Chapter 14: A Father's Right

One week after Meredith's arrest, Glendale slowly returned to normal.

The media's attention shifted to other stories.

For the first time in years, Madeline felt her life becoming peaceful again.

Jeremy had kept his distance.

He visited Ethan only when Madeline allowed it.

He never crossed the boundaries she had set.

One Saturday morning, Ethan was playing football in the garden.

"Mom!"

"Watch this!"

He kicked the ball with all his strength.

Instead of reaching the goal...

It flew straight over the fence.

"Oops..."

A familiar hand caught the ball before it hit the road.

"Nice kick," Jeremy laughed.

"Mister Jeremy!"

Ethan ran toward him with a bright smile.

"Can you play with me?"

Jeremy looked toward Madeline.

"Only if your mom agrees."

Madeline hesitated for a moment.

Then she quietly nodded.

"One game."

"Yes!" Ethan cheered.

For the next hour, laughter filled the garden.

Jeremy intentionally let Ethan score several goals.

"I won!"

"You're getting stronger every day," Jeremy praised him.

"Because Mom makes me drink milk."

Jeremy laughed.

"She's a smart woman."

Madeline watched from the patio.

Seeing Ethan laugh so freely made something inside her soften.

After the game ended, Ethan suddenly asked,

"Mister..."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Why do you always protect me?"

Jeremy became quiet.

He glanced at Madeline.

She looked away.

"Because you're someone very important to me," Jeremy finally answered.

Ethan smiled innocently.

"You're important to me too."

Jeremy felt his heart tighten.

He wanted to tell Ethan the truth.

But he had promised Madeline that the decision would always be hers.

That evening, after Ethan fell asleep, Jeremy prepared to leave.

"Wait," Madeline called.

He stopped.

"Can we talk?"

They walked slowly through the garden beneath the evening sky.

"You've changed," Madeline admitted.

"I had to."

"Losing you taught me what kind of man I really was."

"And what kind of man do you think you are now?"

"One who's trying to deserve a second chance."

Madeline folded her arms.

"Do you expect me to forgive you?"

"No."

"Do you expect me to love you again?"

"Never because of guilt."

"Only if your heart ever chooses to."

"And if it never does?"

Jeremy smiled sadly.

"Then I'll still be grateful that you let me be part of Ethan's life."

Madeline looked at him carefully.

She couldn't find even a trace of the proud, cold man she had once married.

"Jeremy..."

"Why didn't you become this man five years ago?"

He lowered his head.

"Because I was too blind to appreciate what I already had."

Silence surrounded them.

Then Madeline quietly asked,

"Do you still love Meredith?"

Jeremy looked directly into her eyes.

"No."

"What I felt for Meredith was obsession."

"What I lost with you..."

"Was love."

Madeline didn't answer.

She simply looked up at the stars.

The next morning, Jeremy received a call from the police.

"Mr. Whitman, Meredith has requested to see you before her trial."

"She says she'll only speak to you."

Jeremy frowned.

"I'll come."

At the detention center, Meredith sat behind the glass partition.

She looked nothing like the elegant woman she once was.

"Jeremy..."

"You came."

"This will be the last time," he replied.

"Why?"

"Because there's nothing left between us."

Meredith laughed bitterly.

"You really love Madeline now, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Too late," she whispered.

"I know."

"Do you hate me?"

Jeremy remained silent for several seconds.

"No."

"I hate the man I became because of you."

Meredith's tears finally fell.

"I only wanted you to choose me."

"So I lied..."

"Then I lied again..."

"Until I couldn't stop."

"You didn't just destroy Madeline's life," Jeremy replied quietly.

"You destroyed your own."

He stood up.

"Goodbye, Meredith."

"Jeremy!"

"Will you ever forgive me?"

Jeremy stopped at the door.

"Forgiveness isn't mine to give."

"Ask the woman whose life you stole."

He walked away without looking back.

Outside the detention center, Jeremy took a deep breath.

For the first time...

He felt completely free from the past.

That evening, he returned to Madeline's villa.

Ethan was waiting at the gate.

"Mister Jeremy!"

"Look what I made!"

He proudly held up a small wooden picture frame from school.

Inside was the drawing of the three of them playing football together.

"It's beautiful," Jeremy smiled.

"My teacher said families should keep happy memories."

Jeremy looked at Madeline.

She remained silent.

Then Ethan innocently asked the question neither adult had been ready to answer.

"Mom..."

"Can Mister Jeremy stay with us forever?"

Madeline's heart skipped a beat.

Jeremy said nothing.

He simply waited.

Not for an answer...

But for whatever choice Madeline would make next.