âDid I bother you?
Does that mean you still have feelings for me? Jessie⦠Have you ever wondered if itâs Axell or me who matters more to you right now?
Why not follow your heart and make the right choice again?â
The atmosphere grew slightly tense after Albertâs remarks.
Jessie forced a bitter smile.
âAlbert, isnât it absurd to bring this up now? Frankly, if Elsie hadnât sent the child, we wouldnât be having this conversation.
â
Jessie hesitated to broach unpleasant topics, yet she felt compelled to clarify her stance.
âAsk Elsie to refrain from sending the child here in the future.
There seems to be a misunderstanding on her part.
â
Albert gazed at Jessie and spoke deliberately.
âElsie didnât misunderstand anything.
Jessie, I do wish to be with you.
But I wonât force you.
â
Jessie cut him off.
âYou should take Jeslyn with you.
Itâs not suitable for her to stay here.
â
Albert paused before asking, âAre you worried about upsetting AxelL?â
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Jessie didnât evade the question.
âYes.
â
Albertâs fingers tensed around the doorknob, yet he maintained a gentle smile.
âAlright, Iâll take her.
I wonât cause you any trouble.
â
He swung open the bedroom door, but Jessie remained rooted in the living room, opting not to follow him inside.
She settled herself on the couch and patiently waited.
Soft, yellow light enveloped the room as Jessie silently awaited Albertâs departure with his child.
Their paths would diverge permanently thereafter.
Despite Jessieâs efforts to steel her heart, she couldnât shake the wistful thought of how different things could have been if Albert had expressed these sentiments three years ago.
Back then, she loved him deeply and longed to marry him.
But time had altered their circumstances, and now his words held little significance.
There was no use dwelling on what could have been.
Albert stepped into the bedroom, the faint light from outside filtering in.
He observed Jeslyn lying peacefully on Jessieâs bed in the darkness, contemplating how fondly Jeslyn seemed to regard Jessie.
Albert couldnât help but acknowledge that Jeslynâs affection for Jessie must run deep.
Otherwise, even ten Elsies couldnât have convinced Jeslyn to come here with her temperament.
Deep down, Albert recognized that his request was unjust to Jessie.
Even if Axell proved unreliable, it didnât mean Jessie had to go back to Albert.
Despite his wealth and status, Albert understood that he was now simply in no place to love her.
Sure, Albert could exert control over Axell and coerce Jessie, but he refrained from doing so.
Albert believed he still loved Jessie.
He had previously hurt her deeply, hence, even if he desired to be with her, he had t