Chapter 677
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Donald said , “ Words , once spoken , are like water spilled – impossible to gather back . Deleting them doesn’t erase the fact that they were ver
“ Donald , ” Jennifer called . She reached for his hand again , desperate to voice her pain and helplessness , only to be shaken off once more
Donald thought , ‘ Now I understand . Jennifer loves no one but herself . He said , “ If you loved me , you’d care about my feelings the way I care about your s How could you say things that hurt Cheryl ?
“ How could you stop me from going back when my parents were having a marital crisis ? And how could you risk Grandpa’s health by telling him about our family troubles ? ”
Jennifer retorted , “ I was just doing my job . It was for your good , ”
Donald sneered , “ You forged the DNA test between Jonathan and Mike , keeping that poor kid from his real father . Was that you just doing your job ? Was that also for my good ?
“ What’s hanging in your office , Jennifer ? Have you forgotten ? ‘ Cure sometimes , relieve often , comfort always ! Did those words mean nothing to you ?
“ Have you forgotten that the moment you buttoned that white coat , you swore to live up to it ? Instead , you’re trampling every code we vowed to keep .
Jennifer felt his words were a blade , flaying her heart slice by slice . She protested , “ How could you talk to me like that ?
“ You know perfectly well that in our profession , excessive empathy is taboo – unless you want to end up depressed yourself . ”
Donald demanded , “ So your coldness reaches me and my family , too ? Beyond your indifference , I ache for a flicker of human warmth – just a shred of humanity . I wish you could cherish my family as I cherish you . But what about you ?
“ You’ve never respected my family – or me . You’re always so cold and aloof toward them . Is it that you think we’re not good enough for you ? Or maybe I haven’t treated you well enough ?
“ Then why pretend to love me ? Why marry me , and why act like you were suffering through it ? Do you have any idea how much I’ve been hurting these past few days ?
“ I regret so much that it took me this long to see your true colors . What’s the point of a marriage like this ? Divorce is just one word away , isn’t it ? ”
Jennifer shook her head . She thought , ‘ No , I don’t want a divorce . ‘ Snapping back to reality , she saw Donald clutching the DNA test report and about to turn and leave .
Desperately , she threw her arms around his waist and clung to him with all her strength . She pleaded , “ Donald , I was wrong . Call me selfish , call me heartless , say I’m unreasonable – whatever you want .
“ But my love for you is real . I can’t live without you . Please don’t leave me . Please don’t divorce me , I’m begging you . ”
Donald took a deep breath . Once more , he mercilessly pried her hands off him . He said , “ Perhaps we’re just not meant to be husband and wife . Our marriage was a mistake from the very beginning . ”
Jennifer desperately clung to him again , holding on with all her strength like a drowning woman gripping her last piece of driftwood – to let go would mean certain suffocation .
Tears soaked through Donald’s shirt as Jennifer pressed her face against his back . Jennifer pleaded , “ Darling , please don’t drce me . We can’t end our marriage over something so trivial . ”
Donald swallowed hard . Then he said , “ Let go of me . I’d rather remember you as the proud Jennifer I knew . ”
Jennifer cried , “ I don’t want to let go . You promised you’d always protect me and love me . It was always you begging me to stay before , and whenever we fought , you were the first to apologize .