Chapter 3

After the SATs, we had a long break with nothing much to do, so Jacob and I were both pretty free.

I thought he'd avoid me, but he didn't seem to care at all. Except for his morning and evening workouts, he spent most of his time reading in the study.

I didn't bother him, either. Now that I had money and didn't have to stress like before, I figured I might as well look into going abroad. I picked up some books and started working on my speaking.

We each did our own thing all day without disturbing each other, which left the Thomas family's staff totally confused.

Jacob was always pretty cold. Honestly, even after living together for so long, we've barely said ten words to each other.

But for once, Jacob came out to get some water and, out of the blue, interrupted me while I was practicing my speaking, "Your pronunciation is off. You're using too much nasal sound. It'll make things harder for you."

I was stunned for a moment before it hit me that he was actually talking to me. "Huh? Oh, okay."

"Doesn't sitting like that get uncomfortable?" Jacob motioned to my waist. "Are you sure you're not squishing the baby?"

I glanced down at where he was pointing. "No, it's still tiny."

"Oh." Jacob took a sip of water. I thought he'd just leave, but instead, he invited me to study together in the study. "The room's big enough, and there's another chair. Join me."

"Just don't squish the baby," he added, as if he was genuinely concerned I might misunderstand.

I quietly grabbed my book and followed him.

Jacob's study was ridiculously huge, but everything inside was perfectly organized. Just like he said, he was just holed up in one corner, so I picked a spot as far from him as possible and spread out my books.

Jacob was momentarily at a loss for words, then took a deep breath and called out, "Ava."

"Huh?" I replied.

"Come sit over here," he said.

"Oh, okay," I replied.

I spent the next few hours totally focused on my practice questions, so much so that I even forgot about the milk the maid had brought me.

Jacob, on the other hand, couldn't focus on his book at all. He frowned, pushed the cup toward me with his finger, then tapped the table for emphasis. "Hey, drink it."

I shot him a look, did as he said, and drank the milk, then picked up my book again.

Jacob let out a tsk. "Ava."

"Huh?" I replied.

He ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "Why aren't you pissed off?"

Honestly, I thought he'd hold back longer. Jacob was born into privilege, so he must've seen every move women could make.

That night at the nightclub, we were both drugged up, and the heat of that night in the lounge was something neither of us could forget.

It was our first time, but there was this raw chemistry between us that neither of us could explain.

He probably figured I'd make a move on him.

But I didn't make a fuss, didn't ask, and didn't bother him.

Even when I found out I was pregnant, I just did whatever the Thomas family wanted me to do.

It was a total curveball for Jacob.

Jacob was just eighteen, and he couldn't help but get thrown off by me.

Now he couldn't hold back anymore; he wanted to expose the little tricks I was hiding. Just as he expected, I pretended to be clueless for a moment, then dropped my gaze, feeling embarrassed.

When I looked up again, my eyes were brimming with tears. "I-I don't really have any reason to be angry," I said softly. "Jacob, I know I'm not good enough for you. If it hadn't been for that night, I wouldn't have turned your life upside down.

"I've really tried not to bother you. Could you please not be upset with me?"

My eyes are huge, and when I started crying, people couldn't help but feel sorry for me. The old bachelors in the village used to tease me, saying I looked just like a tempting bitch.

Jacob was so taken aback by how stunning I looked that he literally forgot to breathe for a second. After a long pause, flustered and annoyed, he muttered, "Stop crying. And quit looking at me."

Seriously, he was just eighteen. How fierce could he really get?

I kept sobbing softly, and Jacob totally freaked out and bolted out of the room.

The sound of the study door shutting echoed, and the tears in my eyes quickly dried up.

I buried myself in my vocab book again, pretending nothing had happened.