Chapter 3

3

To my shock, Zach called me with an accusatory tone.

"Jade, what's wrong with you? Why didn't you walk my sister home? Do you know she came back exhausted? Is this how you treat your future sister-in-law?"

Sitting in the hospital room watching my sick father, hearing Zach scold me broke my resolve, and tears spilled down my cheeks.

Hearing my muffled sobs over the phone, Zach suddenly panicked: "Babe, what's wrong? I only scolded you a little, why are you crying? As long as you treat Sharon well, I won't lose my temper. You know she's pregnant now, right?"

He even chuckled proudly: "I wanted to surprise you after the wedding, but since Sharon was in your neighborhood, she dropped by early. See? I always told you my sister treats you the best!"

Sharon this, Sharon that...

The fury inside me erupted.

"Your sister sent my dad to the ER!"

Fighting back my rage, I laid out all the absurd demands and toxic remarks Sharon made at our home.

I thought Zach was a reasonable man with decent morals, since he had always presented himself that way during our four years together.

Even though his talk about the "surprise" disappointed me, I still wanted to give him one last chance.

Instead, Zach shouted: "Jade, your dad already had health issues! How can you pin the blame on my sister?"

"She's the pregnant one here! Instead of helping, your dad yelled at her and stressed her out! Don't you think your dad is in the wrong? Do you know how hard it is for her to carry this baby?"

"Is your whole family this heartless and cold-blooded?"

Zach grew more agitated, acting as if I was some deadbeat who got someone pregnant and abandoned the child.

What did Sharon's pregnancy have to do with me?

I took a deep breath: "Zach Evans, your sister can give birth to whoever she wants, but don't expect a single dime or second of help from me."

I had zero interest in saying another word to him.

I hung up and tossed my phone onto the table, only to find my dad awake.

Zach's loud voice through the speaker had clearly caught my dad's attention.

With red, swollen eyes, I looked at my father.

His face looked pale and exhausted.

Yet, he looked at me with clear, steady eyes: "Jade, your mother and I approved of Zach because we thought he would cherish you. If he doesn't, we'll support you a hundred percent if you want to call off this wedding."

Looking at my dad's reassuring gaze, I felt the warmth of unconditional parental love.

I wasn't throwing a tantrum.

I genuinely wanted nothing to do with Zach anymore, even if all the wedding invitations had already been sent.

My dad had briefly regained consciousness in the ambulance, speaking as if he were giving his final wishes.

"Jade, Zach's family is just trying to use you as an unpaid maid. We didn't raise you with all our love just to see you wait on others hand and foot. Even if you never marry, your parents can provide for you forever..."

His words had broken my heart, and I cried the entire way to the hospital.

Right now, my determination to break up with Zach was rock-solid.