Chapter 20 Two Faces
Silence ensued.
Chris looked at Paige as she quietly wept. His head felt as if it was about to explode.
The experience was new for him.
Like many men would react to women’s tears, he felt paralyzed.
Should he offer her solace?
Chris thought back about the scene from a TV series he had watched occasionally.
In the scene, the man held the weeping woman and said in a gentle voice, “Don’t cry, my love. You’re my angel, my sweetheart, my baby. My heart breaks when you cry.”
Though, Chris could not bring himself to talk in such a way.
“Don’t cry,” Chris said, his brows furrowed.
Paige lifted her tear–stained face and looked at Chris‘ frown. His expression only hurt her more. She was sad that he not only did not comfort her but also seemed annoyed by her crying.
She closed her mouth and drew a deep breath before frantically wiping the tears off her face with
the back of her hand.
Why should she play along with the man? Why should she cry for him? He must be delighted that
she was upset.
Hmph…
Getting an attitude, Paige dried her tears and got out of bed to go into the bathroom with a long
face.
Chris was at a loss.
That was compliant of Paige.
She stopped crying when he told her to.
He had a different perception of women.
After all, Chris was uninterested in women as people. He saw them only as objects for procreation sand the occasional physical release. He did not find it necessary to understand them as
individuals. His limited knowledge of women came from his friends and some TV shows.
His friends‘ descriptions of women matched the ones portrayed in TV shows. Women loved. kicking a fuss, crying, and throwing a fit. They would cry a river over the littlest things.
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+15 BONUS
However, Chris realized that in the days he had been married to Paige, Paige was nothing like the women he had previously perceived.
Most women would panic and cause a scene if they were suddenly asked to replace their sister in marrying their supposed brother–in–law. However, Paige quietly said her vows. She did not fuss or make any demands, She kept to herself after marrying him too.
Although Paige was different, that was a good thing.
Chris was not a patient man. He would not waste his time and energy to appease a woman.
Paige looked at the reflection of her swollen eyes and red nose in the bathroom mirror and sighed. Chris seemed to hate her now. Her crying did not earn his comfort. In fact, he had scowled in
annoyance.
She should keep up with it until Chris could not stand her anymore.
It would not take long before he would get sick and tired of her.
Paige washed her face. Although she had not dated before, she was not an empty vessel. She knew men’s biggest fear.
They were most afraid of women behaving unreasonably.
Paige tidied herself up and straightened her back. She walked out of the bathroom like a warrior,
ready for a battle.
Sitting on the sofa, Chris was on his phone.
His indifference rubbed Paige the wrong way. She drew a deep breath and crossed her arms. Her
chin raised defiantly as she arrogantly questioned Chris, “I don’t care what your relationship with
Tanya is, but you are not to contact her again.”
Chris lifted his head and looked at Paige with a frown.
Not to have contact?
It was not an impossible task for Chris. While the Jewells had a business partnership with
Tanya’s family, and both families were close, Chris had ways to avoid a person.
The point was… they had only been married for a few days, but the girl was already giving him
orders.
Paige was docile and meek when they first got married. She had always been compliant with his
wishes.
It seemed the girl had two faces.
+15 BONUS
“What if I insist on having contact with her?” Chris asked callously.
“Do you like her?” Paige scowled angrily.
Chris smiled and said, “Do you think I’d get involved with your family if I liked Tanya? Why would
I waste my time on you or your sister?”
Paige choked, unable to refute him.
It was true that Chris could have married Tanya if he was into her. Tanya’s family, the Burnses, was more powerful and wealthy than the Quirks. A marriage between Chris and Tanya would
have been a powerful alliance between the Jewells and the Burnses.
Paige pursed her lips and glared unhappily at Chris. “Why did you meet her if you didn’t like her?”
Chris felt like the girl had some nerve to give him dirty looks.
Nevertheless, she looked adorable when she narrowed her eyes.
“So you’re saying I like her because I met with her? I come in contact with many women at work.
Don’t tell me that I’m interested in all of them, too,” Chris said with a smile.
The faint smile on Chris‘ face infuriated Paige.
She knew Chris was not smiling because he was happy.
He was simply teasing her.
Chris did not have high regard for her. He engaged with her like she was a pet, not taking into
account her feelings.
“You know that Tanya has feelings for you, though,” Paige said.