Chapter 29
Could it really be what she thought?
As it turned out, it was.
Jennifer could hardly believe that someone as reserved and gentle as Byron could come up with so many plans to tempt her into an affair.
She flipped through the notebook, half amused, until her gaze froze on one line.
“Maybe not, she’d feel sad.”
Her heart skipped a beat.
“To be honest, I was more surprised than you the first time I saw this,” Miss Mackenzie said with a shrug. “You never really know someone. Honestly, some of the family suspected he might be a bit of a creep…”
Jennifer couldn’t help but laugh.
“But I also know he’s fallen for you-hard. It’s been twelve years. We’ve tried to talk him out of it, but he’s made up his mind.”
“By the way, I’m sorry about that phone call that morning. I really didn’t know you two were together.”
“I raised a brother like this. I feel guilty. If it’s possible, please try to tolerate him a little. At least, don’t despise him.”
Jennifer found Byron’s sister to be quite the character herself.
“Can I take these two notebooks with me?”
Miss Mackenzie nodded, and Jennifer left with the notebooks in hand.
On the way home, Jennifer messaged Byron and asked to meet.
Passing a pharmacy on her way upstairs, she stopped and went inside.
Her period, always punctual, was now two weeks late.
Back home, she took the pregnancy test into the bathroom.
Three minutes later, the result was in: two lines.
She was stunned.
It felt as if the universe, knowing the hardships she’d endured, had handed her an unexpected gift.
The doorbell rang, pulling her back to reality. She opened the door to find Byron standing
there, drenched in sweat, clearly having rushed over as quickly as he could.
“Jennifer, I know what’s worrying you,” he began, not waiting for her to speak.
“I promise you don’t have to worry about my family. They’ll love you. I’ve already told them-
I don’t want kids.”
He handed her a surgical consent form.
The day after returning home, Byron had undergone a vasectomy.
The weight of his sincerity softened her heart a little more.
“Byron.”
“I’m here,” he said, sitting upright, visibly tense.
She placed the two notebooks in front of him.
Byron turned red, clearly flustered, his voice stammering.
“I’m not… I didn’t… Jennifer, don’t misunderstand! I’m not some kind of creep…”
Jennifer laughed and slid the pregnancy test toward him.
“What about this? Don’t want it?”
Byron was utterly stunned.
“I… I do! We…”
She interrupted him.
“You’d better think this through. I’m keeping this child, but that doesn’t mean I have to marry you.’
“In the future, I might become your wife, the mother of this child, or take on other roles… But before all that, I have to be myself first.”
She allowed herself to be selfish. She would never again lose herself for anyone.
From now on, the person she loved most had to be herself.
“Okay.”
Byron’s eyes reddened, but he nodded firmly, repeating his promise.
“Jennifer, I said okay.”
She looked at him and couldn’t help but laugh.
Six months later.
At 4 p.m., Devlin sat in a café, gazing expectantly out the window.
At this hour every day, Byron would accompany Jennifer on a walk.
Sure enough, he saw them again.
Byron was carefully supporting Jennifer, whose belly had grown large. Word had it she was expecting a daughter.
–
AN
She looked happy adored by her husband, loved by her in-laws, and about to welcome her first child.
It was a happiness that, if things had been different, should have been his.
But now, he no longer dared to approach her.
Devlin watched their figures fade into the distance, his vision blurring with tears.
His mother called, and he answered.
“Mom, I’m heading back now. Don’t worry.”
At least he could keep one promise to Jennifer: to be a good son.
Devlin took a deep breath and left the café.
He was trapped in the past, unable and unwilling-to move on.
The brief moments when he could catch a glimpse of her were the only times he felt alive.
And for him, that was enough.
This was the ending he deserved.
t this hour every day, Byron would accompany Jennifer on a walk.
ure enough, he saw them again.
yron was carefully supporting Jennifer, whose belly had grown large. Word had it she was xpecting a daughter.
he looked happy-adored by her husband, loved by her in-laws, and about to welcome her irst child.
t was a happiness that, if things had been different, should have been his.
but now, he no longer dared to approach her.
Devlin watched their figures fade into the distance, his vision blurring with tears.
His mother called, and he answered.
Mom, I’m heading back now. Don’t worry.”
t least he could keep one promise to Jennifer: to be a good son.
Devlin took a deep breath and left the café.
He was trapped in the past, unable–and unwilling to move on.
The brief moments when he could catch a glimpoadinger were the only times he felt alive.
nd for him, that was enough.
his was the ending he deserved.
