Jemma sat on her bed, gazing at the walls with a distant look in her eyes. The echoes of her distressing experience continued to reverberate within her, leaving her deeply affected. The scars, both physical and emotional, were still vivid, casting a shadow over her otherwise comforting surroundings.
She hugged a pillow tightly, trying to find comfort in its embrace. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, grappling with the trauma she had endured. The feeling of helplessness and fear seeped into her thoughts, leaving her feeling vulnerable and overwhelmed.
Despite the safety of her new environment, the residual trauma from her recent ordeal persisted, casting a cloud over her current sense of security. Jemma knew that healing would take time, and the impact of those harrowing days would linger within her for a while longer.
In the evening…
Sara’s expression changed with shock. She met Yohan’s intense gaze, “He held you so tight, didn’t he?”Sara winced, and Yohan clenched his jaw, “You're too beautiful.”“Yohan…”“Not anymore, Sara.”Yohan threatened and marched into the bathroom. Sara realized Yohan had seen everything and heard their conversation. She knew Yohan's possessiveness and felt scared of his potential reaction after witnessing that scene.…In the dead of night, Jemma found herself trapped in a nightmare. She let out a scream, jolting awake from the horrors plaguing her dreams. Tears streamed down her face, mixing with the sweat, and the memories of the torment she faced at the hands of her stepmother continued to haunt her, refusing to let her sleep.She stumbled towards the balcony, yanking the door open, and stepped out into the chilly, rain-soaked night. The raindrops fell up
Before Jemma could explain further, a waiter interrupted, "Can I get you any drinks?" Jay turned to Jemma, "Drink?" "Lemonade, please." Jay ordered, "Two lemonades." The waiter inquired, "Anything else, sir?" Jay looked at Jemma, "What do you feel like eating?" Jemma pondered for a moment, then asked, "Do you have any burgers?" "Yes," the waiter confirmed, showing her the burger options on the menu. She ordered one while the waiter waited for Jay's order. Jay simply said, "Fries." The waiter left after taking their orders, and Jay complimented Jemma again, "By the way, this color and style really suits you." "Thanks." Jay gazed at Jemma for a moment, his eyes filled with intensity. "What's up with that look?" Jemma asked. "Can I hold your hand?" He requested. Jemma glanced at her hands, then at Jay with a little hesitation. “It’s okay.” Jay said sadly. She
Jemma was taken aback, unsure of how to respond.Sara scrutinized her appearance and the items she held, clearly suspecting she was returning from a date.Just then, Jia cheerfully exclaimed, “Sa Mom, I won the art and craft competition today. That’s why she brought me these. They're for me!” She winked at Jemma, adding, “Right, Jemma?” Jemma was surprised by Jia’s sudden intervention.“Huh?”Jia quickly took the bouquet and box of chocolates, exclaiming, “This bouquet is so pretty! And so many chocolates. You know I love chocolates! Oh, caramel flavors! Amazing!”She turned to Sara, excitedly saying, "Sa Mom, I really like them. Look at all these different flavored chocolates in one box. It's huge!"Sara smiled and approached Jia, advising her, "But don't eat them all at once. Remember to share, okay?""Okay, but you should tell brother to let me eat chocolates, or else he'l
Sara nodded thoughtfully, "Everyone makes mistakes, Jimmy. What matters most is how we handle those mistakes. Your dad, whenever he made a mistake, he always apologized and tried to fix it."Noah looked troubled, "But what if the mistake is so big that it really hurts someone? Can a simple apology make it right?"Sara sighed, "Sometimes, apologies help heal wounds, but the hurt might linger. Forgiveness takes time."Noah's expression became heavier, "Mom, I've messed up."Sara gently touched his shoulder, "If you've hurt someone, the first step is to apologize. If the person cares about you, they'll understand.""But what if the person doesn't forgive me?" Noah asked, sounding worried."If someone truly cares about your happiness, they'll find it in their heart to forgive you," Sara reassured him.Noah reclined on the couch, resting his head on his mother's lap. Sara soothingly ran her fingers through his hair."You have the an
Noah waited anxiously for Jemma until evening. He looked at the clock many times, hoping she'd come back. When he couldn't wait any more, he tried calling her, but she didn't answer the phone. Just as he was about to dial her number again, his phone buzzed with an incoming call. It was Yohan."Jimmy, where are you?" Yohan's voice sounded serious."Uncle… I'm at home," Noah replied, trying to sound composed.Yohan continued. "Tomorrow after your convocation, you'll be flying abroad with me. I have some business there, and all your university admission formalities will be completed once we reach."Noah's heart sank upon hearing this sudden news. "Okay...""Just tell your mom about leaving tomorrow. It'll make her sad, but try not to let her feel too down or cry, okay?" Yohan advised Noah."Yeah, I'll talk to mom," Noah replied with a hint of sadness."Got it," Yohan acknowledged with a nod.After hanging up, Noah slumped o
After dinner, Jemma lay on her bed. Noah came into her room carrying a glass of milk. Upon seeing him, Jemma sat up and looked down. Noah put the glass on the desk next to the bed and sat beside her. He took a deep breath and asked, "Have you avoided me long enough? Can we chat now?" Jemma remained silent. Noah said in his low voice, "I tried calling you today, but you didn't pick up. You didn't mention your decision to work instead of continuing your studies. What's going on in your head, Jemma? You can't sacrifice your future just because of a mistake we made," Noah expressed. "I'm not interested in studying," Jemma retorted. "I can't believe that. You were adamant about pursuing your master's till the end. And now, because you're avoiding me, you want to work.” "Stop it, Jimmy. I don't have to keep explaining to you what I want to do," Jemma responded firmly. Noah was surprised by Jemma's abrupt rudeness. "Why are you talking to me like this?" he questioned, taken aback. "Th
Four years passed… Noah finished his master's degree. Then he spent two years excelling in sports like taekwondo and martial arts, earning numerous medals. Yohan, insisting on him, got him an internship at Dixon Group. During these four years, Noah stayed overseas and didn't reach out or message Jemma. Jay used to text Jemma occasionally, not every day, as he was occupied managing his business and learning its ropes. His busy schedule left him with little time for calling or video chatting with Jemma like he used to. Jemma began to feel increasingly lonely. Once a cheerful girl, she gradually became quiet and withdrawn. It was midnight… Jemma scrolled through her phone, her thumb hovering over Noah's name. It had been ages since she'd heard from him. Her heart ached. She couldn't shake the feeling of being left behind, abandoned by someone she held so close to her heart. "Jimmy," she whispered, tracing the letters of his name on the screen. Memories flooded back—his infectious la
Sara entered the master bedroom and found Yohan smoking by the window. Sensing his distress, she approached him. "Yohan," she called out softly. Yohan took a deep drag of his cigarette without responding. "Since you met Jimmy, you've seemed worried. What's wrong?" Sara asked. "We didn't do right to him," Yohan replied in a hoarse voice. "What do you mean? Did he say something to upset you? He's not a rude child. But...did he..." Sara wondered. "He loves me deeply. And I haven't been honest with him," Yohan confessed. "What are you talking about?" Sara asked, puzzled. "He believes I did him a favor by keeping you and him with me. But he doesn't know I was also selfish. I secretly married you without telling him. I couldn't admit that I never stopped loving his mother. That's not a favor," Yohan explained. "Why would he bring this up all of a sudden?" Sara questioned. "His twentieth birthday is in two days," Yohan replied, locking eyes with her. Sara tensed. "So, did you try
"How... How is that possible? I remember, we chatted the morning I got attacked. You were the one telling me the baby was all healthy. What the hell happened?" "Maybe it's just my rotten luck, Jemma. But seeing you with Sunny, I can't help but be grateful you made it through and had a healthy baby." "Oh, Jia..." Jemma enveloped her in a tight hug, both women clinging to each other as tears flowed freely. Meanwhile, Noah reached the October Villa. As he approached, Yohan shot him a glare colder than a snowstorm. "Dad... Mom..." Noah greeted them, his eyes darting around to gauge the situation. Sunny was playing with Yohan. Noah swallowed hard, sensing trouble. "How can you be so careless, Jimmy? Why'd you let Jemma come here alone at this hour? You know the danger's not over yet," Sara scolded, her tone edged with worry. "Mom, I didn't want her to come, but she insisted..." "You're avoiding the situation, Jimmy. You can't change the past, but you shouldn't be dodging what's happ
"Jimmy, it's been days. I want to see her and the baby. What's the big deal?"He sighed, "I promise, we'll go later. I just need to sort some things out first."Jemma, growing more anxious, insisted, "But I've been waiting, Jimmy. I can't wait any longer. What's going on?"Noah, worried about her mental state, softened his tone, "Listen, babe. Trust me, I'll take you to see Jia, okay? I don't want to rush into things."Jemma, feeling a pang of doubt, couldn't hold back, "Are you hiding something from me? Why won't you just take me?""No, Jemma, it's not like that.""Jimmy..." her eyes turned tearful."Okay. I'll take you out to dinner tonight, at October Villa. Jia's staying there, and we can see her afterward. Deal?"Jemma hesitated for a moment, then agreed, "Okay, dinner it is. But you better not forget about it.Noah smiled, relieved that he had managed to divert her attention, "I won't. Now, let me get going, okay?"Jemma agreed, watching him leave for the office. As the door clo
Noah trudged back from work, the day's burdens still hanging on his shoulders. Opening the bedroom door, he caught sight of Jemma singing a lullaby to Sunny in her sweet voice. Emotions surged within him, and he quietly closed the door, not wanting to disturb their tender moment.Sinking into the living room couch, Noah leaned back with a heavy sigh. Guilt and regret enveloped him as he grappled with the reality of their situation. Conflicting emotions swirled as he recognised the joy in Jemma's happiness but couldn't shake the haunting feeling that everything was amiss.Jemma placed Sunny in the cot and, on her way to the kitchen for water, found Noah sitting in the dimly lit living room, a cigarette in one hand and a glass of whisky in the other. She touched his shoulder, and he opened his eyes, extinguishing the cigarette and placing the glass on the table."Tired?" she asked.Noah sighed deeply, rubbing the gap between his eyes. "Is Sunny asleep?"Jemma nodded, her palm on his che
The next morning dawned, casting a feeble light across the hospital room. The oxygen mask, a constant companion in her struggle for breath, had been removed, leaving her vulnerable in the stark hospital room.As Jemma slowly opened her eyes, the sterile scent of the hospital greeted her senses. Her gaze fell on Noah, sitting at the edge of the bed, his face etched with a mixture of exhaustion and sorrow. Desperation flickered in her eyes, and as she tried to speak, her voice emerged as a raspy whisper, "Jimmy... where's our baby?"Noah's heart clenched at the question, the weight of the unspoken truth hanging heavily in the air. He hesitated, avoiding her gaze, and gently urged, "Jemma, just take it easy. You need to rest."But Jemma, fueled by a mother's instinct and the gnawing fear that something was amiss, persisted, "Jimmy, please, where's our baby? Why won't you tell me?"His throat tightened with the burden of the truth he wasn't ready to share. Trying to divert her attention,
In the quiet aftermath, the doctor delivered a bittersweet message – Jia had given birth to a healthy baby boy, and she was fine. The family found themselves torn between joy for the new life and grief for the loss of Jemma's child. The terrace became a haven for Noah, who stood near the railing, his hands tucked into his pockets, gazing into the vast darkness.Jacob approached silently, standing beside him.Noah's shoulders slumped, burdened by the weight of the night. Understanding the unspoken unrest, Jacob placed a hand on Noah's shoulder."It's tough, Jimmy," Jacob finally said.Noah remained silent, still lost in the abyss of his thoughts."It's okay, Jimmy. It's not your mistake." Jacob added."You shouldn't have brought Jia here," Noah mumbled."I couldn't lie to her, and... I couldn't stop her," Jacob replied."How's she?" Noah asked, his voice strained."She's fine. Delivery went smoothly, not too hard on her. It's life.""How's the baby?" Noah's voice caught in his throat.
On a lovely evening, Jemma, bored at home, craved ice cream. Spontaneously, she called her driver and headed to the best ice cream spot. The cool sweetness lifted her spirits, turning a mundane evening into a delight.As Jemma indulged in her favourite ice cream, she decided to tease Noah, ignoring his earlier warnings about venturing out alone. Clueless about the impending twist in her evening, she initiated a video call, capturing the picturesque scene of her enjoying the sweet treat.Noah's face lit up when he saw Jemma's call, and his initial joy was evident as he glimpsed her savouring the ice cream. A smile played on his lips. However, his expression shifted when he noticed the unfamiliar surroundings and the people bustling behind her.Concern etched across his face, Noah interrupted her playful banter. "Jemma, where are you? You're not at home, are you?" he asked, his voice betraying a mix of worry and irritation.Jemma, still in her carefree mood, laughed, "Relax, Jimmy! Just
Yohan looked straight into her eyes, "Your mother didn't make a mistake giving birth to you and your brother. Being a mother ain't a mistake. The real mistake is not being able to bring a child into the world. And you didn't make a mistake wanting to bring life into this world."Jia lowered her head, tears welling up."He's a good guy. I'm proud of you."Jia rested her head on his shoulder, and he tightened his grip on her hand, patting it with his other hand."Jimmy's mad at him, not at you or your child. They're buddies. They'll figure it out.""Thanks, Dad."…Noah stepped out of the bathroom, catching sight of Jemma massaging her own feet. With a quick stride, he approached her."What are you doing? Lie down," he insisted, guiding her to lean back onto the bed. Noah grabbed a cushion, placing it behind her for support. Carefully, he lifted her leg, settling it on his thigh, and started massaging it gently.Jemma looked at him deeply, a gentle smile playing on her lips, radiating w
"Jimmy, just hear me out. It's true. It's Jacob, but...""I don't want to hurt you. Back off," he warned, and Sara covered her mouth in shock at the revelation."Mom, get her out of here," Noah yelled at his stunned mother. Jemma wasn't giving up, clinging to his arms to stop him."Jimmy, please... don't be so furious. At least try to understand. We can talk.""Jemma..." his dark eyes sent shivers down her spine, and she realized the magnitude of his anger.In the bedroom, as Jia and Jacob heard Noah's furious voice, Jia clutched Jacob's hand in fear. "Jacob...""Don't worry, I'll talk to him. Let me go.""No... no... please... please, Jacob..."Jacob gently released his hand from her grip and stepped out of the bedroom. Noah caught sight of him, and his anger surged."Freaking scoundrel!" Ignoring Jemma, he shoved her aside and lunged at Jacob."Jimmy... Jimmy..." Jemma screamed, almost drowned out by the chaos.Jacob attempted, "Jimmy, let's talk, okay.""I'll kill you!" But Noah un
"You won't do anything to him, brother. Please..." Jia approached him in fear."I'll kill that coward, Jia," Noah gritted his teeth, eyes blazing with anger."He's not a coward, brother.""This is pure cowardice. Who the hell leaves you in such a condition?" he shouted angrily."No brother, don't do anything to him. Please... he was going to tell you...""When? After the baby's born? It's been seven fucking months, Jia!" he screamed, shaking her. Jemma approached Jia, holding her shoulders, and said to Noah, "Jimmy, don't scare her. We can talk calmly.""I'm warning you, Jemma. Ask her who he is or get her ready to see his dead body in twenty-four hours."Saying that, he stormed out of the apartment furiously, leaving everyone shocked and scared. Jia sobbed, holding Jemma's hands, "Jemma... please... tell brother not to do anything to him... please... Jemma...""Calm down... calm down, Jia... don't cry... I'll talk to him."Jia rushed to Sara, stumbling into her legs, "Mom... please..