I went to my knees and hugged Jacob tightly to myself, hating the fact that he was seeing me like this. So weak and vulnerable. He was so sensitive deep down that his arms just went around my neck and he started to tell me not to cry in a soft tone. It only made me cry harder. I remembered the time in this library long ago when I had cried in front of Jasmine for the first time and she had just stood there, unable to offer any gesture of comfort.
"I’m sorry, Skye. Just give him another chance. I know he hurt you but that was two years ago. He still loves you all so much and he's truly sorry. If you could see him now-"
"Where is he, then?" I asked her in a low voice, rubbing Jacob's back. "Why can't he tell me all this himself? Why are you the one standing here fighting to get him back in our lives? I don't hear him saying sorry to me. I only see him hiding away like some coward."
"So now you want to hear what I have to say? Now you want to see me, Skye? You found the sight of me so repulsive two years ago that you had to break up with me through your other boyfriend."
I closed my eyes and inhaled sharply at the sound of Jasper's voice. He was here. I couldn't believe it. I hadn't known or suspected it at all. He was here...with her. After all this time, they were still together.
I felt him near me, as if the warmth from his body was seeping into mine but I didn't open my eyes.
"You still can't look at me," he said shakily. "For God's sake, look at me, Skye. Open your eyes and fucking look at the man who betrayed you!"
I gasped at the aggression in his tone and my eyes flew open.
I couldn't breathe for a moment. He was glaring at me, breathing heavily. My eyes took him in against my will, all the changes that had somewhat altered his appearance. I shouldn't even care. He shouldn't mean anything to me. It shouldn't matter that he was back in Milan and I could see him, hear him and touch him if I wanted.
He hurt me.
My eyes narrowed at Jasper Wells mutinously as I tried crushing all the other soft feelings that were creeping up on me. "After all this time, you show up in our lives and she's still in it," I said through gritted teeth.
"She's my friend. It's nothing like that anymore."
My head was spinning and I barely registered Cole asking me for Jacob who was starting to sniffle. I was so weak in that moment, so much in pain that my son's comfort faded in the background. I needed to do this. I needed to say my piece at last. I stood up when Jacob was safely in my husband's arms and they retreated somewhere out of sight.
"Your friend," I repeated, breathing hard and feeling the anger surge through me. "This whore who is partially responsible for breaking up our family is your friend now?" I pointed towards Jasmine, my whole body tight with tension and repressed emotions that were now being allowed to boil over. "She destroyed everything we had! I told you she was bad news. I fucking told you, Jasper. And you still ignored me. She's nobody's friend! She's only a selfish, fraud of a woman who enjoyed putting her hands on something that wasn't hers!"
Jasper's brow was furrowed, his features drawn as he took in my words and then he opened his mouth and said the worst possible thing he could have said at that moment.
"She wasn't the only one in that bed."
I felt as though he had slapped me. The breath I took in was painful. My eyes flicked to Jasmine and I could see that she was just as shocked at Jasper's statement. But what was more shocking was his tone. The way he had spoken...sounded like he was defending her. Sticking up for her. Like he was willing to let me shoot him down. But not her.
All I could see was red. I understood what he meant but for him to take her side right now when I needed him to validate my emotions, my pain and anger...How dare he? This bastard. He didn't deserve to forgiven.
"I am sorry, okay, Skye," Jasper continued earnestly and stepped closer to me. I took two steps back. He stilled but bit his lips and looked at me with remorse, with regret and pain in his dark eyes. "I know you don't believe me but please, I'm willing to take whatever punishment you want to give me. Just...just let me back in your life. I love you. I love you and Cole and Jacob. I really am sorry for hurting you both."
I was numb for a moment. My heart felt like it had frozen. I heard him but felt nothing. So great was my pain that I just shut everything down before it shattered me for good. I looked from him to Jasmine and detected the sympathy on her face which I didn't even believe she felt.
Then I drew closer to Jasper, looked him right in the eye, steadied my voice and said, "Two years too late, Jasper Wells. I don't accept your apology."
My words made him flinch but then again, I didn't care anymore.
"You wanted me to punish you? Consider this your punishment." I inhaled deeply and even made myself smile at him. "I will never forgive you.
