"Grandma, why don''t you take a break and enjoy a piece before you continue scolding?" Jonathan suggested.


    There was no way Nishay would touch the fruit he had cut. "I''m not eating. Leave me alone!"


    He didn''t take offense.


    He popped a piece into his mouth, the crunch resonating as he bit down. Then, he remarked, "It tastes pretty good."


    She was so exasperated that she closed her eyes and refused to acknowledge his presence.


    Only then did he speak again.


    "Grandma, whether you ept it or not, I genuinely love Anne. She''s the only one for me in this lifetime. The reason I won''t let her go isn''t out of possessiveness, guilt, or the need to make amends.


    "It''s because I''m confident I can bring her happiness—and because I don''t trust any other man to care for her the way she deserves."


    His words struck firmly, causing her heart to skip a beat.


    Nishay still kept her eyes closed, but the slight twitch of her nose and eyelids revealed that she wasn''t entirely unmoved.


    After a lengthy pause, she turned away from him and replied coldly, "We have such a long life ahead of us, and you have quite the ego!"


    Jonathan chuckled, never expecting Nishay to immediatelye to terms with things. In truth, he was somewhat surprised, and he thought, At least now, Grandma is willing to hear me out. A few days ago, she would''ve snapped the moment I opened my mouth and tossed me out before I had the chance to push my luck.


    He leaned down to adjust her nket. "Take care of yourself, Grandma. Live a long, healthy life and wait to see if I can prove myself."


    He turned and exited, carefully closing the door behind him. On the bed, Nishay''s chest rose and fell once before she let out a heavy, muffled sigh.


    Over in the obstetrics ward, Anneliese ced her hand on Jessica''s belly. "Baby, please don''t rm your mommy and Godmom like that again, okay?"


    Jessica''splexion seemed slightly better. "I''m fine. You don''t need to stay here. Go check on Grandma and then head home to rest."


    Outside, the sky had already bepletely dark.


    Anneliese still felt uneasy. "Are you sure you''re okay? Do you want a supporting hug?"


    Jessica smiled, though the smile didn''t reach her eyes. It appeared she had made up her mind. "Annie, I don''t want to tell Zane about this baby. I no longer want to have anything to do with him."


    Anneliese had reassured her multiple times that they could raise the baby together that there was no need to be afraid.


    However, now that Jessica had truly decided to be a single mother, and an unmarried one, Anneliese couldn''t help but feel a mix of heartache and worry.


    There was no judgment in her mind towards single mothers-in fact, she held a deep admiration for their bravery and strength.


    However, the journey was


    undeniably challenging. To nurture a child was no small feat, and the assistance one could receive from others was always limited. Only mothers truly grasped the magnitude of bringing a child into the world and raising them to be strong.


    Anneliese genuinely felt a pang of sympathy.


    In contrast, she offered a small smile. She rested her hands on her belly, feeling the little life growing within her. Her eyes became more determined by the moment. "Annie, do you have any idea what it''s been like to finally break away from the Johnson Family these past few months?"


    Anneliese softly shook her head.


    She smiled again, though there was a fleeting bitterness in her expression. "Initially,


    I was so joyful—so relieved. It was as if I could finally inhale fresh air, instead of


    hiding like a mouse in a shadowy corner, constantly on the run.


    "But it didn''t take long for me to feel lost and drained. It was as if my life suddenlycked direction. I didn''t know what I was striving for anymore. On some nights, I would lie in bed feeling unbearably lonely and helpless."


    Anneliese leaned in and embraced Jessica tightly. "I''m so sorry."


    Since she became involved with Jonathan, she hadn''t been able to be there for Jessica as she once was.


    Jessica had never brought any of this up. She was always bright-full of life-so Anneliese thought that after escaping the Johnson Family, she''d been living happily and freely.


    Annelise had overlooked one crucial thing, though.


    Jessica never had any family.


    It wasn''t until she noticed the profound solitude surrounding her now that Anneliese understood she hadn''t been a very good bestie.


    Jessica gently stroked her back. "What do you have to apologize for? I''m just being overly dramatic."


    She let out a soft sigh. "But since I chose to keep this baby. It''s as if everything has transformed. Suddenly, I''m filled with thoughts, ns, and a newfound strength. "Honestly, Annie. This little one is the only person in this world who shares my blood. He''s my strongest link to this life. I''m determined to create a better future for my baby, and I aspire to be a better version of myself because of him."


    Anneliese chuckled. "Look at you-morphing into a fierce mama already. Is pregnancy truly this enchanting?"


    Her gaze wandered to Jessica''s abdomen-still t and unchanged.


    It was hard to believe that


    something so tiny could altera woman''s entire perspective like this. It made Anneliese ponder what motherhood felt like-filling her with a sense of wonder at the miracle of new life.