Jacques winced and her heartbeat quickened hearing the crashing of the vase when she least expected it. She bent to see the vase broken to shills right beside TJ's feet. She didn't fail to notice TJ blocking her feet with his and no shards ended up near her, but it spread everywhere else in the room.Emma's mother covered her mouth with her hands and her eyes became teary."Jeremy!" Jeremiah shouted and Jeremy smirked."Well, y'all should look for durability and other things offered by synthetics... You know what they say about glass houses and all..." he looked at Harold and Jeremiah started coughing again. Is he saying that his family doesn't have class?Jacques wanted to laugh but she held her laughter. She didn't think TJ would act juvenile; that he'd break stuff to show his displeasure.Why did he get angry again? Was it for me or is he just using me to show his anger at his family?Eh, who cares! This is the first time someone talked this openly for me and took my side. But I c
Jacques stood near the Jeep and her chest felt heavy. The way Gerard looked at her got imprinted in her heart and his gentle voice that was trembling when he asked her what was wrong with her, hurt her. She only then realized something. He must have been shocked to learn that she is married to TJ just like she was when Emma mentioned her wedding with Gerard. He might even be thinking that she married TJ to get back at him.I don't want him to misunderstand.Although she had decided that she should have nothing to do with Gerard anymore, after seeing his hurt face, her heart wavered. "Shall we leave?" TJ's voice came from behind her."Mmm..." She tried to open the door as if it was a doorknob by turning it when it should be pulled.Jeremy opened the door for her as she appeared absent. "Jer, wait...Please, just one minute," Gerard's voice came from behind when she kept her one foot in the car and Jeremy clenched his fists. He felt a sharp pain in his chest when she stepped out of t
Jacques saw those guys running towards Jeremy and they were holding something in their hands. She grew up in these situations and she knew those guys are holding little blades and the moment the opponent is open, they will stick it in one of their vitals resulting in a fatal ending.She observed if TJ had noticed the approaching men, but he was well-hidden in the darkness. And there seemed to be almost eight to nine men approaching him and she didn't think TJ could handle that many people with weapons in their hands.She wondered if she should alert TJ. But that might divert those guys towards them. TJ should be conscious of his surroundings as he is in danger all the time and she decided to wait and see. Gerard knitted his brows seeing Jacques looking in the direction of TJ. She didn't even look at his face. In the dim light, he could see the shine from her diamond ring. He noticed it back in Emma's home. She was proudly wearing it and she seemed so comfortable with it when usually
Jeremy wished it was her and he wished it was not her. If it was her, it means she has no self-preservation and he needed to give her some lessons. He can protect himself, but she cannot involve herself in dangerous stunts like this.But why do I want to see her there? Why do I wish that this clumsy attempt to "help" me was undertaken by her?His legs started running towards the driver's side. Am I dreaming?From the distance, Gerard watched the woman he thought he knew well, rash driving towards a bunch of men. He couldn't fathom what she was planning to do. Because of the way she rushed forward, it seemed like she'd kill a bunch of men to save that one guy.Why? How did she change this much?She is not someone who gets involved in other's lives. But she has a strong sense of justice. That's why, against his advice, she became a witness to the harassment allegations of her boss' son. But she helped establish that Millman is guilty when that colleague asked for her help. What she do
"Just leave, Gerry."She didn't want to think about love or anything like that now. She just wanted to be left alone.There was silence for some time and Jacques still didn't turn to look at him. He left after a while without saying anything more.Jeremy was silent. His wounds stung but his heart hurt more. Both of them were interacting as if he wasn't even there and it hurt.They are going to talk more?"Do you need to get your wounds treated?" she asked as they got near his mom's clinic."No, they are just scratches," he replied. He has had worse wounds and this is nothing."Okay," she didn't insist. He is a grown man and if he says he is fine, he should be fine.They reached home and Jacques parked the car and handed him the keys. He looked at her reddened eyes and he didn't know what she needed. He tried to strike a conversation.He didn't know what to talk about, but he needed to tell her something. "Don't do that – interrupting a fight... don't do that again. I'm never alone an
"Yeah, Emma got my knife to cut the apple. It was weird. Today I searched for it in the cabin and found it under the bed." Charlie didn't know why his boss was asking all these, but he answered anyway."Okay then... you know what to do with those guys. Figure out if they are connected to Mosely." Jeremy said and closed the door.Under the bed? Did Jacques store it there for future use? She said she finds those kinds of places as safe places. But if she was planning on using it, why didn't she take it with her during her escape?And Emma... did she bring the knife to Jacques to share the apple with her? And Jacques might have got triggered thinking she was bragging and tried to stab her? But Jacques said there was no struggle between them. I should talk to Emma.Jacques kept the jewelry she was wearing safe in her closet and changed. She went to the balcony to check up on the planter. Squatting beside the planter, she sighed. She didn't know what she was doing as everything seemed mu
"It's..." Jeremy gulped looking at her reddened eyes. He bowed his head realizing his mistake.Marriage is not something to be taken lightly. It is a covenant made between two people in love. Some consider it sacred. And he thought of it as some deal that would keep her safe and close to him without even considering her feelings."You're easily saying that I can get back with Gerry after you let me go. What will you do if I want to continue my relationship with Gerry while I am married to you on paper?" She looked at him.It only hit her when he barged into her room claiming he is her husband. He used to like her and he has some awareness that he is her husband. So, how is he sure he will let her go?"No way!" Jeremy said without thinking. "What is the difference? You're saying you'll annul the marriage and that means our marriage is not valid. So why can't I meet others? Are you afraid that you'll be called a c**k by your peers?" she looked at him and he gulped.Because I love you,
Jacques tried to do some work at Jeremy's desk. Just an hour ago, he called her and told her to do whatever she wants as he won't be in the office in the morning. Apparently, he is meeting his dear sister. And this was the first time he called her phone and she stored his number.Since she was given no tasks to do, she used the time to revamp her company's website. She knew web designing and she changed the website to be more attractive to women. She had some plans for the collector's items and she decided to visit her company as soon as possible.Jeremy's computer had the latest specifications and it was easy to work with and Jacques, with no guilt, did her personal work in her office time. She stretched herself after concentrating for a while and her eyes ended up on the bag containing the lunch. She took a peek and it contained a generously big sandwich.When was the last time someone packed lunch for me?Her dad used to pack lunch for her when she was starting elementary school.
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