Chapter 19

The days passed quickly. On their first snowy day, the court sentenced Simone, charged with theft, murder, and other serious crimes, to six years in prison. Preston, completely intoxicated upon hearing the news, was unconcerned with Simone's fate.

For the past six months, he had been drinking heavily, rarely fully conscious. No one could persuade him to stop. Every time he drank, he mumbled Jolene's name. His friends exchanged glances, but none dared contact Jolene, fearing Cedric's displeasure. After all, reporters had photographed the couple enjoying their honeymoon abroad on several occasions; they appeared perfectly happy.

As New Year's Day approached, Cedric and Jolene returned home to celebrate with family and friends. On New Year's Eve, at the Norwoods' family party, a radiant Cedric announced, "Jo is pregnant. The doctor says she's carrying twins."

While others congratulated the couple, Preston smashed his glass in a fit of rage. Everyone stared at him. Pale-faced, he muttered, "Congratulations," through clenched teeth. The next ten minutes were unbearable. He then excused himself and left.

That night, he neither slept nor drank. He sat in a corner, reminiscing. The incandescent lamp's white light illuminated the room as he stared blankly at Jolene's gifts in a cupboard: a bottle of 999 paper stars she'd folded at ten; a figurine she'd spent over two weeks assembling at sixteen; a brooch and cuff set she'd designed at twenty.

His eyes reddened. He felt terrible pain, his heart gripped tight, making it hard to breathe. He covered his face, tears wetting his sleeves. He finally understood the meaning of appreciating something only after losing it.

Although Jolene's children were only three months along, Cedric had already begun choosing names, listing over ten, including boy and girl names, with nicknames. He showed the list to Jolene.

She put down her parenting book. One name caught her eye: "Clarissa." Tears welled up. "Why this name?"

Cedric, unaware of her sadness, comforted her. "Is it bad? We won't use it. Look at the others." He reached for the paper, but Jolene stopped him, clutching it to her chest. Tears shining, she smiled. "No. Let's use this. One will be a girl. We'll name her Clarissa."

Cedric wiped away her tears. "Alright. We'll name the other Jamie, then?"

Jolene then noticed something strange. Clarissa Norwood was her daughter's name in her previous life, chosen by Louis. But seeing Cedric's names, she realized he'd likely suggested "Clarissa" in her past life.

She remembered visiting Louis at the Norwood residence with Clarissa a month after her delivery. Cedric, usually abroad, was home then. Leaving, she'd run into him. He'd called out, "You brought the child alone? Where is he?"

Back then, Preston, devastated by Simone's marriage, drank daily, often unreachable. Jolene, feeling sad and bitter, had covered for him: "He's been busy. I didn't want to interfere with his work."

Years later, Jolene remembered the look in Cedric's eyes—dark, clouded, hurt. She couldn't understand it then, but now felt mixed emotions. In her past life, she'd been blindly determined, while Cedric expertly concealed his feelings. That's how they'd missed each other for so long.