Lost Me Gained Regret

Christine was always reasonable, at least in Jake's eyes.

And it wasn't about winning her forgiveness or anything like that.

He simply wanted to protect her as much as he could.

To shield her from the harm that hanging out with Max could bring-hurt from Ella or disdain from the Clarksons.

Jake reluctantly tagged along with Max, not out of choice but because Emily had asked him to check on things.

Seeing the mess Max had landed himself in, Jake couldn't help but jab, "Looks like Merritt's got it better than you right now." Max, uninterested in a verbal spar, suggested, "Let's reach out to Dr. Andrews, see if we can arrange a DNA test now." Jake replied, "Haste won't help. Even if you wanted to, Ella wouldn't let you."

"This mess might be on you now, but if she starts targeting Christine, the road ahead for both of you will be even rockier."

It wasn't that Jake couldn't intervene, but he had a soft spot for the elder Clarksons who'd treated him well.

He wasn't keen on burning bridges unless absolutely necessary.

Besides, with Caldwell and Madge at their age, any stress could be too much.

Even if Max chose Christine unequivocally, she wouldn't want his family to suffer over their relationship.

rather than confrontation, seemed

was the real

Jake had learned to read between the

"I'll take

peer into the car, "Caldwell, with your arthritis, you should avoid the cold. Let me know

My best trait

good trait is

say it aloud, just kept

seat, and the line of sleek black cars

turned back to the hospital, heading straight

wait at least two

moment before asking, "And the mother's safety is

settling down and becoming a father, had softened

preferring words over action,

now rare.

procedure is safe for the mother. The later

matters." "Then let's schedule it for two and a half months. I'll handle

was too great with

was crucial