GoodRead"Seriously, we haven't been in touch for over two years!" Jeffrey couldn't help but subconsciously start to explain.
Even though he knew that once he spoke his piece, none of it would matter anymore.
"So what, old flame rekindled?" "No.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtKaren lifted a hand to massage her temples, "Alright, spit it out then. What's this bombshell about Paige?" pL "Yeah?" Jeffrey's lips parted, but no words came out. His hand reached into his pocket for his cigarettes.
Only to have Karen slap them away, "Don't you dare smoke in front of me!" Jeffrey was at a loss for words.
"Just say it, | can't stand the smell of smoke." Jeffrey clenched his jaw, lowering his voice to a barely audible whisper. "I...| have a daughter with Paige." Karen frowned, her impatience clear, "You speaking for the mosquitoes?" His voice was so soft that she felt like handing him a megaphone. Who was he trying to challenge with that whisper? Having said it once, it seemed less difficult to say it again.
Jeffrey cleared his throat and raised his voice a notch. "I said, Paige and | have a daughter, she's over a year old now." This time Karen was genuinely stunned.
"Paige kept it a secret, | only found out recently! The child has a congenital heart defect, and she begged me to stay with the child in the hospital for one night. I...I couldn't bring myself to refuse, but | was afraid to face you, so | turned off my phone." Jeffrey had his eyes closed as he confessed, feeling like he was throwing caution to the wind.
He forced himself to face it, as a sign of respect for his relationship with Karen. He knew he had to speak up! After all, their breakup was a foregone conclusion. After all, he was leaving.
Karen stood rigid for a full three to five minutes, almost forgetting to breathe.
In her wildest dreams, she didn't imagine Jeffrey had this to tell her! He had a child with Paige! They had a child! No wonder Paige had said in the restaurant that she couldn't possibly marry Jeffrey. So that was the confidence she had.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Karen?" Jeffrey opened his eyes when he didn't hear her voice.
The person before him stood still as a statue, completely motionless.
Jeffrey's heart sank to the pit of his stomach, "I'm sorry. | really didn't know!" Karen finally spoke, her tone eerily calm. "You said you always took precautions. How could she get pregnant?" "I was drunk that time, and | thought | took precautions, but..." "The truth is you couldn't be certain you used protection with every woman. Paige's child was an accident. And who knows how many more ‘accidents’ there could be." Jeffrey panicked and quickly gestured with his hands, "I swear, this is the only one, just this once! Definitely not a second!" "Stop swearing.” Karen's voice dropped as she took a step back. "My ears are practically calloused from it." Jeffrey didn’t know how to respond.
"Thanks for your honesty today. At least | can die knowing the truth." Karen could even thank him for the grace of not marrying her. "Done? Then I'm leaving." She took a few steps back and turned to leave, but Jeffrey couldn't control his urge to follow her.
"Karen! I'm sorry..." "Yeah, great, | accept your apology." She was too composed, which made Jeffrey even more nervous. He wished Karen would hit him, anything but this indifferent demeanor.
"Karen, just wait a second!" He ran in front of her, forcibly turning her to face him, "You said you had something to tell me too, right?"
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