A Call That Changed Her Entire Life

Chapter 558 Come Off It!

It took a few seconds for the maidservant to respond. She was delighted by Emily's pallid face. Hiding a smile of glee, she turned to Jacob and asked in a servile manner, "Sir, finally you have returned. Please may I take your coat to hang it up for you?"

Jacob didn't respond kindly, but threw the coat at her instead.

Unperturbed with his disregard, the maid still fawned over him. She felt blessed to be able to serve him. Taking his coat, she proudly handled it like a precious treasure which she had been entrusted with.

Gloating, she cast Emily a shrewd glance before leaving the room. Her eyes were filled with scorn and contempt.

Happily she thought that Jacob didn't care for Emily at all. It seemed that she had fallen out of favor with him. Simply being the mother of his child was not enough to secure Emily a position.

She smiled gleefully and began planing what she could do next.

Realizing that Jacob must have heard her speaking to Emily just now, and that he had not taken her to task about her attitude, she began to scheme grandly. Did this mean that Jacob didn't like Emily any more and didn't even care how she was treated?

Unable to restrain her ecstasy, the maidservant began brooding on a plan of how to capture his attentions for herself. NôvelDrama.Org holds text © rights.

Emily forced a tight smile for him and asked, "Jacob, what were you saying just now?"

His heart sank. He couldn't bring himself to repeat his words again for some unknown reason. "Are you deaf? Should I call a doctor to examine your ears?" he simply asked coldly.

"Stop treating me like this. It's enough!" She replied loudly as the smile faded from her face, "I heard every word, but I just can't believe that you would say such cruel words to me! Why?"

"Emily, come off it!" Jacob said angrily, "The jig is up. I am sick of you!"

She forced herself not to cry, clinging to the cold comfort that he didn't know the truth. He couldn't really be held accountable for his harsh words. Drawing strength from reserves, which she didn't even know she had, she knew that she could take the pain. She could suffer anything as long as it was for Jacob's good.

It was agony hearing such words from the man who she trusted and loved most. Every word from his lips was a dagger to the heart. It was so cruel!

She understood that he was riled by her behavior, because he had no idea of what was really going on. But it didn't ease the pain of his cold contempt. How could he treat her like this? She had been his cherished woman! But now she suffered disdain, like an enemy. Like an angel, she had been cast out of heaven and now languished in hell.

Her worst nightmare had come true. How miserable she was! But for his sake, she would make any sacrifice!

She took a deep breath, fighting to calm her emotions, "I have prepared dinner for you. Please sit down and I will bring the dishes for you," she smiled at him, as if nothing happened.

He silently followed her into the kitchen. Watching her slender back disappearing ahead of him, he didn't know how to react. Suddenly he felt the tension building.

She wore a white dress with a primrose yellow apron across her chest. Silently she walked around the kitchen in a pair of soft slippers. There was a lightness to her activity that intrigued him. Her dark-brown hair was loosely tied up, which made her white swan-like neck look even more exquisite.

Seeing her wisp around the kitchen triggered a memory long buried.

In the past, Emily always cooked for him. Every time he returned home, there were always delicious meals waiting for him. She used to stand at the door, eager to see him. They would hug and kiss each other, before together going to the dinning room for dinner. They had always shared interesting experiences with each other, and would talk about any topics they like. How happy they were!

However, these sweet moments faded quickly. He wished he could go back in time and they could love each other and be sincere with each other like before.

But he knew it was impossible. Such ridiculous thoughts quickly perished in the flames of his remembered hurt. He simply could not get past the thought which dominated his mind: that she had hurt and betrayed him, causing him such deep pain.

How could she just pretend nothing happened and assume a look of innocence with him? He saw through her disguise. Never would he be fooled by her tricks again.

Emily brought the platters from the kitchen to the dinning room. Her hands were filled with delicious offerings, and Jacob couldn't help feeling moved. Beryl returned then as Emily set the table. She instantly ran into her mother's arms with great excitement.

"Mommy, I missed you so much. I've been dying all day to see you," Beryl whimpered. Her arms wrapped tightly around Emily and tears kept flowing from her eyes.

Emily's eyes glistened with tears as she listened to Beryl's complaints. She tenderly returned the hug and patted her back soothingly, saying, "Beryl, I am so sorry. Mommy missed you, too."

Emily had thought that she would never see her daughter again.

God blessed her. Now the three of them were finally reunited after a long road filled with twists and turns. She was happy, despite things being much changed between her and Jacob.

Beryl hugged her tightly as if her mother would disappear once she loosed her hands. She pleaded, "Mom, I don't want to be separated from you ever again. Promise me, you'll never leave me alone. I couldn't bear it."

Emily wiped her tears silently, fighting for calm. After settling down a little, she stroked Beryl's head and whispered to her, "I know, dear. I don't want to be separated from you either. You are everything to me."

She had not had any choice but to take the risk and let Beryl go find Jacob alone because of the emergency situation. There really was no other choice at the time.

Sean was a dangerous man. She could never let Beryl stay anywhere near that man, even if it meant she had to secretly sent her daughter away.

"Beryl, don't cry. Mom knows that you are a brave girl. You saved me. I am so proud of you," she smiled down at her child.

"It was not me, mom. It was dad. He saved you. He is a hero," Beryl replied as she pointed to Jacob.

She stopped crying and wiped her tears with her little hands. She left Emily's arms and turned to Jacob. He smiled at her and bent to hug her.

She kissed her father happily and said, "Dad, I know you won't leave mom alone again. You are my hero!"

"It's all because of you, my dear. I will do anything for you," he replied smiling kindly at her. Looking at her happy face, he was bombarded with an array of mixed feelings.

She hadn't smiled at him even once since she was brought back. He knew that she hated him for what he had done. But now Emily's return had lit up her life again. It seemed that she had already forgotten what happened before. The only thing she remembered was that he saved her mother. She could forgive him for her mother's sake.

Beryl loved her mother that much.

He was her father, but Emily wasn't worthy of her love any more. Why couldn't she love him as much as she did her mother?

He intended to tell all that Beryl had gone through to Emily. But he didn't know how to explain it to her. The right words just eluded the tip of his tongue.

Whatever, it didn't matter, he decided. Beryl wanted him to keep the secret forever and he already gave his word on that. Maybe it was better not to say anything to Emily.

Emily took Beryl to wash her hands and then returned to the table. Jacob's words came to her as she was ready to dish the rice for them.

"Did you cook all of this?" he asked.

"Of course. I made it for you," she whispered. She was a little nervous and smoothed back her hair unconsciously.

Suddenly he saw several cuts on her hand, which were obvious against her fine skin. She must have received these cuts while she was cooking. He instantly felt a sharp pang in his heart.

He was bombarded with both anger and sympathy at the sight of her injured hand. "Don't we have a cook? Why do you cook by yourself and get hurt?"

"It doesn't matter. I wanted to cook for you and Beryl," she explained as she tried to hide her injured hand.

"Do you think I will simply forgive you because of this? And even eat your food? Stop dreaming! But if you want to serve us like a servant, then I have no objection," he said coldly. Then he stood and went upstairs, not even giving her a second look.

Beryl was astonished by his sudden outburst of anger. She really had no idea why her dad would say such cruel words to her mom, "What's wrong with daddy? He is crazy! I don't like him any more. Mommy, please don't be sad," she pleaded uncertainly.

Trying to comfort Beryl, Emily didn't want her to become involved in their problems. She explained that he was in a bad mood because of work and asked her to forgive him. After making sure that Beryl finished her dinner, she asked the nanny to take her for a walk. Finally alone, she broke down and wept silently.

Was he really sick of her? Was he truly so disgusted with her that he refused the meal she cooked for him?

No, it could not be. Maybe it was just because this meal didn't suit his taste. She finally found an excuse to soothe herself with.

Trying to convince herself with this excuse, she hoped that it would make her feel better. It didn't.

She sat alone in the dining room and ate the meal automatically. The food was sent to her mouth garnished with her tears. It tasted bitter.

Jacob logged onto the surveillance video of the dining room, watching her moves silently. Gradually, he began thinking that something was wrong with her.

In the video, it seemed that she behaved normally, as before. She was eating slowly at the table.

But it was weird that she didn't stop eating, even after half an hour, she was still putting food from the plates into her mouth. Her actions were almost mechanical.

Did she want to eat herself to death?

Or did she do it on purpose? Was this a ploy aimed at getting his attention and making him feel guilty for his treatment of her?

Jacob decided to stop her crazy actions and headed downstairs. At the sight of her bitterly gorging on the feast, he couldn't control himself anymore.

"Stop it, Emily! Do you hear me?" he shouted at her.