"Don't kid me, Joel... Did it really happen?" still burying her chin to her chest, she pulled his collar."Have I really lied to you before?" he grabbed the back of her head and she felt a tingling feeling when he touched her.He made her look at his face that was bright with a teasing smile.She pouted and looked at him pitifully. "I did not, did I?""You did," Jeremy shrugged with a smile. "You were very cute yesterday. Playing in the park, asking for ice cream, calling me daddy...""Stop!" She tried to turn but he held her."Shh, don't move. I'll stop."Jacques In his embrace closed her eyes. "I don't know why, but lately I'm missing my dad a lot... my mom too..." her eyes welled with tears.Jeremy hugged her close. It probably is because of the wedding. She probably wanted her dad to walk her down the aisle like most women. And you don't need a reason to miss our mom."I miss my mother too," he said with all honesty.He really wished his mother was here to see him getting married
"You too...are handsome," she smiled. "Didn't you buy a new shirt?""It is a new shirt... can't you see? The one I wore yesterday is red with navy checkers and this is red with dark green and navy...Here, see..." he showed it to her."Yes, I see..."? Jacquespretended. All his shirts look the same for her anyway.They went to the table and Mikhail was reading the morning papers with a cup of tea. Seeing them, he placed the teacup on the saucer, folded the paper and placed it on the table, and stood up.He did all that before Jacques Took two steps as if he was a robot programmed to act gentlemanly.Wow!Jeremy ordered a smoothie for her. "I'll cook you soup for later. Just bear with this for a day or two until you heal. Eat squished fruits if you get hungry, alright?" he spoke in a gentle tone and Jacques Felt that tingling in her heart once more.Ugh... it won't be hard to fall for him, isn't it?Ever since he openly stated that he's going to court her (whatever it means), she started
But how come she changed his mind just with some whispers?I riled him up perfectly and he even shot out like the arrow he is, but why did he stop? Why did he- Yuck! That sight! Disgusting! Puke inducing!How could he hug and kiss her? And she acts like a coy little b*tch! As if he's the only man she's been with! That b*tch!After overhearing Charlie's call, she knew Jeremy was returning and she even put on a show by pretending she was waiting for him the whole time sitting on the porch.But this is what I get to see?She knitted her brows as if she's in pain, seeing Jeremy entering."Take a rest in the guest room in the West, Emma. Let's talk about this later," he said, petting her head and she endured speaking further."Jerry, you know I love you the most, right?" she said holding his hand and she watched his usual bright smile, missing. He smiled. But it was not the same smile."Me too, Emma..." he ruffled her hair. "Take rest," he turned to leave. But then he stopped."If you want
Jacques Isn't the kind to act impolitely even with her enemies. She's been that way all her life and she has no intention of changing herself now, but she was surprised he is saying this to her now."Even to your sister?" she asked."Yes, even to Emma." He nodded.He was serious with no playfulness in his eyes and Jacques Bit her lips."What changed? Just days before you were shouting at me not to speak a single word about Emma," she asked."There is a reason," he held her hand. "That's what I am going to talk about to Emma now. And I want you there."Jacques Bowed her head. He probably investigated and found out something about Emma.As much as she hated Emma, she didn't want to be watching her when she was confronted by her brother about the truth. Getting humiliated in front of your perceived enemy is one of the worst feelings and she wanted to spare Emma of that.For that, and Jacquesfeared retaliation.Jeremy might be acting against Emma to make sure she's not lost. Out of his lo
"Your face..?" Emma asked knitting her brows pointing at Jerlina's face.Jacques Saw the slight smile banging on to be let out at the corner of Emma's lips."You look worse," Jacques Said with a fake concerned face. "What happened?"Emma clenched her jaws for a second before turning towards Jeremy with a smile. "Jerry, you didn't hurt Her thinking of getting back at Gerard, did you? You have to control your anger. She and Gerard are different people and..."This ****! Why would Jeremy hurt me trying to get back at Gerard? Does she actually believe this or inciting Jeremy to do this?Jacques Wanted to grit her teeth, but then her jaws would hurt and so she didn't. She looked at Jeremy and he looked stunned and pale.Yeah, Joel... Your dear sister thinks you are someone who'd act like a savage! Does it hurt? I'm sorry."Joel," she held his arm and smiled gently to distract his thoughts. "What's for lunch?""Ah, yes... I cooked soup for you. Because you had an extraction yesterday, you c
Jacquesstaggered back holding her chest. Her eyes clouded and she leaned on the wall for support.The truth is out! He finally realized the truth!It won't change anything from the past, but she felt vindicated. She knew it. She knew Emma was behind it but her voice wasn't heard. A lot happened, but finally, the truth came out.She wouldn't say she was happy. There is nothing to be happy about in this circumstance. But she was relieved. She now knows that her beliefs weren't wrong and Emma is the source of most of her troubles.She let out a sigh.She looked at the tall back in front of her, shielding her from Emma. His voice was shaking and she could feel his pain.Is he showing me that I am more important to him? By confronting his sister in front of me... By confronting the one I thought was his most important person in front of me, is he telling me that he takes my side?No, it should be because the truth is on my side.But he insisted on my presence here. Although he's hurt, he w
Jerlina's eyes clouded.He apologized!She thought it was enough that Jeremy knew the truth. She didn't know she needed the apology.Turns out, she needed the apology.Everything that went wrong in her life, started with her meeting Emma again. She lived in fear and stress for months. After she lost her baby, she almost lost her mind trying to find out the reason behind everything.She slowly learned a lot of truths and little by little each of the knots in her heart got removed. She learned a lot, she changed a lot and she grew a lot for the better. She lost some and gained some. She learned that a lot of people truly love her; more than she thought.The biggest shock for her was the fact that Jeremy never hated her and he really wanted to protect her.But she feared him for the better part of her life thanks to the lies of Emma.And for Jeremy to not believe that his sister is not a saint till now, was a big burden in her heart. She didn't know why, but she didn't like Jeremy thinki
Jacques Pressed her lips and raised her eyebrows."Wife, huh?""Yes, of course," Jeremy said, puffing his chest.They are married. If she is not his wife, then who is she?"Who agreed to be your wife?" she asked, biting her lips.One of her brows was raised and that bunch of her hair hanging by her cheek made her look a thousand times more adorable."You didn't?" Jeremy raised his brows."No! When did I?" Jacques Raised her voice. The corners of her lips were lifted up and Jeremy couldn't help but pull her closer holding her waist.Leaning on the counter by the stove, he pressed her waist on his. Jacquestried to step back, but he pulled her closer. "Then what did you agree on? Who are we?"They've never defined their relationship properly till now. She used to hate him and now she doesn't. He has always loved her and now he has confessed to her. They are legally married.So what is their relationship?He was leaning casually on the counter and was almost at eye level with Jerlina. Jac
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