On the Ruins of His Regret I Soar novel Chapter 276

“You push her away because she likes Catherine, and then you get angry at her for liking Catherine. You’re doing nothing to fix this, and it’s only making things worse. If you really care, you’ll plan her party and bake her cake.”

“I said I’m not coming!” she snapped, her patience gone.

Lance was silent.

Jessica slammed the door in his face. He rubbed his nose, stared at the dark wood for a moment, and let out a heavy sigh.

That afternoon, a call came from Helen, the nanny. Jessica answered, only to hear Amy’s small voice on the other end.

“Are you not coming to my birthday party?”

“You have Catherine Brown,” Jessica replied coolly.

“But you always make the little cakes for my birthday,” Amy whined. “All my friends love them. I already told them we’d have them this year. If you don’t come make them, I’ll be a liar.”

“First of all, I am not obligated to make you cakes for the rest of your life,” Jessica said, her tone patient but firm. “And second, I never promised you I would. You made a promise to your friends, so it’s your responsibility to figure out how to keep it.”

“But I don’t know how to make them!” Amy cried. “And Mom Catherine’s cakes aren’t as good as yours!”

“But you chose Catherine Brown to be your new mother,” Jessica countered. “So you have to accept everything that comes with her, including her not-as-good cakes.”

Jessica shot to her feet. Without grabbing her bag, she snatched her car keys with one hand, phone still pressed to her ear, and ran out the door.

When she arrived at the hospital, Lance stormed toward her, his face a mask of fury. He grabbed her arm. “What did you say to her on the phone? Why did she run away? If it weren’t for you, this never would have happened!”

Jessica’s throat felt tight. “How is she?”

“She’s alive,” he snarled. “No thanks to you.”

A wave of relief washed over her, so powerful she had to close her eyes and take a deep breath to keep from collapsing. Just then, Catherine Brown emerged from the emergency room doors.