Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Jonathan carried the dustpan outside, filled with the shards of the broken mug. He shoved the glass fragments into the trash with an angry sigh. But as he straightened up, ready to stomp back inside, he froze. There, standing by the gate, was Laura. Her arms are crossed over her chest while her face is set in an expression of clear disdain.

Her presence startled him for a second, but then he quickly reverted to his usual defensiveness. Before he could say anything, Laura spoke in her sharp voice. "I do not understand why you're being so rude to your brother and me. What's gotten into you?"

Jonathan let out a frustrated groan, turning his back on her to return to his task. He wasn't in the mood for this. Not now. Not after everything. He didn't look at her as he answered, his tone colder than he intended.

"Why are you talking to me? We aren't friends anymore."

Laura visibly flinched at his words as her arms dropped to her sides, and for a moment, she looked completely lost. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came. The sting of his statement hit her harder than she expected. They had been friends since childhood—best friends, even. They had shared countless moments together, laughter, secrets, and support through hard times. To hear him brush it all away with such a dismissive remark felt like a knife twisting in her chest.

"I see... So... that's it?" she whispered, her voice so quiet it barely reached him while   her eyes now downcast. She couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze. She could feel tears threatening to fall, but she refused to let them show. She needed to stay composed, needed to maintain whatever was left of her pride.

"Yes, that's it," Jonathan grumbled again, this time with a bitter edge, as if it were an afterthought he didn't even care about. "I'll leave you two alone, starting today." He paused for a beat, still not facing her, his hands gripping the edges of the trash bin. "Seeing how much you're on his side now, more than mine. It's clear to me—you're his, not mine. Not my friend anymore. So fine, I'll get out of your way."

Laura stood still, her breath catching in her throat. She was holding back a flood of emotions. His side? Really? Jonathan's words echoed in her head like an accusation she hadn't earned.

Meanwhile, her mind raged, How many times have you ditched me for some random girl? How many times have you forgotten about me when I needed you? You left me on my birthday, on my debut, for someone else who didn't even matter a few months later! You only came back to me when things went wrong, when your heart got broken, or when you messed up. And now, you're telling me I'm taking sides?

The words screamed in her head, begging to come out.

But she swallowed them.

All of them.

It wasn't worth it anymore. It wasn't worth trying to explain to Jonathan that he had been the one to push her away. She knew she would only be met with more deflection, more coldness, more avoidance.

With a heavy sigh, she simply said, "Very well." Her voice, devoid of the emotion she felt inside, was flat, tired, defeated. She turned on her heels, not waiting for him to react, and began walking back toward her house. The silence between them was thick, but Jonathan didn't stop her.

Jonathan stood there, watching her retreat. His feet felt like they were glued to the ground, his heart pounding in his chest. A flash of panic hit him—She's actually walking away. She's... just leaving? His mind raced as he replayed the entire conversation in his head, trying to grasp how it had all gone so wrong so fast.

How could she just accept my words like that? he wondered, his fists tightening by his sides, his knuckles white. His jaw clenched in frustration. So, she's really going to walk away, just like that? We've been through everything together—since we were kids. I thought... she wouldn't leave me. Not her.

He felt a lump forming in his throat as Laura finally disappeared. His hand twitched as the urge to call her name began rising, but his stubbornness kept him quiet. His pride wouldn't allow him to admit he didn't want her to leave.

Laura, on the other hand, felt her own silent storm brewing. She knew Jonathan well enough to know he wouldn't chase after her. He never did. And this time, she had no energy left to wait for him to change. She had given him everything—her patience, her love, her time—and now, she had nothing left to offer.

As her feet carried her further from him, she swallowed the pain, trying to convince herself that this was the right decision. She had Nathaniel now. Someone who didn't leave her waiting. Someone who didn't make her feel like a last option.

But despite the distance, both their hearts ached for what was breaking between them. The unsaid words lingered in the air, heavy and unrelenting, as both of them realized just how deeply their friendship had cracked beyond repair.

~~~~~~

And so, days turned into weeks. As Laura and Nathaniel busied themselves with wedding preparations, Jonathan found himself feeling increasingly uneasy. Each passing day weighed heavier on him, as if the impending wedding were a looming shadow he couldn't shake. That night, after returning from an unexpected reunion with some old friends, Jonathan walked up the steps to his family's home with his mind still foggy from both alcohol and conflicting emotions. Just as he reached the doorstep, he heard raised voices inside—sharp, angry tones piercing through the walls.

Curious and slightly alarmed, he carefully opened the front door, peeking inside. But what he saw made him stop from going further. Nathaniel stood in front of their parents while his face was flushed with frustration and his hands clenched into fists. Mrs. Reed looked distressed, pacing as she spoke in a voice thick with worry.

"We know it's not you, Nathaniel. Just be honest with us. We know you care for her, but it's not right to take responsibility for something that isn't yours!" Mrs. Reed's voice trembled, pleading for an explanation.

"Mom, it is mine," Nathaniel insisted firmly, though his tone wavered, trying to maintain control. "Please, enough. This conversation ends now."

"How could it be yours?" Mr. Reed's voice thundered through the room. "You've only been home for a month! You announced your engagement with her right after you arrived, and now she's pregnant for longer than that? You expect us to believe this?"

Jonathan felt his heart slam in his chest. Pregnant? Laura's pregnant? His mind raced as he stood just out of sight, frozen.

"Did you have her investigated?!" Nathaniel shot back angrily, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Of course we did!" Mrs. Reed spat. "That woman is clearly promiscuous. Who knows who she's been with before you?!"

They're talking about Laura... Jonathan's thoughts were spiraling. He was still processing the words when a familiar voice startled him from behind.

"Why aren't you going in?" Laura's voice echoed softly, as if she was trying to hide her own discomfort. Jonathan turned to see her standing there, her usual bright demeanor forced into a strained smile. Before he could respond, she stepped forward and pushed the door open, walking inside ahead of him.

Jonathan stayed frozen in place, half-hidden by the doorframe, watching as she entered the room and made her way to Nathaniel's side. She stood straight, her hands trembling slightly, before bowing deeply in front of his parents.

"I'm deeply sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Reed," Laura began, her voice soft but steady. "There's no need for you to trouble Nathaniel. None of this is his fault—it's mine. I am pregnant, that's true... and the child is not Nathaniel's."

At her words, Jonathan's heart stopped. Laura glanced subtly in his direction, her eyes meeting his for the briefest moment, enough to make him flinch. His pulse quickened as memories began flooding back—that night weeks ago before Nathaniel had returned. The realization hit him like a blow to the gut. The child... it's mine.

Mrs. Reed's gasp filled the room, her expression morphing from anger to disbelief. "If it's not Nathaniel's, then whose is it?" she demanded, her voice a hiss.

But Laura would rather not answer that question to stop the conflict to get anymore complicated. "I will do anything to resolve this issue and prevent any rumors from spreading," Laura continued, straightening up but keeping her gaze low. "But I swear to you, I have never cheated on Nathaniel. I love him."

Nathaniel, who had been rigid with tension, softened at her words. His eyes glistened with unshed emotion as he gazed at her, his voice tender when he spoke. "Laura..."

But before Nathaniel could say anything more, Mrs. Reed's voice cut through the moment like a knife. "No! The only way to resolve this is for you to abort that thing!" Her words were venomous, dripping with disgust.

"Mom!" Nathaniel immediately protested, his voice rising, shocked at the cruelty of the demand. "That's not happening!"

Jonathan stood paralyzed at the doorway, as the truth finally came crashing down on him. No...It's mine. The realization was suffocating, squeezing the air from his lungs. He had to say something. He had to stop this—fix it—claim what was his. But before he could even gather his thoughts, Laura's cold voice interrupted.

"Very well."

~~~~~~~~~

A/N: Wish me well lovelies  XD My head is going to the darker side of this story.  ^o^

This chapter is dedicated to TanuDas5 and lilachoneyy who left comments to the recent chapter ^-~got youuu <3