Chapter 194 One Last Bet
Rain poured down in the yard like a waterfall.
Mila held an umbrella and tossed another one at Michael's feet. "Leave. Sinclair doesn't want to see you!"
The rain blurred Michael's vision.
He looked up at the closed curtains on the second floor, his voice weak. "But she's carrying my child. How can she raise the baby alone? I'll take responsibility."
"How? By sending child support or dragging her back to Imperial Capital to be your maid?" Mila's voice was sharp.
The word "maid" made Michael freeze. "I never saw Sinclair as a maid."
Mila sneered. "Do you love her? Sinclair said you pursued her first. Is that true?"
Michael nodded. "Yes."
It was true. He had approached Sinclair first and wronged her.
Mila continued, "I know you have money and might be important in Imperial Capital. This is a small city, and Sinclair's father has passed away. Even though our family isn't wealthy, Sinclair was raised with love and care by her father and me!"
"We saved up to send her to college, not for her to be mistreated! If you think Sinclair is naive and are just playing with her, then stop pretending to care! As for the baby, whether we abort it or keep it, that's none of your business!" Mila turned to go back inside.
Michael clenched his fists and rushed forward.
Mila screamed, "Hey! What are you doing!"
Michael said, "I need to see Sinclair. I have something to say to her!"
Drenched, Michael stormed into the house.
Mila couldn't stop him. She warned, "You can see Sinclair, but if you don't plan to have a future with her, don't give her false hope!"
"I will take responsibility for Sinclair," Michael said as he strode upstairs.
Sinclair was in the bedroom, the door locked. Michael tried the handle but couldn't open it. "Sinclair, can you let me in so we can talk?"
She had left a breakup message and disappeared for days, now refusing to see him.
Michael felt agitated but said patiently, "Sinclair, let's talk about the baby. You're pregnant; even if you avoid me, this needs to be resolved. I'm the father, and you will have to face me sooner or later."
Inside the bedroom, silence stretched on.
Just as Michael was about to lose hope, Sinclair opened the door.
She looked at him calmly. "What do you want to talk about?"
Michael, drenched from the rain, felt a mix of unfamiliarity and deep emotion seeing her after days apart.
He wiped his face and asked, "Can I come in?"
Sinclair stepped aside.
Michael entered, his wet clothes dripping. He looked around but didn't sit to avoid soaking anything. He just stood there.
He looked at Sinclair. "Why did you leave without a word?"
Sinclair replied, "I didn't. I texted you, but you ignored it like always."
Her calm words left Michael speechless for a moment.
He took a deep breath, his face tense. "I saw it. When I tried to reply, you had already blocked me."
Sinclair said, "Being together needs mutual consent, but breaking up is a one-sided decision. It doesn't need agreement from both sides."
Michael asked, "Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?"
Sinclair said, "I don't want to use the baby to force you into marriage. Maybe before, I wanted to marry you. I thought you genuinely liked me until I realized how much Juniper meant to you. Michael, do you know? Even in your sleep, you call out Juniper's name. I can't pretend it doesn't bother me. I thought being with you would be enough, but I realized I'm greedy. I don't want my love to be one-sided."
Sinclair wanted mutual affection, but she knew it was rare.
She sat at the head of the bed, her face lowered, hiding her emotions. Her voice carried a choke.
She didn't want to cry. If you weren't loved, what right did you have to feel wronged? It was her choice to love him; she had to bear the consequences.
Michael stood there, looking down at her. After a long time, he knelt on one knee in front of her.
"Sinclair, let's get married. This time it's for real. The wedding will be at the end of the month as planned. I'll give you and the baby a home. Can you trust me one more time?" Michael pleaded.
His eyes were full of depth and sincerity.
Sinclair's tears fell, and she sniffled, forcing a smile. "Michael, do you want to marry me because you love me, or is it just because I'm pregnant and you feel obligated?"
Or maybe he wanted to marry Juniper's shadow. But she couldn't bring herself to ask that.
Michael's Adam's apple bobbed. "About Juniper, I don't know how to explain it. I don't want to lie. She did have a place in my heart, but I never intended to pursue her. I always knew it was impossible. Sinclair, do you know what a habit is? For seven years, I've habitually left a place for Juniper in my heart, but nothing ever happened between us."
This was the first time Michael had spoken so openly about Juniper.
Before, whenever Sinclair mentioned Juniper, he would get upset.
Sinclair's eyes reddened. "Yes, Juniper will always be special to you. So, Michael, you don't love me. You just want to take responsibility because I'm pregnant."
Michael said, "What I mean is, Sinclair, let's get married. I'll try to remove Juniper from my heart, and I'll be good to you and the baby. Nothing ever happened between Juniper and me. Sinclair, can you give me some time?"
After breaking up with Michael, she had considered having an abortion or becoming a single mother. But she never thought Michael would come to Oakvale County, kneel in front of her, and ask for a chance.
She admitted, her heart softened. The one who loved more always easily compromised with a bit of kindness from the other.
Sinclair looked at him and cried, "Why did you come to Oakvale County? We could have ended it like this, Michael. Why did you make me conflicted again?"
She had finally let go, but Michael started to bend for her.
To her, Michael was like the moon in a clear pond, beautiful but unreachable.
The moon had never shone on her, but now, this moon gave her a glimmer of light.
Michael said, "After you left Imperial Capital, Sinclair, I realized I couldn't let you go. Whether you believe it or not, even if it's just out of habit, I really couldn't let you go. I guessed you went back to your hometown, but I suddenly realized I didn't even know your exact address. I remembered you had mentioned it before, and I realized how much I had ignored you when you were by my side."
Sinclair's tears fell on Michael's hand.
Michael continued, "Sinclair, I promise you. I won't ignore you anymore. Let's start over. This time, I will treat you well."
Rationally, she wanted to reject him, but her hands were tightly held by his.
She looked at him hopelessly and sadly. "Michael, can I trust you one more time?"
Michael took out a diamond ring from his pocket. "Sinclair, will you marry me?"
The diamond ring sparkled; he had personally chosen it over the past few days.
He held her hand and slipped the ring onto her finger. "If you don't like this style, we can pick another one when we get back to Imperial Capital."
Sinclair looked down at the diamond ring on her finger, her mind a whirlwind of emotions.
What she never dared to hope for was now happening—Michael kneeling and proposing. But she couldn't feel happy, knowing he was doing it mainly because she was pregnant.
Seeing her hesitation, Michael added, "I plan to have Patricia move out. No one will bully you anymore. Haven't you been preparing for your exams? I registered you online. Now that you're pregnant, you don't need to rush to work. After you get your professional certificate, have the baby, and fully recover. If you want to work then, I won't stop you."
Wasn't he most concerned about his sister? How could he bear to ask Patricia to move out?
Sinclair asked, "If you ask Patricia to move out, won't she hate you?"
"She's been spoiled by me for too long. It's time for her to face some hardships," Michael said, his eyes serious.
Sinclair looked at him, slowly and clearly falling for him. "Michael, this is... the last chance."
It was for him and for herself.
Michael said, "Okay, if you don't feel secure, we can register our marriage as soon as we get back to Imperial Capital."
Register their marriage? Sinclair was surprised but felt their relationship was still unstable. "Let's wait a bit before registering the marriage."
Michael agreed. "Okay. As long as you're willing to come back to Imperial Capital with me, I'll listen to anything you say."
Sinclair's heart softened. She looked at his wet clothes and tugged at his hand. "Get up. Did you bring any other clothes?"
Michael replied, "I had Luke bring them. They're at the hotel in town."
The best hotel in this town was only three stars. For someone like Michael, who was used to executive suites, it must feel dirty and messy.
Sinclair felt a pang of pity. Looking at his disheveled appearance, she felt something hit her heart.
She got up, took a dry towel, and handed it to him. "Dry yourself off."
Michael was stunned for a moment, didn't take the towel, but instead pulled her into a hug.
He called her name, "Sinclair."
Sinclair froze. This seemed to be the first time Michael had hugged her so proactively.
Michael held her and lowered his head to kiss her. "Sinclair, can you trust me one more time?"
She couldn't resist such a gentle Michael, nor could she push him away.
Michael looked at her now, his eyes full of her, making Sinclair fall deeper.
When a person hadn't been completely hurt and still had feelings for the other, they wouldn't leave. Whether it was foolishness or being lost, it couldn't compare to the greed of absorbing this moment.
After a long kiss, Sinclair's eyes turned red. She thought, 'Michael, I'll take one last gamble with you.'
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