Chapter 993 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

“Thanks for being understanding. So, now that we have gotten that out of the way, what are you up to? Are you ready for bed?” Harry asked, changing the subject.

“I’m not sure. I plan to give my mom a call after speaking with you. A lot has happened in just one night. By the way, did you know about Celsie not wanting to marry Benne?” She asked, and Harry raised a brow.

“Why?” He asked, wondering how she had found out about that.

“Why what?” Jade asked in confusion since that wasn’t the response she had been expecting.

Was he asking her why she was asking him that, or he was asking her why Celsie didn’t want to get married to Benne?

“Why are you asking me that? And where did you hear that from?” Harry asked, and Jade nodded as she crossed her legs.

It was obvious that Harry knew about it, as she had expected, “Mom told Bryan. Everyone knows about it now,” Jade said and went on to tell him how Celsie had yelled at them when they asked her about it.

“Why didn’t you tell me about it this whole time?” Jade said with displeasure, and Harry shook his head.

Were they about to argue over this too?

“Because it is not your business. If either Celsie or Benne wanted your opinion or interference, they would have told you themselves. I guess none of them told you about it because they knew if they did, it would become public knowledge. Besides, if I had told you about it, what would you have done to help the situation?” Harry demanded.

“What do you mean if they had told me about it, it would have become public knowledge?” Jade asked, feeling very offended by that.

Harry took a deep breath, “Do you remember one of the reasons I didn’t want to get involved with you?” Harry asked, and she sat up, wondering what that had to do with her question.

“Other than the fact that you didn’t think I was interested in you?” Jade asked with a frown.

“My friendship with your brother. I told you before, and I’m going to say it again. I don’t want our relationship to affect my friendship with Benne or vice versa. I love you as my girlfriend, and I cherish Benne as my best friend. I would like to keep my relationship with you both separate. The last thing I would want is for us to have issues over my loyalty to Benne. Don’t expect me to share the personal details of his life, which he told me in confidence. Benne’s business is his business, and our business is ours.”

“Alright. Fine. Make sure you don’t get mad when I keep stuff about Candace away from you, too,” She warned.

“That’s fine by me.”

“That’s fine by me, too,” Jade hissed, and his lips twitched.

“Esquire, I’m sorry if I sounded harsh, but I just had to tell you the truth. I really think you need to stop being so interested in other people’s business. It’s this same trait in your mom that has caused all this mess tonight,” Harry said, and Jade sighed.

“Fine. I won’t ask you any personal stuff relating to Benne and Celsie anymore,” Jade said grudgingly, and Harry smiled.

“And you won’t pry or interfere in issues that concern the others as well unless you are called upon, right?” Harry asked, and Jade scowled.

“Well, I don’t think the others mind…”

“C’mon, sugar,” Harry coaxed.

“How can I not interfere? What’s the point in having family and friends if I can’t be involved in their personal life and business? It’s boring,” Jade complained, and Harry smiled.

“It’s not boring. It is called respecting boundaries. You should only interfere in people’s business when you are asked to get involved. Every human relationship needs healthy boundaries, esquire. And you need to start having your own boundaries, too,” Harry said patiently, like he was talking to a kid.

“So, we can’t gossip about our family and friends as normal couples do?” Jade asked with a frown.

“Sure, we can, only on issues that concern us. We can’t pry into their business,” Harry said, and Jade sighed.

“I didn’t bargain to make so many changes when I decided to date you,” Jade said, and Harry chuckled.

“I will never ask you to make any character adjustment that isn’t for your own good, sugar. I don’t want Celsie or anyone else speaking harshly to you again because of this,” Harry said, and Jade sighed.

“Alright. Fine. I will try. But you also need to work on being less blunt and harsh. I’m your girlfriend, for crying out loud. You should do your best to be romantic and talk sweetly to me even when I’m upset or being unreasonable instead of leaving the way you did earlier,” Jade said, and Harry smiled.

“Alright. I promise to work on it. I’m sorry I hurt your feelings. It wasn’t my intention. I love you too much to ever want to deliberately hurt your feelings,” He said, and Jade smiled.

“Alright. I’ve heard you. I’m sorry for adding to your stress as well. I should let you go to bed now. I have to give my mom a call before she goes to bed.”

“Alright, love. Sleep well when you do. I love you,” Harry said, and she smiled.

“I love you more. Make sure you go to bed now and don’t open your eyes until morning. Sleep as much as you can and get rid of all that stress, okay?” Jade said, making him chuckle.

“Yes, milady. Goodnight,” Harry said before hanging up.

Jade smiled, glad that her conversation with Harry had ended well, and then she rose and braced herself as she dialed her mom’s line.

The call connected almost immediately, but Evelyn said nothing, making Jade’s brows pull together.

“Mom?” She called when she heard a sniffle.

“Are you mad at me too?” Evelyn asked pitifully, making Jade feel sorry for her.

Jade sighed, “You should have known better than to call Benne and try to blame Celsie…”

“I was only trying to make him see reasons why he should have handled things himself instead of letting Celsie get involved, but he hung up. What did I do that was so wrong? I didn’t ask your grandfather to do such a thing, so why is everyone blaming me? Why is no one seeing reasons with me?” Evelyn asked as she broke into a sob.

“Mom, as much as I feel sorry for you right now, I have to tell you that you brought this upon yourself. You were wrong to make this about Celsie. All you had to do was sincerely apologize for the role you played, and all would have been forgiven and forgotten. Why did you have to question Benne about letting his girlfriend handle things? Have you considered what would have happened had she broken up with Benne over it, only for them to find out it was all a prank? Do you think Benne would have forgiven you or grandfather?” She asked, and Evelyn sniffled.

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