CHAPTER 141 JACQUELINE’S PHONE CALL

Henry pressed his lips together subconsciously." Jackie, there’s no comparison here. Yvonne Frey's my wife. I should be spending time with her."

"Wife?” Jacqueline gripped her phone. "Henry, you acknowledge her as your wife now?” Content is © by .

"From the moment I married her, she is my wife," Henry replied.

Jacqueline chortled, her laugh aggrieved. "What about me then? Henry, I came back to start anew with you and you’re saying Yvonne Frey is your wife? What about me?"

Henry looked away. “Jackie, I told you before, it's impossible now between us!"

"I don’t accept it," Yvonne shrieked before she bawled, "Henry, you can't do this to me. I won’t be able to live without you." 3

Henry took a deep breath. "Jackie, no one in this world can't live without anyone. I’ve let it go, and you should too."

"I don't want to..." Jacqueline sobbed, "Henry, don’t you think you're too cruel? You're letting it go but why are you asking me to let go too? I won't, you're mine!"

Henry straightened up. "Jackie, listen to me!" "No, no, I won't!" Jacqueline covered her ears. "Henry, I told you that I won't give up.”

"But I'm already married." Henry was growing tired of i t.

Narrowing her eyes, Jacqueline responded, "You can get a divorce."

"Divorce?" Henry was startled.

"Yes, I heard my dad saying that you were forced to get married by Grandpa Lancaster three years ago. You didn't approve of the marriage. If that's the case, why aren't you splitting with Yvonne Frey?"

"I won't get a divorce." Henry rejected her.

Jacqueline gritted her teeth. "Why? You guys aren't compatible, are you?"

"This hasn't anything to do with compatibility. The Lancasters have no precedence of divorce. I’ve married her, and I should be responsible for her," Henry said seriously.

If he had not slept with Yvonne, he might consider a divorce. However, reality was that he had consummated his marriage with Yvonne and he had asked for her bone marrow. These alone were enough for him to hold onto his duties.

"Responsible?" Jacqueline was both laughing and crying. "You want to be responsible to Yvonne, but what about me? Don't you feel responsible for me? Our breakup three years ago was forced by Grandpa Lancaster - I didn't ask for it. Me going abroad was forced by Grandpa Lancaster too. Just for those things, you should be responsible for me too."

"That’s why I'm trying my best to keep you alive now," Henry replied.

There was a sob from Jacqueline before she kept her emotions in check. "Okay, Henry, let’s not talk about this. It’s my birthday today, are you really not coming?"

"Mm," Henry hummed.

The corner of Jacqueline's lips tugged up in an icy angle. ”1 see. Don’t regret it then.”

Henry noticed the oddness in her words and asked with a squint, "Jackie, what are you going to do?"

"Nothing. Henry, I'm a little tired. I'm going to take a nap. Before I hang up, can you wish me a happy birthday?" Jacqueline’s voice was soft and gentle.

Suppressing his strange gut feeling, Henry wished her as requested, "Happy birthday, Jackie."

“Thank you. Send my regards to Miss Frey too. It's fated how we share the same birthday," Jacqueline said and hung up.

Staring at the dimmed screen of his phone, Henry was restless. He felt strange about how Jackie was acting toward the end of the phone call, but he could not pinpoint it.

She would not do something stupid, would she? 1

Henry stopped himself from having similar thoughts t o continue going through the documents at hand. For some reason, he felt antsier the longer it took. He was uneasy and anxious.

“Sir." Sue's voice rang outside the door.

Henry closed his eyes. "What is it?"

“It's meal time."

"Alright." Dropping his pen, Henry went to open the door.

Sue flashed him a smile. "Sir, madam prepared many dishes. All of them smell like they taste great.”

"Is that so?" Henry responded distractedly, making Sue's smile freeze. "Sir, do you have something on your mind?"

"No, let's go," Henry speak coldly and went past her to g o downstairs.

He arrived at the dining room to see Yvonne serving soup from the kitchen. She had a headscarf and an apron on her with some grime on her face, looking quite the mess.

Henry glanced at her. "Were you cooking or were you fighting?" 2

Putting the soup down, Yvonne picked up her sleeve t 0 swipe at her face carelessly. "Cooking, of course. It’s just that I haven’t cooked in a long time and felt a little rusty. Luckily, I managed. What do you think, Henry?"

She pointed at the table of dishes.

Henry arched a brow as his gaze followed. "You prepared all these?"

"Yup!" Yvonne nodded.

There was a glint of surprise in Henry's gaze, not expecting her to actually be able to cook.

The table of dishes looked appetizing. The taste was yet to be determined but the aroma was tantalizing.

"Sir, try and see if it’s good." Sue passed Henry his cutlery.

Yvonne urged him as well. "Yes, Henry, try it."

Henry accepted the cutlery under the women's anticipating gazes and helped himself with the nearest dish to him.

To be honest, it tasted alright. It was not awful, but it was not delicious either.

Yvonne had been keeping her eyes on him. Henry looked void of emotion throughout the process, so she was unable to judge his comment regarding her dish.

"How is it?" she asked nervously.

"Average.” Henry put down his spoon.

"What an honest review.” Yvonne tugged a smile.

Average it was then, and she was already happy with i t. At least he did not say that it tasted horrible.

"Sir, madam, enjoy your meal. I'll prepare the cake. You can blow the candles when you're done with the meal.” Sue went away with a chuckle, leaving the room to both of them.

Yvonne looked at Henry. "Henry, sit."

The man obliged with a hum. "I remember you saying that you have good news for me on your birthday, right?”

"You remember?" Yvonne was rather astonished.

Henry nodded.

Yvonne pulled a chair to sit in front of him. "I thought you'd forgotten about it."

"I didn't. Speak, what good news is it?" Henry looked a t her while clasping his hands together.

Yvonne scooped some food for him. “Let's wait until w e finish. I'll tell you after we eat." 1

There was a crease between Henry's brows, as if he was displeased with her play of suspense. He did not push her, however, picking up his spoon again to eat.

When they were halfway through the meal, Henry's phone rang again. His gaze dimmed a little when he checked it.

Seeing that he was not picking up the call, Yvonne was curious to see who called only to find out that it was Jacqueline when she stretched her neck to peep.

"Henry, are you not answering it?” Yvonne pushed the broth to him.

Henry hung up the call. "There’s no need to."

"But I heard that it's also Miss Conrad’s birthday today, right? Will she get mad?" Yvonne spoke hesitantly. She was happy that he hung up on her, but she was also worried that Jacqueline would keep calling him.

As predicted, Henry's phone rang again with the caller ID blinking to announce that it was still Jacqueline.

Yvonne gripped her cutlery and her expression was rigid. “She's calling again. Henry, just answer it." Henry took a glance at her and picked up the call.