I Raised My Husband's Love Child...Then He Shot Me

Chapter 38

"I was thinking... I'd love to make you your favorite corn soup every morning, help you sort through all those files for the sponsored children, and even team up to buy Pax that bath shampoo she hates so much."

His voice softened even further. "Of course, if you'd rather not..."

I gently tapped his forehead with a pebble. "I promise."

I never imagined anyone would wait for me this long.

Maybe it was the beautiful seaside atmosphere, but I couldn't resist leaning in to kiss the corner of his lips.

His arms wrapped around my waist, and we swayed before collapsing onto the sand in a tangled mess.

Pax strutted back, walking with her graceful cat steps, curiously sniffing our clasped hands.

Julian chuckled, scratching her chin. "From now on, you need Papa's permission to sneak any canned food."

No rush to get married, no rush to make promises.

We'd take our time.

Unbeknownst to me, Jonathan had gotten another woman pregnant.

At the hospital's obstetrics and gynecology department, the sterile smell of disinfectant mixed with the heavy warmth of the hallway. Jonathan leaned against the wall, his anxiety clear.

He hadn't expected that barely any time had passed since Wendy lost her baby, and now Yvonne was already pregnant.

Yvonne walked out of the exam room holding an ultrasound printout, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"How did it go?" Dean asked anxiously from his wheelchair. His health had been deteriorating, and he hadn't fully recovered since his last serious illness.

Yvonne knelt beside him sweetly and unfolded the ultrasound paper on his lap. "The doctor said the baby's very healthy. Already six weeks along." She lightly tapped the fuzzy shape on the image. "Look here, these are the tiny arms and legs..."

You couldn't see much at this stage.

Still, Dean gently stroked the ultrasound image, thrilled beyond words. "Good, good!"

He never thought he'd have another grandchild at his age. "Jonathan, come see your little brother." Jonathan's throat tightened. He bent stiffly and glanced at the blurry black-and-white image.

The shadow on the screen sent a chill down his spine, making the hairs on his neck stand up.

Was this child even his—or his father's?

"Don't get too excited," Yvonne said kindly, patting Dean's back. She looked up at Jonathan, her eyes soft as water. "Jonathan will take good care of us, won't he?"

Jonathan's temples throbbed.

"Yeah," he muttered, his voice dry, almost hoarse. "I'll… take good care of you."

No. The child couldn't be his.

That night, Jonathan sat in his room again, staring at his phone screen, secretly scrolling through my social media.

I had posted a new photo. It showed Julian's back as he cooked in the kitchen, the caption reading, "The taste of home."

The reflection on his phone screen showed his distorted face, his eyes red and tired.

He couldn't believe I had moved on so quickly, like the last ten years hadn't affected me at all.

The door creaked open.

Yvonne walked in, holding a cup of herbal tea. Beneath her silk robe, a slight curve had begun to show on her belly.

"Your father's asleep," she said softly, placing the cup on the table and letting her fingers brush his hand. "The doctor said pregnant women need to stay in a good mood."

Jonathan suddenly stood up, agitated. "What do you really want?"

Yvonne calmly pulled a tissue from her pocket and dabbed at a splash of liquor on her robe. "I want my child to have a rightful place in the Zanders family."

She continued, her voice smooth, "Weren't you always wanting a child? Back when Daphne couldn't conceive, you blamed her and even found Wendy to have one for you. Now that Wendy's miscarried, I'm pregnant. Aren't you happy?"

Jonathan stared at her, his face full of disbelief. "Wait. Is this child really mine?"