Chapter 23

Chapter 23

"Very well," she said with her tone devoid of emotion and her eyes dead-set on the floor.

Jonathan's breath caught in his throat. 'No... No, she can't...'

Just as he was about to step forward, Laura spoke again. "I will do as you wish. If that is all, please excuse me. Have a good night." Her voice was cold, mechanical, like a robot devoid of any real feelings. She turned sharply, striding away with purpose, but Nathaniel quickly chased after her, concern etched on his face.

Jonathan instinctively hid from view, peering around the corner as Nathaniel reached out and grabbed Laura's arm before she could reach the gates. "Why did you tell them? Didn't I say I would take responsibility? Please, Laura. You don't have to do this," he pleaded, pulling her into a tight embrace.

As Laura lifted her gaze, her eyes met Jonathan's for a brief moment, and he felt a chill run down his spine. There was something haunting in her expression, a mix of fear and resignation that struck him to the core. It terrified him in a way he had never experienced before.

"I love you, Nathaniel," Laura said softly, pulling away from him just enough to hold his hands. "And I don't want to burden you with a child that isn't yours. I... Let's—"

"No," Nathaniel interrupted, his voice rising with desperation. "Whatever you're about to say, it's a no. Don't tell me to break up with you or forget about you, because that is not happening. I am here, Laura. I am willing to accept everything about you. I'll take you far away from here, away from my family. No one will dare hurt you. Please, believe in me, Laura." His tone softened, and he placed a warm hand on her belly, an act that made Jonathan's blood boil with irritation.

"I will protect both of you," Nathaniel added with sincerity etched on his face.

That was it for Jonathan. He could no longer stand by and watch this unfold. With a rush of adrenaline, he stormed toward them, determined to put an end to Nathaniel's touching. He grabbed Nathaniel's wrist, separating him from Laura in one swift motion. "Don't touch her," Jonathan growled, his voice low and threatening.

Nathaniel turned to face him, surprise flickering across his features. "What are you doing here? Why are you suddenly interfering?" he asked, clearly annoyed.

"Obviously because you're touching her too much," Jonathan shot back, stepping forward and possessively pulling Laura behind him. His tone was sharp, and Laura's confusion deepened as she glanced up at him.

"Jonathan—" Laura attempted to speak, but Jonathan cut her off, raising his voice.

"You want to protect her by taking her away? You couldn't even protect her from our parents!" Jonathan scoffed, a bitter edge in his voice. "What kind of protection are you spitting? You're all talk, Nathaniel."

Nathaniel's face tightened, but his confusion was evident as well. "Jonathan, did you hear everything from the start?" he asked, genuinely surprised.

"Of course I did," Jonathan said with a dismissive tone. He glanced at Laura briefly before focusing on Nathaniel again. "I'll have a talk with her. Go back inside, or your 'parents' will make a fuss." His words carried an air of command, as if he were the eldest, the one in charge.

Nathaniel hesitated, his frustration evident, but before he could respond, Laura spoke up, her voice cutting through the tension.

"Uh, Nathaniel... can I have a talk with, um, Jonathan?" Her voice was uncertain, her gaze shifting between the two brothers.

The request caught both men off guard. Nathaniel blinked, his brow furrowing as he looked at Laura, clearly torn. He didn't want to leave her alone with Jonathan, especially not after what had just happened. But Laura's request seemed sincere, and he couldn't exactly refuse her.

"Are you sure?" Nathaniel asked softly, his voice still laced with concern.

Laura nodded, her eyes flicking back toward Jonathan. "Yes, I think... I think Jonathan and I need to talk." Her words held a quiet finality. Although reluctant, Nathaniel sighed in surrender, giving Laura a nod before turning away to leave them alone. Once Nathaniel stepped inside, Laura exited through the gates while Jonathan followed closely behind, shutting the gate behind them.

"Is there something you wanted to say?" Laura asked directly, catching him off guard with her bluntness. Jonathan, now standing alone with her, fumbled for words as the awkwardnessof their situation pressed down on him. He knew the conversation was inevitable, especially now that he knew his best friend was carrying his child. Desperation drove him as he blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "Don't abort the baby."

Laura, momentarily taken aback by his plea, quickly regained her composure, turning her face away from him. "It's not up to you," she responded bitterly, her voice sharp with anger and sorrow.

"Of course it is!" Jonathan shot back, his frustration growing. "I am the father, Laura. I have a right to oppose your decision."

"And what makes you think that?" Laura asked, her eyes meeting his with cold defiance.

Jonathan hesitated but pressed on. "Because... something happened between us that night. When I came to your room."

"Nothing happened," she snapped, unwilling to relive the memory.

"Stop lying, Laura," he said more forcefully. "You were a virgin, for Pete's sake. I saw the bloodstains on the sheets."

Her eyebrows twitched in irritation, the reminder only deepening her frustration. "So, you knew you were my first, and yet you still rejected me the day after that?" she scoffed, disbelief coating every word.

"I had a girlfriend, Laura," Jonathan tried to explain, though his excuse felt hollow even to him.

"I had a boyfriend too," she retorted, crossing her arms defensively, very much lying.

Jonathan let out a cynical laugh. "Ha! You? You confessed to me not too long ago, Laura. You even gave yourself to me. I don't believe you've actually moved on."

Laura's lips tightened as she held his gaze. "Well, I'm aborting your child, aren't I?" Her voice was calm, controlled, but the pain underneath it was palpable. "Back then, I dreamed of having children with you, Jonathan. But now? What I want is to be treated right—and Nathaniel is the one who can give me that."

"What is it with you always talking about my brother?!" Jonathan exploded, his anger finally breaking free. "You know how much I hate his guts, and now he's trying to take responsibility for my child?! My child!"

But his outburst didn't faze her. She has gotten used to it. Laura didn't even flinch. Instead, she smiled—cold, distant, and placed a hand on his shoulder, mocking him with her next words. "What, are you going to marry me?"

"Yes!" Jonathan's response came quicker, angrier than she expected, his voice trembling with intensity. "If that's what it takes to stop you from aborting my child, then yes!"

Laura's eyes widened, stunned by his sudden willingness to commit. She hadn't anticipated this reaction, hadn't imagined he would care this deeply.

But the truth was clear to her. It wasn't her he cared about—it was the baby, and only the baby.

She sighed as her expression softened with resignation. "Alright then, I'll think about it," she murmured.

"For now, let's both get some rest. You also reek of women's perfume—it's making me want to barf." Laura tried to joke, but the smile she offered didn't quite reach her eyes.

Jonathan who felt a sense of relief, nodded and returned the gesture with a smile of his own. "I'll see you tomorrow. I'll take you to the doctor—I want to see our baby."

Laura nodded, forcing another smile before turning away. Without another word, she walked toward her family's house leaving him in the cold night.