Chapter 182: Chapter 180: Damn It! Are You an Idiot? (4)

The car drove onward, speeding up as it passed Jean Grant and Marlon Marshall.

Marlon watched the car disappear and chuckled. "I bet Ethan Ellsworth’s biggest regret in life is never having you. So now he knows what it’s like to want something he can’t have."

Jean replied softly, "He’s loved me for over a decade. I feel like I owe him so much."

"That was his choice, it has nothing to do with you. Besides, we have a baby on the way now. Jean, trust me, I’ll treat you well."

Jean instinctively placed a hand on her still-flat stomach, and her mood brightened considerably.

The thought of having a child brought her a sense of peace.

Especially after she had been so sick the previous night; Mrs. Marshall immediately said she was most likely pregnant, and her attitude toward her had improved dramatically.

Jean savored this change in attitude.

She felt that her life was finally about to settle down into a comfortable routine.

But as for Ethan Ellsworth, she had thought about it over and over the previous night. She couldn’t bring herself to abort the baby, and that meant she couldn’t be with him. However, if he truly remained devoted and if her future life turned out to be miserable, perhaps she would change her mind.

Jean knew it was wrong to think that way, but she could only tell herself that the baby had come at an inconvenient time. Now that she was pregnant, she couldn’t let the child leave this world before it even had a chance to arrive.

She couldn’t do it. It was her child. She just didn’t have the heart.

She and Marlon Marshall went to the hospital.

After registering, they went to the obstetrics and gynecology department for an exam. The results showed she was thirty-eight days pregnant. Hearing the official confirmation filled Jean’s heart with joy, and she and Marlon went straight to the Grant Residence.

When Mrs. Grant saw them return, her expression was neutral.

"Mom, Marlon and I just came from the hospital."

Mrs. Grant immediately asked, "What for?"

Jean gave a shy smile. "Mom, I’m pregnant. It’s been thirty-eight days."

Mrs. Grant didn’t seem overjoyed at the news, but she was still reassuring. "Take good care of yourself during the pregnancy. Since it’s happened, just focus on living a good life."

Then, Mrs. Grant turned to Marlon. "Our Jean is married to you now. I don’t expect you to become rich and powerful, but I do hope you’ll treat her well, cherish her, and never let her be wronged."

Marlon nodded. "I will, Mother-in-law."

A broader smile spread across Jean’s face. "Don’t worry, Mom. We’ll be happy."

Seeing her daughter like this, Mrs. Grant couldn’t bring herself to say what she was really thinking.

Back at their apartment complex, the moment they walked through the door, Mrs. Marshall rushed over. "Well? What did the check-up show?"

Marlon answered with a cheerful grin, "Mom, Jean’s pregnant! It’s been over a month."

The instant she heard this, Mrs. Marshall’s entire demeanor toward Jean changed. "Oh, Jean, dear, sit down and rest right now! From now on, Mom won’t say a single word to upset you. Whatever you want, you’ll get. Just focus on a healthy pregnancy."

"Okay," Jean murmured.

"I’m a little tired. I’m going to go sleep."

Mrs. Marshall nodded happily. "Go on, go on. Drake, you go with Jean."

Marlon agreed and quickly took her hand, leading her upstairs.

As soon as they were in the bedroom, Marlon pulled Jean into a hug. "Honey, this is fantastic. I’m my mom’s only son. If you have a boy, our family line will be secured."

Jean froze. "And what if I have a daughter?"

"A daughter would be great too. We’ll just have another one. We’re bound to have a son eventually."

"Why does it have to be a son? I’d like a daughter."

Marlon lifted her onto the bed. "My mom wants a grandson. Besides, didn’t I just say? I’m the only son. If I don’t have a son, the family line ends with me, right?"

"Daughters carry on the family too. The government is even campaigning against this kind of sexism."

Marlon pressed down on top of her. "Let’s just have a few kids, then we’ll have both. Wouldn’t that be even better? You were so sensitive last night. Was it because you’re pregnant?"

Jean’s face flushed red all the way to her ears. "Can you... do that for me every night from now on?"

Marlon feigned ignorance. "Do what?"

"You know... that."

"What exactly?"

Jean grew slightly irritated. "Are you doing this on purpose?"

Marlon chuckled, feeling wonderful. "I’ll take care of you like that every single night, how’s that?"

They shared an intimate moment, and Jean truly felt that this was the happiest she had ever been.

So happy, in fact, that she completely burned her bridges.

After Marlon went downstairs, she pulled out her phone and began composing a text message to Ethan Ellsworth.

She thought for a long time before she finally steeled her resolve.

The message was a long one: "Ethan, I was so ashamed when I saw you this morning. I was wrong not to call you last night like I promised. I guess this must be fate’s plan. I’m at a crossroads in my life—I’m pregnant. Thirty-eight days. I can’t deny him or her the chance to come into this world. I have no right to take away a life, and I don’t want my child to be born without its biological father. Please forgive my decision. I was the one who suggested the one-year agreement, so it’s on me to say it no longer counts. Ethan, I hope we can still be friends. I’m sorry."

When Ethan Ellsworth heard the text alert, he had a pretty good idea who it was from.

He didn’t check the message. He was busy accompanying Chloe Marshall to the crematorium for her father’s funeral and burial. By the time it was all over, night had fallen.

They returned to the studio town.

It wasn’t until he was back in his room that he finally pulled out his phone.

’The message is long,’ he thought. ’The gist of it is that she’s pregnant, the one-year agreement is off, and she’s starting her own happy little family now. She’s telling me not to bother her... That’s what it means, right?’

’Then why didn’t she call?’

’Was she too afraid to even face me over the phone?’

Ethan Ellsworth found it utterly ridiculous.

He knew she was just keeping him as a backup plan, but he’d deliberately chosen not to call her out on it.

What a fool he’d been, willingly letting someone so selfish use him up for all this time.

Staring at his phone, he typed out a reply: "It’s good that you’ve made things clear. I imagine we’ll still run into each other, so it’s probably for the best if we remain friends. The agreement is canceled. Let’s leave it at that."

Message sent.

He truly hadn’t won her in the end. At that moment, he himself put a final end to more than a decade of affection.

Ethan lay on his bed. He felt a pang of pain in his heart, but it wasn’t as sharp as he might have expected.

From the moment she got married, he knew they were worlds apart and would never be on the same path again.

’But maybe this isn’t so bad. At least... knowing when to let go is a way of forgiving yourself.’

Leon Lynch had gone to great lengths, keeping a constant, close watch on apartment 803.

He kept his own door open and sat by the entrance, pretending to read a book as he waited for Nora Ainsworth to return.

Finally, that evening, he saw her.

He stood up and walked to his doorway, freezing in place as he watched the familiar figure unlock her door. In that instant, Leon Lynch felt as if the heavens were playing a colossal joke on him.