was another trick of hers to lure him in. Maybe she was scheming something again. With that thought in mind, Jason's gaze turned contemptuous. He was starting to regret sleeping with Wendy—yet again.

His expression turned complicated when he thought about last night. He quickly averted his gaze from her. If he were to spend another second looking at her, the amorous scenes of them in bed last night would fill his mind and mess with his rationality.

A silent curse escaped his lips. Had Wendy placed him under a spell or something?

…

Jason and Wendy left the house together. Since the driver was taking them to the hospital, she had no choice but to get in the back seat with Jason.

On the way to the hospital, he received two calls from work. He wasn't in a good mood, so he gave instructions curtly before hanging up.

Wendy knew Jason was worried about Albert. She sneaked a few looks at him before mustering the courage to say, "Grandpa's earlier surgery was very successful, and the doctors said he'd make it through another four or five years if he took care of himself. It's only been two years, so I'm sure he'll be fine."

Jason's brows were tightly furrowed. He slowly inhaled and was about to say something when his phone rang again. This time, his expression softened when he saw the caller ID. Then, he answered the phone, saying gently, "Hi, Cathy."

A woman's sweet voice rang out on the other end of the line. She sounded worried and anxious as she said, "I heard about Grandpa Albert's condition suddenly taking a turn for the worse, Jace. Has he been taken to the hospital?"

"Yeah."

"How are things there?"

"I'm still on the way to the hospital, so I don't know yet."

"I'll head over there right now, too. Connor left for a business trip early this morning. He'll only be back tonight at the earliest."

Connor was Catherine's husband and also one of Jason's childhood friends. The three of them had grown up together, so Catherine and Connor also thought of Albert as their grandfather.

Jason said in a low voice, "There's no need to go to such trouble. Tell him to focus on his work."

"Well, I've already informed him about this. It's up to him whether to return. Don't be too worried, okay? I'm sure Grandpa Albert will make it through this," Catherine said considerately.

Jason lowered his gaze, looking much better than before. "Got it. It's raining. Tell your driver to drop you off. There's no need to rush."

Wendy, who'd been sitting beside him silently the whole time, couldn't help feeling like something was eating away at her heart as she listened to him.

Jason knew how to be gentle and considerate; but only to someone else's wife.

When the call ended, silence descended upon them. Jason held his phone for a few seconds before realizing something. He turned to look at Wendy.

He saw her looking out the window, her expression calm and collected. She obviously didn't care about his earlier phone call with Catherine. He swallowed the words that were at the tip of his tongue.

Wendy had only married him because she had her eye on her status as his wife; she only wanted his money and power. Why would she care who he had in his heart?

That was why there was no need for him to explain anything.

…

Jason and Wendy hurried to Albert's hospital room when they arrived. When Linda Jensen, Jason's mother, saw them, her gaze landed on him. She looked displeased as she asked, "Why are you only showing up now when I told you about this early this morning?"

The Walker family was a big one—Jason had several uncles, aunts, and cousins. When the whole family gathered during holidays, they needed several tables to fit everyone.

Times like this were critical moments for one to show their respect and concern for their elders. One would be reprimanded for showing up late.

Jason glanced inside the hospital room through the window. He saw his father, Harris Walker, uncle, Horace Walker, and cousin, John Walker, speaking to the doctor. Before heading inside, he hastily said to Linda, "I got caught up in something."

Wendy followed him, feeling confused. He hadn't gone to the office that morning—what was there to hold him back?

Just as she pondered this, the answer came to her. Had it been because she'd woken up late? Had he been waiting for her? But Jason had never been so considerate toward her.

Jason entered the hospital room; Linda turned to look at Wendy. The latter sensed this and stopped, greeting Linda politely, "Mom."

Linda didn't look too happy to see her. "It's a woman's duty to care for the children. Since you have a nanny and all those maids to help you out, you shouldn't hold Jason up with those trivial matters."

Obviously, Linda was blaming Jason's tardiness on Wendy. Wendy wanted to refute her but changed her mind since they were surrounded by members of the Walker family. She said in a low voice, "I'm heading inside to see how Grandpa's doing."

Linda stopped her and snapped, "What's there to look at? Albert's just fallen asleep. Can't you see we're all out here?"

Chapter 4
Wendy peered into the hospital room and noted there weren't any women inside. She knew it would be inappropriate for her to head inside, so she pursed her lips and waited in a corner.

Behind her, hasty footsteps rang out; the sound of high heels clicking against the floor filled the corridor. Wendy didn't even need to look to know who it was.

Catherine's act of provoking her last night still made her stomach roil, so she ignored Catherine—not that Catherine wanted to say anything to her.

"Linda, how's Grandpa Albert doing? I came right from my studio as soon as I heard." Catherine stopped before Linda, looking worried.

Linda smiled affectionately at her. "His condition's been stabilized for now, but things aren't looking good. The doctor is talking to Harris and the others on the treatment plan now."

Catherine wore a tailor-made dress, and her hair and makeup had been done to perfection. She looked like the epitome of a wealthy man's trophy wife.

The other members of the Walker family nodded at her in greeting when they saw her. She returned their nods with smiles.

Her expression became more worried at Linda's words. "I'll go see how Grandpa Albert's doing."

"Wait—" Linda wanted to stop her, but it was too late. Catherine had already gone into the hospital room.

Albert lay on the hospital bed, looking fragile and haggard. Years of being sick had turned him into a ghost of his past self. When he saw a woman enter the room, he thought it was Wendy. He immediately turned to look at her. To his surprise, it was Catherine.

"How are you, Grandpa Albert? Do you feel better now?" Catherine held his hand as tears streamed down her face. She became choked up as she spoke.

Jason looked at her. They exchanged meaningful looks as their gazes met.

Albert nodded and said slowly, "I'm fine. You guys don't need to worry."

Jason grabbed a few tissues from the bedside table when he saw Catherine's tears. She accepted them and said, "Thanks, Jace."

Albert looked at Jason, his favorite grandson. He held out a hand. "Jason…"

"I'm right here, Grandpa." Jason bent down to hold Albert's hand.

"Where… Where's Dede? Is she here?"

Catherine's expression shifted as she pursed her lips. Albert only had Wendy in mind.

Jason answered, "She is, Grandpa. She's outside."

"Have her come in. I have something to say to her…"

"Okay."

Jason tucked Albert's hand under the sheets before heading to the door. Linda was surprised to see him come out. "What's wrong, Jace?"

She saw him looking at Wendy. Then, he said, "Come in. Grandpa wants to see you."

Wendy pointed at herself. "Me?"

Jason's expression darkened. He looked like he couldn't stand her idiocy.

Wendy was only sure she hadn't gotten the wrong idea when she saw the look on his face. She hurried forward.

Jason held her hand, catching her off guard and making her heart clench. Before she could make heads or tails about it, they'd already stopped by Albert's bed.

"I'm here, Grandpa," she said.

Albert's expression softened when he saw Wendy. He smiled faintly and said, "It's been hard on you, sweetheart, caring for two kids at the same time. Look at you—you've lost weight. You must've missed out on a lot of sleep."

As Wendy looked at him, she couldn't help being reminded of George when he was on his deathbed. Tears streamed down her face before she could say anything.

Catherine stood on the other side of the bed. She frowned at the sight of Wendy's silent tears and said, "Why are you crying when Grandpa Albert's talking to you? He's perfectly fine, isn't he?"

Wendy didn't respond. She didn't even bother looking at her. She quickly dried her tears and perked up as she smiled at Albert. "It hasn't been hard at all, Grandpa. We have a nanny and maids, and the kids are little angels.

"They sleep immediately after eating, and they're ready to play once they wake up. It's not hard on me at all…"

Albert smiled. "Oh, you silly thing. All mothers have it hard."

He turned to look at Jason. His tone became sterner as he said, "You're a husband and a father now, Jason. You have to bear those responsibilities properly or you'll be a disgrace to us all."

Jason's expression was aloof, but his attitude was respectful. "I understand, Grandpa. I won't forget."

Then, he nudged Wendy almost imperceptibly with his fingers. The latter understood what he wanted and chimed in, "You need to stop worrying so that you can get better, Grandpa. Jace treats me well, and the kids are doing great. There's nothing to worry about."

"That's good." Albert looked pleased. He turned to look at Catherine. "Catherine…"

She didn't expect him to still remember she was around. She put on a bright smile and held his hand again. "I'm listening, Grandpa Albert."

Albert stopped to catch his breath before saying in a low voice, "It's time for you and Connor… to have a child. Men will only truly settle down and be more responsible once they become fathers. It's the only way to keep your family together…"

Both Jason and Catherine looked a little embarrassed at his words. Albert was obviously insinuating that they had to keep their distance from each other now that they were married and to focus on their respective families. They would only embroil themselves in trouble if they were to stick together.

Catherine's face burned with humiliation, but she had to play silly. She smiled and said, "Don't worry, Grandpa Albert—Connor and I are already planning for that. Take care of yourself, okay? We need you to name our children for us."

"That's good…" Albert nodded in satisfaction. Then, he waved a hand. "Go do what you need to do. There's no need to hang around here for long. I'm sleepy, so I'm gonna get some sleep."

He shut his eyes as the people in the room backed out.

Harris looked at the people waiting in the corridor and waved a hand, saying, "It's time to go. Dad's condition has stabilized for now, so everything's fine for the time being."

Just then, Jason's phone rang. It was a call about work again. After hanging up, he looked at Wendy. "Come on, it's time to go."

He turned to Catherine and said, "You should get back to work, too. Tell Connor there's no need for him to hurry back."

She nodded. "Alright. I'll call him right now."

Jason didn't bother turning back to look at Wendy. He strode off. Wendy hurried after him. She was going to ignore Catherine as she swept past her, but Catherine stopped her. "Don't get the wrong idea about what happened last night. It was a business function—there were plenty of people around."

Wendy couldn't help sneering to herself. She wondered how Jason could've been blind enough to fall for such a scheming woman. She said coolly, "I didn't get the wrong idea. It's not a secret that he likes you. To him, you're the only woman worthy of being his wife."

Catherine's proud, smug expression turned sorrowful. "Fate does funny things sometimes. I only think of Jason as a brother—Connor's the one I've always loved."

"You should be telling him these things. Then again, it's exciting to see him so tormented, don't you think?"

Wendy's heartlessness upset Catherine. Her expression changed again as she suppressed her anger. "You and him are married now, so you should treat him well. How can you hope to see him in pain?"

Wendy met Catherine's gaze. "Are you done preaching, Mrs. Gale?"

"Why, you!" Catherine clenched her fists in anger at Wendy's attitude. She tried to keep her anger at bay but couldn't. She spat, "As Jason's wife, you should pay some attention to your image. How do you expect him to fall for you when you look like trash? Even a single glance at you would be enough to make his stomach turn!"

Chapter 5
Anyone would be furious to hear such humiliating words, but Wendy merely laughed them off. She retorted, "Jason's blind for not falling for me; what does that have to do with me? Look at how shrew-like and pissed you are now. You're the one who's a disgrace."

"How dare you!" Catherine had been raised to be a perfect lady, so she couldn't think of anything to counter Wendy.

As she watched Wendy walk off, she turned to hurry to Linda. She whined, "Honestly, what was Grandpa Albert thinking? Why did he have to force Jace to marry someone like her? It's practically an insult to the Walker family!"

Linda didn't like Wendy any more than Catherine did, but she wasn't totally on Catherine's side. She said rather resentfully, "Jace only had eyes for you, but you were set on being with Connor. How is Jace any worse than him?

"If you and Jace had gotten married, none of this would've happened. Albert wouldn't have forced Jace to marry Wendy."

Catherine was rendered speechless.

…

Wendy had fallen behind. As soon as she entered the elevator, Jason called her. When she answered the call, he said icily, "What's taking you so long? I'm in a hurry to get to the office."

She wasn't in a good mood but couldn't be bothered to waste her breath on him. She answered, "You can head straight to the company, then. There's no need to drop me off."

"How are you gonna get home, then?"

"I can take a cab, the subway, or a bus. It's not that hard for me to get home," she countered, feeling exasperated. She wasn't a baby or an idiot. How could she not find her way home?

Jason didn't say anything else. He hung up.

Wendy walked out of the elevator as she lowered her hand. When she got to the hospital's entrance, she saw Jason's car leaving the parking lot. To her surprise, she found that it didn't make her feel anything.

She stopped and checked the time. It was 11:00 am. Since she gave birth to the twins, her life had revolved around them. She didn't have a job, a social life, or even any friends in this city.

Wendy thought about walking around for a while, but she pushed the thought out of her mind as she walked down the steps. She decided to abandon her plan and simply head home.

Wendy was turning to head to the subway station when her phone rang. Her expression turned into one of joy when she saw the caller ID. She hurriedly answered the call.

"Hills! Why the sudden call?" The call was from her high school friend and best girlfriend, Hillary York."

Hillary said, "I'm in Cornchester for a business trip, so I thought about dropping by to visit you now that you're rich. Remember how we promised not to forget about each other once we made it big? I bet you've forgotten all about me now that you've become a rich man's wife!"

Wendy laughed. "Stop that! You're the last person I'd forget. Where are you? I'll treat you to a meal."

"That'd be great! I want the most lavish meal you can think of."

"Sure!" After hanging up, Wendy gave the matter some thought. A pretty good restaurant came to mind, so she searched for the location and sent it to Hillary.

An hour later, the two young ladies, who'd been apart for about half a year, hugged each other excitedly. After taking their seats, Hillary observed Wendy and teased, "Look at what a low profile you're keeping. You're the wife of a man who's worth billions, yet you're dressing just like us plebeians."

Wendy felt a little embarrassed. She explained, "I've gained some weight after giving birth. I don't look good in anything."

"Rubbish! You were too skinny in the past—you were like a piece of cardboard! You look great the way you are now." Hillary leaned closer and said conspiratorially, "Women need to be on the plump side to make men go crazy over them."

For some reason, Wendy blushed. She pushed the menu over to Hillary to cut the conversation short. "Here, take a look and see what you'll have."

They ordered and chit-chatted as they ate. As they caught up, Wendy found out that Hillary's husband had been promoted and was about to take up a position in Cornchester—that meant their family of three would be moving to the city.

Hillary was in town for a business meeting, but she was also taking the opportunity to check out some houses. She'd already found the right place to rent, so all that was left was for them to move over.

"That's great! I'll have a friend here in the future!" Wendy was delighted.

Hillary said, "I know, right? I thought it was such a coincidence too when I remembered you were here."

They lost track of time as they continued chatting. Later, Wendy had no choice but to head home when Jane called to say the children were starting to fuss.

She called for a waiter to settle the bill. She handed him a Centurion card.

Hillary teased, "Would you look at that? Now that's what I would expect the wife of a wealthy man to do."

Wendy sighed. "I'd prefer to get a job. I want to earn my keep so I can be independent."

Jason had given her this card and told her there wasn't a limit to it, but she felt like she couldn't use it with her head held high.

She wanted to have a career and feel like she was doing something with her life. She wanted to lead a life that was more than this.

Hillary could understand what she meant—it wasn't easy being a part of an affluent family. She said comfortingly, "I'm sure you can do it once the kids are a little older."

The waiter returned with Wendy's card. After that, she bid Hillary farewell before hurrying home.

…

Jason had just finished a meeting when he saw a message on his phone. It was from his bank. He frowned slightly.

The message informed him that someone had swiped his card at a restaurant. He'd given the card to Wendy when they'd first gotten married, but he could count on one hand the number of times she'd used it over the past two years.

What had happened today to make her use it again? Who had she had a meal with?

The out-of-the-ordinary act confused Jason. He couldn't help linking it to Wendy asking for a divorce. Had she sought out a lawyer for their professional opinion? Or had she met up with a friend to ask for ideas?

His mind turned into a mess as he thought of Wendy. He didn't know what she was trying to achieve by asking for a divorce.

Two years ago, when they'd first gotten married, they'd come to an agreement. Once Albert passed away, they would divorce, and he would give her the appropriate monetary compensation as thanks for cooperating with him.

At the time, it hadn't even crossed their mind to try being an actual couple, let alone having kids together.

But a year ago, when Catherine and Connor had gotten married, Jason had been Connor's best man. After all, the three of them had grown up together. It was apparent how he would've felt, watching the woman he'd loved for years marry someone else. That night, he'd drank himself silly.

Wendy had cared for him that night, and he'd mistaken her for Catherine. They'd accidentally slept. He'd apologized to her afterward and had reminded her multiple times to take the morning-after pill. But two months later, she'd told him she was expecting.

Several things had happened after that. The memory of them was enough to piss Jason off. Who would've expected him to fall for a seemingly innocent woman's trap when he'd always been the smartest person in the room?

Just then, his phone rang, pulling him out of his reverie. Jason composed himself when he saw the caller ID. Some of the iciness in his eyes melted. "Hi, Cathy."

Catherine said bluntly, "I heard Wendy's asking for a divorce."

Jason's expression darkened. "Who did you hear it from?"

"Linda told me," she explained. "She went to Imperial Bay to see the children after leaving the hospital this morning and overheard the maids talking about it. They said you ignored Wendy when she asked for a divorce earlier in the morning."

Jason frowned, looking grim. He massaged his eyes with one hand, propping the other up on the armrest of his seat. It looked like he had to teach the maids a lesson—it was taboo for them to gossip about their employers' private affairs.

Chapter 6
When Jason remained silent, Catherine realized she had hit the mark.

"Is she out of her mind? The twins are barely three months old and still need constant care. How can she even think of divorce? Even if she doesn't care about Grandpa, does she not care for her own children?" she asked in bewilderment.

It was a fact known that Wendy had been orphaned and raised by George, who unfortunately passed away a few years prior. Catherine sincerely doubted Wendy could manage her two children alone if they divorced.

"Linda mentioned she wasn't home this afternoon. The children are crying from hunger, and she still hasn't returned. I've told you, that woman isn't as innocent as she appears. Grandpa Albert was so eager to repay the kindness that he misplaced his trust," Catherine added with frustration.

Jason snapped back irritably at her complaints, "There's milk powder in the kitchen and frozen breast milk in the fridge. The kids won't starve. Besides, she's already a grown woman. She's entitled to take breaks sometimes."

Catherine was stunned by his response. "Why did you—"

She was about to question Jason's defense of Wendy but stopped herself. Wendy was Jason's legitimate wife and the mother of his children; it was only natural for him to stand up for her.

Recalling Wendy's words from the hospital earlier, Catherine felt a wave of shame and guilt wash over her.

"I-I'm so sorry, Jace. It's all my fault," Catherine murmured regretfully.

Though surprised by her sudden apology, Jason replied calmly, "There's nothing to apologize for. Don't dwell on it. If there's nothing else, I'm going back to work."

Once Catherine agreed, Jason swiftly ended the call. He then dialed the landline to Imperial Bay and instructed the butler, Tobias Howard, to deal with the gossiping maids.

Meanwhile, Catherine stared at her phone in a daze as a sudden sorrow crept into her heart. She used to be the one to end calls with Jason first, but now the tables had turned. Not to mention he had spoken up for Wendy, though he seemed oblivious to it.

Would a man's attitude toward his wife change after having a child? If so, perhaps she should heed Albert's advice and give Connor a child.

When Wendy returned home to feed her children, she heard a loud commotion downstairs. Curious, she beckoned Jane over and was surprised to learn that Tobias was dismissing two maids.

"Why let them go? I thought they were doing fine?" Wendy asked, unaware of the afternoon's incident.

As Jane worried that she would suffer a similar fate, she cautiously replied, "Those two said some things they shouldn't have and offended Madam Linda."

Upon learning that Linda had come over to visit, Wendy heaved a sigh of relief. She realized that their meeting would've been tense if she had been home.

Though surprised by the uproar caused by Linda's visit, Wendy refrained from commenting further, knowing she had no authority to interfere in household matters. She was just an honorary lady of the house.

After an afternoon nap, Wendy grabbed a laptop and started browsing job listings. Despite her desire for a divorce, she had to keep it a secret due to Albert's declining health. That said, she still needed to make plans for her life after the divorce.

At that moment, the children stirred from their slumber and started crying. In her haste to tend to them, Wendy left the laptop running.

That evening, Jason returned home from work and headed upstairs for a quick shower before attending to his children. As he set his watch on the table, he accidentally nudged the mouse beside Wendy's laptop. The screen instantly lit up, catching Jason's attention.

As Jason read through the search history, his lips curled up into a cold smirk.

It seemed Wendy truly desired a divorce, but Jason couldn't fathom her reasons. She lived a privileged life, and they had twins together. What could she possibly be dissatisfied with to the extent of seeking a divorce?

At that point, Jason couldn't help but agree with Catherine's earlier assertions about Wendy.

On the other hand, Wendy couldn't shake off her unease since the moment Jason had entered the house. She wondered if Catherine and Linda had confided their grievances with him. While such issues might be resolved in a typical marriage, theirs was anything but typical.

Throughout dinner, an awkward silence hung between Jason and Wendy, broken only by the quiet clinking of utensils. Despite the discomfort, Wendy couldn't help but marvel at her own appetite. She only set her fork aside when she had eaten her fill.

Seeing Jason's swift departure from the table, Wendy sensed he was aware of the morning's incident. However, he chose not to broach the topic in public. Wendy concurred, understanding the potential repercussions of discussing such matters at the dining table.

Night descended, and after settling the children to sleep, Wendy retreated to her own bed. Just then, Hillary messaged her about the residential rental properties they had visited earlier that day.

Wendy wasn't sure how to respond. Despite living in Cornchester for over two years, her outings had been rare, particularly considering that ten of those months were devoted to conception and she had only recently given birth three months ago.

As the two reminisced about old times, Wendy couldn't help but laugh genuinely. She implored Hilary to hasten her move to Cornchester for companionship.

Jason stumbled upon the scene and was stunned by her beaming smile. In their two years of marriage, he had never witnessed such genuine happiness on her face before.

His mind raced with questions. Who was Wendy chatting with so animatedly late at night? Was it someone she loved? Was that why she insisted on a divorce—to pursue her true love?

At that moment, Wendy caught Jason's gaze, and her smile faltered. She quickly sent a message to Hillary about retiring for the night.

"I'm turning in now. I'll need to breastfeed the kids later. You should get some rest too," she texted.

Hillary responded playfully with a teasing emoticon. "Is your husband giving you a nudge? Alright then, we'll catch up tomorrow."

Wendy couldn't help but blush at the message. Still, she calmly lay on the bed and turned to her side.

Seeing her reaction, Jason became increasingly convinced that Wendy was being unfaithful. It suddenly dawned on him why she was adamant about seeking a divorce despite living in luxury.

Even though they didn't have feelings for each other, they remained legally bound as a couple.

The mere thought of Wendy potentially abandoning their children for another man ignited a fiery anger within Jason.

Unaware of his tumultuous thoughts, Wendy set her phone aside and attempted to sleep. Sensing the mattress shifting under Jason's weight, she hesitated briefly before gently suggesting, "Shouldn't you be sleeping in the other room?"

Chapter 7
Jason was about to slip under the blankets when Wendy's words stopped him in his tracks. He shot her a cold glance. "Why would I sleep in another room?"

"Oh, don't get me wrong. I just don't want you to feel uncomfortable. I can go to the guest room instead," Wendy suggested kindly, feeling a pang of sympathy for Jason. After all, he had been compelled to marry a stranger while his sweetheart married his best friend.

With that, Wendy rose from the bed and prepared to leave. However, Jason's question stopped her in her tracks. "Who is that man? How do you know him?"

Surprised by his inquiry, Wendy replied, "Excuse me? Who might you be referring to?"

Jason smirked. "Why the look of surprise? Didn't you insist on a divorce and suggest sleeping separately because you have someone else in mind?"

Wendy widened her eyes in disbelief. After a moment's hesitation, she countered, "I sought a divorce because of your relationship with Catherine."

"Catherine is married. She has no connection to me," Jason retorted sharply, but Wendy snickered at his denial.

"Oh, really? Your expression around her suggests otherwise. Do you dare claim innocence?" she retorted, her tone filled with disdain.

Jason was taken aback by Wendy's sudden boldness as she turned to meet his gaze head-on.

"I hoped to free you from this unhappy marriage. But instead of showing gratitude, you slander me!" Wendy added.

She was typically cautious and meek in their arguments, but her tongue would turn sharp when provoked.

Jason recognized this trait in her. Despite her gentle appearance, Wendy possessed a bold and rational side; she was unafraid to speak her mind.

In contrast to her delicate exterior, he found himself intrigued by her true personality – lively, intelligent, brave, and even a touch fiery.

For the first time, Jason truly took notice of Wendy. She had a pretty face and delicate features. Unlike the typical pretty faces he encountered, her beauty was akin to fine wine—growing more alluring with time.

Jason recalled the first time he met Wendy; she looked rather miserable due to her poor living conditions. After living comfortably for a few years, her sun-kissed skin had turned fair, and there was a new air about her. Even without makeup, her beauty was stunning.

In truth, Jason was willing to spend the rest of his life with Wendy for the sake of their children if she weren't the cunning and scheming woman he believed.

But before he could convince himself to accept her, Wendy had proposed a divorce. It was as if she was eager to get out of the unbearable life. She was such an ungrateful woman!

Upon sensing Jason's unusual gaze, Wendy couldn't help but feel unsettled. "W-What are you staring at?"

Snapping back to reality, Jason frowned as he pulled the covers over himself and settled into bed. "Nothing. I doubt you'd be so considerate for my sake. I fear this is just another one of your traps."

Enraged by his accusation, Wendy decided to set things straight. "Watch your mouth! I've never set a trap for you. Don't accuse me without evidence."

Jason secretly relished Wendy's fury, though he concealed his satisfaction well.

As he slowly lay down, Jason replied, "You've been carrying the evidence every day in your arms. Is there any need for excuses?"

Wendy seethed with anger, knowing he was referring to their children.

Sitting upright, she raised her right hand and declared sternly, "I swear on my life that I took the morning-after pill that day, Mr. Walker. If I'm lying, may the Grim Reaper come and claim me!"

Jason retorted dismissively, "If oaths meant anything, the poor guy would never have a moment's rest."

His words only left Wendy speechless with anger.

Undeterred, Jason continued, "Why not just admit your mistake? I'm ready to accept whatever comes. I'm at the age to be a father anyway. It's just frustrating that you won't admit—"

"Why should I confess to something I didn't do? No birth control method is foolproof, as the doctor has confirmed. I'm just an exception!" Wendy interjected.

Jason turned to face her, feeling intrigued by her fiery response. Sitting up, he leaned against the headrest and voiced his doubts.

"The doctor advised against carrying the baby after you took the pill, as it could lead to birth defects. Yet, you chose to proceed with the conception.

"This implies you never took the pill at all. Otherwise, why would you risk delivering children who might be born with defects?"

Taking a deep breath, Wendy shot Jason a glare. "I did consider losing the baby upon discovering I was expecting. I know it's harsh, but it seemed the safest option. But when the doctor revealed I was carrying twins, it changed everything. Two new lives! How could a mother bring herself to lose them?

"I decided to take the risk, relying on advanced medical technology. If the fetuses showed any abnormalities during check-ups, I would have undergone labor induction. Of course, I hoped for healthy children. And thankfully, my decision was vindicated."

Before Jason could retort, Wendy added, "And let's not forget, you're the one who's at fault here. Why should I bear the consequences of your actions? Do you realize the risks of the surgery? What if something goes wrong and I can never conceive again?

"I'm glad that I stood my ground back then, seeing that I've accomplished the most important piece of my life. Even if you slander me or hurl accusations, I stand by my decisions!"

With that declaration, Wendy stormed off the bed in a fit of anger. "I suggest we keep our distance for now. Your infuriating words might just sour my milk!"

As Wendy made her way past the bed, she recalled something and turned back to face Jason. "Oh, by the way, I didn't take the morning-after pill this time. It's harmful to the body, especially while breastfeeding. I can't risk endangering the children."

Her words triggered a sudden realization in Jason, and he asked sheepishly, "Um, you... probably won't get conceived again this time, right?"

Massive story

https://facebook.com/61552493980605

LEARN_MORE