Withered Yet Freed

After being Nelson Jackson’s devoted simp for five years, Sarah Paterson became pregnant.

Just as she was excitedly waiting for him to propose, Nelson had a change of heart when his high school sweetheart returned from studying abroad.

Sarah didn't fight to keep the relationship. Instead, she went straight to the hospital, had an abortion, and immediately agreed to the arranged marriage her family had set up with a business partner's son.

But Nelson came to regret his decision. He begged Sarah to keep his child, but she only gave him two words in response.

"Too late."

"Dad, about the arranged marriage... I need to think about it for a while."

Sarah Paterson clutched her pregnancy test results, her voice heavy.

Her father's dissatisfied tone came through the phone, "What's there to think about? Has that good-for-nothing boyfriend of yours sweet-talked you again?"

"If you don't want the arranged marriage, fine. Bring him to Sunday dinner this week so we can meet him. Good or bad, you should at least let us know who he is. It's been three years—he's been stringing you along, never meeting your parents, never mentioning marriage. What kind of relationship is that?"

Sarah responded quietly to her father's words. "I'll ask him."

Her father grunted, "Decide quickly. If he really can't find time to meet us, take him to Uncle Richard’s house. I'll have Richard and Nelson check him out. They've been looking after you all these years in the Brookshire. If they think he's decent and you truly love him, I won't stand in your way."

Sarah paused, unsure what to say.

After a moment, she replied, "Uncle Richard would probably approve."

After all, the man was his own son, Nelson Jackson.

As she finished speaking, the bedroom door opened. Sarah instinctively hung up the phone.

She looked up and met Nelson's eyes.

Nelson raised an eyebrow, his handsome face breaking into a smile. "What would my dad approve of?"

As he spoke, he wrapped his arms around Sarah, his warm breath against her skin making her curl into his embrace.

"About us being together," Sarah replied, watching anxiously for his reaction.

Nelson continued kissing her, his voice husky. "You were talking to your dad again just now?"

Sarah nodded.

His large hand gripped her waist. "Did you tell him about us?"

Sarah lowered her eyes. "Didn't you want to keep it private?"

"Silly, of course I want everyone to know. But our families are old friends. Your dad spoils you, while mine is strict. If they found out I swept you off your feet when you'd barely come of age, they'd probably tie me up and beat me."

Sarah stopped his wandering hand and cautiously asked, "So if I were pregnant now, would you come home with me to meet our parents?"

Nelson looked surprised. "Are you pregnant? Weren't we always using protection? How could you suddenly be pregnant?"

Seeing his reaction, Sarah felt a twinge in her heart. She avoided his approaching