Jayson leaned wearily against the soft pillows, watching Betty’s stern, furious face without the slightest panic. His voice was calm as he said, “Grandma, you have high blood pressure. Please, calm down.”
Betty frowned at once. “Don’t change the subject. I want a straight answer from you.”
As she spoke, the corners of her mouth twitched. She looked like she could hardly bring herself to say it. “Is there something going on… between you and that Ms. Stanton?”
Jayson lifted his gaze. Perhaps from the blood loss, his face was pale, and even his lips were tinged with a faint pink. But he didn’t offer any explanation. He just looked at Betty in silence.
The stillness made Betty feel lightheaded for a moment.
She paced back and forth twice, then took a deep breath. “I don’t care whether there’s anything going on between you and her. If Ari minds her presence and you won’t do anything about it, I will.”
This time, Jayson finally spoke. Unhurriedly, he said, “She doesn’t mind.”
Betty’s eyes widened. For a second, she was completely speechless.
Jayson knew how fiery Betty could be. He let out a quiet sigh and shifted upright a little. “Grandma, this is between us. You don’t need to get involved.”
“You…”
As Betty looked at his pale face, the words of reproach stuck in her throat. “Jayson, I just hope you’re not someone who forgets where he came from. Ari is soft–natured. Anyone else might mistreat her, but not you. You don’t get to.”
“I know.” Jayson gave a faint smile. “You can’t bear to see her hurt. How would I dare to hurt her?”
Betty sighed. She knew that in the end, no matter what happened, it would be up to the two of them to work things out. What could she really do?
“Does it still hurt?” she asked, finally stepping forward to check on him. Whatever had happened, she was still worried about Jayson.
Jayson gave a casual smile. “Not really.”
“Where’s Ari?” Betty asked, assuming Ariel had just stepped out and would be back to accompany him.
Jayson’s expression didn’t flicker. “She went to buy something.”
Betty didn’t press further. She was considered an outsider to their marriage, and even if she wanted to step in, she had no place to do so.
She stayed for another half an hour or so before Jayson finally persuaded her to go home and rest.
Once she was gone, Jayson frowned and glanced down at his right arm. The anesthesia had likely worn off, and the sharp, searing pain was starting to kick in.
Every scrape from his palm to his fingertips burned like the skin had been peeled raw.
Still, he barely looked at the wounds.
He reached for the phone on his bedside table, unlocked it, and glanced through it in silence. Only then did he finally close his eyes to rest.
Chapter 256
+25 BONUS
The next morning, just past 7:00 am, Matt and Perry arrived at the hospital with Nancy.
Nancy looked like she hadn’t slept well. Her face was pale. The moment she walked in, she rushed to check on Jayson and asked anxiously, “Does it still hurt? Didn’t they give you anything for the pain?”
Jayson looked at the three of them. His expression remained calm. “I’m fine.“.
“What do you mean by ‘fine‘? A drone of that size and its rotors spinning that fast is no different from blades. You’re just downplaying it so no one gets too worried.”
Nancy took a deep breath. Her eyes were filled with worry.
Matt came over and placed a delicate food container on the bedside table. “Nancy was really worried about you. She probably didn’t sleep much at all. She got up early just to make you some soup.”
Nancy hesitated a moment before saying, “I’ve never cooked before. This is my first time. I don’t know if it tastes any good, but will you try some, Jayson?”
As she spoke, she opened the container and carefully ladled out a small bowl.
