Chapter 20
As the conversation flowed, Shanna’s gaze briefly flicked over to Eduardo, then quickly away.
She always thought that these two made a perfect pair. One was gentle, the other kind–hearted. They were truly a match made in heaven.
But now, Jensina couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a sharp, mocking gaze on her from above. She pretended not to notice, lifting her head to offer a smile and said, “Shanna, Pierre misunderstood. I already explained everything to him on the way here.
“I’m not planning to get a divorce.”
The words dropped, and as she turned her gaze away, she unexpectedly locked eyes with a pair of deep eyes.
Stanley’s gaze was piercing, filled with a hint of intense scrutiny.
She had no desire to admit anything about the divorce in front of him.
Shanna was taken aback, then reprimanded Pierre, “Such a big thing, and you didn’t even tell me? I already ordered a divorce cake…”
“Well, I didn’t have time,” Pierre quickly responded, and with a wink at Jensina, he added, “We can still eat cake without her getting divorced, as long as the kids are happy, right?”
Shanna nodded.“Well, that’s true.”
“Thanks, Shanna.”
Jensina raised her glass, giving a light tap before taking a sip.
She set the glass down, and Stanley’s voice, cool and steady, interrupted.“There’s improvement. You’ve learned to swallow your anger better
now.”
Jensina wasn’t surprised at all.
When she married, Stanley hadn’t agreed.
At that time, she was desperate to escape the Herring family, and she couldn’t care less about his objections. What’s more, at that time, she honestly thought Coleman was a good choice.
But Stanley disagreed, and she had defied him and married anyway.
Now, she was cheated on, and of course, Stanley would mock her..
Her clarification on the internet could fool the public, but not those close to her. Anyone with eyes could easily tell the difference between her and Juanita’s side profiles.
“You taught me well,” Jensina retorted, her words sharp, and she wanted to leave the table. Yet, she didn’t want to waste Shanna’s painstakingly prepared meal, so she forced herself to suppress her anger.
Eduardo, surprised, asked, “Do you two know each other?”
“Not really.”
“More than just knowing each other.”
Both Jensina and Stanley answered at the same time.
The air seemed to freeze for a moment.
Stanley’s hands, with long, sharp fingers, tapped casually against the base of his wine glass. He looked at Eduardo, a slight smirk playing on his lips. I’m her brother.”
Jensina’s heart skipped a beat, and she inhaled deeply, struggling to keep the tightening in her chest under control, even though the corners of her eyes started to redden.
Just as she was about to speak, Pierre cut in, “Eduardo, we’ve had enough. You should take Sina home.”
“Pierre, Shanna…”
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Jensina shot an apologetic look at Shanna.
Shanna patted her on the back gently.“It’s OK, just listen to Pierre.”
Menu
Eduardo, puzzled by the tension between Jensina and Stanley, didn’t pry further. He stood up, offering his arm to Jensina.“Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”
“Thanks Eduardo.”
Stanley’s eyes darkened as he heard that. He didn’t react outwardly, but his brow furrowed slightly, his expression almost turning harsh.
After Jensina and Eduardo left, Pierre turned to Stanley, his voice suddenly serious, no longer carrying the warmth it once did.“If it wasn’t for you bringing Sina to me, giving me such a wonderful apprentice, you wouldn’t be crossing my doorstep today.
“I know you must have your reasons, but have you ever thought about Sina’s struggles? She’s a young girl who’s never stopped taking medicine. This is what the Herring family did to her.”
Shanna had gone upstairs, leaving them the space to talk.
Stanley paused for a moment, then shifted his gaze to the car driving away, his stiff jaw slowly relaxing as he spoke, his tone colder than ever.“Mr. Kline, I’m here today to discuss a collaboration.”
“I’m not interested in anything else.”
As the car merged into the busy city traffic, Jensina remained silent, her gaze fixed on the window. She didn’t blink as the cityscape blurred by.
In the four years they had known each other, she wasn’t just thoughtful and sensible; she also had a quiet strength that others lacked, a determination that kept her moving forward no matter the obstacles.
But at this moment, it felt different.
She didn’t say anything, but Eduardo could feel the sadness in the air.
At the red light, he gently pressed the brakes, asking, “Are you alright?”
To be honest, she wasn’t.
Stanley had always been so indifferent, as if the past had never happened. It looked like Jensina had been the one who was petty and stubborn, trapped in it all, unable to move on.
Jensina still wasn’t used to dissecting her feelings with others. She forced a smile and said, “I’m fine.”
“If anything’s bothering you, remember to share it with me,” Eduardo said.
He was careful, not pushing her, but reminding her, “Sina, going head–to–head with Stanley won’t end well for you.”
That was solid advice.
Jensina felt a whirlwind of emotions, and after a long pause, she whispered, “I know.”
She didn’t know why, but even when Coleman had cheated on her, she could manage her emotions.
But with this, she couldn’t control herself.
Later that night, she talked to Gertrude about it, and Gertrude, without missing a beat, asked, “Do you know why?”
She moved all the files off the coffee table, looking at Jensina with a knowing expression. “You’ve trusted Stanley completely for nine years, but with Coleman, you were only trying to trust him. And then he let you down.
“You never fully gave yourself to him.”
She took a sip of her Americano, tapping her finger on the mug, before concluding, “In the end, it’s the emotional sunk cost that makes all the difference.”
Later that night, while lying in bed after her shower, Jensina couldn’t shake Gertrude’s last words.
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