Chapter 991

“No, don’t wait for me,” Jennifer said, looking up, a bit flustered. “I don’t need you to wait. Go find a good woman, build a life with her, and have some kids. You deserve to be happy.”

“And what about you? After nine months, when you get out, what are you going to do?” Donald asked.

“I haven’t really thought that far. I just want to serve my sentence and, when I get out, start over,” Jennifer replied, lowering her head.

After Jennifer finished speaking, she looked down. Donald stared at her, and he thought, Jennifer can start over, but what about me? Can I, Donald, really start over, too? I don’t know.

“I’ll wait for you. When you get out, let’s start fresh together,” Donald said.

“You don’t need to worry about me.” Jennifer still refused Donald.

“I told you, I don’t need you to wait for me, Donald. Just forget about me!”

‘Forget about me. He should start over,’ Jennifer thought to herself.

They had no children, no lingering bonds–nothing to tether them anymore. What remained was little more than a fading dream. Only the divorce certificate stood as proof that they had once loved, once been bound together.

Perhaps this was how it had to end. Maybe letting go wasn’t just an act of surrender, but the final kindness she could offer him and herself.

Donald shook his head. “Jennifer, I can’t do that. If I could forget you so easily, I wouldn’t be in so much pain. There wouldn’t be so many people in this world suffering over love.”

But she had disappointed him so many times. Jennifer stayed silent, until her face was wet with tears.

“It’s nothing I can’t get over. Over these nine months, I’ll let you go. So, I hope you’ll do the same. Don’t waste any more of your time on someone like me,” Jennifer said.

“You mean you’ll just forget about me that easily, right?” Donald asked.

“Yes.” Jennifer was resolute, not daring to hesitate. “I’ll forget you. I’ll treat our marriage as nothing but a mistake. Don’t come to see me anymore. From now on, seriously, we have nothing to do with each other anymore.”

Jennifer thought, ‘We’re on different paths now. He’s still Donald in pediatrics, but I’m no longer Jennifer from the gynecology department. I’ll never practice medicine again. She’s not even qualified anymore!’

Donald wanted to say something more, but the guard by his side reminded him that their visiting time was up.

Donald took a deep breath and placed his hand against the glass, as if touching Jennifer’s face. “Jennifer, take care of yourself,” he said.

“You take care, too, Donald. Let’s leave it at that,” Jennifer replied. With that, she hung up the phone first. Turning around, she was escorted away by two prison guards.

She didn’t dare look back. She just couldn’t bring herself to do it. It wasn’t until Donald lost sight of her that he finally got up, grabbed his crutch, and limped away. He looked so lonely and miserable.

Jonathan sobered up and, after returning to Forlisle Rose Estates, found Fiona still playing with Michael. He had only just sent Irene away, but Fiona hadn’t been sent back yet.

Fiona, still unaware of the fierce legal battle, smiled at Mike and said, “Look who’s back.”

“Mr. Daddy Lime!” As soon as Michael saw Jonathan come back, he dashed over, just like an excited little puppy, circling around him until Jonathan scooped him up.

Michael snuggled up to Jonathan’s neck, sniffed at his clothes with his sharp little nose, then suddenly looked up at him with wide eyes. “Mr. Lime, you smell like alcohol. Did you drink?”

“I had a little. Does it smell that bad? Sorry about that,” Jonathan replied.

Michael shook his head, asking Jonathan with concern, “Then why did you drink? Are you feeling sad?”