In the peaceful embrace of an early morning, warm sunlight gently filtered through the curtains, casting a golden hue across the living room. Jemma, exhausted from the trials of the night, had settled on the floor, leaning against the couch where Noah lay asleep. She had laid her head on the edge of the couch, the soft morning light offering a serene backdrop to this unexpected moment of rest. Opening her eyes at her usual time, Jemma slowly lifted her head, taking in her surroundings with a gentle awakening. Her hand remained in Noah's grasp, nestled near his chest. She gazed at his calm face, a strange mixture of emotions swirling within her.How charming he appeared while in sleep!The white shirt he wore clung slightly upward, revealing a peek of his defined waist. A black waistband of brief peeked out from the waistband of his black pants. Two unbuttoned buttons teased, revealing a hint of his chest beneath. His tousled hair cascaded gently onto his forehead. Heavy eyelids shield
Jemma, at a loss, stammered, "I don't know what…"Just then, the doctor arrived and informed them, "He's awake. You can go in and see him."Sara immediately asked, "What happened to him, doctor?"The doctor replied, "He's pretty young. He needs to cut down on alcohol and cigarettes. Why don't you guys make him stop? It could turn deadly one day."Sara, with tears in her eyes, shot a glance at Yohan, "This is all your fault. Why don't you scold him? He never listens to me." Then she turned to Jemma, "And you? You're his wife. Why does he need to drink this much? Can't you stop him?"Yohan intervened, "It's not her fault. He's just stubborn, you know?"Sara cried out, "Is this all I'm going to see now?"Yohan comforted her, patting her shoulder, "I'll talk to him. Don't cry."Jemma suggested, "Aunt, you should go inside to see him."Sara nodded, wiping her tears. Just then, a nurse approached the doctor, saying, "Sir, he's refusing to give a blood sample."The doctor glanced at Yohan, w
Sara's eyes widened in shock, realizing the secret was out.Jacob's gaze shifted to Jia, standing with Jemma, tears welling up in her eyes, looking utterly petrified."You kept this from me for years!" Yohan shouted, his voice echoing with a mix of betrayal and anger.Sara stumbled over her words, "Yohan, I...I didn't know how to spill it. It's, like, crazy complicated."Yohan's face twisted in disbelief, "Complicated? You hid my own flesh and blood from me? Seriously, Sara? He called me uncle, lived all those years without knowing his dad, kept calling me uncle even after finding out, and after giving me his freaking liver, he still couldn't say it straight because of some stupid embarrassment. He suffered, and you're the reason he went through all that pain."Jia couldn't hold back her sobs. Jacob stepped in, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Let's get out of here."To Jemma, he said, "Come on, Jemma, let's bounce."Jemma, still in shock, nodded, and they briskly left the ward. Jacob
Pictures of Jay with various girls flashed on the computer screen, each with details like location, date, and time. These girls appeared to be close to Jay, and Jemma's heart started pounding loudly as she saw the images. In the same folder, she found a file and opened it without hesitation.The file revealed that six months after Jay finished his master's and moved to France, he had a one-night stand with Malisha, who turned out to be an employee at his company. They continued a physical relationship for two years. After Jay came to Vento City for work, he had a one-night stand with the project manager from the opposite company, and the deal was finalized.He always had intimate relationships with various girls, sometimes for personal needs and sometimes to benefit the company. Later, he got back in touch with Malisha, and she became pregnant with his child. Jay forced her to have an abortion. Upon returning to Vento City, he hired a private secretary and slept with her too. The nigh
"No. And I don't want him to. But I need you to spill the truth from the start.""What you saw is true. There's nothing extra beyond what Jimmy knows.""But how did it all start? Why did Jimmy feel the need for this?""You gotta ask him that."“Tell me what happened, Jacob, please.”"The night he found out about your marriage to Jay, he lost it. We were together, and he drowned himself in booze and smoke. He told Liam to dig up everything about Jay. And when he got the whole scoop, he was even more crushed. He didn't want you marrying Jay after knowing all that.""Why didn't he just tell me then? He should've shown me everything.""Would you have believed him?""I would."He smirked, "Did you ask him why he had started acting so differently? Did you ask him why he's making himself look like the bad guy in your eyes? Did you even care enough to find out?"Jemma sadly smirked, "What's there to ask? Should I ask him why he messed up my life?""You're really blind, Jemma. You saw the trut
In the evening, as Jemma left Venus Group, she spotted Noah, as usual, waiting to pick her up from work. She halted for a moment, staring at him. Leaning against the car, he wore a white shirt and grey pants, one hand in his pocket, engaged in a phone conversation. His eyes were fixed on his shoes, and the breeze playfully tousled his hair. Jemma felt her heart tighten as she observed him. Though he was younger, she never felt like the elder one; he always exuded maturity and cleverness.Ending his call, Noah lifted his head and, upon seeing Jemma, flashed a gentle smile. Jemma sighed deeply and walked towards him."You're ten minutes late. I was about to tell Liam to block the airport," Noah teased with a playful smile.Jemma responded, "Let's go."They settled into the back seat of the car with Liam at the wheel. Noah, looking a bit weak, sat with his eyes closed. Jemma respected his need for rest and didn't disturb him. Upon reaching the apartment, Jemma headed to the elevator, but
"Are you crazy? You just got out of the hospital today. You can't even walk right. Your liver might be messed up. Can't you stop all this for a few days?" She scolded him. Noah clenched his teeth and grabbed her shoulders, pissed off. "Cut it out. Quit doing this. I didn't ask for your help." "But you need it," she said quietly. Noah dropped his arms and turned away in frustration. "I can handle myself." "I just saw you. You'll end up killing yourself." "Don't you want me to kick the bucket after causing you so much trouble?" He glared at her, and Jemma froze. "I messed up your life, forced you, beat you, and kept you stuck here. You probably wish I'd suffer the worst death." "I'm not like you, intentionally hurting people." "But you did try hard to get me offed." "I didn't do anything." "Did you forget that party at your place? Didn't you hire a thug to attack me?" Jemma frowned. "I did. Fine, I admit it. I was so mad at you for putting Jay in a dangerous situation." "Jay,
In a corner of the world... An old man with a cane, rocking black shoes, making his way to his suite. Three men decked out in black were trailing him, looking like his bodyguards. The old man had worry lines on his forehead like he was dodging someone. Once he punched in his finger password, the door swung open. "You guys scram. Let me relax, and secure this floor. Nobody gets in," he mumbled, sounding all mixed up. He strolled into the suite, and the three men left. He flicked on the lights, ditched his warm coat, and headed straight for the phone. He punched in a number and slapped the receiver to his ear. "Hey... Neel? You there? Listen up. I think Yohan tracked me down. Saw his car tailing mine. Yeah, even in this city. He's close. No, I can't trust him. He's dangerous. No, you stay there. Don't even think about leaving the island. It is the safest place we have. I'll wrap up my stuff and head back soon. Alright, alright. I got it." After chatting with his biological son, Neel
"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..