Jacques held the little box that was made in a fine black walnut wood with beautiful carvings with both of her hands. She's been holding the box for more than an hour and still her tears didn't stop.She didn't think the clinic would provide free caskets for miscarried babies. She greatly appreciated this help. And also, the box was very well-made and looked really expensive. She is not someone creative, but she can appreciate art. Seeing how cute and exquisite the carvings on the box are, she inferred that the artist who carved it must have a very loving and kind heart.It reminded her of her father's funeral. With her step-mother refusing to arrange for the funeral, she had made arrangements with a funeral home with the basic pack and she couldn't even arrange the payment for the basic pack. She ran around trying to get a loan, but no one was willing to loan a large sum to an eighteen year old girl who hadn't even finished her high school yet,But someone paid for her father's funer
Jacques's heart started to pound as she passed Payton High School. And as they passed through the little pub where she did her first stupid thing, her heart skipped a beat.Even after ten years, why is everything the same?That alleyway was where TJ almost trapped her that day when she left her part-time job... That tree is where she hit her head as she ran away from TJ... That pavement in front of that house was uneven and she sprained her ankle as she fell from her bike as TJ chased her. Her way back home where his gang members would harass her... and there are so many such places in Peyton.After her graduation, she never came back to this place and seeing where everything went wrong made her chest tightened.Her senior year here was the most terrifying year of her life. She did one stupid thing at the beginning of the year, which led to her breaking her friendship with Emma. And then came all her troubles.It's not like she liked Emma so much and shared a friendship with her. Emma
Jacques didn't know where she borrowed her courage from, but she had actually slapped his hand away, stopping him from touching the planter – the planter where she buried her baby he killed.She wasn't even thinking. She didn't want his murderous hand touching her baby and out of instinct, she actually hit him.A couple seconds passed and only then her brain registered what she did. Her palm stung by the force she had used on him and through her peripheral vision she could see him staring at his hand, stunned.I'm finished! He's going to kill me now!She has seen him fighting five guys at the same time and he bashed the skull of one guy without even batting an eye. She is nothing compared to those guys and it would only take one hit to kill her.But what if he breaks the planter out of anger?It was then she felt immeasurable fear and she wished she didn't anger him. She instinctively held the planter to protect it and her hands started to tremble.Jeremy was stunned when she hit him.
Lying on the floor, Jacques saw the beast, majestic as it is with its pointed ears, jumping down from the bed. Its collar made a slight clinking noise as it got down. It walked closer to her as if it didn't want to leave her alone. It was only then she noticed that its eyes were icy-blue.Her heart calmed down a bit, but as someone who has never been around dogs much, she still was not relaxed. She once had a rescue cat, but it was already old and it died within a couple of years after she adopted it.Still lying on her back, she extended her hand, and the dog stared back at her. She was scared to touch the dog and she decided to pull back her hand when the dog took a step forward and held her hand with its mouth.Jacques's heart pounded as she felt the sharp teeth of the dog pressing on her hand, but the dog didn't hold it any more tightly. She calmed down seeing the icy-blue eyes of the dog met hers.He looked really cute with the markings around his eyes and his fluffy tail was up
Jacques felt her heart beating in her throat as she heard the two dogs growling at each other and just by TJ's voice, they went away as if they weren't aggressive a moment ago.His voice... she heard him commanding the dogs to go downstairs and the dogs left..!If so, why were the dogs in here in the first place? How did they open the door and enter?She heard his footsteps entering the room and she saw him standing in front of her. Maybe because of the stress, she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. Her entire body felt cold and she almost fainted.And then was his grating voice that seemed to hide a sneer as he explained that his dogs don't bite. It was as if he wanted to make fun of her for the fear of his dogs."Is everything fun and games to you, huh?"She looked at him. She was on her knees, while he was standing tall like a pine tree and it pricked her heart."Why?" her throat closed seeing him looking down at her. "How much more do you want me to suffer for your heart to get pac
"Let go! You aren't even holding it right!"Jacques felt her wrist getting gripped hard and she couldn't hold on to the scissors anymore. With a clink, the scissors fell on the floor and she tried to struggle out of his grip. But she ended up tripping on his legs.Jeremy held the back of her head with one hand to keep it from getting hit on the floor, and his other hand pushed against the floor to stop him from crashing into her petite body as both of them fell on the floor due to her struggle.Her face was just inches from his face and her eyes that were red with anger and tears looked straight at his. This is the first time he's gotten this close to her while he looked straight at his eyes, and it made his heartbeat go berserk.His chest was pressed on hers and he could feel her heart pounding against his. And he had a feeling it was not for the same reason as his.He wanted to explain to her that he truly doesn't hate her and in fact, it is the opposite."I don't despise you," he s
Jacques couldn't understand what was happening. One moment she was holding the scissors to kill him and the next moment she was pinned down by him on the floor. He said he didn't despise her and she figured he was searching for a stronger word than 'despise'.He got mad when she mentioned Gerard and then she opened a conversation to negotiate for her freedom and after that, he became weirder.What's with that...smile? Is that even a smile? Or is it something sinister? Is he trying to scare me? Oh, Jacques! You must have had balls of steel to suggest an exchange when he threatened to damage your baby's grave just moments ago... And there is a cut in his chest that is bleeding because you stabbed him with frigging scissors.There was silence for more than a minute and Jacques's brain went overdrive thinking of the possibilities. Her excitement gradually turned to anxiety.And what's with the position we are lying? Why isn't he getting up?As she was trying to read his face that was cove
Jacques got so confused and paranoid and she kept on having nightmares during her sleep. Sometimes she felt like she was not exactly existing and was living someone else's life. She questioned whether everything happening to her, is actually happening or not.But then, she'd sit on the balcony beside the planter and the pain in her heart would remind her of everything that transpired in her life.That little plant will pull her back to reality each time she is about to lose herself.Thankfully, after that breakfast, she didn't see any of them for the next few days. But with no one disturbing her, she found herself losing time without knowing.Most of the time, she just lied on the floor and stared at the ceiling forgetting the time. Sometimes she wondered if TJ would accept the offer for her company. Other times, she just stared blankly.At times, she sensed little flutters in her stomach as if she was pregnant and then there would be heaviness hitting her heart, making her cry uncont
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