Without that recording, I would not be lying safely on this hospital bed now. No parent–other than mine, perhaps–would ever spare their child’s murderer.
“Forgive me, Charlie. Please! Everyone’s safe now, so can’t you see that it was a good decision?”
Indeed. Telling the victims‘ families the truth was the best solution, but Jared had no idea what truth I had told them.
“I actually came up with a few wedding plans for us while you were still in jail, Charlie. Take a look and tell me which one you prefer, okay?”
I ignored him, and he took that as a chance to press on. He pulled out his tablet and showed me the different plans.
Seeing the excitement in his face, I could no longer tell what he was thinking anymore.
If he truly loved me, he would not have abandoned me time and time again for Jenny’s sake.
However, what was stopping him from marrying Jenny if he did not care about me? Why was he putting on this facade for me?
As I wondered to myself, my parents suddenly rushed in. Having heard Jared’s words, their expressions darkened.
“Jenny is still lying in her hospital bed, yet you’re here planning your wedding?! How can you be so selfish?”
“Stop acting like you’re sick! Those people didn’t do anything to you! If only you were half as considerate as Jenny!”
“You don’t have to insist on marrying Charlie, Jared. You’ll ruin your life if you do. You’re close to Jenny, aren’t you? Why not…”
This time, Jared interrupted my parents before they were done talking. “Mr. and Mrs. White, I won’t take back what I said about marrying Charlie. It’s something I promised her years ago.
“I’m marrying Charlie because I love her.”
My parents looked furious, but they stayed quiet as Jared refused to budge.
Before they left, they glared at me once more. It was almost as if they were reprimanding me for stealing something that should have belonged to Jenny.
Jared held my hand gently. “I keep recalling the time you saved me on that hike, Charlie. I would’ve died long ago if it weren’t for you. I will never leave you, I swear.”
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