Chapter Thirty-three

“Hyacinth, I knew you would be back!”

 

Should it be anger, jealousy, regret, or sadness? Hyacinth wasn’t sure what to feel first when she saw Jack after a long time. Perhaps it is a bit of everything. After what happened, she was sure that what they have is over. It probably ended long before she had an idea of him having an affair.

 

“Why are you here in the office when we can talk at home? Honey, please. I can explain and I promise to be better. I made a horrible mistake, but I will still choose you, Hya. You’re the one I love.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Really. We’re married. Married people don’t throw away years of being together because of one foolish mistake. I guess, in our case, it would be two mistakes.”

 

Is he with Jack because of desperation and confusion? The bigger picture is clearer for her now. Everything he said was stupid, if not fake. She let herself get fooled and got deceived by those lies.

 

“I was about to file for a divorce.”

 

Jack was shocked but recovered soon enough. “About to? That means it didn’t happen, right? You did the right thing, hun.”

 

“Stop calling me that. Soon, I can finally say that I am not your wife, so don’t call me that.” 

 

Every time he would say that endearment, it reminded Hyacinth of his lies. His kindness and sweetness is probably his way of making up for his lies and deception. He thought he could continue fooling her, then, joke’s on him.

 

“I’m will not sign any divorce papers.”

 

“My lawyer is outside. I told him I wanted to talk to you alone because I want to settle this amicably. I’m trying here, Jack, so don’t fight with me and I would appreciate it if you would just cooperate with me.”

 

“What do you want me to do to fix this, Hyacinth? Because I’m honestly confused about everything. You say you’re not my wife and then you also say you are not filing divorce. How is this supposed to work? Because, I want to fix this. I promise you-”

 

“The woman at the front desk, you’re fucking her, right? If you really want to make this right, then why do you still have the audacity to bring her again and fuck her at the house I lived, Jack?”

 

“That’s not true.”

 

“I have pictures, and that woman was more than willing to share your fair share of escapades. My self-esteem’s at its lowest and I’ve been asking myself, on top of the many questions I have already, why did my husband cheat? Is it because I don’t look beautiful enough? Am I not sexy enough? Do I bore him already?”

 

“No. That’s not true.” Jack attempted to go near Hyacinth. She raised her hand to stop him.

 

This conversation wasn’t part of her plan. All she wanted was to go straight to the facts and not get emotions involved as much as possible. But that was unfair. She got hurt and wrecked. At the end of their marriage, she ended up with scars that would take so long to heal. It might even take forever.

 

What about him? He’ll get away with everything just like that? No. He deserves to know how much he had hurt Hyacinth. He might be a cheater, but he’s a kind man, and she wanted to find a way to hurt him, but not too much it will ruin him.

 

She won’t sink alone on this ship.

 

“Because I loved your son like my own. I loved you and… and even when at times I felt shitty, I still tried to be the best wife. Did you see me cry? Have you ever heard me complain? I kept a smile on my face while trying to maintain this marriage, when I felt like I didn’t know myself. You’re out-of-town trips, the constant calls outside of working hours, and that unfamiliar perfume scent on your clothes? I turned a blind eye because I never wanted to believe you’re cheating on me.”

 

“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, Hyacinth. Honey, I’ll make it up to you. I promise you things will be right this time. We’ll move to a new place! Please. Please give me another chance.”

 

“You know what sucks the most? In the end, I still blamed myself. Asking questions like, what did I do wrong for you to cheat on me? So, no, Jack. I’m not going back.”

 

Jack was walking back and forth, not knowing what to do. She kept her voice low to not make a scene in his workplace.

 

“Then what about the guy you kissed? Ha! You think I forgot about that?” His eyes widened with rage. His scream filled the room and that it was audible even on the outside.

 

There was a knock on the door, and before they could answer, Preston went inside. He formed his hands into a grip.

 

“Preston, it’s fine. Don’t worry. I can handle this.”

 

“Is he the one? The asshole you kissed?”

 

“Preston,” she called again in a calm manner, not wanting for Preston to lose his temper too. She told him specifically not to make a scene. “You’re here as my lawyer, remember?”

 

He stayed silent and still against his better judgment. He couldn’t help but glare at Jack, sending the murder through his eyes. Hyacinth let him do that, but that would be the end of him expressing his anger too.

 

“Fine, but I’ll stay inside. That’s a non-negotiable.”

 

“Are you kidding me? So, he’s really the one?”

 

“Jack, this is Preston. He’s my brother.”

 

“You think I’ll believe that? You don’t have a brother.”

 

“I didn’t believe it either, but he is. I don’t want to explain things to you, because you don’t deserve that. All I can say is, you know I had amnesia years ago. I was already married, and that is why I don’t need to divorce you. My lawyer said that my first marriage can be considered the valid one in my case. The man that I kissed? It was my husband.”

 

“You’re aware that you just told me a bunch of bullshits right? Nothing makes sense.”

 

“I’m not here to make sense of it all for you. I’m here because I want to end our marriage amicably and I want to request… I still want to be there for Elias when he needs me. Can you do that for me?”

 

Jack softened at the mention of Elias’ name. He wasn’t the best husband, but he did his best to be a great father.

 

“That’s why you married me, isn’t it?” Hyacinth asked, the bitter reality becoming clearer for her now. “You needed someone to be Elias’ mother. I played that part, so you kept me in your life even when you never really loved me. I don’t want to hurt him, Jack. So, you’ll still let him see me, right?”

 

Jack massaged his temples, biting his lips as he was trying to stop himself from crying and failed miserably.

 

He nodded, unable to meet Hyacinth’s eyes or even say a single word.