âI understand.
Once this project concludes, I plan to take an extended vacation to spend quality time with you and our children.
â
Since their marriage, Mitchel rarely traveled unless necessary.
Their children were still young, and despite having ample support from nannies, Annis, and Luciana, he never felt completely at ease about leaving them.
Moreover, mothers in the postpartum period could be susceptible to psychological challenges, prompting Mitchel to reduce his workload to remain by Raeganâs side as much as possible.
However, this project held critical importance for the companyâs expansion into the international market.
Nations overseas had consistently employed diverse technologies to restrict Ambrosia, compelling Mitchel to support his homelandâs endeavors by diligently pursuing expanded foreign markets, thereby bolstering his nationâs influence.
His aspiration was for his nationâs energy sector to become indispensable to other lands.
As a result, he had bestowed significant importance upon this project and embarked on numerous journeys overseas.
However, these trips were fleeting, sometimes only 12 hours on foreign soil before returning, driven by his longing for his children and concern for Raeganâs well-being back home.
Truly, it was a pivotal period, and after concluding the call, Mitchel capitalized on every available moment to prolong the discussion until it was time to depart for the airport.
While the project held significance, Raeganâs emotional welfare held equal importance to him.
On their wedding day, he had vowed never to abandon her to confront fear and sorrow aloneâ¦
Jarrod abruptly sprang to his feet to leave, scarcely grazing his meal.
Vicki, brimming with dissatisfaction, believed she caught a mention of Nicoleâs name during Jarrodâs earlier phone conversation with Mitchel, escalating her mild unease into profound anxiety.
âJarrod!â Vicki rose suddenly, clutching his arm.
Jarrod remained motionless, regarding her as though awaiting her words.
Their bond had progressively distanced.
Despite their engagement, they resembled colleagues from disparate departments who exchanged mere nods upon meeting.
A womanâs intuition could be nuanced, and Vicki sensed that Jarrod appeared to be evading her.
He was either away on business trips or toiling through the night, scarcely finding any time to share with her.
Even their dinner tonight had occurred only because Vicki mentioned her visit to his family shrine, prompting Jarrod to reluctantly agree to join her for supper.
Yet, he hadnât even tasted the soup she had labored over for hours.
Vickiâs lips quivered as she stated, âIâve spent six hours simmering this soup, and you havenât even taken a sip.
â
Vicki yearned to inquire if Jarrod was planning to meet Nicole, but she refrained from voicing this question.
Uttering too much could become bothersome, and as she maintained her silence anything related to Nicole, she felt she retained her position as Jarrodâs fiancée, still eligible to become his spouse.
If matters were to become unsettled, it wouldnât bode well for her.
Jarrodâs response was devoid of emotion.
âI have an urgent matter to attend to.
Iâll have it next time.
â
He pulled his arm away, his demeanor slightly impatient with Vickiâs grasp.
Vicki wisely released him, maintaining a smile as she remarked, âThen tend to what you must.
Remember to eat, and Iâll prepare soup for you once more.
â
Dayton glanced at her, her countenance seemingly exuding joy, and furrowed his brow slightly but remained silent.
Seemingly oblivious to Jarrodâs discomfort, Vicki affectionately retrieved his coat and dr@ped it over his shoulders.
Observing him make his way to the door, Vicki called out once more, âJarrodâ¦â
Jarrod halted, casting a lingering glance back at Vicki.