“Call, I know what you’re worried about,” he said immediately, not even giving her a chance to speak.
“I’ve thought about it all. You don’t need to worry about my family–they’ll love you. And I’ve already told them I don’t want children.”
He handed her a piece of paper: a vasectomy report.
Callista simply stared at it. Jude had undergone surgery the day after returning to the country.
His gesture was heavy with meaning, and her heart softened just a little more.
“Jude,” she said.
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+25 BONUS
Chapter 29
“Yes?”
He sat upright, and tension radiated from every inch of him
Callista then placed the two notebooks on the table in front of him. She had never seen Jude so flustered. His face turned bright red as he stumbled over his words.
“I–I’m not… I didn’t mean… I’m not a creep, I swear-
Callista burst out laughing. Then, she pulled out the pregnancy test and slid it across the table.
“Then… Do you not want this?”
Jude stared at it, completely dumbfounded. “I do! Of course, I do! We-”
Callista interrupted him. “You’d better think it through. I want this child, but I don’t necessarily want to marry
you.
“I might become your wife, the mother of your child, or even take on other roles. But before anything else, I need to be myself first.”
For once, she chose to be selfish. She would no longer lose herself for anyone else. From now on, the person she loved most would be herself.
Jude’s eyes reddened, but his voice was steady. “Okay.”
He repeated it with conviction. “Cal, I said okay.”
She looked at him, unable to suppress her smile.
Just like that, six months passed.
Luther sat in a café at 4:00 pm while staring out the window with faint hope. Every day at this time, Jude and Callista would come down for a walk.
Sure enough, he spotted them again.
Jude was careful while holding Callista’s hand as her pregnant belly had grown large. Rumor had it they were expecting a daughter.
She looked so happy–loved by her in–laws, cherished by her husband, and soon to welcome her child into the world.
It was a happiness that should have been his, yet he no longer dared to show himself to her. Watching their figures disappear into the distance, Luther’s vision blurred with tears.
Just then, Jane called, breaking his trance.
“Mom, I’m on my way back. Don’t worry.”
At least he could still honor Callista’s words by being a good son.
Taking a deep breath, Luther left the café. He was trapped in the past, unable and unwilling to move forward.
Seeing her, even from a distance, was the only thing that reminded him he was still alive, And for him, that was enough.
This was the ending he deserved.
