Chapter 107: Chapter 107

Billionaire Heir Jackson Hatton accused of sexual assault

The walls began to cave in and Jackson’s world began to spin as he read the headline repeatedly till the words began to dance before him.

“Shit! Shit!” he cursed underneath drawing Anita’s attention to him and she gave him a look

“What’s wrong?” she asked but Jackson sprang up immediately and walked out of the emergency room, immediately he called Ethan and he picked on first ring.

“Let’s talk” he said into the receiver “Meet me at the house in a few hours” and he ended the call immediately.

**

Meanwhile Emily still felt shattered while she sat next to her mother who still laid unconscious and had IV’s running through her vein with the automatic beeping of the heart monitor interrupting Emily’s thoughts but she held her mother’s hands tightly until the doctor walked in.

“You must be Emily” he said as Emily stood up to shake his hands “Mr. Brown explained – ”

“Is she going to be alright” Emily cut in immediately and the somber look on the doctor’s face explained everything she needed to know, no matter how professional he tried to keep his expressions, something always gave it away.

“Oh God!” Emily muttered, trying to fight back the tears.

“The cancer has spread and chemo doesn’t seem to be working, there’s not much we can do now” he explained

“What other options do we have?” Emily asked desperately

“We’re opting for surgery now, that’s the next solution to save your mother”

“What’s the success rate?”

The doctor sighed “Judging from how far the cancer has spread, we can’t really ascertain but it’s the only shot we have now and it doesn’t mean it’s going to work – ”

“Let’s do it” Emily said suddenly “If it’s the last shot then do it, you have to save her, she can’t die at least not yet – I just – I just started having a mother”

The doctor pressed his lips together, taking Emily’s hands in his in an assuring manner “We’ll try our best”

After the doctor had left, Emily walked out of the hospital room to find Jackson outside waiting for her and she sighed in relief the moment she saw him. She walked into his outstretched hands as he pulled her in for a tight hug. She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply wishing they could stay in that position forever. She pulled away, looking into his and there was something different about his eyes, about the way he looked at her that felt different and distant but she pushed it away, way into the back of her head.

“How’s she?” Jackson asked and Emily shrugged

“Chemo’s not working so she has to go for surgery”

“That’s tough, I’m sorry Emily. She’ll be alright, I promise” he said pulling her in for another hug and massaging her scalp at the same time.

“You must be tired” she said to him while in his arms “Should we go home?”

Jackson shook his head while he held her in front of him, holding her stare he said “Let’s go somewhere”

Emily shot him a surprised look “Where?”

“Come with me” he grabbed her hand and pulling her with him while Emily followed suit, feeling the butterflies flutter in her stomach and it was exactly what she needed at that point.

“Where are we going Jackson?” she asked him as she followed him.

“I planned a date” he said, opening the car door for her and helping her inside, then he went around to the driver’s side and Emily bombarded him with more questions.

“When did you have the time to plan a date?”

Jackson shot her a strange look “I’m a billionaire, anything is possible with the snap of my fingers” he chuckled, revving the engine to his BMW immediately.

“But why?” she went on.

“Do I need a reason to take you out on a date, with everything that has been going on, I just need some alone time with you”

Emily sat back on the seat still studying him and not failing to notice that there was truly something different about him but again she decided to ignore it, pushing it to the back of her head where she couldn’t access the negative thoughts that crawled in her head.

Jackson drove to a nearby park, where a small table was set up with candles and a picnic basket filled with her favorite foods. Soft music played in the background, creating a peaceful ambience. The sight brought a smile to Emily’s face.

“When did you do all this?” she looked at him and Jackson shrugged.

“Made some calls” then he stretched his hands out to hers and led her forward to the picnic. They sat down together with their fingers intertwined and they sat out to eat. Jackson loosening his tie and staring deep into Emily’s eyes while she played around with a jam covered donut.

As the night rolled by and the stars began to twinkle above them. Jackson reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. Emily’s breath caught in her throat as he opened it, revealing a delicate silver necklace with a pendant shaped like a heart.

Emily gasped at the sight “Jackson!”

“This necklace represents my heart” he whispered and his voice filled with sincerity as she turned around so that he could put it around her delicate neck. “No matter what happens between us,  you’re always going to have my heart”

Tears welled up in Emily’s eyes as she fiddled with the pendant and then turning back around to look at his face “Nothing is going to happen between us”

Jackson closed the space between them, he placed his lips on hers kissing her gently with all the love he could muster, one hand cupping her face and the other hand wrapped around her waist. The kiss was invasive but gentle, desperate and longing like there was a finality to it and Emily tried to grasp it, to hold unto it and when Jackson broke the kiss, she could see the sadness in his eyes. It felt like everything was slipping away from her.

“We’ll always be together, won’t we” she asked in her desperation, her way of seeking for assurance.

There was a pause from Jackson as he seemed to avoid her eyes but slowly he nodded his head “Yes Emily”