While she listened to him, tears flowed from her eyes without any effort, they raced continuously on her cheeks., she couldn't believe what she heard.
After a moment and taking in his confession, she burst in a frenzy and started shouting at him, "How could you Eric?" she broke down in floods of tears and she let go of Eric's hand, "You took advantage of me while I'm in that state?" pointing to herself, "You run away and now you will come forward admitting it and asking for my forgiveness?" A loud slap resounded in the study, not missing his cheeks, she left a red mark on his handsome face, Ji An was so devastated with his confession. His parents and Alice covered their mouth after they witness how she had slapped him. "How can I forgive you?" She sobbed and punched him on his chest repeatedly while Eric tried to hug her to calm her down somehow.
"Please, Ji An give me a chance and correct my mistakes. Give our child a chance to have a father. I know what I did was wrong. But I will never hurt you again. I will be the best husband to you and father to our baby." Eric pleaded in tears as he tried to hug her.
"Please... Ji An... we are deeply sorry and I'm really glad he admitted his wrongdoings, I know what he did was hard to accept but he is trying to correct it by doing the right thing." Arthur held his wife to comfort her as she started to sob. "I would love to have you as a daughter in law. We will look after you. Alice is like a sister to you and Eric is a good person, you know that. Please let him be a father to our grandchild and take responsibility." Mrs Lewis explained his side as well as Eric's.
Ji An was completely at a loss, she clearly doesn't know what to do or how to handle his confession and his family's pleas, she had a meltdown and felt dizzy, the next moment she fainted and fell on the floor. Everyone panicked and Alice quickly dialled for an ambulance but Eric took the phone from his sister. "Call our private doctor, ask her to come over." He carried Ji An in bridal style and brought her to his room.
He laid her down on his bed and caressed her face full of worries and love as he talked to her in her sleep, "Ji An I have been in love with you from the day I met you. I will marry you and take responsibility for your baby. Just please accept me, take me in and love me even just a tiny bit."
It didn't take long for Dr Susan Dawes to arrived. Alice immediately took her to Eric's room so she can attend to her friend. She examined her and talked to the Lewis family afterwards. "She made herself well and truly exhausted. All she needed to do is rest for a week. Give her healthy food to nourish her and the baby. Baby is okay with a strong heartbeat." she looked at Eric and smiled, "No intimate activity for her Eric. Her body is a bit weak at the moment. You should be patient and don't stress her out," She explained as she tidied her stethoscope. Before she left Lewis' home, she prescribed Ji An some vitamins to support her pregnancy.
When Ji An woke up, she saw Eric resting on a chair next to the bed she was on. He stood up promptly and assisted her to sit up. After that, he gave a distance between them so he will not worsen the situation with his presence. "Hey, how are you feeling? Ji— I... I am really sorry for what I did and about me running away being a coward, it wasn't.. my intention to.. run away from my responsibilities." He shifted closer and held her hands, "I got frightened that you... you will hate me for what I've done. I shouldn't have done it in the first place... I know. It's completely and I'm admitting that it's my wrongdoing and—"
"You took advantage of me when I'm in the most vulnerable state. Maybe your intention was good at first but what changed? Why did you do it?" her voice nearly croak as she tried to hold her tears, "Didn't you think of me as a sister? I'm your sister's best friend... We've known each other for at least 4 years. Eric, you are like a—"
"I've never once thought of you as a sister! You are more than that to me. The day Alice brought you to meet me, that moment I laid my eyes on you, I want you to be mine. I know you are young but I also know what I feel. I am aware that you want to focus on studying that's why I didn't court you back then, I always considered your feelings. I didn't let any woman in my life because I want you in my life. I was willing to wait until you are ready before I confess but that night happened. I didn't get to control my emotions and I made a mess and I'm really sorry for taking advantage of you, but somehow I... I don't regret it. I'm sorry for being selfish." he sighed deeply after he told her his feelings towards her.
"Are you... telling me that..... you lo..ve me..??" Ji An was surprised to hear another confession from him. It was something she didn't expect from him and she never once imagined it. Maybe she was incredibly dense for not knowing his feelings for her but it's also because she only has Cheng Ze in her heart, no room for anyone else.
"Yes, I do Ji An. I have loved you for 4 years. My heart belongs to you, make me the happiest man on earth by marrying me, please?" he felt like a heavy rock was lifted from his chest after confessing his love for her and a glimpse of hope bud in his heart and eyes. If Ji An accepts his heart, his life will be complete and he will be the happiest man in the world.
"Eric, I'm 18 and you got me pregnant! You know my dreams, you know what I want. Don't you think we are too young to be married?" Maybe she was just looking for excuses, maybe she was just scared of the thought of being married and be like her mother, ending up in a divorce. She really hasn't thought of marriage, her understanding of a family was different from normal because of what happened to her own family.
"I will always support your dreams, Ji, I will never stop you from getting them. I will never let you down. Nothing will change... except of course you will be my wife and we will have a baby together." he smiled at the thought of them as a family. HIm, her and their baby." "We will have a family together." He smiled at her lovingly.
Though Ji An hated Gu Cheng Ze for what he did to her, his face popped up in her mind. She was looking at Eric but she was seeing Cheng Ze. Ji An tried to convince herself that Cheng Ze means nothing to her after that night, but it hurts her, it pains her heart. "Eric I—" she doesn't know what to tell Eric or what to do with the situation she was in.
"I will court you every day to make up for not doing it the right way." Eric moved closer to Ji An and held her face. "Accept my heart and I promise you, you will never regret it." he will give his all just to have her and he will not mess it up this time, after all, all he needed and wanted was a chance. He moved closer aiming for her lips, as he got closer, Ji An didn't move an inch, she was spaced out. The gap between their lips was inches away from each other but before he managed to seal their lips the door opened. It was Alice, she was probably going to check her best friend. Eric glanced at his sister and then at Ji An. "I'll give you some time to think about what I've said. You should rest. You need it." Though he didn't manage to kiss her, he was over the moon, thinking that a few more steps and she will be his.