After all, ever since she broke away from the Johnston family as a child and survived all those years in a poor village, hardship was nothing new to her. She’d long since gotten used to it.

“Jennifer, someone’s here to see you. Come out,” a voice called from outside. Someone had come to visit.

Jennifer pushed herself up, her knees feeling a bit weak, and walked out.

When she saw Donald limping toward her, leaning heavily on a crutch, she froze. “Donald, what happened to you? Why are you on crutches?”

Seeing how worried Jennifer looked, Donald actually felt a bit of warmth inside. He sat down across from her, leaning on his crutch, separated by a pane of glass.

He stared at Jennifer in her prison uniform, and before he knew it, tears started rolling down his cheeks. “I’m sorry I didn’t make it to your trial,” Donald said, his voice trembling.

The reason he hadn’t shown up in court was that he’d gotten into a car accident on the way there.

He’d crashed into another car, and the impact left his legs pinned under the seat. He almost couldn’t get out at all.

“How did this happen? What about your leg now? What did the doctor say?” Jennifer asked, her voice full of worry.

“Don’t worry. The doctor said it’s just a fracture. I just need a few months to recover, that’s all.”

Donald hesitated.

“Just what?” Jennifer pressed.

“It’s just the car I was driving. It was Teresa’s,” Donald finally admitted.

Jennifer froze. She thought, ‘What’s he trying to say? Why was he driving Teresa’s car?’

Donald finally told the truth. He’d actually sold his car a while ago because he felt like he owed Jonathan too much and didn’t want to be in his debt any longer. So, he sold the car and paid Jonathan back as soon as he could.

After his mom, Cathy, divorced Werner, she bought a small villa in Soronfield, and Donald had borrowed money from Jonathan to cover the down payment.

After selling his car, he paid Jonathan back for the house’s down payment, and he also gave Teresa the money to cover Jennifer’s legal fees. He didn’t want her to shoulder that burden.

“Why would you do that? We’re already divorced. Why are you still paying for my legal fees?” Jennifer demanded, confused and upset.

“Because I just feel useless. I didn’t protect you, and I didn’t stop you when I should have. This is my responsibility. It’s the only way I can feel a little less guilty,” Donald said, his voice heavy with remorse.

On the day of the trial, since Donald didn’t have a car, Teresa lent him hers.

Jennifer was completely speechless. She collapsed onto the bench, looking totally defeated, her eyes blank. “I crashed when I drove Teresa’s car before, and now you crashed driving her car, too.”

‘Seriously, what are the odds?’ Jennifer thought. ‘First me, and then Donald. Anyone who drives Teresa’s car ends up in a wreck.’

Donald didn’t have time to dwell on the strange coincidence. He was more worried about how long Jennifer had been sentenced. “I heard from the guard at the gate that you got nine months. Is that true?”

Jennifer didn’t deny it. Donald’s heart twisted. “Wasn’t it supposed to be six months? How did it turn into nine? Did the judge mess up or something?”

Jennifer shook her head. “No, I brought this on myself. I was too impulsive. I’ll take it.”

She accepted it. Nine months cut off from the world. That was the price she had to pay for her own mistakes. All of it. Every last thing, she’d pay for them all.

Jennifer let out a bitter laugh. “Maybe this was always coming for me, ever since I thought about aborting the baby. Back then, I kept dreaming of her crying, asking me, ‘Mom, why don’t you want me?’ And all I could do was say sorry…”

Jennifer lowered her head, her long hair falling over her thin face. “Donald, I really am sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”

Jennifer finally understood what that really meant. She’d hurt so many people. That was just karma coming back around.

Donald’s eyes shimmered with tears as he said softly, “I’ll wait for you.”