HE LEFT ME FOR MY STEPSISTER, I MOVED ON TO THE NEXT의 모든 챕터: 챕터 411 - 챕터 420

Chapter 411One little girl laughed loudly at something in the book.Another child raised his hand with complete seriousness as if answering a school question.Nathan stopped beside me.Neither of us spoke.We simply watched.Then a tiny boy suddenly stood up and ran toward his father holding a picture book above his head.The man smiled and lifted him easily into his arms.Nathan's expression changed.Very slightly.But I saw it.He wasn't watching the story anymore.He was imagining.I turned toward him."What are you thinking?"Nathan looked down at me.Then back toward the children.A slow smile crossed his face."I think..." he said quietly, "...I want this."My chest tightened.Because his voice carried something different.Not fear.Not nervousness.Just certainty.He looked toward me again."I want the late-night stories."His fingers found mine."I want toys all over the floor."A small laugh escaped him."I even want the sleepless nights."Then his eyes softened."I want all

Chapter 413For a while we sat quietly watching people outside pass by.Then Nathan looked out the window and suddenly frowned.I followed his gaze.Across the street, a father crouched beside a little boy who had fallen near the sidewalk.The child looked upset.The man brushed dirt from the boy's jacket and said something before fixing his tiny backpack.A few seconds later the little boy smiled again.Nathan watched silently.His expression softened.Then he looked toward me."You know something?"I raised an eyebrow."What?"His fingers moved over mine on the table."I think I understand something now."I waited.He smiled a little."I used to think becoming a parent started when the baby arrived."His eyes stayed on mine."But I think it starts earlier."Silence settled between us.Because for once he wasn't joking.Wasn't teasing.Wasn't trying to make me laugh.He was simply telling me something real.And somehow...I knew he was right.We reached home just before sunset.Natha

Chapter 415His hand moved over mine."But every day feels closer now."His eyes softened."And I keep thinking..."He stopped briefly.Thinking carefully."I just want both of you safe."My chest tightened.Because beneath all the jokes...Beneath all the overthinking...Beneath all the ridiculous hospital bags and balloons...It had always been this.Love.Simple and endless.I moved closer and kissed him softly.Then rested against him again.Neither of us noticed that somewhere in the distance...The first small storm clouds had begun gathering outside.Rain arrived before dawn.Not heavy.Just steady enough for soft tapping sounds to spread across the windows.I woke later than usual and reached beside me.Nathan was there.Still asleep.One arm around my waist.One leg somehow halfway over mine.I stared at him for a moment.Then smiled.Months ago, this man slept like the world could collapse beside him and he would never notice.Now he woke up because I breathed differently.L

Chapter 417The rest of the day passed peacefully.After breakfast, Nathan spent part of the afternoon at home finishing work while I stayed in the living room with Mom.The weather outside had cleared completely after yesterday's rain.Sunlight streamed through the windows, making the house feel warm and comfortable.Mom sat beside me knitting quietly.I looked down at the tiny sweater growing in her hands."You've been making a lot lately."She smiled without lifting her eyes."I had years to save love."My chest tightened.Very slightly.Not from sadness.From understanding.For twenty years she had lost time.Now she poured every piece of herself into moments she could finally touch.Into me.Into this family.Into the grandchild she was waiting to meet.I leaned against her shoulder quietly.Mom kissed the top of my head.Neither of us spoke for a while.Some silences felt complete all by themselves.Later that evening, Nathan received a call and stepped outside to answer it.I r

Chapter 419A small smile touched his face."I wonder if I'll hold the baby correctly."I stayed quiet."I wonder if I'll know what to do."His eyes moved toward me.Then softened."And I keep wondering what you'll look like."I blinked."What?"Nathan smiled slightly."The first time I see you holding our child."Silence settled around us.Because somehow...Out of everything he could have said……….That one reached me.I stared at him quietly.Then moved closer and rested my head against his shoulder.Nathan wrapped his arm around me immediately."You'll do fine."He looked down."You sound very confident."I smiled."You spent weeks researching diapers."Nathan narrowed his eyes."I'm serious.""So am I."I looked up at him."You care."My voice softened."You care about every little thing."I squeezed his hand gently."Our child is already lucky."Nathan held my gaze for several seconds.Long enough that I saw emotion shift across his face.Then suddenly……….A sharp sound echoed th