Ch. 1081..1090

My Gorgeous Wife is an Ex-Convict Chapter 1081-Jason reached out and picked up the ancient sword.

Grace was immediately taken aback. The sword… was giving her a sense of danger.

“Remember when I told you that someone from the Reed family used to keep a woman here? That woman fell in love with him, but she still killed that man with this sword,” Jason said lightly as if it was just a story.

‘However… This actually happened!’ Grace was shocked. What he was saying now was a plot twist from what he said last time.

She thought the woman left with the man from the Reed family after falling in love with him.

It never occurred to her that the woman… would use this sword to kill the man she fell in love with!

“Why? Shame? Remorse? Regret?

‘Because she fell in love with another man when she had someone else she loved deeply?

“Was that why she made this choice?

“Is it called… Splashes of Blood because blood is spattered on the sword?” she asked incoherently.

“That’s not all,” he said and walked to the wall lined with heavy curtains, giving them a jerk.

The wall behind the curtains immediately caught Grace’s eye.

This wall was different from the other several walls. It was not renovated and looked just like what it looked like back then. The splashes of discolored blood on the wall were so obvious!

Grace suddenly felt an urge to throw up!

The many bloodstains on the wall were preservation of incriminating evidence! ‘Is it called Splashes of Blood because of the wall?’ “If you want to leave, you can kill me just as the woman did and then you may leave,” he said as he came up to her and held out the sword in his hand with its hilt toward her. “Do you want to kill me?” There was a touch of madness in those bright black eyes. He was like a gambler who was gambling what place her occupied in her heart, and the wager was his life!

Grace stared blankly at the man in front of her. “Kill him? I’ve never thought of it!’ Even… Even if she had thought he was going to lock her up for life, she never thought of killing him!

He stared at her shocked eyes with a stunning, relieved smile on his lips. “You can’t bear to do so, can you? You don’t want me to die, do you?” Her throat was dry. She wanted to refute him, but even spitting out a word seemed so difficult.

“You still have me in your heart, so one day, you’ll fall in love with me again. Grace, let’s make a bet whether you’ll fall in love with me again. I’ll bet you the rest of my life,” he said firmly.

My Gorgeous Wife is an Ex-Convict Chapter 1082-She only felt her heart constantly contracting. His certainty made her panic.

He would wager on the rest of his life, but what would she wager on?

Kyla Corbyn was having a phone call with Lina and learned that Jason had taken Grace. No one knew where she had been. taken to, and they did not know when she would come back.

However, according to Lina, if Grace was able to make a call, it meant that at least Grace was not in serious trouble for now.

Lina said, “That’s all we can do for now. I’ll try to find out where Jason has taken Grace. Also, Kyla, don’t worry about your lawsuit. I’ll ask Hadwin to find another lawyer for you if Grace still hasn’t shown up after a week.” “Thank you so much,” Kyla Corbyn said gratefully.

“It’s nothing as long as you and Nelson are okay!” said Lina.

When Kyla Corbyn went to the kindergarten to pick up her son.

in the afternoon, she was still worried about Grace. She did not know whether it was a good thing to be loved by a man ‘After breaking up, now Jason wants Grace back. What about Grace? Is she as fine as she mentioned on the phone after being taken away by Jason like that?” After reaching the kindergarten’s gate, Kyla Corbyn. immediately came back to her senses and straightened her clothes.

Every time she came to pick up her son, she would pay attention to her appearance as she did not want to embarrass. her son. She did not have the money to dress up nicely when she came to pick him up, but at least… she looked clean.

She felt a little relieved when she thought of how her son would talk about the interesting things he had done in kindergarten after coming home.

It seemed that Nelson got into the right kindergarten, after all.

The teachers there took good care of Nelson, and the kids in Nelson’s class were also kind. They did not discriminate against Nelson just because he wore a hearing aid.

She only hoped that her son could grow up as healthy and happy as regular people!

Just as she was about to enter the kindergarten to pick up her son, she suddenly stiffened.

Past the kindergarten’s gates, she saw a figure that was not supposed to be there at all.

‘Marlin Weiss! Why is he here?” Marlin Weiss was even holding Nelson’s hand and seemed to be talking to other parents, Nelson obediently stood beside Martin Weiss with his little.

chin slightly tilted up. He seemed to be watching Martin Weiss.

attentively. There was an expression Kyla Corbyn had never seen before on the little one’s face.

She felt her body tense all at once, and even her heartbeat. accelerated. It was as if her heart was about to leap out of her throat.

She just stood where she was, looking through the bars of the gates at the large and small figures.

As if feeling her gaze, Martin Weiss slowly turned his head and looked in Kyla Corbyn’s direction. Their eyes immediately met. in mid-air, and Kyla Corbyn’s face turned pale.

Nelson also saw Kyla Corbyn and cried out, “Mommy!” However, instead of running toward her as usual, he stood still beside Martin Weiss and gently shook his hand as if urging Martin Weiss to take him to his mother.

Martin Weiss took Nelson by the hand and slowly walked toward Kyla Corbyn.

“What… are you doing here?” Kyla Corbyn heard herself ask hoarsely.

My Gorgeous Wife is an Ex-Convict Chapter 1083-“I’m here to see Nelson. After all, he’s my son, isn’t he?” Martin Weiss said lightly.

She immediately had mixed feelings. He said it so naturally. It was just like when he said he would abort the child if she was pregnant!

However, she did not want her son to see their disputes.

“Nelson, let’s go,” said Kyla Corbyn. She had to take her son back to her mother because she needed to set up her stall later.

The little one said, “Daddy said he’ll send us home today.” Kyla Corbyn subconsciously wanted to refuse, but what Martin Weiss said next seemed to stop everything she wanted to say.

“Do you want Daddy to send you home, Nelson?” “Yes,” Nelson answered with his childish voice, sounding innocent and joyful.

Kyla Corbyn looked at the happy expression on her son’s face, gritted her teeth, and said nothing.

Many parents who came to pick up their children at the It was as if they were not supposed to stand together at all.

Kyla Corbyn was not used to the attention, or rather, she did not enjoy being watched by so many people since her release from prison! She was worried that the fact she had been to prison would reflect badly on her son if people knew.

“Then… let’s go!” Kyla Corbyn hurriedly said with her head down.

Martin Weiss glanced at her, bent down, and took Nelson in his arms. He then walked toward the parking lot near the kindergarten’s gates.

The driver had been waiting over there. When he saw the three people approaching, he immediately opened the car door respectfully.

Martin Weiss took Nelson in his arms as he got in the car while Kyla Corbyn stood by the door, caught in a trance.

“What’s the matter? Get in the car,” said Martin Weiss.

Kyla Corbyn took a deep breath, got into the car, and sat next to Martin Weiss.

Fortunately, Nelson sat between them, which made Kyla Corbyn less uneasy.

The little one was a little excited as his little head looked left and right. He looked at Kyla Corbyn before looking at Martin Weiss. After all, having both parents sitting beside him was a novel experience.

“Mommy, is Daddy really my daddy?” The little one’s clear voice rang in the car.

It might sound strange, but Kyla Corbyn understood what her son meant.

Looking at the longing in her son’s eyes, she knew that he longed for a father. Whenever he saw someone playing with. their father, Nelson would look wistful.

She still remembered when Grace’s former colleague, Chase Harper, took Nelson to the amusement park with Grace last time. Nelson had talked about how Uncle Harper gave him a ride on his shoulder, took him to play darts, and held him up to look at the amusement park’s cartoon animal parade. He spoke about it for a long time after returning home.

Even though she tried hard to wear two hats as both father and mother all these years and give all her love to the child, some things could not be replaced.

Just like… a child’s longing for a father.

My Gorgeous Wife is an Ex-Convict Chapter 1084-“Yeah. Didn’t I tell you last time that he really is your daddy?” said Kyla Corbyn. She never intended to hide the truth from her son for the rest of her life.

However, she had planned to wait until the boy turned 18 to tell him, and now it was far ahead of schedule.

“Why is Daddy only coming back from heaven now?” asked the little one as he turned and looked at Martin Weiss.

Martin Weiss almost choked and rolled his eyes at Kyla Corbyn.

Kyla Corbyn was a little embarrassed. ‘Why did I tell my son that his daddy was in heaven?” “I didn’t know you existed, but now that I know, I’ll always be with you, Nelson,” said Martin Weiss.

Strange to say, he had always been indifferent, but he was unconsciously gentle to his only flesh and blood. He felt sorry, especially when he saw the hearing aid his son wore.

Even though his son was born disabled, he would not let Nelson be inferior to anyone. He wanted his son to be above. others and make sure they dared not discriminate against him!

Corbyn’s were filled with longing.

He had always envied kids who could ride on their father’s shoulders. Even though his mother had let him ride on her shoulders before, he still wanted his father to do it.

Uncle Harper had given him a ride on his shoulders last time and he was so happy. He had also secretly wondered if his father would let him ride on his shoulders if he was around.

Unexpectedly, his father suddenly showed up.

Martin Weiss frowned. ‘Ride on my shoulders?’ The phrase seemed so far away to him.

The father and son looked at each other as silence fell.

“It’s just… letting Nelson ride on your shoulders,” Kyla Corbyn could not help explaining.

Although she did not want Martin Weiss to appear in front of her son too much and disturb their peaceful life, she was more. afraid that Martin Weiss would refuse and let Nelson down!

“I know what riding my shoulders means,” said Martin Weiss.

The little one blinked and said a little pitifully, “Can’t I?” Martin Weiss stared at the beautiful childlike face in front of him. The nose bridge, lips, and overall outline of the little one’s face were the same as when he was a child-but his eyes were very much like Kyla Corbyn’s.

Especially when he smiled!

He wanted to see the little one smile instead of looking so miserable. “Of course, you can. It’s just riding my shoulders. Just tell me whenever you want to ride on my shoulders.” In his opinion, it was stupid to have a child ride on hist shoulders, but he just could not refuse the little one’s request.

The little one’s eyes lit up immediately, and a smile appeared on his face again.

Kyla Corbyn was also relieved that Martin Weiss did not reject Nelson.

However, when her eyes inadvertently swept over Martin Weiss, she immediately met his eyes.

He was looking at her!

In the car, the little one talked about what happened in the kindergarten today while the two adults stared at each other.

The car drove to Kyla Corbyn’s current rental house, and the three of them got off. Martin Weiss lifted Nelson up as promised and let the little one ride on his shoulders.

My Gorgeous Wife is an Ex-Convict Chapter 1085-The little one shouted excitedly.

Kyla Corbyn looked at the scene in front of her. She knew her son was truly happy! Nelson was shy and would not even. talk to the people around him most of the time. He was more active when he was with people close to him.

However, he was rarely so excited now!

Although Martin Weiss… was dressed in a crisp suit and had a serious expression on his face, there was a touch of gentleness in his eyes.

He would respond to Nelson’s excitement and go left or right as the little one instructed.

How could anyone have guessed that Weiss Group’s. president, who was usually known for his seriousness, would have this side of him too?

Kyla Corbyn’s nose suddenly felt a little sore. ‘Is this the nature. of a father and son? Even though they’ve just met and even though Martin Weiss wasn’t a part of Nelson’s life for the past four years, Nelson doesn’t seem to see him as a stranger and accepted him easily:” Was this the nature of blood ties?

After a long while, Kyla Corbyn finally said, “Alright, Nelson, we’re going home. Grandma’s still waiting at home!” The little one was reluctant to get off Martin Weiss.

When Martin Weiss handed the little one back to Kyla Corbyn, the gentleness on his face turned into indifference.

Kyla Corbyn smiled wryly. All he had left for her was. indifference, but it did not matter as her feelings for him had also died out. It would be great for him to leave a bit of his gentleness to Nelson.

Kyla Corbyn led her son into the neighborhood..

The little one looked back at Martin Weiss from time to time when they entered the neighborhood.

“Mommy, is Daddy not living with us?” asked the little one. The parents of the kids at the kindergarten lived together.

“Yeah, because… Daddy and I have been separated for a long time, so… we won’t be living together,” said Kyla Corbyn as she rubbed her son’s small head.

However, the little one suddenly blurted out, “Did Mommy and Daddy get a divorce?” Kyla Corbyn was dumbstruck. “Divorce?” “Lil Kai, who’s in my class, has divorced parents. He lives with mother. He says his father visits him every week,” said the little one.

Facing her son’s serious inquiring eyes, Kyla Corbyn could only. answer vaguely. After all, what should she tell her son? She and his father did not even get married. Nelson was only a b*stard child, not even a child born in wedlock.

However, the truth was so cruel that she could not tell him no matter what.

Fortunately, Nelson did not ask any more questions.

Back at their house, Kyla Corbyn handed Nelson over to her mother, packed up the things needed for her stall, and left with her stall cart.

Her thin body started the motorcycle and the three-wheeled stall cart chugged along, its contents swaying in the cart.

She did not notice that not far away, Martin Weiss was in the car that had not left yet. He looked at her through the car.

window… Grace could not sleep at night, Maybe it was because of the Splashes of Blood Jason talked about in the day that she could not help thinking about the Reed family’s ancestor and the woman imprisoned here.

 

My Gorgeous Wife is an Ex-Convict Chapter 1086-Originally, she thought it was just a love story about a woman. who forgot about her old lover and fell in love with another man. Was it not only a story about betrayal and love?

However, after hearing the end of the story, she felt differently.

‘Did the woman fall in love and kill the man she loved because… she couldn’t accept it?

‘She couldn’t accept that she had a change of heart and even fell in love with the man who imprisoned her?

‘However, what about afterward? What happened to the woman after she left? Did she go and live with the man she originally loved?

‘Or did she live alone?’ Somehow, she wondered how the story would go next.

Strangely enough, she was well past the age of curiosity but she was still curious about the woman Jason mentioned.

‘Is it because… I’m also being imprisoned in the same mansion?’ Grace got out of bed, went to the window, and opened the curtains.

She could see the pond in the yard from her window. The pond of lotus flowers was stunning even at night.

However, to her surprise, a figure was standing on the edge of the pond and was seemingly looking at the lotus flowers.

The cold moonlight fell on Jason’s body, and the place looked utterly silent.

Grace looked at the time. It was already past 1 AM. ‘Why… is he still standing there?’ She should have drawn the curtains and stopped looking at him, but she kept on staring at him.

Suddenly, as if feeling her stare, he slowly turned sideways and looked in her direction.

Their eyes met immediately.

She could see his face clearly in the moonlight. The silvery moonlight seemed to soften his delicate facial features and made him feel less indifferent and intense than in the day. He now looked more elegant and quiet.

A few wisps of his bangs fell over his full forehead. What laid under his beautiful straight eyebrows were those deep eyes, straight nose bridge, and slightly thin lips. He stood as still as a statue, just looking at her.

Grace could only feel her heart beating faster and faster, making her heart flutter!

‘Stop looking! Stop looking at him!” She told herself desperately, and with almost all her might, she drew the curtains before laying back in bed to calm herself down.

With the lights on, Grace closed her eyes and put herself to sleep.

Sometime later, she seemed to hear the rhythm of the falling rain while in a daze.

‘Is it raining outside? Have I… fallen asleep?” Grace sat up and looked at the time. It was past 3 AM.

For some reason, she threw back the covers, got out of bed, and went to the window. She pulled the curtains open again and looked out.

Even Grace herself could not quite explain why she was doing. this. ‘Am I doing this to see if Jason is still out there? It’s so late. now. He should have gone back to his room by now!

It was only when she looked out of the window that she saw that the tall figure was still standing on the edge of the lotus pond!

‘He’s… still there!’ Grace was instantly stunned.

My Gorgeous Wife is an Ex-Convict Chapter 1087-Besides… His posture was the same as before she drew the curtain. He was still standing there with his chin up, looking in her direction!

Grace suddenly had an indescribable feeling, and she rushed out of the room.

Not knowing where to find an umbrella, Grace grabbed a blanket, put it on top of her head, and rushed out in the rain to the lotus pond.

Even though the blanket covered the top of her head and parts of her body, the rain still hit her arms and the front of her body.

The raindrops were icy.

Grace quickly ran up to Jason, gasped slightly, and said, “What are you doing standing here? It’s raining. Hurry back in.” However, he did not budge and stood where he was. “Why did you come out?” His cold voice rang out on the rainy night.

He was all wet. His hair and face were wet with rain, and his black eyes were looking at her through the rain.

“We’ll talk about it after we get inside,” she said and took his hand to pull him inside.

However, he did not move. “Why did you come out?” He repeated the previous question.

Grace had no choice but to say, “Am I supposed to keep watching you stand in the rain if I don’t come out?” “Are you worried about me being caught in the rain?” he asked.

Grace was rendered speechless. She glared at him. Seeing that the rain was getting heavier and heavier and his body was drenched, he would probably get sick if this went on.

All she could hear was the rain.

After a long pause, Grace finally said, “Let’s just say I’m worried. Can we get in now?” ‘Let’s assume I don’t want him to get sick, especially when we’re the only ones here. It would be difficult to deal with if something happens to him!’ Grace gave herself an excuse.

‘However… am I not worried at all?’ asked a voice in her heart, but she could not give an answer at all.

Jason opened his thin lips and gently uttered a word, “Okay.” Then, he held her hand tightly.

She took him by the hand and went into the house. She was not that wet, so a little toweling off would do, but he was terribly drenched.

“You should take a hot bath, or you’ll catch a cold easily,” she said and turned to leave.

However, his hand was still holding hers tightly, refusing to loosen.

She could not leave at all.

“Can you let go? I’m going back to-” She did not manage to finish her sentence when his voice interrupted her. “Stay with me!” he said.

‘Stay with him? When he’s looking like this?’ “You should take a hot bath now,” she said.

“Stay with me.” He stared at her as if he would not take no for an answer.

Grace was stunned. She even had a feeling that if she refused, then maybe… he would do something dangerous that would be too much for her to handle… She hesitated a little before saying, “Then… I’ll wait for you UNC U TIOT QUI His eyes softened when he heard this. “Okay, you’ve promised to wait for me,” he said hoarsely while the remnants of the rain trickled down his cheeks.

My Gorgeous Wife is an Ex-Convict Chapter 1088-Gmmes ended up m PAWS Greshamal bills any he thought of the She mad www.wdybu Just Wasn, than behandl pren soms and by firm aggot booty this is a mus sturgy strengt tur das maturity hat trai maman nga ma trap.

He walked step by step toward her, and she unconsciously stepped back. Suddenly, her foot caught on something and she fell back.

“Ah!” A cry of surprise escaped her mouth. Her hand almost instinctively grabbed one side of the curtains, pulling them… The curtains were immediately drawn back, and at the same moment, an arm wrapped itself around her falling body.

Her eyes immediately met Jason’s handsome face.

“Thank… you.” After a moment, she steadied herself awkwardly. She turned away, trying to avoid his gaze.

However, she suddenly froze. Her almond-shaped eyes were gaping in disbelief at the wall where she had just accidentally pulled back the curtains.

There were many photos on the wall, and the person in all the photos was… her!

“My photos. Why…” she murmured.

“Why are they on this wall?” he interjected, staring at her intensely.

She felt her throat become unusually dry under his gaze while his fingers were caressing her face.

She tried to avoid his touch, but her body had become as stiff as a board as if petrified by his gaze.

His thin lips parted as he spoke, “Because I can’t sleep. I won’t be able to sleep for even a moment If I don’t look at these photos.” She looked at him in surprise, and it was as if a storm was surging in her heart. ‘Does he mean… he’s losing sleep? He can’t sleep without looking at my photos?” He murmured, “Do you know how hard it is to fall asleep? I want to sleep, but I can’t. Even when I close my eyes, I’m distracted by other thoughts in my head…” He had managed to fall asleep by cradling her clothes in his arms, but later, it seemed to stop working. Only by looking at her photos could he fall asleep for a short while.

Then, Grace realized that the faint dark circles under Jason’s eyes were probably caused by insomnia.

“Now that you’re here with me…” As he spoke, he leaned his head against her shoulder and took in her scent.

His empty heart seemed to be satisfied.

My Gorgeous Wife is an Ex-Convict Chapter 1089-‘Even though she doesn’t love me, she’s now with me, isn’t she?’ Grace only felt a heavy weight on one side of her shoulder.

Part of his weight was now on her shoulder.

He was like a man exhausted to the core, looking for some support-even if it was only temporary.

She seemed to be his support, his only support in this world. If she pushed him away, it was as if he would fall off a precipice.

‘God, how could I have such an idea?’ thought Grace as she laughed at herself. She could never be his only support. It was only a delusion given by his weariness.

“Well… You should rest. I’ll go back to my room,” said Grace as she tried to leave.

However, with a spin, he had suddenly pinned her down on the bed before she could take a step.

“Let me go!” She tried to push him away in a panic, but he only held her tighter.

“I won’t do anything to you. I’m just… going to hold you like this,” he muttered as he buried his face against her shoulders, taking in her scent and temperature almost greedily.

It was as if this was the only way to fill the space in his heart, to reassure him that he could… go to sleep… Grace stiffened as she was worried that Jason might do something to her, but he just held her… as he said he would!

However, he held her in his arms tightly like a child holding their favorite toy. She could not break free at all.

Besides… Even if she did break free, he could probably use force to keep her in his arms if he wanted to.

Grace stiffened in Jason’s arms while her hand was pressed against his chest. Unobstructed by clothes, she touched his skin directly.

Her hands felt hotter and hotter… However, he held her so tightly that she could not even move her hand.

She distracted herself by thinking of irrelevant things. In the end, she simply recited legal provisions in her head.

Sometime later, Grace heard the sound of Jason’s even breathing. The arms around her loosened slightly.

Grace hesitated for a moment and asked softly, “Jason, are you… asleep?” What answered her was still the sound of even breathing.

‘Is he… asleep or not?

‘He said he couldn’t sleep, but now… He fell asleep just like that?’ Grace was surprised, but it was probably a good thing for her that he was asleep now.

She moved her body carefully and gently lifted his arms. She managed to move most of her body with difficulty.

Only then did she finally get a good look at him.

He was sleeping soundly. Otherwise, with his alertness, he would have woken up! It seemed that he was really having trouble sleeping these days!

She lowered her head to look at him as he slept. His closed eyelids covered those bright eyes, and his long eyelashes added beauty to his sleeping face. The thin lips under his high nose bridge were shut lightly while tinted with a light rosy color.

My Gorgeous Wife is an Ex-Convict Chapter 1090-Now that he was sleeping, he looked like a man who had lost his edge. He was no longer overwhelming, but rather, he looked like a beautiful angel one could not help approaching.

However, the frown on his brows made him look somewhat vulnerable.

‘Vulnerable?’ Grace laughed and was about to pull herself out of his arms. when his hand seemed to grab her unconsciously. Then… he caught four fingers of her right hand.

Grace was startled and tried to pull her fingers out of his hand, but instead, she made him hold on tighter! It was as if he was clinging to his treasure and could not let it go.

Grace was speechless. She still could not leave after all her efforts. ‘Do I have to sleep in this bed with him tonight?’ She tried several more times, but she could not withdraw her hand from his. In the end, she wondered if he was actually asleep or not.

However, his eyes never opened, nor did he do anything else.

Therefore, she could only comfort herself that they had slept together in one bed before.

After a moment’s hesitation, Grace pulled the covers over themselves. Then, she put as much distance between them as she could and leaned against one corner of the bed.

She thought it would be difficult for her to fall asleep in the same bed with Jason, but she fell asleep quickly and slept through the night.

It took her a while to get used to the harsh sunlight when she opened her bleary eyes.

‘What time is it? Where am I… In a daze, Grace looked at the unfamiliar ceiling and habitually tried to raise her hand to rub her eyes.

Suddenly, her body stiffened. She felt another hand pulling the fingers of her right hand. Then, she turned her head and caught sight of Jason’s face. The memories of the previous night flooded into her mind.

‘I… slept here the entire night!’ Grace sat up slowly, feeling that her right hand had gone numb in Jason’s grip.

Fortunately, he was not holding it as tightly as he had yesterday. She pulled it out of his fingers with a little force.

Then, a murmur escaped from his mouth as though he had sensed something. However, instead of opening his eyes, he remained asleep with them closed. Grace immediately got up to leave. However, she was stunned when she saw an abnormal flush on Jason’s face.

His face was… red-an unusual red.

He seemed to be… burning too when he held her hand just now!

‘Is it because he’s a heavy sleeper or…! She hesitated and raised her hand to his forehead.

A burning sensation filled her palms.

‘It’s so hot!’ Grace was surprised. ‘He’s… having a fever and the temperature doesn’t seem low!’ However, she did not have a thermometer at hand, let alone fever-reducing medicine!

“Jason!” She called to him, trying to wake him up. “Are… Are you conscious? Wake up!” His eyelashes fluttered a little. After calling him a few times, he finally opened his eyes slowly and looked at her face.

She said, “You’re having a fever! Is there any fever-reducing medicine in this house? Or you can contact the outside world right now and have someone take you to the hospital.” He sat up slowly and asked as he looked at her, “Why won’t you leave while you can?”