Chapter 111: Chapter 111

Immediately, Emily made her way to Hatton Tech and went straight to Jackson’s face, she barely knocked before she pushed the door open and coming face to face with Jackson and her heart stopped, almost forgetting how much impact he had on her. She saw the look of shock on his face, she didn’t think she’d be seeing him for a while, not after he had brutally ended things with her.

“Emily” he called and she walked into his office, straight to his table and she slammed the pen recorder before him, ignoring the rapid pounding of her heart.

Jackson looked from the recorder to her fatigued face, confusion clouded his eyes and he hoped for more words from her but Emily didn’t say a word instead she clicked play and fast forwarding the recording to the particular part she wanted him to hear.

“Did you plan Jackson’s kidnap and also try to kill my baby?”

“Jackson knew – ”

At that point, she clicked it shut and looked into his eyes now, the pain doubling in her chest from what she perceived to be a betrayal.

“You knew?”

Jackson opened his mouth to speak but no words came forth, he avoided her eyes and thrummed his fingers nervously on the table.

“You were better off not knowing” he said, a bit calmly in a desperate attempt to hide the nervousness that was slowly building within him.

“He tried to kill my baby – our baby. He kidnapped you Jackson for crying out loud and you nearly died, why are you protecting him?”

“Because he’s my brother Emily, don’t you get it? He’s the only sibling I have and believe it or not, he’s not entirely a bad person”

Emily scoffed with an unbelievable look on her face “You’re defending him? He tried to kill you and you’re defending him Jackson”

Jackson ran his hands through his hair “I’m not defending him, all I’m trying to say is, as fucked up as it is, he’s human. I fell in love with his wife and got her pregnant – ”

“So it’s justified?” Emily cut him short, shaking her head and trying to understand this absurd situation. Jackson’s eyes seemed distant and he avoided looking at her and worse of all, he was defending Ethan.

“Fine” she nodded her head this time “I get it, loyalty and all that. No matter what, the Hatton brothers have to stick together right?”

“It’s not –” Jackson tried to speak but Emily wasn’t having it.

“I’m not doing this anymore, with you or Ethan or any member of the Hatton family” there was a definite look on her face and this time Jackson locked eyes with her.

“What are you trying to say?” his heart began to pound and he didn’t want to hear her next words but sounded off in his ears anyways.

“I’m leaving” it was clear and unmistaken. “I’m leaving New York and I beg you Jackson, don’t try to find me or this baby, we’ll be better off without the Hatton family”

“Emily – ” he tried to call but she lifted her hands hushing him immediately, instead she held out his palms and dropped the pen recorder in his hands.

“Do with it whatever you want, it’s up to you”

Jackson looked at it, then looked back at her “You know I’m not going to turn my brother in?”

Emily shrugged in response “I don’t care what you do” she said turning around to leave but Jackson held unto her hands

“Emily – ”

Emily paused and the conflict rose in her chest as she turned back to face him, his eyes drilling into hers, saying a lot of words but at the same time his silence rang loud in her head. He had chosen his brother, over her again and again and she was sick of it, she was sick of never being his first choice, not when he had always been her first choice.

“Goodbye Jackson” the tears rolled from her eyes in dropped but she wiped them off, determined not to cry in front of him and she pulled her hands away from his hold and walked out of his office – out of his life.

Jackson watched her leave taking a part of him with her but he couldn’t stop her, stopping her meant he chose her, stopping her meant throwing Ethan under the bus and he couldn’t do that.

“I’m sorry Emily” he muttered to himself, his chest constricting in pain as he grabbed and painful sting of tears hit his eyes and held the table for support.

I’m sorry Emily.

Three Years Later…..

France, Paris

It was a business trip to invest in one of the largest shopping complex in Paris and Jackson had also taken the opportunity for a well summer holiday. The streets of Paris were bustling, busy with people and he sat at a nearby outdoor restaurant nursing a glass of red wine, his thoughts far from him but he didn’t want to dwell too much. He took a sip from his wine when his phone pinged with work emails and he took the liberty to respond them, after all there was nothing else for him to do. Since Emily left three years ago, he had drowned himself in the company and created time for nothing else, not even himself mostly because he didn’t think he deserved it, not after what happened with Emily.

Suddenly he noticed a child with curly ginger hair slip beside him and falling to his knees and immediately Jackson reached for him righting him up and dusting his clothes.

“You alright there little fella” he asked looking at the little kid dressed in a simple shorts and shirt and a necklace dangling from his neck, at first Jackson didn’t notice it but he looked closer and somehow a feeling of déjà vu overwhelmed as he studied the necklace and it was eerily similar.

“Where is your mother?” he asked but the little kid stayed quiet when suddenly he heard a familiar voice call out

“Jack, you have to stop running away every time” a blonde lady ran up to them, and grabbing the boy by his little arms and lifting him up to her waist.

“Don’t run away from mummy” she cooed getting a giggle from the boy.

“I’m sorry he bothered – ” she wanted to say, turning to Jackson when she froze, when they both froze.

It was Emily with short blonde hair and a slimmer face.

“Jackson?” she called, shock etched on her face.

“Emily?” he echoed back mirroring her expression. He was about to say something else when a tall handsome man walked up to them. He grabbed Emily by her waist and kissed her lips softly.

“Mon Cherie, did Jack run off again?” he said in a thick French accent and when Jackson looked at her finger, there was a diamond ring sitting pretty on them, and the cute kid sitting on her waist was undoubtedly, his son.

Oh Shit!

To be Continued…….