Chapter 208: Jack's Support

Benjamin stood to the side with his hands in his pockets, suddenly at a loss for words. He felt like an unnecessary presence, as though anything he said would be ignored. However, if the people before him were Jack and Martina, he didn't mind being disregarded. After all, in the end, Martina would be returning home with him. Fortunately, Martina was unaware of Benjamin's thoughts. Otherwise, she would have kicked him without hesitation, thinking he was being overconfident. If she didn't know that her leaving voluntarily would result in Benjamin bringing her back, she would have left long ago. Why waste her time here? Now that Jack had returned, Martina had gained another reason to stay, and she probably wouldn't think of leaving anytime soon. The two of them continued chatting as they got into the car. Simon was driving a seven-seater car to ensure there was enough space for everyone. Upon entering, Martina instinctively chose a seat in the back row, next to Jack. Meanwhile, Benjamin found himself with no alternative but to occupy a seat in the front row. At this moment, a faint bitter smile graced his face, and his eyes emanated a sense of discontent. He quietly pleaded, "Could you at least acknowledge my existence?" However, it seemed like Martina and Jack hadn't noticed anything amiss. They continued their lively conversation, paying no attention to Benjamin's current state of mind. "Jack, I remember your birthday is coming up soon. Is there anything specific you'd like as a birthday gift? I'd like to prepare it in advance for you," Martina asked, eager to know. Martina calculated the time and realized that Jack's birthday was just about two weeks away. It made sense why he had come back now. However, his return wasn't solely because of his birthday; he just missed Benjamin and Martina terribly. Although he didn't express it openly, it was the truth. It's often said that as people grow older, they tend to enjoy liveliness more, and that was certainly the case with Jack. He didn't hide his desire for companionship and cheerfulness when he heard Martina's question. "Martina, if you really want to make me happy, how about giving me a great-grandson or great-granddaughter soon?" Jack candidly commented. Martina blinked, her eyes suddenly widening several times their size. She hadn't expected Jack to say something like that. How did the conversation about a birthday gift turn into discussing having a baby? It was completely beyond her imagination. Jack continued, "I don't mind if it's a boy or a girl; as long as it's born to you and that brat, it'll be fine." As for that "brat," aside from Benjamin, there was no one else it could refer to. Only Jack was this informal and even used the term "brat" when talking about Benjamin. The funny thing was that Benjamin didn't dare to get angry. For example, at this moment, although Benjamin felt a little uncomfortable, he had to endure his emotions. While Martina and Jack were having a lively conversation, he silently sat beside them, able only to listen. In the end, he sighed deeply, feeling like he shouldn't be in the car. When Jack said those words, Benjamin finally found a bit of interest in the conversation. If possible, he was actually looking forward to what children he and Martina might have. He'd love them, whether they were boys or girls. Before this moment, he had never really thought about it. It was Jack's words that seemed to unlock something inside him, instantly changing his emotions and feelings. Martina could sense that two eager gazes were now fixed on her, and it made her feel somewhat uncomfortable. She awkwardly lowered her head, attempting to divert the attention of those two gazes. "Jack, what are you talking about? Benjamin and I are in that kind of relationship." Her words were completely true. Their identities and their past experiences made it inappropriate for them to have children. Martina hadn't been so foolish as to entertain such fantasies. If it had been earlier, she might have had some illusions, but now she only wanted to leave. Jack wasn't aware of the full implications of Martina's words and continued with his line of thought. "You're right; you and that brat haven't officially tied the knot. How about you both make some time to get married." After Jack finished speaking, Benjamin was naturally pleased. If they could get married as soon as possible, it would provide an extra layer of security. He believed Martina wouldn't want to leave if they were married. With these thoughts in mind, Benjamin's expression took on a hint of anticipation. If not for the current situation, he might have eagerly proposed the idea. However, Martina had a different perspective. In fact, she was quite resistant to the idea. In the past, she would have been delighted, as it would have given her a sense of legitimacy. But now, she had no interest in such a status. Nevertheless, in front of Jack, she didn't want to express her true feelings openly, so she came up with a tentative excuse. "I think Yichen and I haven't reached that stage yet. Maybe we should wait for this matter until later," Martina said, a bittersweet smile appearing on her face. This smile caught Jack's eyes and filled him with sorrow. She continued, "Sometimes, it's only when a couple's feelings have truly reached that point that it's suitable to get married. Otherwise, getting married would only become a burden between the two, not a source of happiness." Martina meant that, from her perspective, if she were to get married with Benjamin now, it would undoubtedly become a heavy burden. She wouldn't be happy with it. However, Jack interpreted the situation as another one of Benjamin's failures. After all, Benjamin had not exactly refused the idea before. Although he hadn't openly refused it, he hadn't truly agreed either, right? Every time, he frustrated Jack. It was those times that had weakened Jack's health, and it was mostly because he hadn't been cooperative in the realm of love. Of course, this referred to Benjamin's lack of cooperation in matters of the heart. In his professional area, he had always been highly regarded and received praise without reservations. In work, he was always impeccable, but when it came to romance, that wasn't the case.