Anneliese was startled, and her tears stopped instantly.


    Jonathan grabbed the towel off his face and walked toward her.


    Anneliese was still sitting on the sink counter, her toes curling involuntarily as he approached.


    When he came to a stop in front of her, she finally noticed the ice pack in his hand. Only then did she realize that he hadn''t stormed off in anger after hearing her talk about breaking up. Instead, he had gone to get an ice pack for her.


    "Do you still want to hit me?" As Jonathan nced at her drooping posture, the coldness in his eyes faded slightly.


    Anneliese nced at him and said, "I didn''t do it on purpose..."


    Seeing his hair soaked and stered to his forehead, guilt washed through Anneliese, especially when she knew that the towel had been covered in her tears and snot.


    She wanted to take the towel from Jonathan to rinse it, but thetter didn''t let go. He turned on the faucet, rinsed the towel, and wrung it dry.


    Anneliese thought Jonathan was going to wipe his face, but he wrapped the ice pack inside the damp towel and pressed it onto her swollen cheek.


    She nced at him, flustered and unsure where to put her gaze. She turned around and grabbed another towel. Then, she gave him while reaching for the ice pack.


    "I''ll do it myself. You should wipe your face."


    However, Jonathan didn''t take the towel from her, nor did he hand her the ice pack. Instead, he leaned forward and braced one hand on the counter beside her. His face drew dangerously close to hers.


    "You are the one who threw it, so you should clean it."


    Anneliese paused. Under the pressure of his gaze, she raised her hand and began wiping the water from his face. Once she finished, she reached for the strands of hair that had fallen over his forehead.


    Just as her fingers brushed his hair, he raised his hand and grabbed her gers.


    Anneliese wanted to withdraw her hand, but Jonathan inteced his hand with hers. Then, he lifted their sped hands to her eye level and asked in a low voice, "What do you see?"


    Following his gaze, Anneliese looked down at their intertwined hands.


    At first, she didn''t understand what he meant until she saw the matching wedding rings on their fingers.


    Ever since they put the ring on, they had never once been removed.


    The thought of it made Anneliese''s heart thump, and she breathed softly.


    "Once you put on my wedding ring, you will wear it for life. Do you think you can


    leave just whenever you feel like it? I''m not dead, you know."


    Anneliese''s eyes reddened as she looked at him.


    "I didn''t..." She had thought it through.


    Nishay''s reaction had been so intense that it was obvious she would never change her mind. Anneliese had already experienced one failed marriage that wasn'' blessed by her family. This time, not only was Nishay against it but even, Jonathan''s father had only given her reluctant approval, not to mention that his parents were openly hostile too.


    There were too many obstacles in their way. Even if they insisted on being together, Anneliese didn''t have the confidence that they would truly be happy. She was worried that everything would fall apart, and Nishay''s condition would worsen.


    Anneliese didn''t dare think further. She feared that by then, not even the good memories between her and Jonathan would survive. She feared that all that was left would only be resentment.


    "You didn''t? Not even a full day and you''re already giving up on me." Jonathan''s voice was cold. He cupped her chin and forced her to meet his eyes.


    "Are my feelings cheap and worthless to you?"


    His usation stunned herpletely, making her feel like she was an awful person.


    "It''s just temporary. Give me some time, and I''ll talk to Grandma again," she said hastily.


    Jonathan pressed his lips tightly together, restraining the force of his grip on her chin.


    When Anneliese said she wanted


    some time alone, a fire burned ragingly in his chest, almost breaking loose. For a moment, even had the insane urge to throw her over his shoulder and hide her away somewhere, making i impossible for her to leave him.


    Another part of him wanted to m the door and leave, giving her


    exactly what she wanted.


    After all, he wasn''t a man who couldn''t live without her. If she could cast him aside


    so easily, then he might as well move on too.


    However, when he saw her swollen


    cheek and helpless tears, all his anger vanished in seconds. He could only force himself to remember that she was still young, so he couldn''t hold everything against her. O Moreover, it was his fault that she was in such a painful dilemma since he hadn''t protected her well enough.