The sales assistants and the driver helped load everything into the car. Jason held the door for Kendall as they exited the store from the boutique. Just as she started walking, Jason's stomach let out a loud growl. Kendall suddenly halted in her steps, turning her head quickly towards him as she chuckled. "Was that... you?" she questioned, disbelief evident in her tone. Jason shyly rubbed the back of his neck, causing his ears to blush slightly. "What else can I say? Shopping takes energy,” he replied, giving her a small grin. Kendall shook her head, still chuckling. “Jason Carter, starving after one hour in a boutique. Who would’ve thought?” "Hey, I never mentioned being famished," he joked, although his stomach rumbled again, proving otherwise. "Maybe I am, alright." “Let’s find a place to eat before this turns into a medical emergency.” Kendall smirked, linking her arm with his. “You’re impossible. Fine, breakfast it is.” Jason noticed a charming café nestled in a corn
The car journey was peaceful, yet not uncomfortable. Jason reclined, casually swiping on his phone as Kendall stared out the window. She slightly angled her head, and her mouth slightly opened in a gentle gasp. "Jason, check this out!" she whispered, her voice filled with unusual enthusiasm. Jason immediately looked up and followed her gaze. A grand fountain came into view, its sparkling water catching the sunlight in mesmerizing arcs. The flowing water appeared to be dancing, while the peaceful garden enhanced the overall charm. "Isn't it lovely?" Kendall remarked, her voice filled with nostalgia. Jason didn’t reply right away, captivated by the look on her face. It wasn’t often he saw her so visibly delighted by something. He tapped the driver’s shoulder. “Stop the car.” The driver pulled over smoothly, and Jason stepped out, walking briskly around to Kendall’s side. He opened the door and reached out his hand. "Surprised, she asked, 'What are you up to?'" "Bringing you to v
The living room was filled with a gentle evening warmth, Kendall's light laughter mixing with the soft hum of the central air conditioning. Jason relaxed on the sofa, with one arm casually resting on the backrest and a slight smile appearing on his lips. Jason playfully teased, expressing disbelief that she managed to purchase six pairs of shoes in just one afternoon, as he gestured towards the collection of shopping bags at their feet. “Are you planning to open a store or something?” Kendall rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress her grin. “I’ll have you know, Mr. Carter, that all six are essential.” She held up her hand before he could interrupt. “Yes, even the sparkly ones. Don’t judge.” Jason chuckled. “Fine. But don’t blame me when I have to build another closet to fit your essentials.” “You? "Construct a wardrobe?" she joked, raising an eyebrow. "I'll trust it once it's in front of me." Their playful conversation filled the room smoothly, a feeling of friendship borderin
Jason remained seated in his study, clutching the armrests of his chair tightly, as though desperately grasping his last bit of self-control. A combination of betrayal, confusion, and rage swirled within him as his heart thumped in his chest. "What led to this occurrence?" Thane’s smug voice echoed relentlessly in his mind. “It’s not your child but mine. Did you ever wonder why she hid so much of her past?” The weight of those words settled over him like a suffocating fog. He had trusted Kendall, despite the hurried nature of their marriage. Had that been his mistake? Jason’s jaw tightened as doubt crept in. “But why? What motive does she have to deceive me in such a way?" He looked over at the intercom that was sitting on his desk. With a cold and commanding voice, he pushed the button. “Ensure Mrs. Carter remains in her room. Bring her meals there. No one enters this house without my approval—especially Thane.” "Of course, Mr. Carter," the staff replied quickly, maintaining a s
When he finally opened his door, the heaviness on his chest had transformed into a chilly and unyielding sensation. He threw his tie on the closest chair and collapsed onto the edge of his bed, covering his face with his hands. Memories, arguments, and doubts flooded his mind, each one more overwhelming than the previous. Why is this difficult? Eventually, he was overcome by fatigue. Jason rested against the pillows, his arm casually placed over his face while his breath became calm. The subtle fragrance of her perfume stayed in his thoughts, a poignant indication of what he couldn't understand. In the morning, Jason was rudely awakened by his blaring alarm. He rubbed his eyes, moving slowly and out of sync. The heaviness of the previous night still remained, if anything, it had increased. He hurriedly took a shower, but the chilly water didn't help clear his foggy thoughts. While Jason stood before the mirror fixing his cufflinks, his face showed no emotion, but his reflection re
On the journey back to his house, Jason occupied the rear seat of the car, his fingers drumming on his thigh in a sporadic pattern. His driver looked at him in the mirror, with a cautious expression, as if considering whether to say something. "Mr. Carter, are you okay?" Jason continued to stare at the cityscape passing by, his expression unreadable in the flickering light of the streetlights. “Just drive,” he replied, his tone clipped. The driver silently agreed with his boss's mood and nodded, refraining from speaking further. The car smoothly navigated through the busy city evening traffic as the engine purred softly, yet inside the vehicle, there was a heavy atmosphere of tension. Jason reclined, blowing air out of his nostrils while gazing at the beams of light outside. Uncontrollable whirls engulfed his thoughts. “What is causing me to constantly dwell on her? About what she’s hiding?” He rubbed his temple, frustration clawing at his composure. Thane's words replayed in h
Jason lingered outside Kendall's door, his hand hovering close to the doorknob. The corridor was quiet, with only his steady breathing and the subtle creak of the house settling in the calm night. He clenched his jaw as he recalled Thane’s accusations, the way his stepbrother had enjoyed each word as he sowed the seeds of uncertainty. “Coward,” Jason muttered under his breath, shaking his head as though to clear the thoughts. He wasn’t running. Not from Kendall, not from the truth. Upon opening the door, Jason was shocked by what he saw. Kendall lay curled up on the bed, appearing as though she was attempting to block out the world. Her hair was tousled, and the stark difference between her fair skin and the dark bedding stood out prominently.Entering the room, Jason softly called out Kendall's name before closing the door. She stirred, her eyes swollen from tears flickering open, yet she remained lying down. She briefly gazed at him with a mix of surprise and humiliation shown i
Jason sat in his study, the amber liquid in his glass catching the low light of the desk lamp. His fingers toyed with the rim, his eyes never once leaving the surface of the drink. The room around him was eerily quiet, the faint hum of the city outside the only sound breaking the stillness. His thoughts, however, were anything but still. They ran, turned, and crashed into each other, not willing to be controlled. He still had Kendall's face in his mind - her eyes appearing dull and red-rimmed, as if she had not slept for days. That look... “Had he been too hard on her?”A sudden frustration welled up in him. “She has been keeping things from me.” His jaw tightened. "Despite my assurance for her to have faith in me, I cannot allow her to control me once more." He got up suddenly, the chair making a loud scraping noise on the floor. He held a trembling glass of alcohol, but refrained from drinking. Instead of that, he walked back and forth in the room, causing the floorboards to crea
A YEAR LATERJason stood on the soft carpet, lifting Liam in the air, his hearty laughter echoing in the warm room. Liam let out a joyful cry, extending his small hands towards his father's face. "Do you find that amusing, eh?" Jason grinned and delicately lowered Liam, placing a kiss on his round cheek. Kendall lounged on the sofa with her legs tucked beneath her, sipping tea as she observed. Her smile was soft but filled with pride. “He loves when you do that. It’s his favorite game now.” Jason looked over at her, his expression tender. Certainly, it is. "He's already seeking thrills, just like his father." “Thrill-seeker?” Kendall arched her eyebrow, placing her cup onto the coffee table. "Do you actually mean stubborn?" He’s definitely inherited that from you.” Jason chuckled, settling Liam into his lap. “I prefer to think of it as determination.” He leaned forward conspiratorially and whispered to Liam, “Don’t let your mom fool you. You get that charm from me too.” Liam
Kendall sensed her muscles were sore and smelled antiseptic about her. A faint discomfort in her stomach was a reminder of the procedures she had undergone. The warm, subdued light of the setting sun illuminated the room, but her vision was cloudy and her thoughts was foggy.A well-known voice called out Kendall's name, filled with relief and a touch of remorse. She blinked, forcing her eyes to focus. Jason was next to her, his usual sharp attitude mellowed by tiredness. His shirt looked wrinkled, his tie was untied, and his face showed signs of countless restless nights. "Jason?" she rasped, her parched throat feeling rough. “What… where am I?” He gently informed her that she was in the hospital, moving closer in the process. You underwent a cesarean section, and the physicians performed surgery for your cervical cancer. You’ve been unconscious for days.” His concerned was evident in the wavering of his voice. She instinctively reached towards her stomach, but he intercepted her
Jason walked back and forth in the clean waiting room of the hospital, his hands tightly clenched by his sides. The remote sound of machines beeping, the soft whispers of doctors in the corridor, and the tap of shoes against the linoleum surface felt excessively clear and intense. The rhythm of his own heart drowned out his thinking.“Why? Why did she wait to tell me?”His thoughts continued to rush, but it was futile. The doctors had rushed Kendall into surgery, explaining everything so quickly that their words became a blur. Cervical cancer. Emergency cesarean. Save both her and the baby. Jason wanted to scream, to tear at something, but instead, he stood frozen, his gaze fixed on the closed doors where Kendall had been taken. He had failed her. How could he not have seen that? For weeks and months on end, he failed to realize that something was amiss. His thoughts constantly went back to their disputes, to the times when she appeared delicate yet remained silent. “Mr. Carter?”J
Kendall stood on Jason's mansion doorstep, holding her coat tightly as her hands shook. The chill of the evening air nipped at her skin, yet it paled in comparison to the frostiness within her. She had to do this. There wasn't any alternative available. Jason had an unreadable expression on his face when the door opened, his eyes looking at her as if she was unfamiliar."Jason..." she said with a voice that cracked, her eyes begging for empathy. He stood silently, observing her, not responding right away, as though anticipating her to say something."I have to speak with you," Kendall murmured, moving closer, feeling her legs wobble beneath her. Jason moved out of the way, allowing her to enter silently, but he still stood rigidly, as if ready for combat. The door closed with a click.Kendall stopped in the foyer, trying to regain her balance. She momentarily lost focus, but quickly blinked to clear her vision. "Jason, I have been foolish," she started softly, her voice now filled
Isabella stood at the entrance to Thane's estate, holding her luggage tightly, afraid she might drop it. The large house stood in front of her, its impressive exterior highlighting the void she felt within. She had no other place to go, but she was determined not to give up. Not now. Not after everything.With fingers trembling, she pressed the doorbell, fighting to stay standing despite her overwhelming desperation. Before too much time had passed, the door swung open and Thane appeared, his expression devoid of any warmth. He hesitated before inviting her in, staring at her for a moment too long. Isabella swallowed, attempting to maintain her composure. "I—Thane," she began, her voice faltering, "I—I don’t know where else to go. Jason... he left me. He—he doesn’t care about me. "I have no one else to go to but you." She began to cry as her voice broke, allowing the tears to fill her eyes. She wished they appeared authentic; she wished he would trust her. Thane didn’t budge. His
Jason sat at his desk, gazing at the mountains of paperwork that had grown over the previous few days. The workstation was buzzing with activity, from phone calls to hushed chats, yet he remained calm and composed. His mind was elsewhere—on her. On Kendall."Mr. Carter?" A voice snapped him out of his thoughts.Jason looked over and saw Jane, his assistant, standing at the doorway with a pile of papers. She paused, observing the absent-minded expression in his eyes. She mentioned that you requested to be informed once the DNA test results are received. Jason’s pulse quickened. He stood up, walking briskly toward her. "Hand them over to me." Passing him the envelope, he impatiently tore it open. As he opened the papers, his heart raced while he quickly looked over the results. He breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the confirmation that Isabella is not expecting. "He whispered, relieved as the tension he had been holding onto for days finally lifted." However, the feeling of reli
Tension grew in his jaw as he tightly gripped the doorframe with his hand. "Why on earth are you here?" Isabella stood at the entrance, her lips curling into a smug grin. She entered with a sense of ownership, her heels making a sharp clicking noise on the tiled floor. Jason remained still, obstructing her way deeper into the house. "Wow, that's not a very hospitable greeting," she remarked, but still pushed past him. "Is that how you say hello to the mother of your soon-to-be-born baby?" Jason's expression turned menacing, his hands tightening at his sides. “Cut the act, Isabella. What do you want?” "Regarding what is owed to me," she answered calmly, pivoting to confront him with a self-assured lift of her chin. With Kendall conveniently gone, I am ready to take my rightful position. For our child’s sake, of course.” He let out a cold, humorless laugh, his eyes narrowing. “Rightful place? You mean as a liar and manipulator? Spare me your theatrics.” Her smile faltered brief
Jason was positioned at the top of the lengthy meeting table, sitting with perfect posture in his crisp suit, though his thoughts were elsewhere. The board members' voices became a blur as he focused on the charts and projections on the screen. Jason’s gaze lingered on his tablet, his jaw tight. “Mr. Carter, do you agree?” His head snapped up, piercing eyes scanning the room. A beat passed as he composed himself, erasing any trace of distraction. “Yes,” he replied curtly, his voice steady, though he had no idea what they had asked. “Proceed as outlined.” An approving murmur spread through the room, but Jason paid little attention. He couldn't stop thinking about Kendall, remembering her tearful face and the vulnerability in her voice when she said his name. He moved around in his chair, tightening his jaw. “Concentrate, for crying out loud. This isn’t the time to be weak.” But no matter how much he willed himself to concentrate, the image lingered, seared into his thoughts. "
Jason was in his study with a half-empty decanter of whiskey providing him with some bitter comfort on the table. Thane's words echoed in his mind like a disturbing tune, preventing him from finding peace. His teeth gritted and his hand gripped the crystal glass tightly, causing the liquid inside to shake. He whispered to himself, pondering, his tone a mix of anger and hopelessness. "What happens if the child is not mine?" His mother's unwavering belief in him reverberated in his thoughts, her defense against his father and Thane's relentless pressure lingering in his memory. Catherine Carter always saw the best in Jason, even when he couldn't see it himself. But was he worthy of that faith now? He finished the remaining drink, the sensation of burning in his throat a harsh diversion from the pain in his chest. Kendall's tear-streaked face and trembling voice, pleading for his understanding, came back to his memory once more, but he couldn't find the empathy. Jason slammed the g