Chapter 24 – Take care of my own
Inside the hotel, Jonathan massaged his forehead while looking at the screen.
He and Liliana were lounging in a room taking refreshments and snacks.
“Is she really a nurse?” He asked Liliana.
“Oh, yeah! She is quite good,” Liliana replied.
“She would make a good actor,” Jonathan said curtly.
“That’s not acting. She has stage fright, so the panic and tears are real. That’s why the panicky act suits her so well. The emotions are raw. Just her words are a pile of nonsense,” Liliana clarified.
“She said you take care of her,” Jonathan probed.
“We should protect our own. It’s a good principle to have,” She shrugged.
“Is that why you are protecting me?” He questioned.This material belongs to NôvelDrama.Org.
“I have not protected you,” She smiled sadly.
He was confused at her sadness. Why was she sad?
“What do you mean?” He probed unsure if she would answer.
“This is not protecting you. This is forcing you to choose and do things at my terms and my pace. I am very clear about the difference,” She clarified.
“So this is a test,” He asked.
She did not answer, which was a silent acquiescence.
“What do I get if I pass?” He asked light-heartedly.
“You get more choices.” She turned away but not before he caught the melancholy in her eyes.
Who is she? What is she hiding? What are her secrets? What made her sad?
Jonathan wanted to ask her so many things. But he did not dare. They were only business partners and he had no right.
The door to the lounge opened and revealed Henry and teary-eyed Jennifer.
Jenn ran towards Liliana as the latter shouted, “Careful! Heels!”
Jenn ignored her as she asked, “How did I do?”
Liliana could only shake her head and ask, “You do know you are older than me right?”
Jenn huffed, “But I am your responsibility.”
Liliana laughed at that as she pulled her beside her.
“You did very well. Your brilliant teacher, Jo, must be sitting by the TV with her nose turned upward now.” Liliana said with a warm smile in her eyes.
Right about then her phone rang. She shook her head and passed it to Jennifer, “This is for you.”
“Aunty Jenn, you did so well. I am such a good teacher. I am so proud of myself.” Jo’s booming voice came from the phone and just as Lil had described, her face was turned up.
“Little brat! I was the one who did all the hard work.” Jenn feigned anger.
Li snatched the phone from Jo and said, “You were so amazing, Aunty. I will learn from you and face my fears.”
Jenn clicked her tongue at him, “Why are you always so mature? It makes me feel bad.”
Li scratched his head and asked, “Where’s mommy?”
Jenn teased him, “Momma’s boy! Can’t even stay away from your mother for a few hours, huh!”
Li answered solemnly, “I just wanted to check how she is doing.”
Jenn passed the phone to Lil as she sighed, “I envy you.”
Lil teased her, “You can have your own.”