chapter 16

Jade

The dam finally broke, and the tears flowed freely, making me feel defeated and relieved simultaneously. It felt like I had been holding it in for so long and finally reached my breaking point. I didn't want to lie; that had never been my intention. And being here now reminded me of how much I had wanted to find Michael initially.

"I found out that I was pregnant almost two months after you were gone," I started, pausing to catch my breath.

I was an absolute mess of tears and a runny nose, and my hands weren't doing a good job of wiping my face. I heard Michael sigh as he took out a handkerchief and gave it to me. If this were a happy reunion, I would have made a joke about him carrying a handkerchief like an old gentleman, but I was grateful for it and used it to wipe my cheeks and nose. My hand was now shaking uncontrollably, and for a second, I felt faint.

I felt Michael's hands on my arms as he gently led me to the couch, and I sat down again. It took me a few minutes to calm