章 194: Chapter 54.1
Jason returned to his car and entered the driver's seat, a slight frown on his face. He felt that Emily had been suppressing her true feelings, pretending to be fine in front of him and her siblings. Yet, despite knowing that, he was unable to do anything.
Lizzy must've mentioned something about me, Jason thought as he recalled her question to him. The real me? That's something even I don't know. What am to do?
Laughter from behind him caught his attention and he looked at the backseats through the rearview mirror with a small smile. He had noticed how quiet Alice and Maple were previously. But now, they were talking excitedly with generous bouts of giggling.
"So," Elizabeth turned to Jason and asked in her American accent. "Dropping me off next, baby?"
"Yeah. Something like that," Jason answered as he started the car and began driving, a glint flashing through his eyes.
Elizabeth nodded and turned her to look out the window. Even though she couldn't see, she imagined the nightly city view beyond the window, zipping by as the car dashed forward. After a little less than ten minutes later, she frowned and turned back to Jason.
"This isn't the way to the hotel," she stated with furrowed brows. Almost instinctively, she knew that the path wasn't leading to her destination.
"Now why would you think that?" Jason asked in a mockingly innocent voice that was filled with shock at the accusation. "I couldn't possibly have a reason to kidnap you, would I?"
". . . Reason? No," Elizabeth replied straightforwardly. "But shameless enough? Definitely."
"Hmm," Jason nodded sheepishly, unable to deny Elizabeth. He mulled over his next words carefully before giving up and shrugging. "I'm driving to my place."
Elizabeth glared at him through her sunglasses but Jason ignored her and gazed straight ahead, pretending to drive seriously.
". . . I told you already. I don't want to stay at your place," Elizabeth said slowly. "If it's so hard to drop me off, then just stop the car. I can get a taxi."
"Is that - are you serious?" Jason asked incredulously.
When he noticed that Elizabeth was silent, he gritted his teeth and pulled over, stopping the car. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it and instead used a hand to rub massage his jaw before looking away.
"It was a mistake visiting you tonight," he finally said and Elizabeth's eyes flashed with sorrow, though it was hidden beneath her sunglasses.
"Of course," Elizabeth chuckled bitterly. "And there you go again," she said with a sigh. "Regretting it already, eh?"
"Hey, I never said I regret -"
"No, you did," Elizabeth interrupted curtly. "You just love to push me away."
"I'm not the one pushing you away, you are," Jason retorted. "I have been trying to get close to you, ever since you showed up."
"Yeah? You haven't been forthcoming during these past few weeks at all," Elizabeth responded. "And you haven't been trying to cozy up to me, we only ever meet for sex! Is that the only thing I'm good for?"
"Hey, kids at the back," Jason pointed a thumb backwards as he spoke. "No dirty talk in front of them, only in bed. And me being a tad bit reserved? That was only after you fought with Melanie and Katelyn."
Both Alice and Maple had remained silent, making themselves scarcely present as they quietly listened to the two adults bicker. The former, however, narrowed her eyes and glared at Elizabeth when she heard Jason's words; her dislike for Elizabeth increased once she learnt that the latter had fought her mother.
"Is everything an excuse to you?" Elizabeth asked Jason.
"Only when you don't let me finish and overreact instead," Jason responded.
"Oh? Then by all means, continue shi - lying," Elizabeth corrected herself when she recalled that they weren't alone.
". . . Let's talk outside," Jason said after quietly glaring at Elizabeth. Opening the door, he exited the car and Elizabeth begrudgingly followed his example.
Slamming the door shut, Elizabeth leaned on the car while Jason approached her.
"Well?" Elizabeth asked as Jason used a fraction of his powers to soundproof their conversation.
"I said it was a mistake because I left Alice alone," Jason explained, ignoring her brusque manner. "If we were living together, then we would've both been at the orphanage instead of the hotel and Alice -"
Jason's voice broke and Elizabeth frowned, not understanding why Jason was so distressed. She had arrived after the scene was cleaned up and wasn't aware of how Alice had been severely injured.
"She died, Lizzy. Alice died," Jason continued, his voice shaky.
Elizabeth exhaled sharply and turned to look at Alice through the car's window. Even though she was blind, her special skill - Aura Sight - allowed her to see the world differently, and she could sense the strong Aura of Life emanating from Alice as a bright blue haze.
"But she's -"
"She has my ability, Freya," Jason interrupted in a quiet voice. Elizabeth gasped and turned back to Jason in surprise only to see the latter nod. "Yeah."
". . . What exactly happened, laddie?" Elizabeth asked quietly.
"Sh-she was thrown out the bus's windshield - when it crashed," Jason replied while covering his eyes with a hand. "She then unconsciously used her Esper powers to heal herself."
Silence fell between the two as Elizabeth was unable to say anything to comfort Jason while the latter tried to compose himself.
"I - I can't lose her, Freya. I can't," Jason choked out as he refused to remove the hand covering his eyes. He used his fingers to rub his eyes, conveniently wiping the tears that were forming away. "That's why I said it's a mistake. Because if I knew -"
I'd choose Alice over you, Jason completed in his head. He cared about Elizabeth but in his heart, he knew that Alice was irreplaceable.
Elizabeth's face darkened as she knew exactly what he was thinking but said nothing but sigh; she had known, from the moment that she heard that Jason had a child, she had known that Alice had a special place in his heart, more than almost anyone else. She was his child after all.
"I'm sorry," Elizabeth said after a long pause. ". . . I'm not ready, not again. Even if I was, I can't stay with you after tonight."
"I'm not asking you to stay the night," Jason removed his hand and gazed straight at Elizabeth; he was thankful that she couldn't see his disappointment. "I just want you to meet my sister, then I'll take you back."
"Arite," Elizabeth relented and Jason smiled. [1]
He moved to the other side of the car as Elizabeth opened the door and prepared to enter.
"I'm curious though," Jason paused as he held the door to the driver's seat. "What exactly did you mean when you said you can't stay with after tonight?"
"Girls' talk, baby boy," Elizabeth answered with a hushing gesture; she placed a finger to her mouth while smiling enigmatically.
Jason stood there, stunned for a moment as Elizabeth entered the SUV. Soon after, he smiled ruefully with a shake of his head.
"So that's what it's about," he murmured as he recalled the moment that all three women gathered together to discuss something. "Though, why does it feel like I'm some sort of prize to a competition?"
[1] Scottish way of saying "Alright".
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