Jethro Miles was an orphan sponsored by my dad.

The moment I laid eyes on him, I flipped.

Despite my family's objections, we dated for seven years, even as my dad threatened to disown me.

Eventually, my dad relented and consented to our marriage. But as we exchanged rings, a young woman in a white dress burst into the venue, staring at Jethro with tears in her eyes.

He chased after her, abandoning our wedding.

Later, I learned that the woman was his childhood friend from the orphanage.

Jethro desperately tried to explain, "Nancy grew up with me. She is like a sister to me. She's been through abuse and divorce. Please, give me time to help her, okay?"

Tears blurred my vision as I watched him plead so fervently, my heart plummeting into despair.

I managed, "Okay."

Jethro took care of Nancy and her son as if they were his real family.

What he didn't know were the two secrets I'd kept from him when my dad finally agreed to our marriage: I was pregnant, and I was dying.

...

Seven years into my relationship with Jethro Miles, I finally had the wedding of my dreams.

But ten minutes before the ceremony, everything fell apart.

...

The host's voice echoed through the hall. "The bride and groom may exchange rings."

I smiled softly, my hands trembling as I slid the ring onto Jethro's finger.

The man before me, dashing in a sharp suit, was my first love and the one I had fallen for at first sight.

It all started seven years ago when Jethro visited our house to meet my dad, his sponsor.

I’d just finished dance practice, sweaty and breathless, when I walked into the living room. There he sat, in a crisp white shirt, cool and handsome.

He glanced at me and gave a small smile. That one look was all it took for me to fall for him.

Coincidentally, we attended the same university. Over time, despite my family's opposition, I

The force pushed Jethro's head to the side.

Nancy Sweeney couldn't hold back. She yelled, "Why did you hit him?"

She lunged at me, but Jethro held her back. "Calm down."

Turning back to me, he pleaded, "Let me explain. This is Nancy. We grew up together in an orphanage. She is like a sister to me. She's getting a divorce because of domestic abuse, and I hope you'll give me time to help her and her son. I understand you're upset, but I can't just ignore her."

He defended himself desperately, as though I were a barrier between them. He never once considered that today was our wedding day.

I still remembered how thrilled he'd been when I told him my dad had finally approved our marriage. He'd swept me into his arms, saying, "Valerie, I can finally marry you. I've waited seven years for this."

I had rested my head on his chest and cried.

What he didn't know was why my dad had agreed. I'd revealed two secrets: I was pregnant, and I had terminal stomach cancer.

When I came back to reality, he was still rambling, "What happened today was my fault. I promise, I'll make it up to you and throw you the best wedding."

"Okay," I said with a hollow laugh, cutting him off.

He paused, then held me tightly in his arms. "I knew you'd understand. You've never made things hard for me."

...

A month earlier, I'd collapsed at work and was rushed to the hospital.

The doctor's words hit me like a thunderbolt. "Ms. Roy, you're one month pregnant. But you also have terminal stomach cancer. I recommend terminating the pregnancy and starting treatment immediately."

I couldn't believe it. But when I saw the two diagnosis reports, reality hit me.

I hadn't misheard. I was dying.

I sat in the hospital corridor for hours, grappling with the news. I made two decisions.

The first one was to take a chance and keep the baby. That was Jethro's greatest wish. He longed for a family and didn't want to be alone anymore.

The second one was to come clean with my dad and tell him I wanted to marry Jethro. It had always been my dream.

Dane Roy, nearly sixty, cried like a child at the news. "No. How can I lose you?"

Tears streamed down my face, but I didn't know how to comfort him. No one could accept the idea of burying their child.

But then, I realized that even though I was dying, the first person I thought of was Jethro.

...

Jethro worked as a lawyer at a law firm, earning a modest salary.

Out of a sense of duty from their shared past in the orphanage, he spent two-thirds of his income to renting a comfortable apartment for Nancy and her son.

"Glen is so attached to me. He grabs my arm and refuses to let me go," he told me excitedly after helping them move into their new home.

He wiped sweat from his brow and came over to hug me. "I can't wait for us to have a child, too."

I smiled, pushing him away playfully. "You've already got one on the way. In here."

He froze, his eyes lighting up. "Really? Are you serious?"

Jethro's joy was genuine. He wanted this child as much as I did.

If this had been before, I would've told him the truth about the pregnancy and hidden my illness until after the birth. But now, I couldn't bring myself to do it.

"Just kidding," I said.

His smile faded, but he masked his disappointment, wrapping his arms around me. His head rested on my shoulder as he said, "That's okay. We will have one someday."

I smiled without saying anything.

That night, a high fever and searing pain gripped me. Jethro slept soundly beside me, oblivious. Once, he'd wake at the slightest change in my breathing, asking if I was okay. Now, he didn't even stir.

When the pain became unbearable, I threw off the blankets, rushed to the bathroom, and locked the door.

Jethro's phone rang outside. I heard him answer, his voice urgent. "I'm coming. Don't cry."

He got out of bed and knocked on the bathroom door. "Honey, are you okay? Take some medicine if your stomach hurts. Glen has got a fever, so I'm heading to check on him. Don't wait up."

He left in a hurry.

I collapsed on the floor, sweat-soaked and pale, pain crashing over me in waves. My hair clung to my pale face.

I curled up and clenched my teeth as my tears pooled on the tile. "Jethro, it hurts so much. Why did you leave me?"

...

Years ago, in the sophomore year, Dane found out I was dating Jethro.

He was furious, yelling at me for the first time in his life. "Wake up! You two aren't even in the same league. You're not allowed to contact him again."

I argued with him and got grounded.

Jethro pleaded outside our house for a day and a night until he collapsed. We carried him inside and laid him flat.

When he came to, he said weakly, "Mr. Roy, I really like Valerie. I'll treat her right, even if it costs me everything."

Dane sighed without saying anything, but after that day, he didn't try to stop me and Jethro from being together anymore.

After graduation, Jethro got a job at a law firm.

I still remembered the first month he got paid. He made $8,000 but bought me a necklace that cost $7,500.

"You're such a fool! Return it!" I scolded him, upset that he had spent so much.

That was poor financial management.

He laughed it off, fastening the necklace around my neck. "We've been together for four years, and I haven't bought you a proper gift. You deserve the best. Now that I'm earning, I'll give you even more."

His eyes brimmed with tears. "I'll work hard to give you the life you deserve. I'll never let you down."

True to his words, he bought a house with a mortgage and paid off a car in full in just two years. All of this was thanks to his tireless work and his goal to build a home.

...

Jethro didn't come home that night.