After Victor finally left, Chase let out a breath. “Has he lost his mind?”
Anyone with eyes could tell Jonathan was a Wynn. But Victor refused to believe it.
What on earth was going through that man's head?
Susie’s face had gone pale. Victor’s words had stirred up too many old memories—especially that last sentence. It left her trembling.
“Don’t be afraid. You have me now, and Jonathan too. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
Chase looked at her with deep sorrow in his eyes. If only he had been more alert back then, maybe the woman he loved wouldn't have suffered. Maybe their best friend would still be alive.
Susie spoke up. “Let’s go find Jonathan. We need to tell him.”
“Alright.”
Chase agreed without hesitation.
When they arrived at the ancestral estate, they noticed all kinds of baby things lying around. Chase asked the butler and learned that Sierra was pregnant.
“Sierra’s pregnant? How far along is she?”
Susie’s eyes lit up, her earlier gloom swept away.
“Just over a month,” the butler said gently. “They haven’t told anyone yet.”
His tone was tactful. Chase and Susie could tell Jonathan had no intention of informing them.
Still, the two were genuinely happy. Susie gripped Chase’s hand tightly. “I want to see Sierra first.”
Chase nodded, and the butler led them to her.
Sierra was in the garden. The weather was pleasant—not too cold—so she’d decided to spend more time outside.
Her appetite had been poor lately, and it troubled her.
She had mild morning sickness. Already slim to begin with, she looked even thinner now from barely eating. She was more worried that the baby might not be getting enough nutrition.
Susie took one look at her and frowned. “You’ve lost weight. Is your appetite gone?”
“Yeah, I haven’t been eating much. I feel nauseous.”
Sierra didn’t hide it. They hadn’t gone out of their way to make an announcement, but they weren’t keeping it a secret either.
“I was the same way when I was pregnant with Jonathan. Could barely eat anything. The only thing I craved was pickled radish. There was a maid who used to make it, and I even learned how to make it myself. I’ll go whip some up for you—see if you can stomach it.”
Sierra started to decline, but Susie cut her off.
“Just give it a try. Maybe it’ll work.”
Chase shared every photo he had of Jonathan with her.
“I wasn’t a good father. I wasn’t a good husband either. But Jonathan’s not like me. He’ll be a good husband, and a good father.”
“He will,” Sierra nodded. “Our child won’t grow up the way he did.”
Their child would grow up surrounded by love—not consumed by hate.
Chase wasn’t upset. If anything, her words comforted him.
They continued chatting until Jonathan returned. The moment he saw Chase talking with Sierra, he immediately walked over, guarded.
Chase stood quickly. “I came to talk to you about Victor.”
“Study,” Jonathan said flatly, then glanced at Sierra, silently asking if Chase had done anything.
She quickly shook her head.
Watching their interaction, Chase felt a mix of relief and heartache.
His son didn’t trust him at all.
But really—who could he blame for that?
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