Last night, deep in thought, I realized I couldn’t endure the agony of betrayal. My love for Jethro was strong, yet the thought of him with another woman shattered me. I couldn’t accept a relationship marred by infidelity."Do you understand what you’re saying, Serena?" Jethro's eyes flared with anger."I know exactly what I'm saying. If there's another person in your life, staying with you is unthinkable. I’m a selfish woman. I can't bear the thought of you with another," I asserted firmly.I knew I wasn’t being open-minded. I also knew that separating from Jethro would mean a painful separation from Seren too, but I couldn’t bear the thought of the man I loved holding another woman in his arms every night. My heart was small and couldn't handle such a profound hurt."When did I ever say I have another woman? You didn’t even give me a chance to explain, and you want to leave me just like that?" Jethro’s tone was unusually stern as he looked into my eyes."An explanation? What’s m
As Jethro spoke, his voice carried a hint of guilt. Though I was initially brimming with anger, hearing his remorse quickly quenched the flames of my fury. Yet, I resolved not to forgive him so readily.Silent, I gazed out the window while Jethro drove. It took us about twenty minutes to reach the hospital. Stepping out of the car, I was gripped by nerves. I had no idea what kind of woman I was about to confront. Despite Jethro's explanation that she was just a friend, something inside me felt uneasy, suspecting their relationship was not that simple. It wasn't that I didn’t trust Jethro, but a woman's intuition often rang true. I feared that the situation was worse than I imagined."Are you really just friends with this woman? Nothing more?" I asked as we neared the hospital room."I've already brought you here, and yet you don't trust me?" Jethro frowned."What's her name?" I asked after a brief silence."Lianna," he replied succinctly as we were at the hospital room door by the
"Don’t you think that’s a bit harsh, Ms. Serena? Jethro’s just been taking care of me for a few days while I’m ill. To talk about me like I’m a third wheel is a little uncalled for." Lianna’s eyes, filled with indignation, bore into mine. Her gaze was intense, revealing the turmoil within her."Please, call me ‘Mrs. Willow.’ I find 'Ms. Serena' rather inappropriate seeing I’m Jethro’s wife. And seeing how agitated you are, it seems you're worried about being misunderstood as a homewrecker. Well, perhaps hiring professional care would be more suitable then. I’m willing to assist financially if you can't afford it." I met her gaze with a steady one of my own, maintaining a cool exterior despite the storm brewing inside me. Showing any loss of composure would only grant her the upper hand."Ms… Mrs. Willow, I thought you came here today with good intentions. But all I hear is you insulting me," Lianna retorted, her composure faltering. Her eyes, now reddened, betrayed her mounting fury.
Recalling Lianna’s pitiful act while around Jethro, I felt a surge of disgust. Men might perceive her as weak and vulnerable, but it was obvious to women that she was acting."Come on, Serena. There’s no need for such harsh words even if you don’t like her," Jethro said, shaking his head in mild frustration."What’s the matter? Feeling sorry for her? I didn't say much, so why are you reacting so strongly?" I challenged, knowing my words would upset him but didn't give a damn right now.Fueled by recent events, my irritation was at its peak. Jethro had been taking care of another woman for a few nights, and my patience wore thin when I heard him defend her."Where did you get the idea that I feel sorry for her? Lianna and I have nothing to do with each other, so why would I feel sorry for her?""Really? Can’t you see she’s interested in you? She’s just a friend to you, but she thinks of you differently. She might be hoping for more than friendship." I scoffed coldly.Although I wa
"Alright, I understand. You two have been out all day and must be tired. Go get some rest. I'll call you for dinner when it's ready," Doris said warmly, her eyes filled with kindness.Exhausted from not sleeping all night, I felt a wave of fatigue wash over me. Grateful for Doris' understanding, I ascended the stairs with Jethro in tow, eager for some rest. Perhaps due to the relief of knowing Jethro and Lianna had nothing between them, I succumbed to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.Jethro lay beside me, enveloping me in a comforting hug. I fell into a deep, restful slumber, only waking as evening approached.At dinner, the family was mostly silent until a text notification sounded from Jethro's phone. Suspecting it might be from Lianna, I reached for his phone before he could. The message was indeed from her, claiming she felt unwell and requesting his company. I couldn't suppress a cold smirk. Despite her promise to stop bothering Jethro, she had contacted him within mere
Lianna's voice was laden with a mixture of pain and sorrow. Her pitiful demeanor was almost too much to bear. After listening, Jethro paused. Just as he was about to respond, I swiftly took the phone from him."Ms. Lianna, have you forgotten what you said today? Calling my husband with such excuses late at night is highly inappropriate," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. Just thinking about her feelings for Jethro stirred indescribable anger within me."Ms... I-I mean, Mrs. Willow, you misunderstand. I-I'm genuinely in pain and unable to reach the hospital on my own. Th-That’s why I called Jethro for help," Lianna stammered upon recognizing me."In the case of a real emergency, calling for an ambulance is the appropriate action, not calling my husband. Don’t waste his time as he certainly won’t help you," I said coldly and hung up without giving her a chance to respond.I tossed the phone back to Jethro, visibly irritated. Lianna's audacity was astounding. Despite my explicit
As I settled back into my work routine, life threw an unexpected curveball. As I was buried in paperwork due to my recent absence, my phone rang, displaying Mason's name. I was puzzled as to why he would call out of the blue, but I was thankful for his help during the Lianna situation."Hey, Mason," I answered."What's keeping you so busy? You've been silent lately. Why haven't you called?" Mason's voice carried a hint of complaint."I'm overwhelmed with work. It's been non-stop," I explained."Have you resolved the Lianna situation?" Mason shifted the topic.I had almost forgotten about her, and Mason's mention reignited my unease. "Let's not talk about her. She poses no threat to Jethro and me. He doesn't even like her. It’s purely one-sided on her part."Her constant calls and requests to Jethro irked me. In my eyes, she simply was shameless."One-sided? Would your perspective change if you knew she’s Jethro's ex?"Mason's revelation caught me off guard. "What did you say? L
Hearing my words, Jethro's face clouded with frustration and dissatisfaction."Anyway, you know best in your heart whether there's anything between you and here,” I said with finality.I had almost forgotten about Lianna, but the information from Mason left me unsettled for the rest of the day.Jethro grew angry. His gaze, now ablaze with fury, was fixed on me. "Are you ever going to let this go, Serena? I've explained it to you clearly, so why won’t you believe me? And I haven’t seen her in the past few days!"He had never lost his temper with me like this. His outburst stunned me, increasing my distress. Sensing his outburst stemmed from Lianna, I felt my tears welling up."You say you and Lianna are just friends, then tell me, when did you two meet? What kind of friends are you?" I asked with a hint of accusation.I could admit I was petty. I cared a lot about their past relationship. It was precisely because they were exes that I found it harder to accept their current closen
I knew that nothing I said to the contrary was going to convince Jethro otherwise. All he cared about now was protecting his little princess. "Okay then, I'll be waiting for you at home. Don't work overtime tonight, okay?""Got it! I'll be home soon," he agreed smilingly. I was sure he’d have gone home with me straight away if it weren't for work.Doris was already waiting by the time I got home. She looked both excited and assured. "So? Pregnant, right?""You nailed it!" I laughed."Oh dear! Seren’s going to get a sibling soon!" she chirped. I shook my head helplessly. I should’ve been the happiest one, but the Willows were just one-upping me one after another right now. I smiled at Doris. "I'm a little tired, so I'll be in my room.""Go, go. I'll get the housekeeper to make something nutritious for you," Doris replied. Jethro came home a lot earlier than usual. He had a large bouquet of roses with him too. I couldn’t recall when was the last time he gave me flowers."Is thi
Mason chuckled dryly. "Well, well. Working hard, huh? You’re expecting again."I felt guilty for having asked him for help now. It was as if I was putting salt on his wound. I avoided his gaze and decided to go around him. "Umm, if it inconveniences you, then I wouldn't mind joining the line. See ya."He frowned and stepped in my way. He smiled. "I've already made the arrangements, Serena. Just go."Despite his smile, I could tell Mason was simply hiding his feelings. I sighed. I didn't want to hurt him, but he never seemed to change. He kept doing things for me, and I was simultaneously moved and frustrated by his loyalty. But I could only ever love Jethro. I could never reciprocate Mason’s feelings. I silently followed him into the consultation room. A while later, the doctor confirmed that I was pregnant. I felt as though I had soared to the sky, and I wondered how Jethro would feel about this. Mason was by my side the entire time, so naturally, he was privy to the news. I fa
I woke up the next morning feeling like a well-wrung-out-rag. I had gotten home late, and Jethro kept me up till the wee hours of the morning. I had only fallen asleep just before dawn.Restless, I turned to look at Jethro who was deep asleep and felt slightly resentful. He had worn me out last night, yet here he was, sleeping peacefully without a care. I sat up and gently nudged him awake. Even though he had exhausted me, he was the one who had truly exerted himself, so he was certainly even more tired than I was.Jethro opened his eyes groggily, asking sleepily. "What’s wrong?""Do you even have to ask?" I retorted."Did I not satisfy you last night? Well, are you up for more then?" he teased.I stared at him, dumbfounded. Why was he always thinking such thoughts? When had I ever hinted that I wanted another round?Irritated, I shot him a glance and decided to get out of bed to wash up. While I brushed my teeth, I suddenly felt a wave of nausea. I found this strange. I hadn't e
Jethro’s anger ebbed away upon hearing my words, though his face continued to carry a trace of annoyance."That's more like it. Remember, if this happens again, you’re never leaving the house ever again," he warned.I wasn't upset that he was angry. I understood it was because he cared about me. I would’ve felt the same if the roles were reversed. After all, worry was a byproduct of care."Were you waiting up for me?" I asked, realizing Jethro was still up in the living room though it was well past two in the morning."What else would I be doing?" he replied in a mix of irritation and relief."Geez, I've already apologized. Let's not dwell on this," I responded playfully, trying to defuse the tension. "Let's head to bed. I'm exhausted," I suggested, more than ready to end the evening. Taking his hand, I led us toward the bedroom.Sensing my weariness, Jethro followed without further comment. After a soothing shower, I felt much better despite the physical exhaustion. My mood, how
"You just implied that it wouldn’t matter if you faced such trauma again. If that's what you think, I might as well help it happen!" I said to Jolene, purposefully using harsh words to instill fear in her. My goal was to shock her into realizing the gravity of her actions. My real concern was for Evelyn—Jolene’s recklessness was causing Evelyn undue stress."Let me go, Serena! You’re insane!" Jolene protested, but I continued to tug at her, undeterred by her panic and anger. I wanted to teach her a lesson for her lack of empathy and respect."I'm the crazy one? It seems like you’re the one who has lost your mind, Jolene! Can’t you see what you’re doing to your mom? If you can’t handle life's challenges, then stop causing her pain!" Driven by frustration, I dragged her outside.Jolene then managed to break free, retreating and glaring at me fearfully. "Get the hell away from me! I don't wanna see you!" she yelled, visibly shaken.Seeing her sufficiently alarmed, I stopped, fixing he
"Seeing Jojo like this is breaking my heart.” Evelyn held my hand, her face marked by deep sorrow."I know you're upset, but don't worry, I'll talk some sense into her." Seeing Evelyn's distress, I felt uneasy. Though I was reluctant to interfere in Jolene's life, I couldn't ignore Evelyn's pain.I waited at Evelyn's house until late at night before Jolene finally returned. It was almost one in the morning, and my irritation surged upon seeing her. Jolene, reeking of alcohol, was a far cry from her former self. Her transformation was stark. Dressed provocatively and caked in heavy makeup, she resembled a hooker more than a member of a respectable family.I marched over to her "Jolene," I called out, unable to hide my annoyance.She stopped and faced me. She asked in a hostile tone, "What are you doing here at this hour?""Waiting for you." I faced her with a frosty demeanor."Waiting for me? I'm tired and have no interest in talking to you." Impatiently, Jolene turned to head ups
Lianna stared at Jethro tearfully, her voice laden with pain. "But I still love you. You once promised to love me forever. Why has that promise changed?""I might still harbor those feelings if we hadn't parted ways. But time changes emotions, and what we had can't be rekindled," Jethro replied, his tone reflecting a seriousness I hadn't seen in him before."Don't leave me, Jethro, please. I know I was wrong to leave you for money. Give me another chance. I can bring back the love we once had,” Lianna pleaded, clutching at Jethro's arm.Standing by the sidelines, I watched the scene expressionlessly. I wasn't worried because I knew Jethro would never return to her. His heart belonged to me now.Jethro withdrew his arm, and his gaze toward Lianna was cold and distant. "I’ve said all there is to say. Our relationship ends here. From now on, please stay out of my life. Stop bothering me," he stated firmly, then took my hand and walked out of the room, leaving Lianna behind.In the ca
The blood test was swiftly completed, but we had to wait three days for the paternity test results. Mason assured us he would notify us as soon as they were out.As Jethro and I were leaving the hospital, Lianna suddenly called out, "Jethro!” Her face was pale and her eyes filled with sadness."What else do you want?" Jethro asked in a detached tone.Lianna glanced at me, then continued, "I just want to ask you one thing. If Robin is your son, will you acknowledge him? Have you ever considered accepting us back into your life?""If he's my child, I'll take responsibility. But if not, please stay out of my life forever."Jethro was extremely serious as he spoke, his gaze toward Lianna emotionless. Her tears flowed as she listened to him, her expression becoming even more pained."Fine. If he isn’t your child, I’ll leave with him. But I’m certain he’s your child because you're the only man I've ever been with!" After saying this emotionally charged statement, Lianna sped off.Watc
"Are you being completely honest, Rina? You're not covering for this brat, are you? If he has an illegitimate child, I'll break his legs!" Raymond's gaze shifted to me, his disbelief apparent.I was taken aback by Raymond's words but also felt a sense of solidarity. It was clear he was supporting me."It’s the truth, Grandpa. I guarantee that the child Lianna has isn’t Jethro's. If you doubt him, surely you’ll believe me, right? If that boy were Jethro’s, would I be calmly discussing this with you now?" I said."Then we'll wait for the test results.” Seemingly somewhat convinced by my assurance, he gave Jethro a cold snort and looked away.Jethro frowned, clearly unhappy, but he remained silent. Witnessing the family's united front against him was oddly gratifying for me. Back in our bedroom, I felt pretty upbeat and couldn’t help humming a tune. Though Lianna's child wasn’t Jethro's, the recent tensions had weighed on me heavily. Seeing the family rally around me felt like a small