As Jacquesate her breakfast, she felt the excruciating pain in her entire mouth. She knew it was because of the impacted wisdom teeth and the dentist already advised her to do an extraction of the tooth a couple of years ago.But the thing is, she is terrified of dentists!She can barely hold on for routine check-ups, but anything more than that, she'd be terrified. A surgery? She'd die before she is given an anesthetic.She did her usual home remedies and ended up on the bed. Even after taking painkillers, it still hurt and she curled up on the bed.Where is Scarlett when you need her?Jacquesrolled on the bed. With how "curious" she was last night, she thought she'd visit in the morning.Should I call her?Jacquestried to get her phone, but then another bout of pain crippled her and she curled back on the bed.It's fine... It will go away in a day or two like always...She has this pain at times. The last time she had this pain was when she was held in the cabin. It was calm like th
Emma... why did she bring up Skunky when Hank didn't try anything of the sort on her? Was she afraid Hank might hurt her? Even so...'Emma manipulates' – he remembered Jerlina's words.Doesn't it seem that way?Jeremy felt like the floor beneath his feet had slipped. His eyes became blurry and he almost fainted from the pain in his heart."Get out! Don't show your face to me ever again! If anyone knows about what we talked about here, you wouldn't want to know what I'll do to you!" Jeremy shouted at Ashley and she struggled to get up."I won't tell anyone... please leave my aunt out of this, please..." she begged as tears dripped from her face."Get out!!" Jeremy banged the table and Ashley stumbled her way out.After Ashely left the room, Jeremy leaned at the backrest of his chair and stared at the ceiling.Emma... since when did she become like this? What changed her?Should I investigate more?He called Jack. He's the one he has in Jennifer's (Emma's sister-in-law)? office as a spy
Bobby was mad at Jeremy. Charlie called him just some time ago to ask him what he should do about the squirrel. He said that she was too quiet and it didn't seem like she even ate lunch.Charlie asked Bobby to send Scarlett to check on Jacquessince he felt it would be inappropriate for him to enter her bedroom. All Bobby could do was roll his eyes and run to Jeremy's house.Inappropriate? What if she is in danger? What if she choked or fainted?Bobby was worried if she had locked that chain lock in her door if she was inside the bedroom. He imagined all kinds of worse scenarios involving that little squirrel.He called Jeremy to inform him, but that guy didn't answer his call. Deciding to break the door in case it is locked, he walked inside the house.There was no sight of her in the kitchen and other areas, so he walked to her bedroom. Thankfully, it was not locked.The room was dark and he switched on the light. He wondered if she might be in the bathroom, but it was unlocked. He w
Jacques Expected he'd let go of her but his hold on her wrist tightened and he glared at her."For that? No! I don't have to be there in person. Bye, Emma. I am busy.""...""I'm with... Don't call me back, bye."He ended the call.Jacquespouted seeing his mad-looking face.Well, why is he mad at me?The doctor called them in at that moment and Jacquesran inside. But the moment she saw that chair, her stomach churned."It's okay. I am here," Jeremy held her hand. He didn't seem mad now. She tried to get out of his hold, but he didn't let go.Jacquessucking in her breath, plopped on that chair of doom. The bright light that won't let you see around you, that mouth prop, that clinking, drilling, sucking noises...Ugh!Jerlina's ears felt stuffed, out of fear.Usually, she'd be answering to the dentist, but it was Jeremy who answered for her this time. He even had a copy of her dental records.How the hell did he...Well... He knows my mom's middle and maiden names. So...She just stared
"I love you..."Jerlina's voice was meek but it seemed to be filled with joy. He didn't know what he should do next.His heart started to pound and his stomach hurt because of the sudden influx of happiness.She said what?"I love you sooo much..."Her hold around his neck tightened and his knees weakened. He stumbled his way near his car and leaned on the hood to ensure he didn't drop her.She really said it... She said~"...daddy!"WHAT!!Her next word interrupted his happy thoughts."Daddy... daddy...I love you..." she rubbed her cheeks on his and he let out a sigh.His back humped and suddenly she felt so heavy that he couldn't carry her.She's thinking about her dad?-----Jacqueswas watching her boy and her mother playing in the distance.And then the scene changed.She was sitting in the dentist's office fearing to get in for her procedure. Her heart started to race and she didn't want to be there. She was thinking of running away.At that time, the door opened and...Her dad w
Mikhail was terrified. He doesn't like it when people mix up relationships for fun.If he is your lover, call him that. There are a lot of other words to describe that relationship. Just don't call him daddy if you're sleeping with him!Is that too much to ask of people these days?And of all people, Jeremy's wife is falling for this trend? I see they have a big age gap, but still...He is not your daddy if you're married to him!"She's high... Wisdom teeth extraction... And I am very tired, let me in," Jeremy said with a sigh.He could see terror dancing in Mikhail's face."Oh..." Mikhail let them in and closed the door. "Oh?"It still doesn't make sense! Ugh, whatever!Mikhail decided to let go seeing Jeremy being really tired."Daddy, is he your friend?" Jacqueswhispered in his ears once more as they were seated on the couch."Yes," Jeremy nodded, patting her head."Oh," she said, and then she was on her best behavior. Sitting with her knees together and her hands on her lap, she l
Mikhail opened his mouth to say something but then emptied his glass without saying anything.Jeremy took a sip from his glass.His investigations faced a dead end with Moses Mosley. But there is no animosity between Jacquesand Moses. That only means that someone pays Moses enough to get her. If he finds out who that is, it would be easy for him to deal with them."She..." Mikhail let out a deep breath and Jeremy looked at him.Mikhail isn't loose-lipped and he has high alcohol tolerance. That means he means to speak to him about this."She has enemies, yes. But if the ones going behind her are them... apparently, she has no chance of survival." He took in another deep breath seeing Jeremy's very unimpressed face."Who are they?" Jeremy fisted his hands."Grandpa didn't say... I think he's scared of them too..." Mikhail looked at the floor in deep thought.Jeremy knows he is not lying. There is someone even Volkonsky is afraid of? Who might that be? Should I start my investigations fr
Jeremy bowed his head. It seems like that seems to be the rational move forward if he wants to have his love fulfilled. Everyone is advising the same and he thinks the same too.For him, the choice is obvious. Like Emma made the choice to get the man she loved, he will do everything to get the heart of the woman he loves too."What about you?" Jeremy asked Mikhail who fell silent.Although Mikhail's advice is sound, it did hurt Jeremy's pride to be advised by a younger guy."Me? You know me... I'd like to be at least forty before I even think about marriage-""So your grandpa still doesn't want to get involved with the Erling family, it seems," Jeremy probed. He had a hunch, but..."I am not interested in Rose! So whatever you heard or whatever you saw is all a lie. Erase it and don't ever bring that name up!" Mikhail got all defensive and Jeremy smirked.So, my hunch was right!"So her name is Rose, huh? I never knew..." Jeremy was proud of himself to see Mikhail squirm realizing tha
Jeremy tried to regain his balance after he was pushed and he saw the little figure falling on the floor. He balanced himself and saw the little figure kneeling as the tiger was in an attack stance.Oh, No!Jacques was not willing to die."No, Khan!" She shouted and crossed her forearms to cover her face. She shut her eyestightly as if that would have her.Her voice was loud and clear and that was followed by Wyatt's authoritative command."Khan, stay."Just a second after Jacques felt something warm and soft hugging her and she opened her eyes to see little Benny hugging her.She felt a strong pull from behind her and a lot of shouts. Thankfully she didn't hear any weapon going off.She saw the distance between the tiger and her increasing and the big cat getting pulled back by Wyatt.She didn't know how it happened but the tiger looked calmer now."You okay, Jacques?" That familiar voice was shaking in terror and the next she felt was everything around her blackening as she was surr
Jacques's heart pounded looking at the sharp eyes of Wyatt. The tiger was staring right at her and licked its lips.Jacques felt a shiver passing through her spine.Fear of death...She used to foolishly think for some time that death would end it all and death is a sweet release from worldly troubles.But now, facing the big threat in front of her, she realized that she wanted to live more than she thought she did.She gulped seeing Wyatt taking a puff with an odd smirk looking at her. She was terrified.But she stared right back at Wyatt. She remembered Jeremy's words that even Shaun's boss cannot hurt her.I am Joel's woman. I cannot show myself to be weak when he is near me!She felt a big hand enveloping hers. That familiar big hand was rough and warm.Yeah, I am in the safest place on earth.I am by Joel's side!"Come to the point, Wyatt. Don't waste my time," Jeremy said, placing her hand on his lap.It was like he is assuring her that he is by her side and no one can touch her
Jacques couldn't take her eyes off the little boy with pretty green eyes. Those eyes reminded her of Gerard and the baby she lost.She fixed the long unkempt hair of the boy by running her fingers through them. The boy had a pleasing smile. He was shy at first but then started to play with her hair.She got some snacks for the boy from the others and he was happily chomping on them while talking non-stop.Should I just bring him with me?Jacques wondered. His father left him out in the cold. He wouldn't mind if someone else raises his son, right?But... She was told that Wyatt came running here as soon as he heard the news that his son is with Jeremy. News from Wyatt's town is that he was searching every nook and corner of his town for his son.Ugh!Jeremy, sitting at a distance from her, watched her without blinking. She was casually wiping the boy's snot, wiping his face, and was holding him the whole time.And the smile on her face...He could see a different kind of smile on her f
And that's when she saw some movement behind the tiger. She thought she saw a piece of clothing sometime before, but she dismissed it.But now, that piece of clothing has moved.Is that a child?All of a sudden, she could move. She saw Jeremy pointing the weapon at the tiger and there were some tens of the volunteers pointing their weapons."Don't shoot!!!" Jacques waved her hand and walked towards the tiger.She wasn't thinking about anything but that child. They might shoot at the tiger but the child is bound to get hurt.Jeremy was stunned.Is she really walking towards the tiger? Is she trying to protect the tiger? She was scared of the huskies and now she is walking towards a....Is she stupid?He signaled others not to shoot but his weapon was trained on the tiger."Reckless idiot!" he mumbled, seeing the tiger crouching a bit as if it was going to lunge.Second, he felt his heart slipping to the pit of his stomach. He heard a ringing noise in his ear and his eyes darkened.The t
Jacques was surprised to see the number of pickup trucks lined up in the road. Noticing Jeremy's car, they all gave way to him. She oddly felt proud, although she knew this respect was for Jeremy.He's the King, alright?She didn't think that many would volunteer for this when today is Black Friday and was impressed.Rather than shopping for Christmas, they preferred to help every kid have a Christmas tree in their home?"That's a lot of volunteers," Jacques said."Yeah, every year the number of volunteers is increasing and the number of trees needed is decreasing," Jeremy said, waving his hand to Charlie parking his truck."So more people are buying fake Christmas trees these days?" Jacques said with a chuckle."Ha... That's a very genius observation, Chippy! "Jeremy turned to look at her with a teasing smile."Chippy? Not you too, Brutus," she hit him in the arm.Actually, she understood what that meant. It just means the prospects of the households in this area is getting better an
Jacques stayed silent as she didn't know what to say."I had terrible morning sickness and it was a time when I had a promising career ahead. I was just twenty-nine and I thought it was not the right time for the baby. So I..." Dr. Kruger took a deep breath."It's rare... complications after abortion... but...I became an Attending Physician... When I decided it is time for me to become a mother...It... five miscarriages, going through all the fertility treatments available, clinical depression, and a suicide attempt later, I quit my job and my husband brought me here. John... he was my pillar of support..." Dr. Kruger wiped her eyes."No one here knows this... Not even Jeremy..."Jacques got up and squatted beside Dr. Kruger and held her hand. She could feel the pain in the doctor's heart."I got better here. My husband, bless his soul, he's the one good thing I did right in my life. He did a lot for me, lost a lot for me, but he never even thought of losing me... And Jeremy... When w
Sometime later, Scarlett's family joined them in the backyard and they all played games and chatted merrily. Except for Scarlett and Jacques, everyone else got drunk.Jacques helped Scarlett in taking care of the leftovers and cleaning the kitchen. Then Scarlett decided to stay in her parents' home and Scarlett's brother helped bring Bobby there.Both Jeremy and Bobby were too drunk to drive. Jacques decided to drive Jeremy home but Dr. Kruger asked her to stay the night here since it had gotten late already."I can drive..." Jeremy said with a slur."Go to bed," Dr. Kruger patted his back."Yes, mom," Jeremy hugged her. "I love you, mom. So much.""Me too, Jerry. I love you," Dr. Kruger said with a chuckle and patted his back."Jeryl...Jerly...Jacques..." he started giggling as he slurred.He walked towards Jacques holding out his hands, "My wife, my love... here... let me..." he puckered his lips and tried to kiss her.Maybe he was seeing double, he couldn't quite catch her lips and
Jacques once accidentally got in contact with acid when she was in school. It was just a drop and the acid wasn't very concentrated and even then it gave her a first-degree burn.If this acid is for hurting her, it should be a concentrated acid.How much will it hurt if Jeremy pours it on Stella? Won't her bones melt?A shiver ran down Jacques's spine.Wait...It could've been me!That acid... it might have landed on my face!Viper... Viper is the guy who wants me dead and this woman for her own benefit made a deal with him!Without saying anything, Jacques turned to walk inside.Stella's sobs intensified and she knelt on the floor knowing her fate."Please... Linny... please... help me... I wasn't thinking..."Jacques almost stopped hearing that pitiful cry, but then she walked without stopping.It could have been me.Scarlett hugged baby Cia in her bosom as they walked at a larger pace towards Bobby's house. Soon after, they heard the sound of glass shattering on the floor, followed
"Stella!"Hearing Jacques walking closer, Jimmy stepped aside.Jacques's stepmother walked in with a bright smile replacing the scowl she had till then, as soon as she heard Jacques."What brings you here?" Jacques put on a bright smile to match her stepmother's."Oh, dear," Stella wrapped her arms around Jacques for a hug and Jacques put up with it.She saw Scarlett behind Stella and she pulled out her phone to record after passing the baby to Bobby. Jacques nodded with a smile.They predicted the next one to come for her under the nudge of Emma would be her stepmother.Jacques hasn't paid a cent for them for more than two months and they have never lived without her money and it would be hard for them to survive.They do not know how to spend thriftily and not to mention all the debts they are under.After talking to Gina, Jacques never cared for them. Although her stepmother would be too proud to talk to her, Emma would have found a way to make her come to her. And recently Charlie