Jeffrey knew that if he played his cards right, he could've kept the whole mess under wraps—absolute power has its perks. But every time he looked into Karen's eyes, guilt gnawed at him like a hungry rat.
He wanted to come clean to Karen; he really did. But how could he now when everything had fallen apart? "Jeffrey, are you really going to break it off with Karen? You two were practically engaged!" Paloma adored Karen and could see that her son had been serious this time.
But the current predicament seemed insurmountable.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtSoon after, Huxley returned with the doctor. Upon seeing his wife in tears clutching their son, he was clueless about the upheaval.
As the doctor tended to Jeffrey's hand, Paloma filled in her husband, hoping he might have a solution to salvage the situation.
But Huxley wasn't looking to salvage anything. "Jeffrey, bring that Paige girl over," he commanded without preamble.
"What are you planning?" Paloma was taken aback.
"She's given birth to your child; you have to own up to it! A Turner child cannot be left to fend for themselves out there,” Huxley stated firmly, his temper barely in check. "But before that, we're getting a paternity test done.” He wouldn't acknowledge a child without certainty.
"I'm not marrying her," Jeffrey said, his silhouette rigid against the window light, not even flinching as the doctor applied antiseptic to his wounds.
"Then why the hell did you mess around with her? Why give her a chance to get pregnant?" Huxley slammed his hand on the table, no longer caring about the doctor's presence, and scolded, "Jeffrey, I've warned you before about your reckless ways. No one in the Turner family has ever embarrassed us like this! Did you listen? Now look at the mess you've made, throwing tantrums at home. What does that prove?” "Enough, Huxley," Paloma interjected, worried about her son's fragile state.
Huxley rounded on his wife too. "And you! You were planning to help Jeffrey keep this from that girl. What were you thinking? Is your son the only one who matters? Their daughter doesn't count? | think you're half to blame for this mess! You've spoiled him rotten!" "It's not my mom's fault, stop it," Jeffrey's voice was hoarse, "| won't marry Paige, and I'll leave Karen alone. Everett's got a new project abroad; I'm leaving Eldorria City." He had made up his mind. No one else was to blame but him.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThankfully, he hadn't obtained the marriage certificate with Karen yet, so things weren't too bad for her.
Paloma wasn't ready to give up. "Now hold on, things haven't reached a dead end yet. Jeffrey, I'll go to the Miller family right now and try to smooth things over. Karen's a sweetheart; she might just soften up and forgive you. Besides, the child was from two years ago, and you didn't even know about it!" She couldn't bear to see her son suffer over a mistake.
"Let him go!" Huxley declared, "Stop babying him!" "Jeffrey..." "Mom, leave it. | brought this on myself. | deserve it." Paloma was about to speak when her cellphone chimed. It was Karen.
"Karen's calling me!" Paloma exclaimed before answering the phone.
Karen's voice was raspy on the other end. "I'm sorry. | thought | should at least tell you, Mrs. Turner. Jeffrey and I... we've broken up."