10

Jayson:

I barely slept that night.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Betty lying unconscious in that hospital bed. I would wake up irritated with myself, turn to the other side, and try to sleep again, only for the same thoughts to return.

By morning, I was exhausted.

I just finished getting dressed when my phone rang.

I glanced at the screen and answered immediately.

“Hello?” I say to the screen.

“Mr. Blackwood, it's the hospital.”

“What happened?” my heartbeat raced with fear.

“Your wife has regained consciousness.”

My lips parted, relief washed through me.

Betty is awake.

I looked down at the watch on my wrist.

“Is she okay?”

“She is conscious, but she's still weak. The doctor wants her to remain under observation.”

I nodded even though he couldn't see me.

“I'm coming.” I ended the call and grabbed my car keys.

I don't understand why I was rushing.

Betty is awake and that was good news. At least I wouldn't have to keep wondering whether she would survive the night.

That was all.

I wasn't going there because I suddenly loved her.

I wasn't going there to change my mind about the divorce.

I just wanted to know that she was fine.

That was what I told myself as I walked downstairs.

I was already heading toward the front door when I heard someone call my name.

“Jayson.”

I stopped and turned around.

Jewel was standing there.

She looked beautiful, but unlike every other morning, there was no smile on her face.

“Jewel?”

She walked toward me slowly. “I came to see you.”

“I was about to leave, did something happen my love? I'm sorry you heard about Betty's pregnancy from someone else, I should have told you but I didn’t know that one nightstand would lead to...”

“I know.” Her voice sounded different.

“What's wrong?”

She stopped in front of me and stared into my eyes.

“I need you, baby.”

My grip tightened around the car keys. “Jewel...”

“I mean it.”

She reached for my hand. “I've been trying to be strong through everything that's happening, but I can't do this alone.”

I stared at her and she lowered her gaze.

“Everyone is blaming me. The internet is filled with things about us. People are calling me names. They're saying I ruined your marriage. They're saying I stole you from Betty.”

“You didn't, don't mind them.” I cupped her cheeks and kissed her forehead.

“But they're saying it.” She looked up at me again, her eyes glossy with tears.

“And now Betty is awake.”

“She'll tell them everything, won't she?” Jewel asked quietly. “She'll tell everyone that I was the reason she left.”

I feel really bad, like so bad now, I hate seeing her stressed out and sad.

Jewel squeezed my hand. “I'm scared.”

Those two words immediately softened something inside me.

I pulled her closer. “You have nothing to be scared of.”

“But I do.” She rested her forehead against my chest. “I don't want to lose you.”

I closed my eyes.

This was Jewel.

The woman I had loved before Betty ever entered my life.

The woman I had chosen despite everything.

And yet, while I held her, my mind betrayed me.

Betty was awake.

She was in that hospital.

Probably wondering where I was.

I opened my eyes and glanced toward the door.

I was supposed to be there.

But Jewel's arms tightened around me. “Please don't leave me right now.”

I looked down at her.

“I need you, Jayson.”

My chest tightened.

I already promised myself that I wouldn't let Betty's condition change what I felt for Jewel.

So why did leaving suddenly feel so difficult?

I looked at the time.“I'll stay for a little while.”

Jewel smiled faintly through her tears. “Thank you.”

She wrapped her arms around me again.

I held her, but my mind wasn't completely there.

Betty has opened her eyes and for some reason, I couldn't stop wondering what the first thing she had asked for was.

Maybe she asked for her father.

Maybe Eleanor.

Maybe she asked about the baby.

Or maybe she asked for me.

I immediately pushed the thought away.

Betty didn't need me.

Not anymore.

She had asked for a divorce.

And I had given it to her.

So why did the thought of her waking up without me beside her bother me this much?

I stayed with Jewel longer than I had planned.

She kept talking about the media, about the comments she had been receiving and how quickly everything had spiraled out of control. I listened, occasionally reassuring her that things would settle down, but my mind kept drifting back to the hospital.

Betty was awake.

That thought wouldn't leave me alone.

I stood up. “I should go now babe.”

Jewel looked up at me immediately. “Where?”

“The hospital of course.”

Her expression changed. “You said you'd stay with me.”

“I did. And I did.”

“So you're leaving me for her?” she pointed out.

“That's not what I said.”

“But you're going to see her.”

“She just woke up, Jewel. I need to know how she is.”

Jewel looked away, wiping the corner of her eye.“Fine.”

I sighed. “Don't do this, please I'm begging you.”

“Do what?”

“Make it seem like I'm choosing her over you.”

“Isn't that what you're doing? And if it's not like that, don't go Jay.”

I stared at her.

She looked at me with tears in her eyes. “Please, Jayson. Stay with me.”

For a moment, I didn't know what to say.

Then my phone vibrated.

I pulled it from my pocket.

It was the hospital again.

I answered immediately. “Hello?”

“Mr. Blackwood, I'm calling to let you know that Mrs. Blackwood is asking for her husband.”

“I'm coming.” I ended the call.

Jewel heard enough.

“She asked for you?”

I nodded slowly.

She looked down at her hands.

“Of course she did, she was even the one you got married to, meanwhile I was the one that was always there for you. Jayson, we've been dating since 2018, and you…you ended up marrying Betty.” she sniffed.

Yeah, but I wish she could see how tight it was for me.

“Jewel…”

“Go, your family, including you, always put her first while I'm nothing.” Tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Common baby.” I held her hands and kissed her knuckles. “You know I'll always love you and it has always been you, so I promise I'll come back.”

She gave me a small smile that didn't reach her eyes.

“I know.”

I walked toward the door.

But before I could leave, she called my name.

I turned around.

“Be careful.”

I nodded and walked out.

The drive to the hospital felt longer than usual.

My hands were tight around the steering wheel as I replayed the phone call in my head.

Betty asked for me. Why? Did she want answers, to talk about the divorce, to tell me she regretted leaving or maybe she simply woke up confused and didn't realize what had happened?

I don't know.

And somehow, not knowing made me nervous.