Chapter 199

That night changed everything.

After leaving Claire's house, they were taken to the police station.

They gave their statements, answered questions about Francis, Claire, and Aaron, and then were finally released.

The place Claire had chosen had security cameras in the yard.

Everything that happened that night had been recorded.

So the police were just following standard procedure.

---

"Nora, after the funeral, let's get married."

Jasper didn't know if Frederick would keep pursuing Nora, but he finally understood how she felt about him.

They'd already wasted five years.

From now on, he didn't want to spend a single day apart from her.

"Okay."

Nora gazed at Jasper's gentle face, grateful that he'd stayed by her side all these years.

Before, she'd held back because of his parents' disapproval. But now, after facing death, she felt Jasper was worth taking another leap of faith for.

---

"Jasper, Mommy, are you really going to get married?"

Elise woke up in the car.

She rubbed her eyes, opened the door, and bounced over to squeeze between them, holding one hand of each.

"Elise, from now on, Jasper will be your daddy."

For the first time, Nora acknowledged Jasper's role in front of Elise.

Jasper was so moved he couldn't hold back.

Without caring that Elise was watching, he cupped Nora's face and kissed her lips.

Elise shyly covered her eyes.

---

Not far away, Frederick had just dropped Sierra off at the hospital and came to find Nora—only to witness them kissing.

He froze in place, unable to move for a long time.

Some people, once you lose them, are gone forever.

"Frederick..."

Elise peeked through her fingers and spotted Frederick standing in the distance.

She lowered her hands, staring at him.

Nora and Jasper heard Elise's voice and stopped kissing.

Jasper tightened his grip on Nora's hand.

"How's Sierra?"

"Is Aaron okay?"

Nora squeezed Jasper's hand back just as firmly.

They walked toward Frederick together, side by side.

---

"My mom had a brain hemorrhage. They didn't treat it in time. The doctor said... the chances of her waking up aren't good."

"She'll probably be like this for the rest of her life."

When Frederick heard the doctor's diagnosis, he couldn't process it at first.

The Sierra he remembered—card-obsessed, always bustling around, proud and picky—suddenly silent and still.

He couldn't get used to it.

"Frederick, what about Aaron?"

"How is he?"

"Aaron hasn't woken up."

Frederick's meaning was clear.

---

"Frederick, take me to Great-Grandma's funeral."

"After we see Great-Grandma off one last time, we're going back to Rosewood City."

Thinking of Aaron—so young, yet having suffered so much—Nora gently stroked Elise's hair.

She hoped every child in the world could grow up healthy.

Healthy in body, healthy in mind.

---

"Nora, are you really going to marry Jasper?"

Frederick watched Nora pay her respects to Evelyn. As their group emerged and prepared to get in the car to leave, he finally couldn't hold back.

He stepped forward and grabbed Nora's wrist.

Watching the woman who should have been his leave with another man felt like a knife twisting in his chest.

"Frederick, do you know what I was thinking when Claire came at me—when I thought I was going to die?"

"I was thinking, 'Why did I waste five years?'"

"If I could do it all over again, I'd choose to be with Jasper five years ago—the moment I left Suncrest City."

This was the first time Nora had openly declared her feelings for Jasper.

Her eyes were on Frederick, but the love in them was only for Jasper.

Jasper was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes.

His voice came out hoarse.

"In that moment, I thought, 'If I could live and die with Nora, I'd have no regrets.'"

Jasper pulled Nora into the car.

Frederick watched their car drive away, standing frozen for a long time.

---

What had he been thinking in that moment when Claire came at Nora?

Whatever it was, dying alongside Nora had never crossed his mind.

Compared to Jasper, his love wasn't worth mentioning.

Maybe Claire's appearance had simply helped Nora find her true love.

Whether Frederick was willing or not, whether he could accept it or not—it was time to let go.

Next time, if he ever met a woman he wanted to spend his life with, he wouldn't betray her again.