Chapter 4 Jake's Secret
1121 Words
Emma decided to check on the nursing home.
She couldn't figure out why Jake would come there. The only logical explanation was that this place had something to do with his mistress!
On the drive over, she had considered what she would do if she caught Jake with another woman. Should she confront them or just snap some incriminating photos?
She parked the car and was about to head to the front desk when she saw Jake pushing an elderly man out. Instinctively, she ducked out of sight.
She had imagined countless scenarios but hadn't expected to see this.
Standing there, she felt like she had been struck by lightning when she recognized the man in the wheelchair—her father, Simon!
Emma’s emotions were all over the place.
She had always thought Simon was left to fend for himself in the countryside. Yet, Jake had secretly put him in a nursing home!
Emma and her father didn't have a good relationship.
Simon didn't deserve to be a father or a husband! He was totally a devil!
He was a drunk, and every time he got wasted, he would beat Emma’s mother.
Emma’s mom was just a meek housewife. To make matters worse, Simon used Emma as a threat and easily crushed any thoughts her mother might have had of escaping.
Emma swore she'd get her mom out of that hell.
But after her mother's suicide, Emma lost the only person who loved her, while Simon kept on living his life!
This was why she had left the old man in the countryside and washed her hands of him.
Emma watched as Jake strolled with Simon on the lawn, and he even leaned in to listen attentively whenever Simon spoke. They chatted like old friends. Afterward, Jake wheeled him back inside.
Emma stood there for a long time before heading to the front desk. She claimed she had a relative in need of care and wanted to check out the facility. With the chance, she peeked at the register book.
Simon's name appeared multiple times, followed by Jake's.
She fixated her eyes on Jake's name. Noticing her interest, the nurse said, "Mr. Everhart is one of our regulars. He speaks very highly of our facility."
"Does he come often?"
"Yes, he's quite familiar with everyone here. Sometimes, he even helps out when we're busy. He's such a nice man."
Emma thought for a moment and asked one last question, "Does he come to visit his father?"
"No." The nurse lowered her voice. "Mr. Everhart said it's his wife's father. The funny thing is, we've never seen the wife visit this poor old man, not once! Mr. Everhart says she's too busy."
The nurse shrugged and added, "Who knows? It's been two years, and she hasn't come by to see her paralyzed father even once. If it weren't for Mr. Everhart... Well, some people are just heartless."
Emma listened quietly to the clerk's words.
'So, Jake and Bella's secret is out in the open.'
They both knew how she despised her alcoholic father and had cut all ties with him. Little did she know Simon was paralyzed. If she had known Jake wanted to put Simon in a nursing home, she probably would have exploded.
It was because of her father's drinking habit that she chose the kind and honest Jake from her suitors.
Although Jake wasn't ambitious and was content being an art teacher, relying on Emma’s hard work for their comfortable life, he was a gentleman, nothing like her father.
No matter her issues with her father, Jake had been taking care of him for the past two years. Wasn't this the very reason Emma married him in the first place?
As she drove away, Emma got a call from Lucas.
"So, did you find anything?" Lucas asked.
Emma briefly recounted seeing Jake with her father at the nursing home and her strained relationship with Simon.
"So that's the case..." Lucas wasn't disappointed by the lack of new info. He just let out a light chuckle and said, "Things might not be as straightforward as you think."
After hanging up, Emma pondered Lucas’s last remark.
What was the real story here?
Just like Ivy said, having a meal with another woman wasn't a big deal.
If Jake turned out to be the good guy, she would apologize to him and Ivy. But if he had truly betrayed her...
Emma glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror, the expression on her face was almost unrecognizable even to herself.
Maybe it was time to shed the gentle facade and show Jake her rage within!
Life seemed to go back to normal. Jake remained the attentive husband, her steadfast harbor.
Only Emma knew how exhausted she was juggling work and family affairs. Even her colleagues noticed her looking bad and reminded her to take extra care of herself.
She and Jake even attended an event at Sera's school together.
Emma hadn't known about the event until Jake called, saying he'd pick her up for Sera's performance that evening.
She thought she must have forgotten, but on the way there, she realized she had no memory of Sera telling her about it.
Sera was thrilled to see her parents in the audience.
After the event, they went to pick up Sera.
Seeing her parents, Sera squealed with delight and darted to give each of them a kiss.
She held her dad's hand with one and her mom's with the other while humming, clearly in a good mood.
"Oh sweetheart, you were amazing up there!" Emma praised Sera sincerely. "But why didn't you tell me about your performance? If your dad hadn't called, I might have missed it!"
Sera pouted, looking hurt. "I did invite you before, Mommy. Every time you said yes, but then you'd always tell me, 'Sorry, Mommy has to travel for work' or 'Sorry, Mommy has something else to deal with.'"
"Oh, I'm so sorry, sweetie." Guilt washed over Emma as she heard Sera's complaints.
She had been so consumed by work these years and missed out on her daughter's growing up.
Emma paused her steps, knelt, and hugged Sera tightly. "I am really sorry, honey."
Sera let go of Jake's hand and pressed her soft cheek against Emma’s. "I forgive you, Mommy."
After standing up, Sera grabbed both of their hands again. "I'm so happy you came tonight. We're the happiest family!"
Watching Sera's innocent smile, Emma felt her heart aching even more.
She longed for the truth to come out, yet she feared the worst.
She felt like a tiny boat in a stormy sea, which was pushed along by the waves with no control over her fate.
- Writer
