Chapter 16: Jack, She hates you

In a peaceful afternoon, two tall men were standing at a tomb, one of them carrying a child. The atmosphere was oppressive.

Jack didn't know what to say. He came here because he wanted the child's father to witness this important day and introduce the child to his real father. However, there were some words which he preferred to keep in his heart instead of speaking out.

Furthermore, he just couldn't say that he wanted Stephanie more than this child. These days, for countless times he felt like there was something missing. Only when staying with the innocent baby in his arms could he be relieved from such feeling of void.

After finishing the mourning, the two men walked back on a tacit agreement. Shawn was intrigued by the baby Jack was holding, but he chose to stay silent since he could feel the barrier between them.

The two used to be good friends, but now they acted like strangers.

Eventually, Jack broke the ice. They were far from Stephanie's tomb by then. "Stephanie, is she still alive?"

Shawn was first stunned and then he responded scornfully, "You still know her? I didn't see you in the hospital even once when she died."

Jack stared at Shawn, squinting. The baby he was carrying couldn't conceal his sharpness. "Her body was gone. You think I am stupid?"

An average person would possibly be intimidated by then, but Shawn was not frightened at all and even gave an indifferent smile. "You chose the child and you know what happened then. Are you regretting now?"

"I will never regret my decisions!" Jack raised his head for a bit, starting to look aggressive. He hated being doubted. The matter was getting too complicated for him. "I just hate being deceived."

"Then you shouldn't doubt my abilities. Stephanie couldn't survive in that situation." Shawn said immediately.

After a while, Shawn let out a laugh. "I could tell you what she was like when she died, nonetheless."

He stepped forward to take a close look at the baby. "When I took him out, she was barely conscious."

"I thought she would die in anesthesia, which would be painless for her. Unluckily, her consciousness returned."

Shawn paused in the middle to look at Jack's face, which remained ice-cold. They had known each other for long so he knew Jack's temper. Thus, he didn't mind and continued. "Do you know what she was thinking at the last moment of her life, Jack?"

Jack's lips twisted, but he chose to stay silent.

"She hated you. Jack, she hated you." As he spoke, he broke into a laugh and put a hand on his shoulder. "I guess that's what you are thinking, but you are wrong."

The surprise in Jack's eyes verified Shawn's assumption.

Seeing he had achieved his goal, Shawn went on slowly. "Stephanie wouldn't hate you. She loved you, so she hoped she"d never met you."

There would be no hatred of there's no love. Jack trembled, eyes revealing his pain. The baby began to wiggle in his arms, as if he shared his feelings.

"You are lying." Jack's gaze was as sharp as knife, but Shawn didn't give in and returned with scorn and aloofness.

"You are thinking too highly of yourself. I have no reason to lie." Shawn said.

In a flash, Jack grabbed Shawn by his collar and pulled him closer. "You are lying. I don't believe a word of what you just said."

Shawn acted like he didn't care. "You don't believe me? Do you think that she wouldn't die in that situation, or she wouldn't forget you?"

A hint of pain flashed in his eyes. Meanwhile, the baby in his arms began to cry, making him forget what he was up to.

The babysitter who heard the cry came over and took the baby from Jack.

Without the bothersome baby, Jack wanted to continue the argument but was interrupting by a phone call. He took the phone out in agitation. It was Liz.

"Jack! Help, Jack!"