Chapter 678

“Gary has known about this all along,” Jennifer admitted.

Donald asked, “What do you mean?”

Jennifer explained, “Before Sanford even changed his name, he already knew about Mike’s true parentage. He threatened me again and again, saying he would expose it publicly.

“I was terrified of losing everything—my career, and you—so I could only appeal to our old school ties, hoping he wouldn’t say anything. That’s the only reason I ever met with him.

“I swear, everything I’ve said is true. There was never any romantic involvement between Gary and me, and since marrying you, I’ve never done anything to betray you.”

Donald let out a bitter laugh. He sneered, “Is the department head title really that important to you? Are you so afraid that being exposed will ruin your career that you live in constant fear every day? Does that make you happy?”

“That’s not how it is,” Jennifer protested, her heart wrenching in agony. She said, “At least in your heart, I’m still kind. You say I don’t love you, so why would I go through all this trouble to hide everything?

“I was terrified you’d find out I faked the report, that my perfect image in your heart would be ruined. I don’t care what anyone else thinks of me, but I just couldn’t bear to see you disappointed or disgusted with me.

“The first time I faked a report, I hadn’t even fallen for you yet. You always said I was the best, the most outstanding girl in your heart.

“I was just so afraid you’d be disappointed, so afraid you’d end up hating me—exactly like what’s happening now.”

She clutched Donald’s arm desperately, gazing up at him with beseeching eyes. She said, “Donald, I can’t bear for you to hate me. I just wanted to keep that flawless image you always had of me—the goddess you believed me to be.

“That’s why I kept lying to you, again and again. Don’t you realize how exhausted I am? Night after night, I wake from nightmares, terrified you’ll leave me. I’m so weary. But this weariness is still better than losing everything.”

At this moment, Donald was lost in confusion. He thought, ‘Is this love? Every word she utters now is a desperate plea—declaring her love for me, her fear of losing me, and her dread that I might come to hate her.

‘Maybe this love was twisted from the very beginning. A feeling that’s pure worship—able to embrace only someone’s virtues and never their flaws—isn’t love; it’s sickness.’

Donald took a deep breath as he listened to Jennifer plead desperately, “You can deny everything about me, but you can’t deny my love for you.”

He lifted his gaze to the sky, still heavy with clouds and gray with gloom. He insisted, “No matter what, I have to tell Jonathan about Mike’s true parentage today. Please forgive me—I can’t keep enabling this selfishness with you.”

He told himself, ‘Before I am ever a husband, I am a human being—one who knows how to be grateful and how to repay it. Men of the Lynn family are no ingrates.’

“Donald, Donald. Please don’t go, don’t leave me alone,” Jennifer cried out desperately.

Donald had already driven away.

Jennifer collapsed, desperate to run after Donald, when a searing pain ripped through her abdomen.

She had planned to wait until the baby’s heartbeat was steady before telling Donald about her pregnancy, so he wouldn’t get the wrong idea.

There was nothing else she could do now. The finality in Donald’s eyes stabbed at her heart. She decided to use their child as her last card, desperately begging him not to leave. She didn’t want a divorce or to lose Donald again.

Jennifer dabbed away her tears, composed herself with effort, then got into Teresa’s Porsche and drove off.

Meanwhile, at Rosary Estates, Teresa kept trying to call Jennifer, but the calls just wouldn’t go through.