Chapter 108: Chapter 108

Later that night, Jackson stood in front of the Hatton family home as he watched Ethan drive into the building. He stood still, his face void of any emotion whatsoever as he waited for Ethan to highlight his car and walk up to him. He could smell the cockiness from where he stood, and the dirty smirk that was plastered on Ethan’s face as he made his way over to Jackson.

“Hello brother” he greeted with a simple wave “How about we go inside for a drink?”

“I don’t think that’ll be necessary” Jackson responded, his expression hard and stoic which was just a front for the deep sadness that festered within him.

“Fine” Ethan shrugged in response “I didn’t plan on staying that long anyways, so what’s it going to be brother?”

Jackson remained silent as he fought to say the next words but Ethan was impatient “Which is it going to be?”

“You can have Emily, I don’t want her. She’s your wife after all but I’m going to keep my inheritance. Father chose me for a reason and I’m going to respect his decision. Don’t think for one second you’re going to blackmail me into giving up my inheritance”

Ethan’s jaw tightened “You’re bloody coward. It should have been me Jackson, not you!” Ethan said angrily, yelling the last part.

“What do you bloody want Ethan?” Jackson yelled

“I want them both!” Ethan yelled back.

“Don’t be bloody greedy, you want your wife now you have her. I don’t want her anymore. You can have her while she’s pregnant with my baby. You’ll like that don’t you?”

Ethan threw an unsuspecting punch which Jackson dodged in time but Ethan was quick to grab him by his shirt.

“I’m not going to fight you over Emily, never again brother. You want her, you love her, then she’s yours I don’t want her anymore, it’s not worth it but as for my inheritance, I’m keeping it. That one I’m willing to fight you for” Jackson said, pulling Ethan’s grip from him. He gave Ethan one last look before he turned around but stopped dead in his tracks when he locked eyes with Emily, the unbelievable look on her face tore her to pieces.

“Do you mean that?” she asked, her voice breaking and her eyes welling up with tears which Jackson could see under the light but he kept his expression hard and avoided her eyes. Looking at her would break him, but he needed to end things. It was the only way forward, it was the only way to properly fight his brother without a woman in the way, without the emotions that clouded his brain when it came to Emily. He knew he’d be a jerk to end it this way, to leave her abruptly after promising her a lifetime.

“Jackson?” Emily called when Jackson remained silent. “Did you mean that, you don’t want me anymore?”

This time, Jackson looked at her “I’m sorry – ”

“What exactly are you sorry for?” she yelled desperately at him “For telling me you’d always be with me and then saying you don’t want me anymore”

“Yes exactly that” he responded, his voice emotionless and Emily found it difficult to believe. She felt her heart shattering inside her chest as her fingers moved to grip the necklace hanging on her chest, the iciness moving through her and she felt the goose bumps rise on her skin.

“You’re fucking lying” she said to him trying to make herself believe it “What changed? What fucking changed Jackson?”

“It’s not worth it anymore, you shouldn’t be the reason I fight with my brother – ”

“Oh please” Ethan rolled his eyes from where he stood but they both ignored him.

“So I’m not worth it?”

“I didn’t mean it – ”

“That’s exactly what you meant” Emily yelled now, she moved closer to him in desperation trying to get him to look at her the way he usually did, in the loving way that captured and the cold stare he threw at her.

“Then why did you give me this necklace, why did you do something sweet – ” then suddenly she remembered his words. No matter what happens between us,  you’re always going to have my heart.

Then she looked at him, the tears falling from her eyes now “You knew, you already planned to do this” she said but he remained silent still.

“Say something!!” she yelled louder at him “I’m pregnant with your baby and you going to abandon the child too?”

“I’m going to be responsible for what’s mine, I’ll be in the child’s life as much as you allow”

“Bullshit” she muttered “You’re so full of shit”

“I agree” he said “But it doesn’t change anything. You’re better off without me anyways.”

“Don’t say that”

“I should never have fallen for you in the first place, I’m taking full responsibility because you should have been off limits – ”

“No –” Emily shook her head, the tears falling from her eyes now as she took in Jackson’s words but she was unwilling to let go. She grabbed his hands, holding them to her face as his fingers grazed the tears that fell from her eyes. Jackson froze, but he pulled his hands away. He looked at her with a longing that he kept brief.

“I’m sorry” he barely muttered and he pulled away from her, making his way into the house with fragments of his broken heart on his hands. But when he got behind the door, his hard demeanor fell apart and Jackson fell to the ground, clutching his chest as the tears spilled from his eyes.

“I’m sorry Emily” he muttered to himself “I’m really sorry”