Jeremy staggered hearing what Jacques said. He stood supporting himself in the trunk of the tree. His chest felt heavy and he took deep breaths to help him breathe. She didn't elaborate, but she revealed a pretty shocking incident.Emma had told her that Jacques had no one. The knife Emma left was there and she tried to off herself forgetting that she was pregnant. But she stopped herself and she ended up losing her baby anyway. How much did she suffer that day? He didn't think she was lying. Her weeps originated from her gut and he could see she was broken even remembering that day. And the other day when he mentioned Emma at the diner, she got sick. She is not lying. She is greatly affected by what happened.He can understand why she is blaming herself for the miscarriage when she used to blame him before. Grieving for someone you lost is a very complicated thing. You'll try to find reasons and then you end up blaming everything. He went through grief and he understood her.Leanin
Thinking about her miscarriage made her want to cry more, but then she tried to distract herself. Her eyes were puffy and she didn't want to enter the office now. "Bobby was pretty happy that you didn't run away scared from him that day," Scarlett asked after a while and Jacques smiled with embarrassment."I used to be very scared of him and everyone near TJ... But they've done a lot for me without any appreciation from me. I don't know how I will repay them all," Jacques fiddled with her fingers. She was moved after knowing everything."They didn't do it for you, but for Jerry...." Scarlett said and Jacques looked at her. "Everyone here owes one or two to Jerry; even Bobby. So they won't ever question him.""I know... I used to be scared of that aspect too. When Bobby bragged about how they handled their enemies, I took it as he was threatening me... I feel stupid now that I know the truth." Jacques said."Haha...So that's how Bobby thought he was helping Jerry! Since I thought of h
"Anything," Scarlett said, seeing the serious but hesitant face of Jacques. "Thank you... It's... will you please keep what I said before, about me trying to you-know-what as a secret? Please keep it from Bobby too. I know it is too much of me to ask this, but I don't want Emma to know. Bobby will tell Jeremy and Jeremy will tell Emma and she'll laugh at me," Jacques started mumbling the last sentence. "Got it," Scarlett agreed. Even if he is her husband, she knows she cannot talk about other people's secrets with him.And Emma... she is vicious, isn't she?Although Jacques didn't elaborate, Scarlett understood that Emma's words were very hurtful for Jacques. It is not news to her that Emma hates Jacques, but she is holding on to the hate for a decade which was a little surprising for her.As someone who knows Jerry the longest, her words would mean a lot to Jerry, but when it comes to Emma, he won't listen to her or anyone else. She tried to talk to Bobby about Emma, but for those
"I didn't know you sing so well, Bobby," Jacques said with a grimace and Scarlett started laughing out loud."Oh, you're here," Bobby's tone was mixed with a lot of emotions. But disappointment was more pronounced."I'm leaving," Jacques waved her hands. "I won't disturb your night of love." "Stay for dinner, madam Luna," Bobby said with a grin after he was pinched by Scarlett."No need to feel obliged, Bobby. I can see I am not welcome here," Jacques said in a serious tone making Bobby sad. "Pfft...hahaha... your face!" Jacques laughed, making Bobby surprised. "I'll visit another time for dinner. And one more thing, will you please stop addressing me as 'madam'? It makes me feel like... old... or like I am a...""Lady p*mp?" Scarlett added and Jacques nodded. "Yes.""Or, you know a kinky madame...whoosh," Scarlett made a whipping motion. "It would be funny to see you dressed in leather holding a whip and Jerry kneeling in front of you with a collar begging you-""Oh, that's enough
What is he doing?Jacques got angry at TJ in her heart. But seeing those piercingly blue eyes that were calm as the deep blue sea, she realized she needs to have this talk. She needs to tell him what she feels and maybe about her miscarriage. I need to pull the band-aid and tell him that he and I can never be together again."Yes, let's," she turned and looked at Gerard. "I know a place.""I'll be at the pub," Jacques looked at Jeremy and he nodded. He extended his hand as if he was about to say something. "Mmm?" Jacques asked, taking a step closer to Jeremy, but Gerard pulled her by the wrist."Gerry!" Jacques furrowed her brows. She didn't like getting pulled when she was in a conversation with another."Nothing," Jeremy waved his hand. "Call me after," he smiled."Okay, I won't take long," she nodded and turned at Gerard."It's pretty close from here. Let's take a walk," she showed the direction, carefully avoiding his hand that was about to hold hers.Her heart was beating in her
"F*cking coward!" Matt gritted his teeth. "After everything you did for her, you're letting her go? Should I pity you? Should I bless you and tell you to follow your heart and become a c*ck? You f*cking c*nt! F*ck off!!"Matt ended the call and Jeremy gritted his teeth. He didn't know what kind of reply he expected from Matt. But Matt doesn't get this angry at him ever.What do you know, Matt? If I follow my heart, I will steal her and take her to the end of the world and keep her with me. But will she be happy with me?-----"Since you waited for me, I hope you are planning to tell me why you married Emma. I don't buy the story I was told. I will just walk away after the first lie you speak. After all, I know when you are lying."Jacques spoke in a flat tone sipping a non-alcoholic cocktail. She just wished Gerard was honest with her after the relationship they shared for years. "You're not wearing the ring," Gerard said and only then Jacques realized she had forgotten to wear the r
Gerard looked at Jacques ordering another drink. She had no change in her emotions if not she seemed a little disgusted. But he is the one to blame for not explaining everything differently. Had he not let his emotions control him, she'd have believed whatever he tells her like in the past.Why Emma left his school is directly connected to him and Emma is blackmailing him with that truth. And so he didn't want to answer Jacques's question. He decided to tell his story in a way to invoke her sympathy. Till now he didn't speak to her about it because he didn't want her to pity him but now he needed his pity. He didn't want to lose her. He knew how kind-hearted she was and wanted to distract her and turn her disbelief into pity."Jer, growing up, my parents never left me alone with my uncle. I had wondered why I am not allowed to be with my uncle who's a lot of fun. My parents knew who he was and still used him..." He took a sip of water and looked around. Other than them there was on
"Jer, you..." Gerard tried to hold her hand but she pulled her hand back and he didn't mind that. He could not believe what he was hearing, but then slowly it got registered.She's pregnant? That means..."Jer..." his eyes teared up. "You... we are pregnant?" he fisted his hand over his mouth and took a deep breath and broke into laughter.Jacques held her breath and clenched her jaws to control herself. He could see he was obviously happy about it and her heart moved a bit and she wanted to hug him and cry. But the sound of the rattling tin cans played in her memory along with the image of Gerard meeting her eyes and the 'Just Married' sign she saw as he left her.Right, he was not there when she needed him. And she lost her baby. Her heart filled with bitterness."Jer... forget everything...Let's just leave here, this city... this country even. Let's start over with just us three. You, me and our-""For a lawyer, your comprehension skills are very low," Jacques's voice rang like a
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