CEO's Tears Over Pregnancy Test Discovery

Hearing Wilfred's suggestion, Karina was stunned for a moment. After some careful thought, she shook her head. "No, I'd rather not." Now it was Wilfred's turn to be caught off guard.

"Switching back and forth isn't a solution. Looking back, I shouldn't have left in the first place. Were those people really capable of doing anything to me? Probably not. I just wanted to avoid trouble," Karina said slowly.

A person's family would have a way of shaping their personality, and Karina's upbringing with the Stone family had left her overly cautious-afraid of causing trouble or confronting conflict.

But now, after everything she'd been through, she wasn't scared anymore. Trouble was just trouble. She could handle it.

"I'll face whatever comes my way," she added. "If it's a challenge, I'll rise to it."

When she shared her thoughts, there was silence on the other end of the line. Worried she might have disappointed him, Karina hesitated. "Did I let you down?"

"No." Wilfred's quiet laugh came through, sounding lighter than before, almost tender. It carried the warmth of a spring breeze, soft and soothing.

"I'm proud of you for thinking this way," he said.

*

that, the matter of transferring Karina was put to rest, and Wilfred

Karina completed

her a recommendation letter the

Karina mentioned this to him, astonished, he only replied, "It's not too soon.

his confidence,

surprise subsided, she asked casually,

"What makes you ask?"

a while," Karina

steady rhythm of speaking twice a week. Even though they weren't in the same city, their frequent calls made it feel as though Wilfred was always nearby. She had grown accustomed to it-so much so that when

couldn't help but notice

about calling him the day before but hesitated, worried

wanting to intrude, she waited quietly. When his voice returned, it was warm but

tell me what you're

he

shot up in surprise. If anyone had seen her at that

how much she pressed, Wilfred wouldn't budge. His skill at redirecting conversations was masterful so much so that Karina didn't even realize she had been sidetracked until after they hung up. Frustrated but amused, she muttered to herself, "He did