Chapter 29
Jude seemed taken aback by my sudden indifference; his eyes searched mine, dazed and unsure.
He had been so used to me chasing after him that my declaration of disinterest clearly caught him
But maybe he didn’t understand–it hadn’t happened overnight.
His temper flared withou warning. He pushed me back against the sink, his voice rising.
I DT g
“What do you mean you don’t need me anymore?” he demanded, eyes narrowing “You know what it means to be my wife–there are obligations. appearances. How can you not need that?”
1 met his gaze with a calm that felt colder than it should have.
He refused to give me that when I needed it most. Now that I no longer needed it. Ise insisted on forcing it on me.
He frowned deeper, confused, angry, “What’s so funny! he asked when a bitter smile tugged at the corner of my lips.
Letting out a long, quiet sigh, I murmured. “Jude, why do this? If you want a wife who fits the mold, someone polished and presentable, you’d be better off with Vivian.
“She has everything you seem to value–designer necklaces, the latest bags, and most importantly, your affection. Wouldn’t she make the perfect
Mrs. Carson
I brushed past him and returned to the dining table.
There was no point in arguing anymore–Ed long lost the desire to fight.
In just three years, it felt like I’d aged three decades. I no longer had the energy to plead or to prove.
Jude followed moments later, his expression dark as he sat down with a huff.
Mireille smiled half–heartedly and said sweetly. “Ada, how long have you been feeling sick? Is it just nausea?
Juno leaned in with feigned concern, her eyes glinting. “Have your periods been regular”
I saw through them immediately. Of course, they assumed I was pregnant–how funny!
Before I could respond, Ewan clapped his hands on the table, beaming. “Well, well! Sounds like the Carson family finally has an heir on the way! I must be true!”
Watching his elated face, I almost felt bad for what I was about to say
But sometimes, it was better to extinguish false hope early
I took a sip of red wine, set the glass down deliberately, and said evenly. “No. It’s just a stolach issue. I’m not pregnant.”
breath and leaned back, visibly relieved. “Knew it,” she muttered her tone dry. “After all these years of silence, and now
Mireille let out an audible b you think you will“”
Bodhi–coughed pointedly, and she shut up.
Juno attempted to recover with a weak smile. “Well you’re still young. You’re too thin–maybe thur’s part of it. You just need to take better care of yourself. These things take time.”
They didn’t want me to ever get pregnant–everyone knew it.
If Jude had no child, the Carson family legacy would eventually fall into their hands.
Handerstood that, and Ewan understood that, too.
He slammed his fork on the table, glaring at me. “Ada, I know you’re strong–willed, but you also have a duty to this family. Jude is my only grandion. You know what that means.”
Ewan wasn’t a bad man, just impossibly bound by tradition.
If this had been the past, I would’ve wanted to give jude a
But I couldn’t. And even if I could now–I no longer wanted to.
Seeing me stay silent, Ewan was about to scold ine again when Jude suddenly interjected, “Grandpa, Ada, and I are both busy. This is an important time for our careers. Having a child now would be a distraction.”
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Chapter 29
His hand closed tightly around inine, refusing to let go
hi front of Isis Family, I knew better than to make
a serie. Let it be.
Thit then he will something that chilled me to the bone. Tim not planning on having kids right now. It’s not in the cards.”
I lowered my eyes, unwilling to m
to meet anyone’s gaze,
Was it that he didn’t want children now or just not with me?
Liemembered when he had accused me of running off with a rich beir, called me filthy, and said Felisgusted him.
So he wouldn’t ever want a child with me.
My eyes stang. I blinked hand, trying to keep it together.
Back when we first got together. I’d told him I wanted a little family of three–a home and a hild that belonged to both of us
At the time, he was still alone in the world, with no blood relatives, so kis
I said I’d be has family, that our child would be his closest bond.
Hut he hesitated.
We’d even fought over it, I cried, thinking he didn’t love me enough
Then, one day, he dragged me to the mall and secretly signed up for a labor pain simulator.
I watched in shock as he screamed an puin, breaking out into a cold sweat.
When it was over, he staggered to my side, his face male, arms wrapping around me tightly.
“It hurts so badly,” he whispered. “I didn’t knone in conlil hum that much“
1 hugged him back, smiling through tears. “Even so,” I said gently, “I still want a child that’s part of us”
We stayed like that for a long line, holding each other in silence.
Eventually, he whispered and cried, “Then maybe… general anesthesia and a C–section. Just one. We’ll only have one. Let me take care of him
I was amined.
But now, after dinner, I dide’t say another word.
We sat silently in the car on the way home–both of us lost in our thouglas.
All I could think about was my mother’s face.
Cancer ran high in my family. I couldn’t take that risk.
I couldn’t gamble with someone else’s life–our child’s. Not even when we were in love. And now that love was gone.
Once we were
we were home, I quietly closed the door blind me and watched his tired figure slump onto the couch.
Swallowing hard, I finally spoke. “Jude… let’s get a divorce.”
+22
AD
