Chapter 10

"You might not know this," Zachary quietly explained. "Due to genetics, every member of the Hendersons falls seriously ill before the age of five. When Jonathan falls sick, can you guarantee his survival?" At that, I snapped my head up and finally met his gaze. I always knew the Hendersons were few in number, but I never imagined this was the reason. And no, I couldn't gamble with Jonathan's life. "Let me take Jon," Zachary gently encouraged. "Don't worry. I will raise him by my side, and I won't let anyone bully him." … After Jonathan left, I fell gravely ill. It took me over a month before I regained the strength to reopen my shop, as I was sick on and off. When Johnathan turned three, Zachary got married. However, the marriage lasted less than a year before it ended. From then on, he raised Jonathan alone, keeping the promise he'd made to me. Zachary would send me a photo of Jonathan every month. Even though I couldn't watch him grow up in person, he became everything I'd hop