29 Chapter 29: Jayden’s Situation

She felt herself slowly coming back to the land of the living but she was albeit reluctant to open her eyes. Was she ready for the reality? Maybe if she closed her eyes tight enough... She sighed mentally and slowly started recalling the previous events. Maybe all that was a dream. She'll wake up and find herself in her room, maybe, nursing a Hangover or something.

Thoughts were racing through her head and slowly, the proverbial light bulb came on in her head, the internet! She opened her eyes, slowly sitting up and immediately reached out for her phone. She quickly scanned the room and saw she was alone. Thank God. That's all she needs right now. She quickly searches up her name first. Honestly, how had she never thought about this? Many headlines were brought up;

Fallen princess hasn't stopped her party habits even after marriage. The pictures that were shown under it were the same from the ones all over the news.

Jiaye Zhi now Jiaye Ji? There was a short phrase that was highlighted under the headline, she finally managed to bag herself someone rich to keep up her lifestyle and rise from the shame.

Damn, these people were heartless.

She scrolled further down until she saw some pics of her, Jayden and other partying and felt a bit relieved that she could at least remember those. She went up a bit higher and read the details about it.

Jiaye Zhi, the life of the party, is now the princess of a fallen empire.

She quickly clicked on that link and waited impatiently as it redirected her to the full information.

She quickly perused over it and her heart nearly shattered. She guesses deep down she was hoping everything she'd found out would have been one big fat lie. But it wasn't. According to the article, her mother had become an addict and was now in rehab and her dad had gotten the company in deep debt over his gambling ways. They say he'd run out of good luck. He was what led them into this mess. Now that she thinks about it, she's sure this marriage was all his idea. Get her married to a rich tycoon and build back the name. Even though it was he who dragged it through the mud.

Okay, that might be her calling the kettle black, but logically speaking he was no better than her, she partied hard and he gambled even harder. Wait, maybe he was worse. The door slowly creaked open and she quickly pressed the home button.

"Hey, you're awake," Jayden said softly as he walked into the room.

"Couldn't sleep," she told him shrugging her shoulders trying to appear as nonchalant as she could. "You could turn on the lights, I don't mind," She told him pointing at the switch by the door.

"Naah, I'm fine. I just came to check on you. Then head out. I can't stay long... Sorry." Jayden said immediately.

She felt like there was more to that statement but she didn't want to push him. He'd open up himself when he was ready.

"I had you threw one hell of a tantrum, they had to sedate you!" there was a note of humor in his voice as he came closer and sat on the bed clasping her hand in his. He was awfully cold.

"They sedated me?! That makes so much more sense than always collapsing when my head starts aching." She thought back and she thinks she vaguely remembered a nurse being in the room a few minutes before she passed out. So she was sedated huh...

"Anyway, I gave one of the nurses my number to contact me in case of such a thing happening and well, here I am." He raised his hands dramatically then turned his full attention to her. She knew that was her cue to fess up.

Jiaye looked at him for a second then just sighed. She recounted the events from last night and what she'd just found out. He remained calm throughout just looking at her intently as she told him every little detail.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me," I told him accusingly when I'd finally finished.

"With the way you reacted you find that surprising."

She punched his shoulder lightly.

"Seriously though?" She wasn't going to let this topic just drop.

"It wasn't my place to tell," he said simply shrugging his shoulders.

"Since when did you start having boundaries?"

"Babe, you might find this hard to believe, but in these few months, that passed. We both changed incredibly. You and I both have done things you'd never even dream we'd do. And not in a good fun vacation and shit type way."

He turned more and placed one of his legs on the bed folding it, making himself more comfortable. Then he took her other hand.

"I know my sexuality wasn't public knowledge and only a few selected people know, but now I'm further in the closet than I ever had to be. Fuck," he withdrew his right hand and dragged it through his hair, "I might even have to get myself a wife." He chuckled bitterly and stood and started pacing the room with a lot of contained anger.

She was shocked by his sudden statement.

"Why?" She asked softly afraid to probe the topic.

"My parents are threatening to disown me."

She opened her mouth ready to spout a bunch of angry nonsense, but he quickly held up his hand. She couldn't see his face clearly coz we were practically dependent on the light from the hallway and outside.

"I know I shouldn't care about that, but I just can't let the company fall into anyone else's hands. Even though they won't accept me for who I am they're still my parents you know? I can't watch as the company they worked so hard for is dragged to the ground because of someone else's irresponsibility."

"Jayden! Listen to yourself!" She wanted to storm over and slap some sense into him.

"You can't accuse these few memory gaps I have of this stupid decision you want to make. And for what? Because you've apparently matured?? Don't give me that bullshit. What would be the point of having the company and being depressed all your life? It just ain't worth it. Your parents aren't that old you know, they won't be retiring any time soon, and as far as I can remember they're full of healthy right?" she tried to convince him.

She could barely see him nodding his head.

"Use your words!"

"Yes, they are." He said begrudgingly.

"Exactly! It gives you just enough time to build your own empire. Trust me, sooner or later your parents will come to terms with that and if they don't, well that's just their goddamn loss. Be successful enough and buy out the company!"

"This accident made you so wise." He said in a light tone. He came over and hugged her tightly. "But shit isn't always that easy," he whispered in her ear and walked out.