Chapter 9
Jonah frantically checked the name and the official embossed seal on the document over and over again. The darkness in his eyes as he did so caught Cecelia off guard.
The ever–accomplished Jonah had always been elegant and composed. She had never seen him looking so helpless.
“Jonah, this is probably one of Pearl’s pranks. You’ve spoiled her far too much,” she started.
Then, she wound her arm around Jonah’s and added, “Pearl’s just a naive little girl who hasn’t faced the harsh life of the real world. Girls like her do so love their tantrums. You should just ignore her for now. Why don’t you accompany me to shop for some calligraphy pens this afternoon?”
Those words had just fallen from her lips when Jonah suddenly shot her a cold glare and shoved her away.
“I’m sorry. I have a wife. You should find someone else to keep you company if you’re so bored and lonely.” With that, Jonah stormed out with his car keys in hand. He didn’t even bother to grab his coat on his way out. Cecelia stared after his retreating back, wholly confused. Jonah had never rejected her so callously and bluntly before.
“Why is this happening?” Her brows scrunched together as her face twisted into a scowl. Jonah only married Pearl because his parents forced him to, so shouldn’t he be over the moon that he had gotten divorced?
Meanwhile, Jonah was overwhelmed with a pang of uncertainty and helplessness by the time he rushed to Northriver University’s main entrance.
He had been married to Pearl for four years. Yet, all he knew about her was that she was studying in this very college. However, he had no idea what she majored in or what class she was taking.
He truly was a failure of a husband.
Jonah let out a bitter laugh. Out of his wits, he could only give Nathaniel a call.
“Dad, do you know how I can find Peari in her college?” he asked.
“What’s going on? Did you and Pearl get into a fight? It’s no wonder she seemed so distracted and morose when she came to visit me,” Nathaniel grumbled.
So, she had gone to visit Nathaniel during this time. It was probably because she had no one else to turn to about her grievances.
Jonah’s heart ached as he pictured the vulnerable look Pearl must’ve had on her face then.
“That’s not it. I just wanted to surprise her and take her out for a meal.”
Jonah didn’t breathe a word about the divorce. After all, he knew Pearl was deeply in love with him.
t
- 1.
He even had proof. Pearl had once cut off the hair she had been growing out for years because he had casually commented that long hair looked old- fashioned.
This time, she was likely just throwing a small tantrum because of Cecelia. Once he found her, he was certain the misunderstandings between them would dissipate like smoke. They would reconcile, and everything would return back to normal.
Jonah mentally rehearsed his lines, envisioning just what he would say to Pearl when he saw her. Unfortunately, he found the floor Nathaniel had directed him to utterly deserted when he got there.
“The students on this floor graduated and moved out ages ago. You say you’re family, but you aren’t even aware of this?” The dorm manager scrutinized Jonah suspiciously before chasing him out of the building right there and then.
He was so lost and panicked that he acted like a headless chicken, stopping random passersby and asking. “Hello, do you know Pearl Hamilton?” Sadly, most of them took one look at his disheveled state and kept their distance.
As dusk began to darken the skies, one girl finally didn’t treat him as though he was a lunatic and responded with a question of her own, “And who are you to Pearl?”
“I–I’m her elder brother,” he offered hesitantly.
Jonah didn’t tell the truth. After all, they had decided to keep their marriage a secret so Pearl didn’t have to suffer unnecessary trouble on campus.
He didn’t expect the girl to blow up at him the second she heard his answer. She immediately said, with righteous fury lacing her voice, “Some brother you are. Why are you only here now?”
“Did… Did something happen to her?” he asked cautiously.
“Are you telling me you had no idea that she was in a car accident a few days ago and suffered a miscarriage because of it?”
