The tension in the room had reached its breaking point, and it seemed like a confrontation was inevitable.
"Chase, you can stay." Jada abruptly blurted out.
The room fell silent as Jada's words hung in the air. Leon's grip on her hand loosened slightly, his eyes searching hers for any signs of hesitation. On the other hand, Chase seemed taken aback by her unexpected response.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Jada locked eyes with Chase. "I want you here with me," she blurted out, her voice stronger this time despite the lingering uncertainty. "Please,"
"What are you doing now, little butterfly?" Leon asked, his nostril flaring.
"Don't call me that,"
"Call you what?"
"Little butterfly... Something about that name is eerie-"
"But little butterfly-"
"Stop calling me that!!!"
Her sudden scream pierced through the tension-filled room, shattering the uneasy silence that had settled over them. Startled, Leon and Chase turned their attention back to her, their eyes widening in concern.
"Jada, what's wrong?" Leon asked, his voice laced with worry as he reached out to touch her trembling hand. But she yanked her hand back.
"I don't like you. Among you two, I like Chase better. I don't want you here." Jada said with such a casual tone.
Another tense silence ensued as all three stared at her in shock. Then they exchanged glances, each clearly confused by her reaction and shocked by her sudden change in attitude.
"You don't mean that, Jada," Chase uttered as he stepped toward her.
Darting his gaze between them, Leon's face contorted with anger and hurt as he looked at Jada, struggling to find the right words to respond. His grip tightened on her bedrail, his knuckles turning white.
"Jada, please, think about what you're saying," he pleaded, his voice tinged with desperation.
"I can't explain it," she continued. "But when I look at you, Chase, I feel a connection. I feel more safe with you than with him."
Now, closer to her, Chase gently took her hand in his. His touch sent a wave of warmth through her, grounding her in the moment. "Jada, I will do everything in my power to keep you safe," he promised. "You don't have to explain it. Sometimes, our hearts know things that our minds can't comprehend. I'll be by your side every step of the way."
"What is happening?! You are my wife, remember?!" Leon lashed out.
Narrowing her eyes towards him, Jada pouted and said, "No, I don't. But whatever my past self saw in you to fall in love with you, I don't see it now, sorry."
"What? HAHAHA!! You must be kidding me! This isn't funny, Jada." Leon's voice echoed through the room. "I can't believe you're doing this. After everything we've been through, after all the memories we've shared... Jada, please... You can't just throw away everything we have because of a fleeting feeling. We have built a life together. Remember the love we shared, the promises we made?"
"A fleeting feeling is all I have now, and my heart tells me that Chase is the one I should hold onto, not you. After what I heard and saw today, I want to be with him."
"You want to be with him?"
"Yes."
Her words left Chase staring at her in disbelief, but something else in his eyes was a glimmer of hope masked by a hint of sadness.
"I want to be with you, Chase, if that's something you like. Do you?" Jada said, looking into his eyes with a soft smile.
Chase stood there, frozen in place, his heart pounding. The weight of Jada's words hung heavy in the air, causing a wave of conflicting emotions to crash over him. At this moment, with her vulnerable and uncertain, he couldn't deny the surge of hope that swelled within him. It was as if all the stars had aligned, and fate gave him a chance he had never dared to dream of.
"Do you know what you are saying?" Chase asked, his brows furrowing slightly. "Don't you dare repeat it if you don't mean it?"
"Well then, do you want to be with me?... Because I want to be with you." Jada said, her expression dead serious.
A smile tugged at the corner of Chase's lips, revealing a mixture of relief and joy that he couldn't suppress. The room seemed to brighten as he gazed into Jada's eyes, searching for any trace of doubt or hesitation.
"Yes, Jada," Chase finally answered, his voice steady. "I want to be with you more than anything."
A wave of relief washed over Jada as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders. It was as if she had been holding her breath, waiting for his response. Now, she could finally exhale, and her smile widened with a slight nod, illuminating the room with warmth.
"Dr. Matthew, I demand that you discharge her," Leon's voice cut through the tender moment, his tone laced with a hint of desperation. "She needs to come home with me, where she belongs. Once she sees our life together, she will remember everything."
Dr. Matthew, who had been silently observing the scene, sighed heavily and adjusted his glasses as he mumbled, "Well-"
"I will be going home today..." Jada said, and Chase's eyes searched her's, confusion in his. "But only with Mr. Aniston-"
"The fuck you are!" Leon lashed out.
"You are being too loud. I don't feel comfortable with you here. You should leave."
"The hell!"
Eyes wide open, lips parted, Doctor Matthew stared at Jada, his mind racing to process the sudden turn of events. His gaze shifted from Jada to Leon, then to Chase, taking in the emotions etched on their faces. The room grew smaller for him as tension thickened the air.
"Mrs. Kingsley," Doctor Matthew began cautiously, "I understand this is a difficult situation for you, but Mr. Kingsley is your husband-"
"Well, then, I will file for divorce today." Jada let out.
The doctor and Leon's eyes popped out, blurting out, "What?"
"I am going to. I refuse to continue to be married to a stranger that I don't care about. Someone that gives me an eerie feeling and chills down my spine," Jada declared firmly. "So please get out, Mr. Kingsley. I don't like you or feel any emotional attachment for you."
The room fell silent as the weight of her words hung in the air. The tension that had filled the room moments before now seemed to escalate as if the atmosphere was crackling with anticipation.
"That's not going to happen," Leon said, crossing his arms and glaring at her.
As Jada was about to argue, Chase suddenly frowned and then walked off, leaving her staring at his back in confusion.
When he reached the door and grabbed the handle, Jada cried out, "Where are you going?! I said I want to be with you, Chase! I want you!"
For a second, he froze in his steps and then turned the knob, walking out of the room without a word.
Narrowing his eyes away from Jada, Leon looked at Dr. Matthew and said, "Now that that jerk is gone, I need you to start working on the paperwork to get her out of here and back home."Dr. Matthew's eyes darted between Jada and Leon, his expression a mix of concern and confusion. He adjusted his glasses nervously, finding the right words to respond to Leon's demand."No!" Jada cried out. She focused on sitting up, ignoring the ache and discomfort coursing through her body. Her eyes blazed with defiance as she stared up at Leon."Mrs. Kingsley," Dr. Matthew interjected. "Even though it has been a month, your wound has not fully healed yet internally. So, I advise you to lay back in bed."Ignoring his voice, Jada gritted her teeth, mustering every ounce of strength. The fire in her eyes burned brighter as she found her voice. "No, Dr. Matthew. I won't be held captive by him. I refuse to be with you."As her feet rested on the floor, Leon's face contorted with anger, his control slipping
For the longest, Chase's gaze darted into hers as he held his tongue, and then he looked away for a short time before focusing on Jada again."My lawyer is very creditable. But are you this serious about leaving your husband?" Chase asked, staring into her soul. "Why?""I don't like him." She mumbled as she dropped her gaze."That's not reason enough.""I don't know him."Not saying a word, Chase stood there, his eyes locked on Jada's downcast face. The silence between them was heavy with unspoken emotions, tension coiling like a live wire. Time seemed to stretch, each passing second filled with anticipation and uncertainty.Jada could feel Chase's intense gaze on her, his eyes boring into her soul. The weight of his scrutiny made her heart race and her palms grow clammy. It was as if he could see through her, peeling back the layers of her carefully constructed facade and exposing the vulnerability she kept hidden.Finally, unable to bear the silence, Chase moved closer to Jada, his
The gravel crunched under the wheels of Leon's black sedan as he sped up the winding driveway toward the mansion. His heart raced as he approached the gates, a sense of rage gnawing at him. Without hesitation, Leon slammed his foot on the gas pedal, and the powerful engine roared to life, propelling him forward. The gates swung open with a metallic groan, revealing the sprawling manor beyond. He barely stopped the car before jumping out and rushing towards the grand entrance.As he stormed up the steps to the front door, a distinguished-looking butler, James, emerged to greet him. "Good evening, sir Kingsley. May I inquire about the purpose of your visit?" James asked, his voice dripping with politeness.However, Leon paid little attention to the butler's courteous demeanor and said roughly, "I need to see Mr. Hudson. It's urgent."James raised a well-groomed eyebrow, clearly taken aback by Leon's brusque demeanor. Nevertheless, he maintained his composure and nodded. "Of course, si
The sunlight glowed inside as Leon stormed through the polished glass doors of HH's headquarters, his footsteps echoing in the grand marble-floored lobby. His frustration simmered just beneath the surface, a dangerous fire that threatened to consume him entirely. A month had passed since Jada had left, and it was as if she had vanished into thin air. The walls of worry were closing in on him, and he couldn't wait any longer. Her memories could resurface at any moment, and his carefully laid plans would crumble to dust.He had hoped to finish the job before making any move on the business, but time was no longer on his side. The relentless tick-tock of the clock had become an unbearable reminder of his mounting desperation.With determined steps, Leon marched towards the elevators, his piercing eyes focused like laser beams, and his usual charisma was masked by the shadow of anxiety.As he ascended to the top floor, Leon couldn't help but replay the thoughts in his head, 'She has no
The women hesitated, eyeing each other before one answered, removing Jada's pajamas off her shoulders, "He's in the dining room, waiting on you." Slowly, she stepped into the tub, and the water held her like a comforting embrace, her body sinking into the warmth. The women surrounded her, their hands cupping water and cascading it over her shoulders, tracing delicate lines along her arms. Each touch and stroke was filled with care and tenderness as the women worked silently, their movements gently. Jada closed her eyes, surrendering to the sensations that washed over her, allowing herself to be enveloped by the healing ritual. ~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~ The dining room carried tension with just a look from Chase as he stared away from his mug and focused on his assistant. Standing before his boss, Jacob frowned as he said, "It's been a month. She is healed... Why are you helping her, master?" As Chase set his tea down, his piercing blue eyes narrowed. He studied Jacob's face for a moment be
The kitchen hummed with the bustling energy of anxious maids, their whispers intertwining with the clattering of pots and pans. Jada ran about in the room through the chaos and collected various ingredients from the kitchen cabinets. Each cabinet door creaked open, revealing a treasure trove of spices, herbs, and delicacies.As she reached for a jar of saffron, a young maid approached her, her eyes brimming with concern. "Miss Jada, please, Sir, is very particular about what he eats. We have served him faithfully for countless years, knowing his every culinary preference to your fingertip," she pleaded.Jada paused, her hand still hovering in mid-air, her fingers yearning to caress the vibrant threads of saffron. Her eyes softened with understanding as she regarded the maid. "Then teach me," she said. "Teach me what Chase loves. I promise that I am a quick learner. Give me an instruction, and I will follow. But I want to make him breakfast from now on."The maid's eyes widen
The room fell silent, tension thickening the atmosphere, and Chase met her gaze with furrowed eyebrows, asking, "You want to come? Why?""Because..." Jada mumbled as she bit her bottom lip hesitantly, unsure how to word her thoughts correctly.Finally, she decided, "It's me you guys are going to talk about, right? So why shouldn't I be there?"His eyelids lower, a frown pulling at the corners of his lips. After a few moments, he raised his eyes to look straight at hers. "No,"The two stared at each other, neither willing to back down. The tension mounted. Finally, Jada let out a defeated groan, running her fingers through her black curls. "Why don't you want me to go?"Her question was met with silence, and Chase averted his gaze, his shoulders slumping in defeat. When he looked back up at her, he opened his mouth to speak, hesitated, then closed it again, his jaw clenched tight—a long moment passed before he finally said. "Fine. You can come along.""Are you afraid I will get cold f
Lost in the tangled corridors of her mind, Jada seemed to drift away, her eyes staring out into the world beyond the tinted windows as she and Chase sat in the backseat.A crease of worry etched its mark on Chase's brows, his gaze fixed on her, gentle, even as his thoughts stirred beneath the surface. Unable to bear the weight of the silence any longer, Chase's voice echoed, his words carrying a tender concern. "Are you okay, Jada?" Slowly, Jada's eyes fluttered open, her gaze breaking away from the world beyond the window for a moment and settled upon the deep concern in his eyes. With a voice that trembled only slightly, as if betraying the stormy depths of her thoughts, she offered a whispered, "Yes."Then, slowly, she leaned her head towards him and closed her eyes again, resting it against his shoulder as she took comfort in the way he embraced her."I am more than fine. I am happy." Jada whispered, feeling his arm tighten around her, pulling her closer as his fingers trailed