I Refuse this Late Chapter 12
So, I closed my eyes and jumped.
When I woke up, the first thing I saw was Jolene’s face. Her eyes were puffy with tears as she clung firmly to my hand.
When she saw I was awake, she quickly called for the doctor. Meanwhile, I raised my hand with great effort and said, “Don’t cry.”
She hugged me fiercely then. She only let go after I gave her a reassuring pat on her back.
My parents stood nearby, looking at me with worry and guilt on their faces.
Jolene then leaned in to whisper into my ear, “Stella found evidence that Uriah was collaborating with those loan sharks who hurt you. They’re all locked up now.”
That was when my mother wiped her tears and called out, “John?”
However, she didn’t say anything for a long time after that.
Finally, I said in a self-deprecating manner, “You want me to forgive Uriah, right? If you’re going to use the fact that you gave birth to me to pressure me, then fine-I’ll cave.”
Jolene shot me a disapproving glare.
However, my mother wasn’t as delighted as I imagined. She kept waving her hands and seemed too uneasy to say anything to me.
She turned to my father instead, who sighed. “We understand that we’ve made a mistake, and you got hurt because we thought too highly of Uriah.”
My mother quickly nodded and turned to me hopefully. “Will you forgive us?”
I looked down at my hands. “Do you remember that debit card you gave me when I got home? If I had it, none of it would have happened.
“Whatever you could give me now is too little, too late. And I have no need for any of it.
“Just go. I’m feeling sleepy.”
After saying that, I laid down on my side and kept my back to them.
I heard my mother stifling her sobs behind me, but it didn’t change my mind.
Not everything in the world deserved forgiveness.
Stella knew she was the reason I jumped out of the hospital room, so she never showed up around me again.
Instead, she went all out to destroy Uriah’s life.
However, I didn’t even bother to attend his trial because I had left town with Jolene.
I had no idea how much time had passed since then, but we were now staying at a place where she could do some gardening.
I sat on the veranda, reading a book while she worked with a tiny hand shovel.
“Why did the flowers I planted last year wilt?”
I put aside my book and chuckled in exasperation. “I told you to water them, but you wouldn’t listen.”
Jolene snorted grumpily, then changed the subject. “By the way, Mrs. Sullivan called again.”
I picked up my book again. “Just hang up on her.”
Jolene pouted and held out her arms at me. “I’m tired.”
I sighed and scooped her up in my arms before slowly limping indoors.
At first, I felt small because of my limp.
But she told me then that I was still me, even if I wasn’t whole. She also said that I would always be John Simpson to her-and that wouldn’t change because of my leg.
Nobody was born perfect, but she always treated me as if I was perfect.
“Oh, that reminds me too,” she suddenly said, her tone dripping with jealousy. “I think Stella lost her mind or something—she just set up yet another charity fund named after John Sullivan.”
“That’s none of my business,” I replied, shrugging without a care. “I’m John Simpson, and I’m yours.”
Jolene snorted, but she clearly wasn’t jealous anymore as she nuzzled my cheek.
I then asked tentatively, “So, shall we get registered?”
She wrapped her around my neck and giggled in delight, “Deal. You have to marry me now.”
I nodded, and she promptly leaped off my arms and ran into a room to get prepared.
I laughed as I watched her run so quickly she could fly.
I could sense someone watching me from behind, but I never turned around.
That affection had simply come too little, too late.
