Jackson POV
Last night we both barely slept, and never in a million years did I think that this would be us after she finally came home.
But I know my wife inside and out, and something was different about her… and I feel shitty that I can not move past that.
Her cries kept me up last night, and I could feel the pain she was going through, but I couldn't do anything to help her, not when she wouldn't be honest with me.
All I could think about is what this must be like for her right now because we had never gone through something like this before… not once in our love life.
Sighing out my frustration, I sat up, resting my feet on the cold tiles, and shut my eyes when I felt the bed move beneath me.
Even though Jennie was awake, she said nothing, and I woke from the bed, headed into the bathroom, and locked the door behind me.
When I got into the shower, the noise of the doorknob turning a bit aggressively caught my attention, but I turned on the showerhead with a heavy heart.
The rushing water could not calm the anger building up inside me as it beat my skin, and I took the shampoo.
As I was about to apply it to my hair, I heard a faint cry, and I stopped for a second to listen.
This was our first fucked up marriage problem, and it broke my heart, to see her like this.
Maybe I am just being an ass. That is what I want to believe. But I can't because it was Jennie. If it was anyone else, I would second guess my feelings. But not her, not the woman who was my first in everything.
Her gentle sobbing noise stabbed through my heart, and after I was done with my shower, I reached for the doorknob, and suddenly stopped, slowly losing my grip on it.
Listening to her soft cry, I never knew that the voice I loved could cause me this much heartache.
When her sobbing finally died down, I opened the door, and to my surprise, Jennie fell back because she was resting against it, and I immediately dropped to both my knees, catching her just in time to block her head from the fall.
"Ouch!" A faint cry slipped from my lips because of the pain that hit my bone when my knee landed on the tile, and I could feel a warm liquid rolling down my skin. But I ignored it, took Jennie off the floor, and carried her to our bed, laying her on the sheet.
"Don't turn your back to me, please," Jennie whispered as I was about to go into our closet.
With all the pressure from my feelings for her, I wanted to look into her eyes and tell her everything will be okay, but I just stood there, holding back my words.
"Your shoulder seems cold from that angle. It seems unreachable in my eyes and far away from my touch." Jennie whispered in a choked tone.
How did she and I get to this point, hurting each other like this? I could feel the tears in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall because I didn't want to break down in front of her.
"Why does this spark in your eyes seem dull to me? Why are your lips pale whenever I reach out for a kiss? How can those hands be stiff when holding me? You don't love me the way you used to." Jennie whispered.
Her words kind of provoked me, so I got on the bed and claimed her lips gently, and she kissed me back slowly as if she were savoring every moment, and I was just going with it for a while.
But it wasn't long before I withdrew from Jennie because my thoughts would not let me, and I just wasn't feeling anything.
"Are you satisfied now? Is your guilt relieved?" I blurted out, feeling pissed immediately at my shitty behavior.
Shortly, she released her grip on me and drew back with a look of anger in her eyes, lashing out, "Are you going to punish me based on your speculation that I did something wrong while I was absent from your life?"
Seeing how mad she was, I wanted to comfort her. but I couldn't because I was feeling hurt. And it was not my intention to make things worse by saying something dumb and making it seem like I cared more about my feelings than hers… I mean I still care, but I did want it to come out that way.
"You don't get to tell me that you love me and hurt me in this manner! Jackson, it's not right, and you know it!" Jennie yelled.
She was crying her eyes out in front of me and I didn't know what to do. I had seen tears fall from her eyes countless times before but this time they weren't for herself, they were because of me.
"I am going to work. Do not wait for me. I don't think it is a wise choice for me to come home soon." I said, leaving the bed.
In that instant, my wounded knee slammed into the nightstand and I yelled, "Damn it!"
Immediately, Jennie rushed by my side, beside the bed, her hands shaking. For a while, she stared at me with wide eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her lips trembled as she tried to speak, "You are bleeding!"
trying hard to hold it together, her body trembled uncontrollably, and all I could do was look at her moist eyes.
At that second, I couldn't even muster up the strength to speak because everything had happened so fast.
"Does it hurt? Is it painful? Wait, I will get the first aid kit!" Jennie cried, staring at my knee.
Maybe I was just overreacting and I don't know my wife like I thought I did. But then again, my mind wouldn't let me believe those words, even though my heart was in control.
For a moment, I stared at her worried face and smiled, and even though I still believed that something was off about her, I felt my anger subside.
"I will get the first aid kit," Jennie said, turning away from me.
But I hugged onto her waist, resting my chin on her shoulder, and whispered, "Don't go. Let's stay like this for a few minutes."
"You will be late for work," Jennie said beneath her breath. "Don't you hate that?"
"Ummm, that's okay," I replied, striving to turn off the part of me that still didn't believe her.
Julie POV The sound of a knock echoed in my room before my mother walked inside with a breakfast tray and hangover pills. As she approached my bed, I hastily shut my eyes. But when she kissed my head, I couldn't help but smile at her sweet gesture, even though she does that more than often. Yet, I didn't raise my eyelids since I was pretending to sleep because I couldn't sleep last night. It's hard when I'm trying not to think about Steven. All night, I could not stop thinking about him even though we just met. I kept remembering the sparkle in his eyes, hearing his voice, and the way he smiled when he spoke to me. It was no secret that he was so captivating, and it took my breath away, and my poor heart felt drawn to him as an arrow stuck in its target. "Jul, wake up and have breakfast." My mother's voice flowed in my ear. When she hit me gently, I still didn't want to wake up because it felt nice to be in bed, and that's what I wanted today… to stay in my room. "Do you nee
Jackson POV "All done with the bandage," Jennie whispered as she lifted her head and stared at me, smiling brightly. Staring into her eyes, I wanted to kiss her so badly, but I couldn’t bring myself to do so. Yet it felt like all my emotions were screaming at me to do it, and I tried to silence them, but they grew louder. The way her eyes glow, she is beautiful, and she is mine. What happened between us last night was not right, not in any way did it make sense at this moment... at least not anymore. "Does it still hurt?" Jennie said, pouting cutely. But I couldn't focus on anything else but her lips. They were pink and plump and soft, and when they move when she spoke, I felt my body react on instinct. And I took a deep breath, trying to calm down before I did something stupid, and before my heart beat out of my chest. I could feel it racing as Jennie stared at me, those eyes that are usually warm and playful now full of concern. Unable to control myself, I pulled her towards
Steven POV Listening to the quietness in my office, I kept pacing back and forward, feeling anxious that Jackson was not at work yet. Knowing that I was running out of time, I rushed for my desk, got a hold of my phone, and dialed my Secretary's number. "Has Jackson arrived at the office?" I asked immediately when she answered my call. "I am sorry, sir. But for the fifth time, Mr. David is not in the building." Kate uttered in a soft tone. "Thanks. Please inform me when he arrives." "Sure boss." Julie and I are supposed to meet a couple of minutes from now, but I decided to wait ten more minutes for Jackson, and if doesn't arrive within that time frame, I will have to get over my anxiety on my own. I don't know how, but I lose the balls to meet Julie right after inviting her out, and without Jackson's advice, I believe that I would fuck things up. Jackson is now like my mentor when it comes to relationships. I mean, the dude has been married to Jennie for years, and she is th
Sitting in the backseat of my car, I took out my phone from my pocket and dialed Jennie's number. "Can you speed this up, Joe? I have limited time in my favor." I said, waiting for Jennie to answer. "Hello, Steven!" Jennie answered on the other side of the line. "What's up?" Her voice is still the same. It's always as gentle as a lullaby, and now that I have heard it, I don't know if I did the right thing by calling her. "Steven," Jennie's voice rang in my ear, snapping me out of my head. "I need you to listen to me loud and clear," I said, keeping my voice steady. "Okay," "I see you as my little sister because you are the woman in my friend's life. And since Jackson loves you. I also cherish you." "Thanks?" "However, the moment you left the country and neglected Jackson for all those periods, his emotions became unstable. He is like a walking depression." "Steven, I know how much Jackson means to you. And I will..." Not allowing her to finish her sentence, I blurted out,
Jennie buried her head in a pillow after her conversation on the phone with Steven ended. She could not cry anymore. Her eyes were red and puffy. Jennie had a runny nose and a stomach ache. She had been crying the entire morning on an empty stomach. She needed to get out of the house. Everything in their home reminds Jennie of her husband and how much she's been outraging him. Jennie took a hot shower, got dressed, and made a call to her best girl pal."Hello, Susan. Can I visit you at your office? I am going insane with guilt, and I need to chat with someone regarding my sins. And Susan, it's you that comes to mind when I think about confessing. Also, you and Steven are the only actual friends I have. Plus, Steven is out of the question because he will despise me before Jackson can have the chance to reject me. If he discovers my secret." Jennie explains in a haltering and fast tone."Sure, Jun. I am in my office
**Previously**"I am sorry for my attitude." Steven apologized when Julie finally joined him. Steven knew that Julie's statement was wise. And it was his guilt of lying to her that hurt his pride. But he could not tell her the truth because every time Steven stared at Julie, he could not endure the concept of losing her because of a lie. **Now**"I apologize for my behavior. It's
Previously"Since you let go of your plans for today and stay with me. The best I can do is tell you what happened back then and why I made the same mistake repeatedly. However, my past blunders can not measure up to what I did recently. Jackson may have forgiven me back then. But he will not let this one slide for sure." Jennie assured her friend with a firm voice. Now"Hey Jennie, you look sexy in the dress. There's a party at my place tonight. My parents are out of town, and I have the entire house t
"Jennie! Are you okay!" Jackson asked her. The music was loud, but she could hear the panic and rage in his voice. Jennie tried to step towards him, but she collapsed to the ground."Steven, Steven!" Jackson screamed for his friend. After a few seconds, Steven rushed inside."Bro, get Jennie to the car. I have something to take care of here." Jackson directed his buddy.Steven rushed over to Jackson's side and tried to carry Jennie out. But she refused, "If Jackson doesn't leave with us, then I am not leaving either!" Jennie gathered her strength and told Steven."You are so stubborn, Jennie. Bro, let her go! You want to see what I am about to do, then watch! Steven, can you hurry to the pharmacy and get her Toxin Rid pill kit to help her detox herself?" Jackson