They return to the office after dropping Yasmin off at college.
Francis cast a passing glance at Declan while driving. He had noticed him solemnly since they had left the restaurant. He wondered what was bothering him that made him unhappy even after signing such a big contract.
The silence inside the car grew thicker, making him jittery.
"What is the problem?" Francis finally asked, unable to stay quiet anymore. "Why are you so silent? What is on your mind?"
"Tsk…" Declan clicked his tongue, his gaze still outside. "Nothing important." He went silent again.
Francis glanced at him with a frown. He realized Declan was not going to reveal anything. He returned his focus to the road.
Declan rubbed his chin, the corner of his lips slightly curled. Mr. Lee's final words still rang in his ears...
'Congratulations, Declan. But the credit goes to your wife. I had no intention of signing with you when I came here. Because of your lovely wife, I changed my mind. She is a gem.'
Declan was not sure whether she was perfect for him. But he was happy that she managed to impress Mr. Lee. Besides, he liked her honesty.
Honesty...
That was what he expected from her. There was a glimmer of hope in his heart... hope for a new beginning with no infidelity. He hoped she would never betray him.
Betray…
This word reminded him of a young man from her college.
"Francis…"
"Yes, Boss."
"Find out who the boy with Yasmin was. I want to know every detail about him, especially his relationship with her." His eyes grew cold as he tightened his fist.
At the college…
Yasmin was walking to her department when she noticed Lisa approaching her with a frown on her face.
"Where have you been?" Lisa snapped. "I looked for you everywhere. You were not in the library, the ground, or even the cafeteria. Where did you vanish?"
"Oh, gosh…" Yasmin held her shoulders. "Calm down."
"Calm down?" Lisa scowled and swatted her hands away. "Look at me." She pointed her finger at herself. "My face turned pale in tension."
Yasmin cracked a grin. "Declan took me out for a business lunch."
"What?" Lisa exclaimed, her pupils dilating. "Was he here?"
"Uh-huh…" Yasmin nodded, smiling. "And guess what?" She waggled her eyebrows up and down.
"What? Did he kiss you?" Lisa grinned, excitement brimming in her eyes.
"Ugh…" Yasmin groaned and rolled her eyes. "He didn't kiss me. He signed an important contract."
Lisa's smile vanished gradually. "You, fool," she snapped, poking her head. "For a businessman like Mr. Declan Wilson, signing a contract is not a big deal. He must have often signed such contracts. What about his sexuality? Did you talk about it?"
"No…" Yasmin sulked and turned aside. "It was not the right time to start that conversation. Besides, it is not important now."
"Not important!"
"Yes." She turned to her. "Because he is extremely possessive. You didn't see the way he went mad seeing me with Caleb."
"Yeah? Awe…" Lisa pouted and smiled teasingly. "Poor Caleb. He likes you."
"Huh…" Yasmin sighed loudly. "I know. I felt awful seeing him. I would have fallen for him if I had not accidentally married this cold Mr. Wilson."
They giggled.
"Glad to hear that he is possessive," Lisa muttered, linking her arm to hers. "It's a good sign."
"Let's go to class."
They went into the class.
Yasmin sighed in secret, her heart heavy with sadness. Although she smiled and pretended to be happy, she was not okay on the inside. She couldn't get rid of his solemn look. She had no idea what Mr. Lee had told him that made him so serious. While coming here, she had tried to start a conversation with him but couldn't muster the courage to do so in the face of his apathy. She considered speaking with him when he returned home.
************************************************************************
Declan wound up at the end of the day and came out of the office with a briefcase in his hand. He noticed a carry bag on the dashboard when he got into the car. It immediately reminded him of the jewelry Derrek had brought with him this morning.
"Uh…" A grimace appeared on his face. He thought of giving it to her but forgot. He drove straight to his home.
Declan got home almost an hour later. When he entered the bedroom, he found her on the settee with her books. He halted his steps and looked into her amber eyes under the round black-rimmed glasses. He put the carry bag on the central table before heading to the closet.
Yasmin set the book aside and peered at his retreating form. Then she moved her gaze to the carry bag. She peeked into it and saw a red velvet box. She took the box out, curious to know what was inside.
When she opened the box, she saw a sparkling full-cut riviera style diamond necklace with an oval-shaped emerald pendant, surrounded by dual rows of diamonds. She inhaled sharply, her eyes dazzled, and her hands flew to her mouth. Her lips quirked as she thought he had brought her necklace.
"It's beautiful," she murmured, running her fingers over the necklace. "He is not as cold as he appears."
She closed the box and placed it inside the bag, intending to thank him when he came out.
She noticed him come out of the closet wearing gray loungewear a few minutes later. She was a bit disappointed, looking at the file in his hand. After returning home as well, he went to work.
'Can't he just sit with me for a while?'
Although she was dissatisfied, she mustered a smile. "Thank you for the necklace. It is beautiful."
Declan paused right beside the central table, frowning. He glanced at the carry bag and said, "My father's wife sent it for you. You should thank her, not me." He strode out.
Yasmin's mouth hung open unwittingly.
'Father's wife?' Her inner voice screamed.
Her mind teleported her to the wedding. She remembered the middle-aged aristocrat woman, who became the subject of controversy for arriving in a black gown as if she had come to mourn. It also reminded her of how everyone referred to her as Mr. Gerald Wilson's wife.
"Isn't his father's wife something to him?" she wondered. It made her suspect that he didn't share a good relationship with his stepmother.
"Huh…" She let out a sigh and looked at the carry bag, unsure whether she should be happy or sad. "He is too complicated for me. I don't know how long it will take for me to get to know him." She shook her head. "I'd better concentrate on my studies."
She took the book and went back to her studies.
Declan leaned on his seat in the study room, his fingers on his chin, his elbow on the armrest. He intended to do some unfinished work. Instead, he kept staring ahead, thinking about what Mr. Lee had said about Yasmin. He wanted to thank her for assisting him in signing the contract, but he said nothing. He just walked out of the room.
"Oh…" He wiped his face.
Starting a conversation with her seemed more difficult than impressing Mr. Lee.
Buzz-Buzz-Buzz…
He dropped his hand and glanced at the phone on the table. A string of numbers flashed on the screen.
"Hello…"
"Declan…"
His face darkened in an instant when he heard a familiar female voice.