New Husband For My Wife

CHAPTER 11

Brooke was incredibly silent during the ride. “Damn it, I was so stupid..!?” she said, cursing herself. Jackson’s hand went to grab hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. “No, you’re not…It was him who was stupid.” He said as he looked back at her.

She let out a deep sigh then her eyes went to their joining hands. He quickly retracted his hand and grabbed the steering wheel tightly. Come on, Jackson! Get control over yourself.

Brooke sneezed out loudly, then shivering in cold. He turns on the heater inside the car to warm her up. “Why’d you have to run under the rain like that? You’ll soon catch a cold.” He then said with a worried expression. “I don’t need another lecture from you…Just cut it off-“ she said coldly and looked away.

***********

They were back at Jackson’s house, and the middle-aged lady from this morning greeted them back. “Oh my, what happened to you, Mrs. Gray?” She asked, clasping her mouth as she eyed her from head to toe. “It’s a long story, Julia...Please make some hot tea for her.” Jackson said before he led her towards his bedroom.

“Go take a bath first…” He spoke softly to her as he handed her a new towel and his shirt. Brooke reluctantly grabbed the towel and dragged her feet towards the bathroom.

She stood under the shower and turn on the tap water. She didn’t take off her clothes purposedly and sat there under the shower. Her marriage life doesn’t make any sense to her. It was more like a nightmare.

Her tears already went dry for Elliot, but the pain was still there in her heart. She wasn’t paying any attention that Jackson knocked a few times on the door. He was getting worried because she took more than an hour inside there.

He was surprised to saw her sitting on the floor under the shower. “Brooke, what are you doing? Come on up…” he said as he helped her to get up. She looked at him straight in the eye. “Jackson…I wanted some revenge.” She said. She looked scary to him, and it hurt him to see her like this.

“Yes, but you have to stop hurting yourself first.” He said as he turns off the water. She unexpectedly pushed him to the wall and kissed him. He kissed her back almost immediately. Deep inside, he knows that this is so wrong, and she only kissed him out of revenge. But he will do anything to make her feel better.

He controlled the pace and kissed her slowly, cradling her neck with one hand. His other hand rested on her back, pulling her closer into him. He savored her lips, and she seemed to enjoy it too before she suddenly stopped and slowly breaking their kiss.

“I’m sorry, Jackson…” she then said, stepping out from the shower after grabbing the towel with her. What the hell was that? He was still panting and catching his breath. His mind is still processing what happened between them earlier. There’s definitely a chemistry between them, even though Brooke won’t admit it.

************

Brooke sat awkwardly in front of him as she took a sip of the hot tea from her mug. She kept her eyes on her mug like it was the most interesting thing on earth.

“Brooke…”, “Jackson…” They say almost at the same time. “It was a mistake…” She said it first. “Oh my God, we’re all messed up.” She said, running her palms on her face. He scooted closer towards her. “It was not a mistake for me…” he said, and it surprised her.

“How about giving this marriage a chance, Brooke?” he suggested. His face was only an inch away from her, and her common sense already flew elsewhere. Will he kissed her again? She almost loses control when he kissed her tenderly in the bathroom. It was sensual and heart-melting at the same time. She knew if they kept on doing this, she would soon fall for him, which means she was no better than Elliot.

He moved even closer towards her, but before he could reach her lips, her phone suddenly rang.

“I should probably take this….” Brooke said, clearing her throat, and as she looked at the caller ID, her face went pale. It was from Elliot. “Don’t…!” Jackson held her hand from receiving his call.

“I think I should give him a chance to talk…” she said and got up from the couch. The truth is she just needs some space from him. She didn’t actually want to talk to Elliot this time.

She took a deep breath before accepting his calls. “Brooke, thank God you finally pick up my calls….” Elliot said, sounded so desperate. This is all just a misunderstanding, and he just can’t let Trisha ruin their marriage again this time.  

From the corner of her eyes, she saw Jackson went towards his room. He looked mad, banging the door behind him. “Brooke, I’ll pick you up now…” She suddenly heard Elliot saying those words. She scoffed at him. “I’m afraid you can’t, Elliot…Because you don’t know my location, and I won’t tell you.” She sneered.

“I know you’re at Jackson’s place…I just went to his company, and his secretary already gave me his address. Actually, I’m on my way there now,” he said, breaking all of her confidence in a split second.

He can’t come here! They would certainly be engaged in a fight again. Moreover, Jackson looked pissed earlier. “No, we’ll meet at our favorite restaurant,” Brooke said and then ended the call.  

“Mrs. Gray, where are you going?” Julia stopped her at the door as she saw Brooke about to leave. “I have to meet someone real quick… Can you keep it a secret from Mr. Gray? I’ll be back in an hour.” She said with a pleading tone. Julia let out a deep sigh, “Be quick, miss…I don’t think he was in a good mood earlier.” She said with a hint of worried. Brooke smiled as she patted her shoulder. “Thanks, Julia…”

************

She stirred her lemonade impatiently, waiting for Elliot at the most secluded table in that restaurant. What took him so long? It was more than an hour already. Brooke felt her phone vibrated in her pocket and saw an unregistered number on the screen.

“Hello, is this Mrs. Brooklyn Smith?” a woman’s voice spoke from the other side. But it’s been a long time since other people address her as Elliot’s wife. It makes her wonder who it might be. “Um…Yes, who is this?” Brooke asked, frowning.

“This is from the hospital…Your husband just got into a car accident earlier.” The woman said, and Brooke felt her heart nearly jumped out from her ribcage. She instantly got up and shouted out, “What did you just say? Which hospital??” she asked, and the old couple beside her started to gave her a stare.

************

Brooke ran towards the ICU room where Elliot was supposed to be. This is ridiculous. No wonder it took him so long to get into the restaurant.

As she went towards the ICU room, her heart sank after seeing the injured Elliot lying lifelessly on the bed. Breathing support on her mouth and cast on his right leg. The nurse just told me that he managed to mention her name before he passed out.

She walked slowly towards his bed, trying to not make any sound. “Elliot…What happened to you?” she spoke softly, and her eyes started to sting. She was about to cry for him again.

Brooke carefully grabbed his hand, but he won’t move even a bit. Her phone rang, and as expected, it was Jackson who called her. He must’ve figured out by now that she went out earlier without saying anything to him. She went out before she picks up the calls.

“Jackson…I—“ he cuts her, “I know you’re with him. Tell me, where are you right now? I’m coming to pick you up.” He said in an authoritative tone. “No! I don’t think it’s a good idea to do that…” Brooke said, almost instantly. She heard him let out a deep sigh from the other end.

“Brooke…I won’t let him hurt you again. He’s not good for you.” Jackson said frustratingly. “You don’t need to worry about me, Jackson. I have to be with him…” Brooke said. Her eyes went to Elliot inside the room. “At least for now…” she continued.

“Is something wrong?” He then asked. “No, Jackson…I’ll explain to you later,” Brooke said before she ends the call.