Chapter 78 Promise of Forever
"Nothing's wrong. The divination was actually good—I just got emotional thinking about everything we've been through. It hasn't been easy," Kate said, fighting back tears.
She chose to hide the truth. She understood what the fortune teller had told her, but she couldn't bear to make Ethan suffer.
Ethan looked at her with lingering doubt. "Really?"
Kate nestled into his embrace, absorbing his warmth and his scent. She felt both peaceful and heartbroken.
"Really. The past life was too painful, Ethan. In this life, let's never be apart, okay?"
Past life?
Ethan stroked her back gently. He thought to himself that perhaps the past life was their punishment. Now that they had endured that punishment, surely the path ahead would be clear.
Still, his heart ached for her. All the suffering she had endured before—if he could, he would rather have taken it all upon himself.
"Okay. We'll always be together," he promised.
"Good."
She truly wished it could be forever.
"You two were apart for just a moment, and now you're already back to being inseparable?" Penelope teased with a smirk.
Watching them so deeply in love brought her real joy. The more devoted they were to each other, the sooner she might get grandchildren. After all, the thought of childbirth alone was stressful enough for any woman. If Kate wasn't ready, Penelope wouldn't pressure her.
She was merely expressing a wish.
Though right now, grandchildren seemed less important than marriage.
"I genuinely can't be apart from my baby," Ethan declared, holding Kate close with a raised eyebrow.
Kate playfully nudged him, embarrassed. She quickly wiped her eyes, not wanting Penelope to notice anything unusual.
Penelope didn't pick up on it, simply rolling her eyes.
"Yeah, I see you talking big, but if you're so inseparable, why aren't you rushing to get married? Aren't you worried Kate might secretly elope with another man?" Penelope folded her arms and glared at her son.
"I am eager," Ethan replied, sounding somewhat aggrieved. Was this really his mother? How could she say something so cold?
Kate looked up in surprise, catching his gaze as he lowered his head. She thought she glimpsed a hint of frustration in his eyes.
"But I want to respect Kate's wishes. I don't want to pressure her."
So he'd been wanting to marry her all along?
Kate pressed her lips together, gazing into his earnest eyes, her heart overflowing with happiness.
"I'm not unwilling," she murmured softly.
She truly wanted to marry him. But then a shadow of sadness crossed her mind. If one day the reborn Kate disappeared, leaving behind her former self, wouldn't that just hurt him? That version of herself would hurt him, would betray him.
Yet she desperately wanted to marry him. It was her deepest wish.
"Really?" Ethan's eyes instantly brightened, his voice tinged with barely concealed excitement.
Kate bit her lip and remained silent.
Penelope, assuming she was just being shy, couldn't help but laugh.
"Alright, if Kate has no objections, you two should set a date soon so I can start preparing for the wedding."
She reached out and pulled Kate to her side. "Don't worry, Kate. I'll handle all the wedding arrangements. I promise you'll have the most dreamy wedding."
Kate opened her mouth to speak, but Ethan beat her to it.
With a gentle smile curving his lips, he said to Penelope, "Mom, there's no rush. Let Kate think about it first. Everything should be according to what she wants."
"You certainly know how to treasure her," Penelope chuckled. "Fine, you young people handle your own affairs. Let's head back now."
She smiled teasingly, and Ethan nodded. Neither of them noticed how Kate's eyes had grown increasingly distant.
On the drive home, the car was silent except for the soft hum of the air conditioning.
Kate leaned against the window, watching the streetlights recede, unconsciously fidgeting with the hem of her dress. She felt a heavy weight in her heart.
She pretended to doze, not wanting her distress to be noticed.
But once they reached the mansion, Ethan easily detected her low spirits. As she sat on the edge of the bed lost in thought, he gently caressed her face.
"What are you thinking about, sweetheart? Are you upset? Is it because my mother brought up the wedding? She's not here now—you can tell me anything."
Penelope had gone straight to her room to video chat with Ethan's father, Benjamin, upon returning home.
Kate snapped back to reality, turning to face him with a faint smile.
"It's nothing. I was just thinking about what color scheme to choose for the wedding."
It was a white lie. She had indeed thought about it, but now she was more afraid—afraid that this wedding she so eagerly anticipated would ultimately become the blade that wounded him.
Ethan could tell she was lying but didn't call her out.
He leaned in and embraced her, enveloping her in security.
"Whatever color you want to choose is fine with me," he said.
He paused, his thumb gently stroking her back. "But Kate, if you have any reservations, don't force yourself. We can take things slowly."
His gentleness centered on her feelings. Kate's nose suddenly stung with emotion, tears nearly falling. She turned her face away, her voice slightly trembling.
"I don't have reservations. I'm just a little nervous."
"Nervousness is normal," Ethan followed her lead, his tone even softer. "After all, it's the first time. Speaking of firsts, I wonder when we might have our first time making love?"
Ethan raised an eyebrow. While he appeared eager, he was actually trying to lighten her mood.
He could sense that something was deeply troubling her.
His comment made Kate laugh, though tears still escaped, landing on the back of his hand.
Ethan panicked, quickly wiping away her tears with his fingertips.
"Why are you crying? Did I say something wrong?"
"No," Kate shook her head and buried herself in his arms, tightly holding his waist.
She asked, "Ethan, what if... what if someday I change, become different—not in a good way—would you hate me?"
Ethan froze momentarily, then tightened his embrace, holding her closer. His voice was as firm as a vow.
"Never. No matter how you change, you'll always be my Kate. The good you, the bad you—I want all of you."
He didn't understand what kind of "change" Kate was referring to, assuming it was just pre-wedding anxiety. He had no idea that her words concealed her deepest, unspoken fear.
Kate pressed her face against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat as her tears flowed harder.
How she wished time could stop at this moment. She wouldn't have to fear the future or losing him. She could just be his Kate, walking steadily forward with him.
"Sweet talker," she said, wiping her tears and forcing a smile. She didn't want him to worry, so she pretended to be cheerful.
Ethan pinched her cheek gently. "Feeling better now?"
Kate nodded, and Ethan smiled adoringly.
"Since you're feeling better, let's go down for dinner," he said. Then, remembering something, he added, "By the way, I must swear—I wasn't just sweet-talking. I meant it."
He raised his hand in a solemn oath, making Kate laugh as she pushed him away.
"Okay, okay, I know."
She had always known his sincerity.