When His Perfect Mask Shattered I Awoke (Anneliese) novel Chapter 618

"Grandma, why don't you take a break and enjoy a piece before you continue scolding?" Jonathan suggested.

There was no way Nishay would touch the fruit he had cut. "I'm not eating. Leave me alone!"

He didn't take offense.

He popped a piece into his mouth, the crunch resonating as he bit down. Then, he remarked, "It tastes pretty good."

She was so exasperated that she closed her eyes and refused to acknowledge his presence.

Only then did he speak again.

"Grandma, whether you accept it or not, I genuinely love Anne. She's the only one for me in this lifetime. The reason I won't let her go isn't out of possessiveness, guilt, or the need to make amends.

"It's because I'm confident I can bring her happiness—and because I don't trust any other man to care for her the way she deserves."

His words struck firmly, causing her heart to skip a beat.

Nishay still kept her eyes closed, but the slight twitch of her nose and eyelids revealed that she wasn't entirely unmoved.

After a lengthy pause, she turned away from him and replied coldly, "We have such a long life ahead of us, and you have quite the ego!"

Jonathan chuckled, never expecting Nishay to immediately come to terms with things. In truth, he was somewhat surprised, and he thought, At least now, Grandma is willing to hear me out. A few days ago, she would've snapped the moment I opened my mouth and tossed me out before I had the chance to push my luck.

He leaned down to adjust her blanket. "Take care of yourself, Grandma. Live a long, healthy life—and wait to see if I can prove myself."

He turned and exited, carefully closing the door behind him. On the bed, Nishay's chest rose and fell once before she let out a heavy, muffled sigh.

…

Over in the obstetrics ward, Anneliese placed her hand on Jessica's belly. "Baby, please don't alarm your mommy and Godmom like that again, okay?"

Jessica's complexion seemed slightly better. "I'm fine. You don't need to stay here. Go check on Grandma and then head home to rest."

Outside, the sky had already become completely dark.

Anneliese still felt uneasy. "Are you sure you're okay? Do you want a supporting hug?"

Jessica smiled, though the smile didn't reach her eyes. It appeared she had made up her mind. "Annie, I don't want to tell Zane about this baby. I no longer want to have anything to do with him."

Jessica had never brought any of this up. She was always bright—full of life—so Anneliese thought that after escaping the Johnson Family, she'd been living happily and freely.

Annelise had overlooked one crucial thing, though.

Jessica never had any family.

It wasn't until she noticed the profound solitude surrounding her now that Anneliese understood she hadn't been a very good bestie.

Jessica gently stroked her back. "What do you have to apologize for? I'm just being overly dramatic."

She let out a soft sigh. "But since I chose to keep this baby. It's as if everything has transformed. Suddenly, I'm filled with thoughts, plans, and a newfound strength.

"Honestly, Annie. This little one is the only person in this world who shares my blood. He's my strongest link to this life. I'm determined to create a better future for my baby, and I aspire to become a better version of myself because of him."

Anneliese chuckled. "Look at you—morphing into a fierce mama already. Is pregnancy truly this enchanting?"

Her gaze wandered to Jessica's abdomen—still flat and unchanged. It was hard to believe that something so tiny could alter a woman's entire perspective like this. It made Anneliese ponder what motherhood felt like—filling her with a sense of wonder at the miracle of new life.