Keilani hadn't given up despite Tyrone's blunt refusal. She didn't want her true intentions to be obvious, fearing being laughed at by Tyrone. So she used Jennie as an excuse, her underlying motive veiled behind concern for Jennie's well-being. She thought it was a decent excuse and that no one would see through her, but from Tyrone's point of view, Keilani's thoughts may as well have been written on her face, and she appeared nothing more than utterly desperate and ridiculous.

Tyrone glanced at Jennie and said matter-of-factly, "My life won't be influenced by my child.”

Keilani's expression froze at his remark, feeling the urge to throw down her fork in surrender and storm out of the room. She couldn't bear another moment of humiliation at Tyrone's hands, and the urge to give up and go back to Philade immediately surged within her. Wasn't Tyrone just a man? Couldn't she find someone better?

Yet, Keilani couldn't reconcile herself to the idea of admitting defeat. Why should she allow herself to be deemed inferior to Sabrina?

How could Tyrone turn her down like this repeatedly?