My Darling, My Dearest
Chapter 69

Michael laughed sarcastically at Jack. It was impossible for him to believe Jack hadn't had sex for many years. The two of them grew up together. It would be more convincing for Michael if Jack had been castrated than the thought that he hadn't had sex for years.

Of course, he wouldn't say that. It would be mighty offensive to Jack. Michael shrank when Jack glared at him. He immediately removed his hand from Jack's shoulder.

"Hey, man, if you're having problems, you can tell me," said Michael. "Trust me, it will be just between us."

Jack probably had a reason. Michael knew him well enough to know that there was something bothering him. Perhaps Jack was too embarrassed to admit it. Maybe he was having problems sealing the deal. By the tone of Michael's question, Jack understood what he meant. He was gradually becoming annoyed at Michael's persistence.

Michael ignored the fact that he was annoying his friend and continued talking. Jack slowly raised his bruised left hand and clenched it into a fist in front of him. He raised his eyebrows at Michael. "What sort of problem do you even think I have, huh?"

When he saw Jack's clenched fist, Michael stopped talking. No matter how sincere he was, Jack might've thought it was an insult. Michael ■d

gave Jack a dry smile. "Look, bro, I just wanted to know if there was something holding you back." Michael patted Jack's back. "You can tell me My doors are always open."

Jack sneered at Michael. "Can you really do something to help me with that sort of problem, Michael?" Jack's voice was gradually becoming angrier and louder.

Michael's face turned pale.

They were bonded as brothers. But they had already been of age when they saw each other naked. Did Jack really ask him to do that...with him?

No matter how close they were as friends, it would be so weird if they touched each other's crotches. Michael couldn't bear to imagine that sort of scene. It was horrifying! He almost threw up in his mouth just by thinking about it.

Michael was driven to nervous laughter. He stepped away from Jack a little bit and smiled sheepishly at him. "Dude, we need to get you a girl. I'm going to help you replace one, yeah?" said Michael. "You're the one who told me I can ask for your help, and that you'd do anything for me," Jack snorted.

Michael almost choked on his own saliva. "Jack, listen. You're my friend. My best friend, even. But I don't swing that way, bro! Don't ask your best friend to stroke your thing, that's just all sorts of wrong!" He leaned forward and put the beer on the table. Michael chuckled after a few moments of ■d

silence. "So...you really haven't?"

Jack leaned back on the sofa. "Haven't what?"

"Had sex with a woman." Michael crossed his arms. "I don't believe it."

Jack chose not to answer his question. Instead he thought of how Celine did not respect his privacy and ended up telling the others.

Obviously, Jack was angrier Celine than he was annoyed at Michael.

Thinking of how many people knew about this, talking behind his back and ridiculing him, Jack felt furious. His heart was ready to burst.

Whenever he walked past the people that were familiar with him and Celine, he felt their judging eyes. He could hear them whispering to themselves and mocking him.

'Look, it's the president of MK Group. Did he really stay by his woman's side and didn't touch her all these years?'

He was not as playful as the other men. Anyone that knew him well enough, knew how picky he was about women.

In any case, the people in the circle had been casually discussing that Jack might have found another to satisfy his needs. Perhaps that was the reason he never had sex with Celine.

Their circle was small and they knew about each other's private lives, even what happened under the covers. Their lives were intertwined like roots and branches of trees. They didn't need to look too far to know what was going on with the ■d

others.

Everyone knew what kind of activities Jack liked to play, and who he had been following recently.

Celine must be very proud of herself. Having the president of MK Group under her control might have been one of her greatest achievements.

Normally this kind of thing should be kept between the two of them, but Celine showed it off like a medal. She would brag about it, regardless of the consequences on Jack's reputation and selfesteem. Looking at the gorgeous chandelier on the ceiling, Jack tossed and turned the beer bottle in his hands.

He didn't have to answer Michael's question. The answer was written all over his face.

At this point, Michael was unsure of what he would do or say to console his friend. He tried to open his mouth to say something but had trouble letting his voice out. Instead, he tapped Jack's shoulder and gave up.

Michael sighed, perhaps it was the only way he could express how he felt right now.

"What are you sighing about?" said Jack.

Michael buried his face under his palm and looked at Jack. His eyes were more serious this time. "Is there anything special about Celine?" he asked. "There are hundreds of beautiful women out there, probably prettier than Celine. So why Celine?"

Jack didn't like saying it out loud but he has ■d

made it clear time and time again that there was really nothing special about Celine. He just liked her.

Before Jack could answer, Michael murmured, "In fact, I think Rachel is more attractive than her."

Jack's eyes narrowed when he heard that. "What do you mean, she's attractive?" There was a menacing tone in Jack's voice.

Michael felt aggrieved for Rachel when he heard the tone of his friend's voice. "Look, Rachel looks so much better than Celine. But I do admit she's a little sharp-tongued for my taste. You know, actually she's very beautiful. To top it off, she's a doctor! What more could you ask for?"

"I never knew you were so attracted to her," said Jack.

Michael was completely oblivious to his friend's plight. "Of course I am! You know how sharp my eyes are," Michael chuckled.

When it came to women, he would not stop talking.

"I don't mean to brag, Jack, but I have a lot of experience with women. It's true that you and I don't have the same taste as women. I mean, come on! Rachel is much better than Celine.

From her face to her figure, Rachel is just superior. I really don't get why you like Celine more than Rachel." Jack began to give Michael a beating. Michael managed to escape Jack by pushing him away. "Wha the hell is wrong with you, Jack?" Michael shouted. "Have you lost your mind?" Jack threw his hands back to shrug off the pain. "Shut up, Michael!" ■d

Jack stood up. "Drive me home, you idiot," he

said.

Michael got up from the sofa with a grin. There was a bruise above his left eye and his face was muddled.

Michael was still clueless why Jack just gave him the beating. "I didn't even insult Celine or Rachel, why are you so angry?"

"Save you crap for later, Michael. I don't want to hear it," Jack replied. He wasn't angry that Michael had mentioned Celine. He was angry at Michael's comment about Rachel.

He felt his blood vessels pulsating. "Get up! I don't want to hear your explanation. Drive me home!"

Michael realized how angry his friend was, but couldn't quite figure out what had set him off. He barely said anything that could have upset him. All he did was mention Celine.

He recalled what he had said, and tried to remember everything as accurately as he could. Was it because of Rachel? Michael thought it might be the only other reason. Michael sighed and followed Jack. "Celine definitely knows how to manipulate you, Jack."

Jack's lips twitched at Michael's disappointment. He wanted to explain to him that the reason was not Celine. He just couldn't replace the right words to say.

It was because of Michael's comment on Rachel. ■d

This guy seemed to have forgotten that Rachel was Jack's wife. What was more, the car accident and Jack's injuries were indirectly caused by her.

If it wasn't for the thought of Rachel when he was driving, the thought of that sex dream, he wouldn't even be like this.

The thought of Rachel's fair neck and long black was enough to get him going. But Jack knew what was more powerful. It was her scent. The light fragrance of her skin was probably what had caused him to have that indecent dream.

Jack felt humiliated and blamed it on the fact that he hadn't had sex for a long time.

He wouldn't have been in that accident if he had not thought about Rachel's...figure. However, this bastard, Michael, started mentioning her so explicitly. It was more than enough for Jack to bear. Jack felt really embarrassed to think about Rachel again, and Michael just had to talk about her figure.

He couldn't believe that of all people, it was his best friend that would talk about his wife like that. Who could blame him for lashing out on Michael?

When he heard the words coming out of his mouth, he just blacked out. He didn't even try to listen to the rest of his sentence. All he wanted at that moment was to shut him up.

There was nothing more offensive to him at that moment. If he hadn't stopped Michael from talking, he might've said or done something to him that he would regret.

After they had gotten inside the car, Jack sat in ■d

the shotgun seat. He rested his head on the window and looked at Michael. "You have to pay attention to what you're saying, Michael. Don't go talking so nonchalantly about Rachel before others." Michael was confused. He glanced at Jack and returned his gaze to the road. There was silence for a few seconds. "Why would I tell anyone about Rachel?

You've known me all your life, Jack. I'm not into gossiping."

He just wanted to talk about his personal taste in women.

Michael drew a deep sigh before saying, "Listen, man, I'm sorry. I didn't mean any harm."

Jack looked away from Michael and turned his head the other way. "I don't want to talk about this. Especially not with you," Jack scoffed. On the other hand, Rachel never expected Jack to agree to the divorce agreement so easily.

She thought that Jack wouldn't back down without a fight. The Jack she knew would have found a better solution. He would march in there and talk to Jonathan for a compromise.

She didn't expect that Jack would move here as soon as he said he would.

The night he told himself the news, he sent another message that he would move here the next day.

Rachel had to tidy up a guestroom for Jack immediately. Maybe after a few days, she would prepare a temporary working space for him.