Chapter 7
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Felix didn’t return home that night.
He came in early the next morning with Bella’s scent clinging to him like a stench. Jade noticed that he hesitated at the door when he saw her already awake and seated at the dining table, eating breakfast calmly.
She watched him as he prepared what to say to apologize to her.
“Jade, baby, I’m so sorry,” he said softly, “Something came up, and I didn’t mean to stay long–I just… it wasn’t supposed to be like that, I swear.”
She said nothing, chewing her food quietly.
Felix sat beside her chair, grabbing her free hand. “Please don’t be mad. I didn’t mean to miss our dinner. I am going to make it up to you. I promise. You know that you mean everything to me.”
Still, she said nothing.
“I brought you something,” he added quickly, reaching into his pocket. “Look. I saw this and thought of you. I know how much you love jewelry.”
He pulled out a box and opened it, revealing a delicate gold necklace with a crystal pendant. Jade blinked at it, and for a moment, she almost laughed.
She knew this necklace.
It wasn’t new. He didn’t pick it with her in mind, she knew it was one of Bella’s old ones. Jade remembered seeing it in a post that Bella made weeks ago, saying she was clearing out her jewelry drawer and giving away pieces she didn’t wear anymore.
And now Felix was giving it to her. Jade stared at it for a moment longer, then raised her eyes to Felix.
“Thank you,” she said simply, keeping her voice calm. “It’s nice.”
Felix blinked. “That’s it?” he asked, confused. “You like it, right?”
“Yes,” she replied, placing her spoon down. “It’s beautiful.”
Felix was surprised. Normally, Jade would’ve been overjoyed. She would’ve hugged him, kissed him, thanked him over and over. But now, she looked as if he had just handed her a worthless piece of trash, instead of a gift. Yes, he knew it was trash, but Jade didn’t know that.
“Wait… are you mad at me?”
She smiled faintly. “No. I’m not mad.”
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Jade was mad, but she wasn’t mad at Felix. She was mad at herself for not seeing things clearly before, for allowing herself to be easily manipulated.
“You’re not mad?” His voice raised in disbelief.
“No,” she said again, this time standing up. “You said something came up. 1
understand.”
“But-”
“It’s okay,” she cut him off. “You don’t have to explain anything.”
He searched her face, probably hoping to find some sort of emotion, but there was none. It was getting him confused, and he hated it.
“Can you stop being so damn dramatic?!” He snapped, annoyance filled his
voice.
Jade furrowed her eyebrows calmly, “Excuse me?”
He released a sigh of annoyance, and stormed off.
She watched him leave, shaking her head in amusement. Her phone buzzed with a message from Rowan, and she smiled, typing back a response.
Felix returned to the dining room after calming himself down. But the moment he saw her smiling at her phone, his eyes narrowed slightly.
She hadn’t even noticed when he entered.
Felix stared at her for a moment, then slowly walked to the table, expecting to see his plate already set like always. But there was nothing there, apart from her empty plate and cup.
He cleared his throat, trying to get her attention.
Jade didn’t look up.
He cleared it again, louder this time. “Uh… where’s mine?”
She glanced up briefly, looking surprised to see him still there. “What?”
“My breakfast,” he said, pointing at the empty table. “You didn’t keep any?”
She shrugged, “I didn’t see you, so I made breakfast for myself.”
Felix blinked. “What about me?”
Jade tilted her head. “Kitchen’s right there. Eggs are in the fridge, bread’s on the counter. There’s butter and jam in the drawer.” She said it so casually, like it wasn’t anything new.,
Felix stood frozen, gaping at her in disbelief. He had never once made his own breakfast in this house. Jade had always done it cheerfully without being
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asked.
Now she was directing him to ingredients.
He clenched his jaw. “You didn’t think I would be hungry?”
“I didn’t see you,” she replied simply, turning her attention back to her phone. Her smile returned instantly at Rowan’s next message.
Felix clenched his jaw. She was pretending, trying to get his attention, but he did not give a damn about her games.
“What kind of game are you playing now?” he snapped, stepping closer to her. “Seriously, Jade. I’m not in the mood. I’m hungry.”
Without looking up from her phone, she said calmly, “You should’ve eaten from where you’re coming from.”
