Chapter 211 Ethan Tears Up the Prenup
When Ethan returned, Jasmine had already prepared dinner. She was wearing an apron and had her hair tied up in a simple bun.
As she placed the dinner on the table, Jasmine greeted a returning Ethan with a smile. "Wash up, dinner's ready."
Ethan paused, setting Justin down.
Growing up amidst his parents' chilly relationship, Ethan had long resisted the notion of settling down and starting a family. Yet, in this moment, a sense of warmth enveloped him.
It felt akin to a weary traveler finally returning to the hearth after a prolonged journey.
"Mommy," Justin said after washing his tiny hands, obediently sitting at the dining table. "Today Casey didn't go to school."
This surprised Jasmine, and she turned to Ethan. "Casey didn't go to school?"
Ethan nodded, not wanting to pry into someone else's business. Perhaps the kid was just sick.
Jasmine didn't press further, seeing that Lisa seemed to dote on her son; she figured there was no need to worry too much.
"I've made a simple soup with pork ribs and stir-fried pork with bamboo shoots," Jasmine murmured softly, hoping Ethan might broach the weightier topics lingering in the air.
But Ethan remained silent, the weight of undisclosed matters hanging heavily between them.
Jasmine's unease grew, a nagging sensation gnawing at her heart.
"Um... my mother caused a scene at the office and got arrested by the police," Jasmine ventured tentatively, her voice tinged with apprehension.
"Yeah, Richard called the police," Ethan replied, his survival instinct kicking in since May's identity was quite sensitive.
After all, May was Jasmine's mother, regardless of her transgressions.
"I hope she learns from this," Jasmine murmured, acutely aware of the trouble her mother's actions had wrought upon Ethan.
"I suppose some people will do anything for their own gain, even at the expense of family," Ethan mused, his words laden with skepticism rather than admonishment.
Without his protection, without Richard handling the situation timely, the damage May and her relatives could have inflicted on the company would inevitably fall back on Jasmine.
Howard seized the opportunity, doing everything he could to push Jasmine away, pressuring him with both soft and hard tactics to end his marriage with Jasmine and to merge with the Brown family.
"Maybe... it's my fault," Jasmine admitted softly, her gaze falling, burdened by a sense of inadequacy.
Over the years, she had habitually sought reasons within herself. Whether it was May or even Karen from the Wilson family who had once loved her for twenty-one years, they all despised her.
"Is it possible... that it's not your fault?" Ethan's fingers intertwined with Jasmine's, his gaze searching hers. "I suggest you do a paternity test with May. I don't see any resemblance to you in her. Let's see the results of the test before jumping to conclusions."
Jasmine looked at Ethan in a daze. "I... You suspect I'm not her daughter?"
"Have you never doubted it yourself?" Ethan asked, looking at her.
She was so intelligent; she could entertain a reasonable suspicion, at least until the results were in.
Jasmine's grip tightened on her hands as she lowered her gaze. "I've had doubts and even brought up the idea of a paternity test with May. But back then, the Wilson family didn't care. They only cared about whether Serena was their daughter, not whether I truly was May's."
Silence hung heavy between them, pregnant with unspoken fears and uncertainties.
"Actually... I have my own selfish reasons too. I'm scared, if I'm not May's daughter, does that mean I truly have nowhere to belong? No home, no brother, no family..."
Ethan's eyes, pools of understanding, bore into Jasmine's soul.
He suddenly remembered the first time he saw Jasmine at the hotel, emerging from a suite covered in blood, her forehead lacerated by glass shards from a shattered bottle, disheveled but resolutely begging him for help.
Back then, Ethan couldn't understand why Jasmine wouldn't fight back, why she'd cover for those people even if it meant lying to the cops.
The pieces of the puzzle started fitting together...
Unlike Ethan, who tackled problems head-on, Jasmine's upbringing had molded her into a cautious soul, wary of the myriad outcomes each decision could birth.
She dwelled in uncertainty, her self-worth eroded by the burden of endless possibilities.
"Justin." Ethan's gaze flickered to their son, a silent exchange passing between them.
With an exuberant grin, Justin scampered into the room, concealing a bouquet Ethan had prepared behind his back. "Mommy, Justin has flowers for you."
A burst of color erupted as Justin revealed a bouquet of vibrant red roses, their petals rich and intoxicating.
Jasmine stared, speechless, her emotions swirling like a tempest.
"Jasmine." Ethan's voice was a lifeline in the chaos. "You have a home now, someone to shield you from the storms. Don't overthink; I'll navigate the rough waters ahead. Just focus on blooming."
Ethan yearned to witness her transformation, to see Jasmine shed her inhibitions and flourish in newfound confidence.
To cast aside her worries and embrace her beauty.
To bloom, unfettered and radiant.
Tears welled in Jasmine's eyes as she clutched the bouquet, its significance not lost on her.
"Ethan, will you protect me for life?" Her voice trembled with vulnerability.
"There's no more contract, no prenup from now on. As long as you don't bring it up, we won't divorce," Ethan's declaration resonated with sincerity.
Jasmine was stunned by his earnestness.
Ethan, never one for grand gestures, had bared his soul in a simple promise.
Tears streamed down Jasmine's cheeks, disbelief mingling with gratitude.
"I know you can't fully trust me yet, can we take it slow?" Ethan tore up the prenup before her eyes, a gesture of unwavering commitment. "What about yours?"
Jasmine was speechless, overwhelmed by Ethan's gestures of love.
"Come with me to the real estate office tomorrow," Ethan urged, determination etched in his features.
Jasmine nodded quickly, "Yes, Mr. Ethan."
"Hmm?" Ethan squinted.
"Yes..." Jasmine bit her lip.
"What should you call me?" Ethan countered.
Jasmine looked down, her ears burning red, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.
"Honey!" Justin and Jasmine spoke at the same time, and even Justin knew that in a marriage, you call each other "honey."
Justin covered his mouth to suppress a giggle, bending over his meal once more.
Jasmine was so flustered she could barely hold her flowers steady. "Who, who taught you to talk like that…"
Justin cocked his head. "But that’s what they say on TV shows, Mom calls Dad honey."
Jasmine was overcome with anxiety. "From now on, less TV."
Ethan's smile widened, his affection for her evident. "Say it again? There might be a reward."
Flustered, Jasmine sought refuge in the kitchen, her heart pounding in her chest.
She cradled the bouquet, its petals a silent testament to Ethan's unwavering love.
As she gazed at the roses, a realization dawned upon her.
She used to prefer the quiet elegance of white roses, but now, she found solace in the fiery passion of red blooms.
Ethan had encouraged her to bloom, to embrace her true self.
Her season might have passed, but perhaps she could still flourish, albeit in a different hue...
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