Chapter 223 Zev Was Hit by His Son
Kelly stood quietly by the door for what seemed like an eternity.
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It wasn''t until Jasper tumbled off the couch andnded on the floor with a soft thud that Kelly snapped out
of her daze.
Fortunately, there was a mat and carpet on the floor, so the fall wasn''t too hard. The little one looked stunned, pouting, hisrge eyes filled with innocence as he gazed up at Kelly, silently hoping she woulde tofort him. But when she didn''t even acknowledge him, he let out a small whimper, fighting back his tears, waiting for the right moment to let them fall.
He stared at his mother with a pout, his longshes glistening with unshed tears, hisrge, mixed-race eyes blinking, searching for her attention.
Finally, Kelly moved. She turned and walked toward him. The little boy, now on the brink of tears, waited, but she ignored him and walked past him into the bedroom.
Jasper watched her for a moment, then decided to handle it himself. He managed tofort himself in the way only a child could.
Inside the bedroom, Kelly stood before the closet, her fingers gripping the handle tightly. She hesitated for what felt like forever before finally opening the door.
The closet door wasn''t heavy, but it felt as if it weighed a ton as she opened it.
Inside, Zev, with his tall frame, was curled up in the small space. To be honest, he looked pitiful.
He stared at Kelly, waiting, but didn''t speak. He just wore that look of vulnerability, hoping it would tug at her heart.
Kelly looked down at Zev for what felt like an eternity. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. Instead, she climbed into the closet beside him, sitting next to him, resting her head on his shoulder.
Zev froze, staring at her in disbelief, his body tense with confusion.
Kelly didn''t say anything. She just gently lifted his arm and crawled into hisp, curling into his chest. She held onto his shirt tightly, her body shaking as she sobbed.
In the two years since she had returned, Kelly had lived with constant fear and insecurity. Every day had been a battle. She had developed severe PTSD, and if it hadn''t been for Jasper, she didn''t know if she could have made it through.
She had always thought Zev, like Eric, would move on if she were gone. That he would find someone else and go on with his life.
She had even med herself, wondering if Eric and Zev were right-maybe no one should ha forever for someone else.
"I''m sorry..." Zev''s voice was soft in the small, cramped space of the closet.
Kelly rested against him her tears soaking into his jacket
> wait
Chapter 223 Zev Was Hit by His Son
Kelly clung to him in return, holding him tightly, almost desperately.
"I love you... Zev, I love you."
Her voice was hoarse as she finally spoke the words she had kept hidden for so long.
She loved him-she didn''t need words to express it; it was deep within her.
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"Kelly, you''ll always matter more to me than my own life," Zev whispered, kissing her head, his voice raw with emotion.
They held each other, unwilling to let go, lost in the moment.
Outside the door, Jasper, having been ignored by his mother, decided to find her himself. He crawled toward the bedroom and, seeing Kelly and the stranger in the closet, eagerly crawled over and climbed into her arms.
Zev stiffened, looking down at the little boy in surprise, his eyes filling with emotion as he watched the innocent child.
"He''s yours... His name''s Jasper Yeager. When we get back to Seaville, we''ll change hisst name to yours..." Kelly said softly, rubbing Jasper''s head. “Jasper, say ''Daddy."
Jasper looked utterly confused. He had never met his dad before, so he didn''t know what to say.
"Don''t listen to the rumors. The child is yours. I was already pregnant before I went to Oasisvale ..." Kelly whispered, anxious that Zev might not believe her. After all, she had been taken by Cecil for so long and somehow returned safely. Too many rumors had been spreading.
"No need to change hisst name. He can have yourst name. It sounds good "Zev tightened his hold on Kelly, his voice husky. "He looks just like me. My genes are strong."
...
Seeing Kelly still uneasy, Zev''s arms tightened around her even more. "Honey ... I only trust you."
Kelly leaned against Zev''s shoulder, unable to hold back any longer. She cried until her throat ached.
Jasper, seeing his mother in distress, became frantic. His little heart raced as he desperately reached up to hug her. "Mommy... Mommy...
He looked from his mom to Zev and, with a determined frown, raised his chubby hand and pped Zev across the face.
Zev, stunned, stared down at the small child who had just hit him.
"Naughty man... Mommy''s crying," Jasper said, his words still unclear but filled with innocent determination.
Jasper had started speaking early, and now, in his innocence, he tried to protect his mother.
In the days Zev wasn''t around, Jasper had been the only light in Kelly''s life.
She remembered the first time Jasper had said "Mommy." That single word had given Kelly the strength to keep going.
Chapter 223 Zev Was Hit by His Son
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"No hitting Daddy. This is Daddy," Kelly gently scolded, holding Jasper close. "Daddy''s a hero. He goes out to fight the bad guys. He just got back."
Jasper red at Zev with determination, still refusing to call him "Dad."
Zev felt a pang in his heart, but he still smiled and held both Kelly and Jasper in his arms,ughing a little too hard, almost losing himself in the joy of it all.
It felt like a dream.
"You stay with Jasper. I''ll go make dinner," Kelly said, rubbing Jasper''s head and nting a kiss on his forehead.
Zev looked at Kelly with a childlike pout. "I want a kiss too..."
Kelly nced at him and, despite her tears, couldn''t help butugh at how he could always make her smile.
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