Chapter 104

She stopped in her tracks, staring at him as she never fathomed a day would come where she would be with him to find an escape from her depression. Her eyes stared at him in admiration, not believing for a second that a man sweet like him could cheat on Saafia but he had his share of regrets and wrongdoings. 'Jared," She called, trailing off. 'Hmm?" 'Thank you… for being here, for listening and supporting me," She ended in a pure smile, taking his hand in her and giving it a firm squeeze. Dariel was furious, on teaching Helder a lesson that he couldn't care for her properly so Jared offered his help and stayed by her side all this time. 'I am also a human, Jacey, I had done wrong things, made wrong choices and for the first time, it feels like the right choice, to help you. I am glad I could help." He grinned, releasing her hand out of respect. He laughed a little, scratching the back of his neck while not meeting her gaze sheepishly. It felt weird to him, he had stopped seeing himself from the perspective of a ‘good guy'. 'Is that the guilt of Veronica leaving you?" Her smile faded, it hurt her when the man who supported in her harsh time was surrounded with self-loathing. He smiled sorrowfully and looked down in shame. 'No, it's the guilt of ruining my life by marrying a wrong woman. I am my own culprit." There was no denial in it. Jared ruined his life by his actions, his too much compassion to ‘save' Veronica, cheating on Saafia led him to the day where he was left all alone. Stopping in his tracks, he accepted his fault but also considered her presence with him a new blessing. 'I did this to myself and… helping you is so peaceful," Converting his gloom into pure glee, he grinned, placing his hand over his heart. He was tranquilized. 'It feels like I am finally doing something right in my life." He whispered, bringing a blush on her cheeks. Taken aback, she moved back, her heart skipped a beat but suppressing the sudden movement in her chest, she turned away. 'I see…" She also smiled, holding her hands behind her back as they continued their walk. 'Then the feeling is mutual, I am hating myself for believing in Sam instead of my brother and sister-in-law. I… did this to myself too," She chuckled, regretful of her actions. And their guilt-ridden actions collided to be together and share their pain to find comfort, it truly provided them with lull. 'I guess that is why we get along well. We understand each other," Jared added, glancing at how adorable Jacey was looking with a tint on her cheek. 'Hmm," Without exchanging further talks, they continued to walk around peacefully. When Jared and Jacey were finding equanimity in each other's company, on the other hand, Veronica finally found herself ‘free'. She thought she could do anything with no restriction and following her heart, she went to Helder who was cursing Dariel for the beating he gave. Wearing a loose black shirt with three buttons opened and scattered hair, the grimace on his handsome features made everyone silent. 'Dammit, he did not hold back. And where is Sam?" He scoffed. 'Dariel sent him to jail," 'Tsk," Cursing, he pressed the ice pack on his bruised jaw to reduce the swelling and to worsen his mood, Veronica came to meet him. 'What?" He frowned, not preferring her presence here. 'What happened to you?" She asked, rushing inside and inspecting his face. 'Nothing," He muttered, looking away. 'Helder, there you go, I have come for you. I have left that loser Jared too. We can be together now," She smiled, holding his hanging shirt to press him harder but he placed his hand in between. 'Why? I don't recall calling you to me," Arching an eyebrow, he ripped himself off from her. Displeased with her unannounced presence here. She blinked, praying she heard wrong, 'What are you talking about?" 'I meant what I said, Veronica. I don't remember telling you to leave Jared and come to me. In fact, if you remember, I told you to be sincere to your marriage but you insisted that you want me." He sighed, folding his arms at his chest when she came to him. 'Yes, because I love you, not Dariel, not Jared, I want you," She whispered, losing her breaths as her heartbeats dropped in dread when she saw the disapproval on Helder's face. He smirked emptily, 'How do you expect me to believe in a woman who killed her baby, cheated on her husband? Who knows you won't leave me too?" Her eyes widened when he threw the harsh reality on her face. The basis of every bond was loyalty and sincerity where she failed and left not only Dariel but also Jared. 'What? What are you saying? You said you will take me back if I left Dariel, I did but you kept me stuck with that Jared." She argued. 'Let me quote what I exactly said- ‘Leave Dariel and start a new life'" 'You said we can be together!" 'I said we will see." He corrected her, rolling his eyes. He was already stressed about what to do to teach Dariel a lesson and she came to smear his mood and be a hindrance. 'It's your selfishness that led you here. You cheated on Dariel first, then did that abortion, I did ‘not' tell you to do that. Then you told me you want to be away from Dariel so I merely helped you," He reminded her of the steps she mindlessly chose. Tears began to fill her eyes when Helder refused to accept her, leaving her nowhere. 'It was your selfishness, your desperation, your love. You took me to escape your pathetic life. And now you think I would be with you who cannot be trusted?" He continued in a growl. She flinched when he glared at her, cornering her with no choices left. She trembled, taking his wrists hopelessly. 'Helder, please, I-I have nowhere to go," She whimpered but her desperation had no effect on him. Rolling his eyes, he yanked himself away from her. 'That is not my problem. You should have thought about it the day you cross your lines. You are not welcomed here. Leave." He ordered, pointing at the door. She gasped, tears rolling down her cheek when she was left with no support in her life. Curling her hand in a fist, she ended up crying, hating the point she had reached. 'You are a fucking asshole! How could you do this to me!?" To her miserable wail, Helder merely glanced at her heartlessly and motioned to his servants to take her away and left with a painful declaration that- 'This is the result of your actions, Veronica,"