Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Jonathan woke to the soft light filtering through his window. The morning sun casted a warm glow over his room. A smile crept across his face as memories of last night flooded back. The conversation with Laura—her hesitant acceptance, the idea of having a child—ignited a thrill within him. Excitement coursed through his veins, lightening his mood as he threw off the covers and swung his legs over the side of the bed.

He stood up, stretching his limbs, and felt a renewed sense of motivation. This was a new chapter, a chance to be part of something bigger than himself. He quickly made his way to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face to shake off the remnants of sleep. The morning routine felt different today, invigorating. He meticulously brushed his teeth and combed his hair, ensuring he looked presentable.

After freshening up, Jonathan felt a surge of determination. He wanted to share this happiness with Laura, to invite her to breakfast and discuss their future. The thought of sitting across from her with the warmth of their connection growing stronger, made him look forward to it.

He grabbed his wallet and car keys before setting out for the Levine residence. As he walked, anticipation bubbled in his chest. The prospect of sharing breakfast with Laura filled him with excitement. However, as he approached the house, he spotted Mr. Levine standing outside, his expression stern and unyielding.

"Good morning, sir," Jonathan greeted him, forcing a smile despite the tense atmosphere.

Mr. Levine merely hummed in response, his eyes focused on the gate as he moved to close it with a decisive clang. The sound echoed in the stillness, amplifying Jonathan's unease.

"Is Laura inside?" Jonathan asked, a hint of confusion creeping into his voice as he watched Mr. Levine meticulously lock the gate, ensuring it was secure.

"No one is inside. No one will ever be inside from now on," Mr. Levine stated flatly, turning to his car and fumbling for his keys. The weight of his words hung in the air, heavy and foreboding.

"Sir? What do you mean?" Jonathan asked, a nervous chuckle escaping him as he tried to lighten the mood. His heart raced as he struggled to make sense of the situation.

"I have no time to talk to you, Jonathan. Our flight leaves in thirty minutes," Mr. Levine replied, brushing him off with a wave of his hand as he turned back to his car, his focus clearly elsewhere.

"Flight? Wait, what do you mean?" Jonathan's heart dropped at the implication, anxiety gnawing at his insides as realization began to dawn on him. The urgency in Mr. Levine's voice left him feeling cold and apprehensive. What was happening? Why was Laura not there?

Mr. Levine sighed and looked at Jonathan with a cold stare. "I'm sure you know about my daughter's situation. We don't want to embarrass your family because of her mistake. So we scheduled her surgery overseas. We won't be coming back," he explained with a hint of pain in his eyes as he opened the door to his car and got inside.

Jonathan froze as the revelation sank in. His eyes widened with realization. "No! Mr. Levine! What surgery?! Laura and I talked! She said she wouldn't go through with it!" Jonathan shouted desperately, but his voice was drowned out by the car's engine.

Ignoring him, Mr. Levine sped off to catch the flight, leaving Jonathan in fear and despair. "No... we talked last night. She smiled at me. She said she wouldn't abort our baby..." Jonathan mumbled, tears welling in his eyes.

Without wasting another second, Jonathan sprinted back to his house as adrenaline coursed through his veins. He burst into the garage and jumped into his car. As he revved the engine and pulled out, the familiar surroundings of his driveway faded behind him. Just as he was about to hit the road, a woman suddenly appeared out of nowhere, blocking his path.

She looked disheveled and haggard, her hair unkempt and clothes wrinkled, but Jonathan barely registered her appearance in his rush. Anger flared inside him. How could someone be so careless? With a sense of irritation, he threw open the car door, ready to push her aside, thinking she was just a street beggar who had wandered into his way.

"Jonathan! Baby! Oh, Jonathan, I missed you!" she suddenly cried out, her voice frantic and unstable. The sound of her desperation made him pause.

"I thought you wouldn't recognize me! Please, Jonathan, come back to me. I love you! I still love you!" The plea in her voice was jarring, and Jonathan felt a flinch run through him. He didn't truly recognize her, maybe she was one of his past flings, someone from a time he'd rather forget. But he never imagined anyone would become so obsessed.

"Listen, I don't have time for this!" he snapped, irritation mixing with confusion. "I don't know you. Please go away! I have something urgent to do!" His voice was firm as he turned his back to her, determined to get back to his car and the pressing matter at hand.

But just as he took a step away, Jonathan's breath hitched as a sudden stinging pain pierced through his back like a bolt of lightning. He stopped in his tracks, frozen in disbelief. Then the woman's voice echoed ominously behind him. "If you won't be mine, then no one else can have you."

Panic surged within him, making his heart race even faster. He coughed, his breath coming in shallow gasps as he turned slowly to look at her. Horror flooded through him as he was met with the sight of her holding a bloodied knife, its glistening edge reflecting the morning light. It was then that the realization hit him like a wave—he had been stabbed.

A cold chill ran down his spine as warmth began to spread through his clothing, soaking into the fabric. His vision started to blur, the world around him twisting and fading as the gravity of the situation sank in. Desperation clawed at his throat, and he staggered back, struggling to maintain his balance. The ground felt unsteady beneath him, and the fear of losing everything he cared about surged through him.

Desperately, he dropped to his car, grasping the metal for support, but his weight caused a loud thud that echoed in the air. "Jonathan! Did you just crash the car?!" Tabitha yelled from inside, alarmed by the noise.

The woman panicked, turning to flee as she tossed the knife to the ground beside her. "Stupid Jonathan—" Tabitha began, stepping out of the house, but her words caught in her throat as she saw Jonathan on the ground, gasping for breath and covered in blood.

The sight was horrifying. She screamed in terror, her voice cutting through the stillness and summoning her parents and Nathaniel to the scene.

"Jonathan!" Nathaniel shouted, his voice filled with panic as he rushed toward his brother, who was slumped on the ground. But Jonathan's vision began to fade, the voices around him growing distant. As his body turned heavy and numb, he finally succumbed to unconsciousness.