17
The coffee shop was busier than ever, filled mostly with college students from their alma mater
Carrie had been on her feet all moming, too busy to even grab a bite, but the sight of her customers chatting and laughing made all
the hard work worth it.K
Noticing her exhaustion, Art bought her soy milk and fried dough sticks, gently urging her to eat something.
However, after just a few bites, a wave of nausea hit her. She barely made it to the bathroom before vomiting everything she had just
eaten.
Her stomach chumed violently, her head spun, and even the mere thought of food made her gag.
Concerned, Art rubbed her back soothingly. “Carrie, you’ve been pushing yourself too hard lately. Maybe you’re just exhausted.”
“Let’s go to the hospital for a check–up.”
“No, I just need to rest.”
But as soon as the smell of greasy street food wafted in from outside, Carne gagged again, rushing to the sink to throw up.
That was it–Art had seen enough. He shut down the shop early and rushed her to the hospital
After a brief check–up, the gastroenterologist referred them to the obstetrics and gynecology department.
Carrie sat frozen, staring at the report in her trembling hands.
Three months pregnant
Her mind went blank &
She murmured in disbelief, “How… how can this be? I’m pregnant and this child can only be Jared’s…”
Her stomach clenched at the memory.
Back then, Karin had just returned to Jared. They were constantly fighting–Karin was playing hard to get, and Jared, frustrated by her coldness, took it all out on Carrie.
She had no choice.
Every time, she made sure to take the pills afterward. But somehow… she still ended up pregnant!!
Tears spilled onto her lap as she sat hunched on the hospital bench.
How could this happen? How could she be carrying Jared’s child when she was supposed to marry Art?!
The doctor’s words echoed in her ears–her body was too weak, and the pregnancy was unstable. If she chose to terminate it, she might never be able to conceive again.
She knew why.
Jared had been too cruel that night, punishing her so viciously that it had left lasting damage.
Art knelt in front of her, his heart aching at the sight of her despair!!
Seeing her tear–streaked face was like being stabbed by a thousand needles.
Without hesitation, he took her cold hands in his warm palms, looking up at her with unwavering tendemess.X
“Carrie, don’t be afraid. If you want to keep the baby, then we’ll keep it!
Came slowly lifted her tear–filled eyes.
Art continued, his voice steady, “I’ll be the child’s father. You’re my wife, and any child you carry is mine, too, I will love and protect them just as I love you. Trust me, okay?”
Tears welled up again as she shook her head, her voice breaking. “But this baby is Jared’s… can you really accept that?”
She wasn’t sure if she could accept it herself.
What if people looked down on Art? What if they pitied him, calling him a fool for raising another man’s child? What if his pride and dignity never recovered?
“Carrie, I love you.” Art cupped her face, his eyes filled with conviction. “I know what you’re afraid of, but none of that matters to me. Unless… unless you don’t want to be with me anymore.”
“You’ve endured so much for my sake. Why can’t I do the same for you?” His voice softened. “Believe me, we
we will be bo
be happy. I
promise.”
A sob escaped Carrie’s lips as she threw her arms around his neck, crying and laughing all at once.
Art let out a relieved chuckle, holding her tightly.
Then he whispered, “Came, let’s get married.”
She nodded furiously, like a child pecking at rice. “Okay, I do.“%
18%
Jared remained in a German hospital for another week.
His body, already weak from years of neglect, had deteriorated even further from overexertion. The doctors were forced to sedate him just to ensure he got some proper rest
When he finally woke up, his first sight was a row of bodyguards standing at attention
“Did you find Carrie?” he asked, his voice hoarse.
The bodyguards hesitated before stammering. “No, sir. Miss Dean is deliberately avoiding us. She may be using a fake identity, making it extremely difficult to track her down.”
Jared’s expression darkened. “I don’t care how difficult it is–find her! What do I even pay you for?”
In his rage, he jumped out of bed, yanking the IV from his arm. But the moment his feet touched the ground, a sharp pain shot through him, and blood surged up his throat. He barely managed to turn before violently coughing up a mouthful of it.
The room fell into stunned silence. No one dared to move, watching in shock as cold sweat drenched Jared’s pale face. He no longer looked like the powerful man who once commanded the world of wealth and influence–he was just a broken shell of himself.
All he could think about was Came. She was hiding from him, unwilling to be found. She had chosen another man, never once looking back to see if he was even alive.
He clenched his fists. He wanted to hate her. He wanted to curse her heartlessness. But in the end, the
hate was himself.
only person he could truly
He was the one who had pushed her away. The pain he felt now was his own doing. There was no one else to blame. The doctor administered another sedative, and he slipped back unconsciousness.
In the darkness of his dreams, memories of Carte flooded his mind–the first time they met, the way he had treated her, the countless times he had wounded her for Karin’s sake!
He thrashed in his sleep, struggling to rewrite the past. He wanted to undo his mistakes, to hold onto her, to cherish her instead of hurting her.
But no matter how hard he tried, Carrie still left him. In the end, all he saw was her fading silhouette, walking away from him forever When he woke again, the room was silent.!
Jared lay there for a long time, staring blankly at the ceiling before a bitter sob broke free from his throat
For the first time in years, he cried.
There was no more denying it–he was hopelessly in love with Carrie!
He had spent so long believing that his heart still belonged to Karin, convincing himself that Carrie was nothing more than a substitute.
She was just a pawn his mother had arranged, someone he had control over, someone he could punish at will to remind her what it meant to cross Jared &
But somewhere along the way, everything changed.
Kann began to irritate him. More and more, when he looked at her, it was Carrie’s face that surfaced in his mind.
Carrie and Karin were nothing alike. He knew this from the start.&
emotions, so he did what
Yet he refused to accept that he had fallen in love with someone else. He had no idea how to navigate such emotio he did best–he ran.
He used Karin as an excuse, a shield to
o keep
Carrie at a distance.”
And in the process, he destroyed her.
By the time he finally realized the truth, she was already gone.
“Carrie.. you must have felt something for me, right?” His voice was barely above a whisper. “It wasn’t all just an act, just a deal with my mother… was it?”
He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms!
“Where are you? I need to see you, I need to ask you–did you ever love me??
As if his body couldn’t bear the weight of his emotions, he erupted into another fit of violent coughing, his lungs burning with pain. But he couldn’t afford to collapse now. Not yet.!!
“No I can’t die. Not until I find her… not until I see her one last time.”
Barefoot, weak, and feverish, Jared dragged himself out of bed, gripping the wall for support.
He had to go back to America. He had to find her. He needed an answer.
19%
Suddenly recalling something, Jared ordered the bodyguard to bring his phone X
He opened that familiar account, and sure enough, it had been updated.
August 9, 2024] Art woke up. My winter is finally over
(August 30, 2024] Art and I returned to America, back to our university. This time, nothing will ever separate us.
[September 17, 2024] We’ve decided to get married. Art says he wants to give me a dream wedding and make me his princess. But I want to travel and get married–what should I do? Of course, he supports my decision! He didn’t say it out loud, but I caught him secretly making plans. He really is the perfect husband!1⁄2
Jared read every word, his heart twisting with pain. At that moment, he wished he were illiterate, incapable of understanding the happiness laced in her every sentence.”
Every joyful word she wrote bumed into him, searing his nerves like fire.8
How could she live so freely, so at peace, in a world without him?}
How could her life remain unchanged, as if he had never mattered??
His grip on the phone tightened. I’m taking her back.”
“Based on the clues in this account, we can definitely track down Carrie’s location!“)
The bodyguards immediately got to work.
Jared boarded a plane home once more.
At the same time, across the ocean, Carrie was hunched over the toilet, vomiting. Art knelt beside her, holding out a cup of water to help her breathe./
Pregnancy was truly exhausting.
Tears welled up in her eyes. “How am I supposed to travel and get mamed like this? This is so unfair. 2
Art chuckled, rubbing her back. “The doctor said morning sickness should ease up soon. Once you’re feeling better, we can set off.”
“Fine,” she sighed. “You plan everything. I don’t have the energy to think night now“}
It was the last day of the coffee shop’s operations, and because of their half–price promotion, customers flooded in
When people heard they were closing the shop to get married, they showered them with well–wishes.)
“The boss and boss lady are so sweet together! Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness!!!
“May you have a beautiful marriage and a happy family! Hoping you have a baby soon!”
Came laughed, posing for photos with customers ).
And that was the moment Jared appeared at the coffee shop’s entrance.
Art greeted him warmly. “What can I get for you? All drinks are half–price today“:
Jared’s lips curled into a sneer, ‘I want Came.”}
The sound of his voice–one she hadn’t heard in so long–made Carrie freeze. Slowly, she turned, locking eyes with him.8
And in that instant, the weight she had been carrying for so long crashed down on her.
He found her
He would never let her go.
She instinctively rushed toward Art, stepping in front of him like a shield. Her voice was unwavering. “You are not allowed to touch Art. If you do, I’ll die with you.”
Art instantly pulled her into his arms, shielding her!
Jared’s frown deepened at the sight
He hadn’t even made a move, and yet she was already willing to sacrifice herself for Art
She was desperate to protect him. And Jared… what was he to her?
His voice was low, almost hoarse, “Carrie, do you have any idea how long I’ve been searching for you? Do you know what I’ve been through to find you?”
An’s voice was firm, Jared, you’re scaring her. She doesn’t want to hear any of that. We’re getting mamed. You’re not welcome here. Please leave, or I’ll call the police.”
Jared signaled his bodyguards, and within moments, the shop was emptied of all customers. Only the three of them remained. His gaze locked onto Carrie. 1 want an answer. You spent so much effort trying to please me, to get close to me you ever truly love me?”
Carrie looked him straight in the eyes!
“No,” she said without hesitation. ‘Not even for a second.”
Her voice was clear, unwavering.
“Jared, I’ve always had a boyfriend. I’ve loved him for a long time. And I have never, not once, stopped loving him.”
was it real? Did
123 are, ve ways nada poythen, I’ve loved rim for a long time, and i have never, not once, stopped loving nim
