Husband you've abandoned me. Fine, I'll focus on raising my son - Chapter 225 Can't you handle your women?

Chapter 225  Can’t you handle your women?

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“I handled it,” he told me nonchalantly.

“What does that mean?” I pressed on.

It means you don’t have to worry unnecessarily. My eyes narrowed at that. All for the sake of fixing our relationship?

“Good night, Jasmine. I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said to me one final time.

When I returned to my bedroom later that night, I started going through some documents.

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FLASHBACK

I returned to the estate after spending time with some my friends. The ones I made through Keith’s connections. They were all wives of his friends of either his business partners or I changed out of my clothes and wore something more comfortable I felt at peace.

“Hey, mum,” Tony greeted me upon entering the mansion.

“Hey Tony, how was school?” I greeted him with a big hug.

“It was fine,” he told me.

I spent some time with him and helped him with his homework.

2 hours later, I was informed by a servant that Keith had arrived, and I went to the mansion entrance to greet him.

“Keith,” I greeted him with a smile, which he returned.

“Jasmine,” he said as he came up to stand in front of me. He brought his hand to my shoulder and gently squeezed it. We weren’t lovers. Our relationship was amicable, and that was fine for me. I was more than happy. He didn’t terrify me like my violent father, and I could actually talk to him.

“Are you staying for dinner?” I asked.

“No, I’m going to clean up and have to go to an event tonight. I’ll be back later,” he told me.

“Okay,” I accepted.

Tony and I had dinner together and then had him put to bed early since he had school the following day.

Returning to Keith and I’s bedroom, I got ready for bed. I was happy with my life. My days were calm. I had a sweet child and a kind husband. This was all I could ask for. I was content if I was going to live the rest of my life like this. Sometimes when Keith was free, we would spend time together. It was really more than I could have asked for.

END OF FLASHBACK

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The following morning, after getting ready and having breakfast, we made our way to the Acland estate.

Upon arriving, my face was almost pressed against the window as I took in the familiar walls of the estate. The gate opened, and the car drove in. After a short drive through the long entrance driveway, the estate mansion came into view. It had been…years since I had been here, including my past life. To see it after so long almost feels like a fever dream. Like I had never lived here.

The car parked by the mansion entrance, and we got out. I quickly got out before Keith could try to help me like last time. The mansion was still intact despite the fire. You couldn’t see any of the damage from the entrance.

I again made sure to get out before Keith could try to help me again.

“My father is yet to arrive,” Keith told me. “We can go inside and I can check the rooms whilst we wait,” I told him. Keith agreed, and we entered the mansion.

As we moved through the familiar hallways memories of the life I lived here before Diana, came to mind.

Life was so much simpler then. We went to the wing where the fire took place. Before even reaching Marco’s room, the damage came into full view. The large gaping hole in the middle of the wing. We entered Marcos’ room. There was yellow tape around the room, put up by the police.

My mouth was agape as I looked at all the debris.

If Keith had paid attention to Diana, he might have caught the signs of whatever she was doing behind his back.

My eyes looked his way to glare at him, but again, his eyes were already on me. He was giving me that weird look from yesterday as well.

“I want to go to Tony’s old room,” I told him. We made our way to Tony’s room, and I recalled all the memories of his upbringing in this room. I got up from my wheelchair and slowly began to walk around the room.

I felt Keith unnecessarily hovering behind me as I slowly walked. If he touched me again, I’d be sure to smack him.

Tony’s room was mainly bare, with the bed, shelves, cupboards, and a few of his belongings that he didn’t need were in the room. Mostly old toys, and some were two F1 posters on the wall. As I looked around, one toy on a bookshelf caught my eye. One of them was a small animal plush Ton,y of a giraffe he used to play with when he was really young.

I recalled how much he loved it when he was 4 years old. I picked it and brought it close to my chest. The toy smelled dusty from lack of use and sitting on the shelf for months, but I didn’t mind. Before I knew it, tears welled up in my eyes.

“Jasmine…” I heard Keith’s voice and the sound of his footsteps nearing. I stiffened. The footsteps stopped. We’ll find him, I promise.”

His words were sincere. He didn’t touch me, luckily. “Yes, we will,” I replied.

I wiped away the tears from my eyes and continued walking.

.

We reached Keith’s bedroom. The room which I once shared with Keith and the one he shared before Diana took my place.

“The police and my men searched this bedroom as well as others for more evidence, but didn’t find any suspicious evidence,” Keith informed me.

Coming back here reminded me of how happy I used to be here before Diana returned. I was happy because that was the best life I could get. I thought I was so lucky to have a husband who didn’t hit me or verbally abuse me. Even though he didn’t love me, at least I didn’t have to suffer.

Leaving Keith and detaching myself from him finally made me realise there was so much more I could do. Focusing on Tony, meeting Louis, working and earning my own money showed me that. I was still grateful for the time I had here for the life I had with Keith back then. However, things were different now. Some things can’t be undone.

“Oh god! My house! my house…” We then heard a male voice shout. Keith and I turned to the door. We left the bedroom and found Keith’s father rushing down the hallway.

“Father, you’re here,” Keith said to him and approached. I stared at Keith’s father for a moment as I studied him. Another face I hadn’t seen in a long time. Behind him followed his entourage of two guards and a young woman who looked no older than 24. I recalled his love for young women.

“What the hell is going on?! I’m in Taipei working on some investments and enjoying my retirement when I hear that my house has been burnt down. Your son has been kidnapped!” He yelled at Keith. “How the hell am I supposed to process all that?!” “Father…” Keith started.

“Why would she do this?” He said as he stared at the damaged, gaping hole. “You’re telling me she ran away?! She “Keith, do you not know how to keep your women in check?!” He asked me. ” How do you let her escape, burn down the house and this as well?”

My face scrunched up in disgust upon hearing that. Keep your women in check? Keith’s father was just as bad if not worse. He cheated on Keith’s mother and put a baby on her. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it?

“Do you have any ideas about the rumours that are spreading among the socialites?” He continued. “The Acland name is the topic of conversation. How embarrassing do you think this is!?”

“I apologise Father, I’m handling the situation,” Keith replied.

I rolled my eyes at that. If keeping trapped was handling the situation, then what a way to do it.

“Handling the situation? With so many things going wrong, how will you do it?” His father asked, unconvinced.”That’s two heirs to the Acland company you’ve lost!” he yelled.

“I am searching for them,” Keith defended.

“Why didn’t you just stick to your wife from the very beginning?” He then started. “This could have…” he then suddenly paused.

Keith’s father then turned then turned and his eyes met mine. “Ah, Jasmine, you’re here!” He said as if noticing me for the first time. “How are you? I heard you were injured.” He then looked down at my leg.

“I’m fine, thank you,” I told him as I faked a smile.

“Look, let’s talk more privately,” he said to Keith.

The two then slowly walked away to continue their conversation. I could only imagine the misogyny he’d be spouting. Whilst Keith’s father wasn’t as bad as my father, he still viewed women as expendable.