“I… I’m grateful you’ve been here all this time. You’ve always been patient, never demanding. But I’m afraid… I can’t give you what you truly deserve.”
“Jessica, I’m not asking you to repay everything I’ve done. I’m asking you to be honest with yourself. If you still love Kevin… I’ll step back. But don’t choose me out of guilt.”
Those words cut deeper than Jonas might have realized. Jessica wanted to cry—but held it in.
That night, after Anya had gone to bed, Kevin came over. Jessica hadn’t told Jonas that Kevin would be visiting. She told herself it was just a conversation. Just a talk.
Kevin brought two cups of coffee from their old favorite café. “Still like vanilla lattes?”
Jessica smiled. “Still. But now I use stevia instead of sugar.”
They sat in the living room, surrounded by silence and s
Jessica looked into his eyes. They were calm, but held silent pain.“Why are you so sure you want to wait for someone like me? Someone who doesn’t even know how long she has left?”“Because even at your weakest, you still think of others. And that’s enough for me to know… you’re someone worth fighting for.”Jessica bowed her head. Her tears began to fall.That night, she didn’t make a decision. But she knew one thing: she was loved. Not by just one, but by two men who saw her as more than a sick body. And for the first time in a long while… she felt worthy. Not because of her roles or her past, but because of who she was.In the room, Anya was already asleep. Jessica kissed her gently before turning off the light.Beside the bed, the folder from her father remained unopened. But tonight, she wasn’t afraid to open it. Whatever it contained, she knew… she wasn&rsq
Back at home, Kevin was already waiting in the living room. He looked anxious, but tried to smile when Jessica walked in.“Sorry for dropping by unannounced,” he said. “I stopped by Mom’s house earlier, and then… I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”Jessica just nodded. She sat across from Kevin, keeping her distance.“I know you met Jonas today,” Kevin said directly. “I won’t pretend I’m okay with it.”Jessica closed her eyes briefly.Kevin leaned forward slightly. “But I didn’t come to argue. I came to tell you… I’m willing to change, if that’s what it takes to prove I deserve a second chance.”“I’m not judging you just by your past mistakes, Kevin.”“I know. But I can’t wait forever, either. Just like him, I want an answer.”Jessica bit her lip. “You have no idea how ha
“I… I’m grateful you’ve been here all this time. You’ve always been patient, never demanding. But I’m afraid… I can’t give you what you truly deserve.”“Jessica, I’m not asking you to repay everything I’ve done. I’m asking you to be honest with yourself. If you still love Kevin… I’ll step back. But don’t choose me out of guilt.”Those words cut deeper than Jonas might have realized. Jessica wanted to cry—but held it in.That night, after Anya had gone to bed, Kevin came over. Jessica hadn’t told Jonas that Kevin would be visiting. She told herself it was just a conversation. Just a talk.Kevin brought two cups of coffee from their old favorite café. “Still like vanilla lattes?”Jessica smiled. “Still. But now I use stevia instead of sugar.”They sat in the living room, surrounded by silence and s
“They both seem to care,” he continued. “But in the end, only one can stay by your side.”Jessica didn’t respond. She knew that. And that’s exactly why she didn’t want to rush into an answer.After breakfast, Jessica chose to sit on the porch. She spread a thin blanket over the long bench and watched the trees in the yard. The setting brought back old memories—of the time she and Kevin used to visit the countryside, sometimes sitting on that very bench, talking about the future… about Anya, who hadn’t even been born yet.Then everything shattered. Then came Jonas—bringing hope and heartbreak in one complicated bundle.The sound of a car pulled her from her thoughts. She turned—and immediately recognized the vehicle.Kevin.He stepped out carefully, carrying a small potted frangipani. His steps were hesitant as he walked toward the porch, but his gaze was steady.
Jonas stood behind them, discreetly wiping his eyes before stepping forward and leaning in to kiss Jessica’s forehead.“Thank you for holding on,” he whispered.Jessica nodded. “I held on because of all of you. Because of Anya. Because… there are still people I want to love a little longer.”That night, peace settled over Papa Randy’s house. A soft breeze drifted in through a slightly open window, carrying the scent of frangipani from the backyard. In the bedroom, a dim lamp cast a warm glow on Jessica’s face, which now looked more at ease than it had in weeks. Her body was still weak, but the fear had eased. After the promising results that morning, her spirit had slowly begun to return. Tonight was the first night in a long time that she could smile without pretending.Anya was asleep in her arms. The little girl’s breaths rose and fell gently, murmuring now and then in her sleep. Jona
Jessica nodded, shifting her chair to make space. “I’m relieved too, Kevin. It feels like I can finally breathe again.”Kevin glanced at Anya, then at Jonas, and finally at Randy. “Would it be okay if I took Anya out front for a bit?”Jessica turned to Anya. “Wanna go play with Daddy for a while?”Anya nodded eagerly, kissed Jessica on the cheek, and took Kevin’s hand.Once they’d left for the front yard, Jonas and Randy headed into the kitchen, leaving Jessica alone on the porch.She drew in a deep breath, her eyes fixed on the wide, open sky.That morning, Papa Randy’s house felt warmer than usual. The sun had just begun streaming through the living room windows, casting a soft glow on the sofa where Jessica rested, a blanket draped over her legs, a steaming cup of tea on the side table. Her hair fell loosely over her shoulders, slightly messy, and though her eyes still held trace