when she left he went crazy (Hope and Christopher)
CHAPTER 123

Chapter 123 You Don't Seem to Get Jealous Anymore

Being asked such a question in public, I was momentarily at a loss. Kimberly wasn't wrong; it was indeed her birthday celebration. She had every right to curate the guest list.

Before I could muster a response, Jerry glanced nonchalantly at Kimberly and smoothly interjected, "I practically had to beg her, plead, actually, before she agreed to accompany me. And now you want to shoo her away?"

With just a few words, he deftly defused my embarrassment. Kimberly pouted, clearly displeased. "Since when did you two get so close?"

Jerry's eves namowed. "Do I need to report to you?"

Kimberly persisted, "Didn't you know Christopher would be here? Did you invite her to embarrass me...?"

"Enough!"

The middle-aged lady, Skylar Green, smiled softly, her tone both tender and reproachful. "You two have been bickering since childhood; haven't you had enough?"

She then turned to Kimberly, with gentle admonition. "And you, my dear, already planning a future with Christopher, yet still behaving so childishly?"

At that moment, my gaze inadvertently locked with Christopher's dark eyes. I had anticipated feeling a pang of sadness or another intense emotion, but surprisingly, I didn't. I reacted with calm resignation instead, finally understanding the situation.

So, this was why Christopher and Kimberly appeared together.

Kimberly clung to her mother's arm and whined affectionately, "Mother!"

It dawned on me that the middle-aged couple were.Kimberly's parents.

Skylar discreetly assessed me before turning to Jerry. "And this young lady is...?"

"Hope Royston, my friend. Didn't you and Uncle Harris keep urging me to get married? Here's someone for you to consider," Jerry replied with nonchalance, as if he could marry me at the drop of a hat. Christophers gaze sharpened, fixing on me with a sudden intensity.

Larry Harris chuckled, pointing at Jerry in mock exasperation. "You rascal, dragging an innocent girl into your schemes to placate me and your aunt, huh?"

Skylar echoed his sentiments with gentle reproach. "Jerry, weren't you waiting for Bella's return? It's been so many years. If you wait any longer, your parents will be hounding us. Maybe it's time to move on."

Jerry laughed, a sound with an almost enigmatic depth. "Move on? Can a living person just vanish without a trace? If she's alive, I want to see her; if she's dead, I want to see her body."

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Chapter 123 You Don't Seem to Get Jealous Anymore

It seemed Cecil had told me the truth.

Beside me, Kimberly's expression turned unusually dark upon hearing Jerry's words, but she quickly returned to normal when meeting others eyes.

Skylar sighed, her eyes glistening with tears. "Why persist? We are about to give up..."

A tug of sorrow pinched my heart. It was as if I was feeling the Harris family's agony for their missing daughter, whom I had never even met.

Larry draped a comforting arm around Skylar's shoulder. "Alright, no more tears. Today is Kimberly's birthday."

Jerry, however, remained nonchalant. "Uncle Larry, do you remember, today is also Bella's birthday."

Larry and Skylar both stiffened, and Skylar hurriedly lowered her head to wipe her tears while Kimberly looked as if she had suffered a great grievance.

I was somewhat surprised that Jerry would, at such a moment, stand up for his absent fiancée and touch a sore spot. But it was Jerry's style. Reckless and unrestrained.

Larry helplessly scolded, "Jerry! Do you have to make your aunt and sister unhappy?"

"They have you to care for them. I just want to know if Bella would be happy if she were here," Jerry retorted, his voice edged with defiance, his gaze then shifting to me. "What are you standing there for? Let's

go."

Jerry, with his tall stature and long legs, took large strides, his pace swift and purposeful. Struggling with the hem of my gown, I struggled to keep up.

Just as we were about to exit the hotel, a force grabbed my wrist from behind. "Hope Royston!"

I turned to see Christopher, whose face was cold and stern. Calming my emotions, I asked indifferently, "What's the

matter?"

"Mr. Valence, is there something you need?" Jerry also turned back, raising an eyebrow slightly.

Christopher's eyes were filled with a dark intensity. "Matters between husband and wife. Does Mr. Hammer wish to

interfere?"

Jerry chuckled, "Not interested. I just wanted to remind Mr. Valence that bigamy is illegal."

Ignoring Jerry, Christopher tightened his grip on my wrist and pulled me away without a word. Jerry frowned slightly. "I'll wait for you in the car."

Hearing this seemed to ignite something in Christopher; his grip tightened even further, and his strides grew longer

and faster.

He dragged me to a secluded area, pushing me against the wall. His deep, cold eyes were filled with inexplicable anger. "Are you very familiar with Jerry Hammer? It felt like an interrogation.

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Chapter 123 You Don't Seem to Get Jealous Anymore

My shoulder blades throbbed from the impact against the wall, and I retorted angrily, "What does that have to do with you?"

Christopher's voice was edged with tension, each word seemingly torn from his lips. "It has nothing to do with me? You can remain indifferent, but I can't!'

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "What are you trying to say?"

"Hope Royston... "Christopher's voice suddenly softened, his forehead resting against mine. The depth and magnetism in his voice were now tinged with a touch of melancholy, "You don't seem to get jealous anymore."

There was disappointment in his tone, a profound loneliness.

a bit

Having truly loved Christopher for over eight years, seeing him like this made me feel a bit uneasy. I turned my away, looking into the distance, and forced a bitter smile. "Indeed, I don't."

In the past, I had been jealous countless times because of Christopher and Evelyn.

With each instance of Christopher's favoritism and choices that never included me, I seemed to grow numb.

I couldn't even pinpoint the exact moment my feelings for him disappeared.

head

Was it when Christopher gave the promotion that should have been mine to Evelyn, when they flirted with each other, or when he left me to go to prenatal checkups alone for Evelyn, or when he repeatedly broke his promises to me, or when he ran to someone else when I was most afraid?

The moment I lost my baby, Christopher was by someone else's side, accusing and yelling at me.

Each time, those cautious feelings of love dissipated a little, until finally, they vanished completely.

I suddenly felt grateful that Christopher never chose me.

It allowed me to give up completely.

Christopher's hand on my shoulder slowly slid down, eventually coming to rest at his side. His voice was steady, almost pleading. "There's nothing between Kimberly and me."

I lowered my eyes, trying to keep my tone light. "It's alright, you don't need to explain to me."

The time when I needed assurances from Christopher had long since passed.

For a moment, his expression turned vacant, as if something inside him had broken. "You really don't care at all

anymore?"

I took a deep breath and said, "Yes."

Christopher's gaze fixed on me, silent for a long time, but his words were clear and obsessive. "I don't believe it."