Just a Bit Unhealthy

By the time Jared finally got out of bed and went downstairs, it was already more than half of the morning, but he still didn't feel like he had gotten enough sleep.

Gabriel was not there, and Claire was eating breakfast in the kitchen. When she saw him coming, a strange look flashed across her face, like resentment, a little restlessness, and even despair.

"Good morning," she said flatly.

"Good morning," Jared replied, equally flat.

The whole room fell into silence, and they looked at each other for a long time before breaking the silence.

"Sit down," Claire forced a smile. "Xiao Jia went out a few hours ago to take pictures."

Jared sat down and took the coffee she offered.

He took a sip of coffee quietly, trying to gather his thoughts.

The eyes of the two met briefly, and then quickly avoided.

"Is the baby asleep?" Jared finally asked, just looking for something to talk about.

"Yes," Claire said.

"He looks like a healthy lad."

"Yes," Claire said. "He's a lot like his dad. He looks a lot like Gabriel, doesn't he?"

Jared forced a smile on his face. "Yes, that's right."

They fell into another century of silence.

Suddenly, Claire put down her coffee cup and stood up. "Well, I can't pretend anymore." She stared at him, "Do you know? No matter how kind and considerate I am, there is a bottom line. My son's father stays with you all night, and I It's impossible to pretend to be deaf and dumb and pretend everything is all right!" She shook her head. "Are you still ashamed? I thought you were not this kind of person. He's already married, okay?"

"I didn't intend to tear you apart," Jared's voice seemed to be choked. "If I wanted to, I would have done it years ago."

The corners of her lips twisted into a wry smile. "Oh, yeah. And do I have to thank you for allowing me to be his girlfriend? It's great that you finally showed your true colors. You know exactly how much he depends on you, don't you? Gabriel Maybe a little emotionally dull to realize how unhealthy his feelings for you are, but you know it all too well. It's not love." She looked him in the eyes and said, "Admit it, at the end of the day, he doesn't love at all You. What he feels for you is nothing more than a twisted, pathological dependence and mispaid gratitude."

Jared clenched his jaw, trying not to let her words affect him.Gabriel loved him, and he loved him.Maybe not that kind of love, but love too.

But a tiny suspicion still crept out of the shadows.

She seemed to sense his suspicion, and continued: "You know it in your heart, I can tell it by looking at your eyes. You know very well that he will never love you like me, and you can't meet his needs at all. You What the hell is the point of this? Stop ruining our relationship! He was 16 when you met and he was just a wobbly, limp, paralyzed teenager so you could sneak in.. You must have fueled him With that weird obsession with you, he just wants to make you happy now." She smiled, "Don't you realize that you are encouraging him to do things he doesn't want to do? You really make me sick. My respect to comrades The group has no opinion, but why can't you stay away from people like us and pursue your kind? A gay loves a straight man bitterly, and a straight man who has a master is really pitiful. You simply..." Claire In the middle of speaking, he suddenly stopped, his face pale.

Jared followed her gaze.

Gabriel stood on the porch, his lips were tightly pressed, his eyes were deep and cold, how long had he been standing there?

They all fell silent.

Gabriel's footsteps were very distinct in the dead room.He came and stopped beside Claire and looked at her for a moment as if seeing her for the first time.

Claire swallowed, and smiled tremblingly. "I don't--"

"Don't worry, you don't have to put up with Jared anymore," Gabriel said, his voice raspy with uncontrollable anger. "We'll be leaving tonight."

Jared sucked in a sharp breath.

Claire's eyes widened. "Xiaojia—"

Gabriel turned around with a serious expression on his face.

"You don't ignore me, Gabriel Dewar!" Claire got annoyed and grabbed his shoulder. "You can't say something like that, and then ignore me! We need to have a good talk..."

Gabriel pouted and turned around. "There's nothing to talk about," he said, his voice deliberately calm. "You have made it very clear. If you really think so, then there is nothing I can do. So I'd better leave."

"But I was talking to Jared! It's none of your business..."

"That's where you're wrong," Gabriel said. "I don't want to be with a woman who doesn't respect the man I love. When you insult him, you insult me. When you hurt him, you hurt me."

"You can't just leave. We are family and I am the mother of your son. Are you abandoning your son? Just like your parents abandoned you?"

Gabriel took a breath, pale. "I won't let you manipulate me with words like that," he said hoarsely, his voice trembling a little.Jared wanted to hug him.

"Nothing you say will make me feel guilty," Gabriel continued, his tone firm. "I never lied to you, I always said what I said. I loved you, but I love him more. You already know this. You think I don't know that you deliberately conceived a child behind my back of?"

Claire froze.

"I never said anything," Gabriel said. "But that doesn't mean I don't know. Maybe I'm an asshole, but you're not that innocent." His throat was dry. "Just to protect your feelings, I almost—I almost lost him. This is where I was wrong. This is not a fairy tale. In reality, one party will always be hurt, but I must never hurt him again."

"Xiaojia—"

"I'll be a good father, and you'll be fine," Gabriel said. "The house belongs to you. This house is already worth 1000 million. You are young and charming, and now you are very rich. I think you will be able to live well." Gabriel clenched his jaw, staring into Claire's eyes, his expression softened a bit. "Do you still love me, Claire? Look into my eyes, do you think you still love me?"

Claire opened her mouth and closed it again, with a confused expression on her face.

Gabriel nodded and smiled wryly. "Fine, you won't be too upset." He turned around and quickly left the kitchen, leaving Claire and Jared where they were.

Claire folded her hands on her chest and looked away. "You're happy now," she said, with tears in her eyes. "you win."

"He's not a trophy," Jared said. "I never wanted to 'win' him."

She laughed. "You're right. There wasn't any serious competition between the two of us, but I was foolish enough to think I could win you over."

Jared studied her for a long time before leaving the kitchen.There is nothing left to say.

He found Gabriel in Jules' room, standing by the crib, looking at the sleeping child, his arms straight and awkward.

Jared walked up to him and looked at the kid too.Jules really looks like Gabriel.

"He's so small," said Gabriel, "I've been afraid to hold him, you know...I was afraid I'd hurt him...and now..."

"You can hug him whenever you want," Jared said. "You are his father."

"Yeah." Gabriel continued after a pause. "She's not right, you know that?"

Jared swallowed, looking at the soft blond hair on the child's forehead. "She's tired, depressed, and trying to protect her family," he said without answering directly. "It's normal for her to vent." He touched Gabriel's hand lightly. "Don't make such a hasty decision, lest you regret it later."

"I should have admitted that we were over. I just regret it. It's been going on for a long time to be honest... There was a lot of grumbling and frustration and disappointment between us...but I just turned a blind eye. I just don't want to admit that we're not getting along anymore." His hand slid to Jared and took his. "You don't have to feel guilty. It wasn't your fault. Everyone was right, but I was wrong."

"Don't blame yourself, it's an afterthought." Jared turned to look Gabriel in the eye. "I won't say you're completely right, you're always too stubborn, it's not good."

Gabriel smiled slightly and nodded.He opened his mouth to say something, but hesitated again.

"What's wrong?" Jared said, brushing his thumb across Gabriel's wrist.

"Yesterday I asked Stephanie to help you find a house nearby, and she replied to me this morning. She found several good places, all not far from the training center. However, it seems that I have to find a new house to live in Or..." Gabriel looked away and scratched the back of his neck. "How about we live in the same house? It's easier and more convenient." Gabriel looked a little embarrassed. "Am I going too far? If you think I'm too clingy, just tell me to fuck off."

Jared's mouth was a little dry.The thought of seeing Gabriel every day, of living with him...

He told himself to figure it out, but failed. "You're right, it's easier to find the same house."

Gabriel's face beamed with joy and he smiled so brightly that Jared's breath was taken away and his heart pounded in his throat.God, he was hopeless.