Chapter 6 Poor Imitation
"Lauren, I need to talk to her. You go chill in the living room and grab some dessert," Jasper said, guiding Lauren to the door and calling Ryan to take her downstairs.
Lauren glanced back, a bit worried. "Daddy, don't be mean to her!"
Jasper hesitated for a second but then just shut the door without a word.
Inside, Adeline felt a twinge in her heart watching Lauren leave. She got up, turned off the projector, and smoothly opened the storage cabinet. She pulled out a pink blanket and spread it on the bed, fluffing the pillow.
Lauren loved pink.
After tidying up, she grabbed two soft cushions from the cabinet and placed them at the head of the bed to keep the children from bumping their heads while sleeping.
Jasper turned around and saw this. The sight and her actions made him feel like he was dreaming. His wife used to do the same thing.
In every dream, when he came home, he'd see Adeline's beautiful and warm figure.
Jasper quickly walked over and grabbed Adeline's wrist. "You're back? I..."
Adeline's heart raced. She took a deep breath, barely holding back the emotions rising in her chest, and turned to smile at Jasper. "Mr. Foster, do you need something?"
The face and voice were unfamiliar. This realization snapped Jasper back to the present, six years later. He almost angrily let go of Adeline's hand. "What's your name?"
"My name is Adeline Wilson."
"Adeline?" His brows furrowed deeply.
Adeline smiled and nodded. "Yes, Adeline. I heard it's the same name as Mr. Foster's ex-wife."
"Shut up!" The term "ex-wife" seemed to hit a nerve. Jasper instantly got furious, glaring at Adeline with a vicious look. "We never divorced. She is my wife! But you, using my wife's name, deliberately applied to take care of my daughter. Don't think I don't know what you're up to!"
Adeline's smile almost faltered. So Jasper still remembered her name. Back then, he wanted her dead for someone else. She thought he had long forgotten about her.
Now it seemed he hadn't forgotten at all. Didn't he fear being haunted by her death in his dreams?
Hatred surged in Adeline's heart. She sneered, "Mr. Foster, that's ridiculous. Everyone knows your wife died six years ago, and five years ago, you already had a new fiancée, and you two are very much in love." The last sentence was almost spoken through gritted teeth, dripping with hatred.
Jasper was momentarily stunned by her gaze, then he realized his lapse and turned his face away indifferently. "You seem very interested in my affairs."
Adeline's smile had long faded. She stared calmly at Jasper. "Knowing more about my employer is better than knowing nothing, right? Mr. Foster, I don't know what you're suspicious of, but my name is Adeline. Having the same name as your late wife, I'm sorry, but I'm not changing my name just for a job, even if it bothers you."
She raised an eyebrow slightly. "As for applying here, it's just a short-term gig I'm good at, and it was the little princess who specifically chose me, not me deliberately approaching. You don't have to think I have any ulterior motives. After all, I'm not interested in just any man."
Jasper kept a stern face, staring at Adeline. After a while, he spoke in a low voice, "Then don't let me catch you doing anything you shouldn't."
He hesitated for a moment, not knowing why he felt the need to explain to the woman in front of him. "Adeline is not my late wife. She is my wife, always has been."
Adeline's body stiffened. After a moment, she pretended to nod in agreement, but it seemed somewhat perfunctory. "Sure, Mr. Foster. Whatever you say."
Jasper paused for a moment, then walked out as if he hadn't heard anything. The door slowly closed behind him, and for some reason, he felt even more agitated.
Inside, Adeline, the maid Lauren chose, was a complete imitation of his wife. But at the same time, a poor imitation! She looked like her in every way, yet in no way, constantly reminding him that Adeline was not dead, but she hadn't come back either.
Thinking of Lauren's affection for her just now, Jasper frowned and called Ryan. "Get me Adeline's file."
"Yes, sir!"
"And," Jasper paused, "doesn't Lauren seem to like this woman a bit too much?"
He recalled when he first entered the room, Lauren was snuggling up to her, and the warmth made him feel like he couldn't intrude.
Jasper's eyes darkened. Even he, as her father, couldn't get that close to her.
Ryan glanced at Jasper's expression and stammered, "She does seem to like her a bit. After all, the little princess chose her after much deliberation. As soon as she arrived, Lauren took her to her room. She seems to like her a lot."
Jasper's frown deepened. He waved his hand irritably, saying nothing, and went downstairs.
Inside the room, as the door closed, Adeline's tense body instantly relaxed, and she collapsed to the floor. Curling up by the bed, she finally allowed herself to shed silent tears, whispering, "Wife..."