Chapter 31: Chapter 31

"I can't be here." Jerome said dismissively, he threw his table napkin on the table and stood up. Intentionally bumping Jacob's shoulder as he stood there smirking.

Fuck! His mind cursed.

He sensed that she was following him, he can hear her footsteps. "Jerome, wait."

He walked straight and didn't bother turning around. He was never a violent man, but fuck he wanted to kick something so bad, wanted to lash out. He couldn't. Not infront of her. He's angry at her but he didn't want to scare her.

So they're married, and where does this leave him?

And she didn't mention they work together! How unfortunate. While he was away missing her,   Tatiana was having fun with her ex-lover. He was right... something's really going on with her.

He got inside his car. For the first time in a long time, wanted to cry.

He didn't know what he did to deserve this treatment.  Why is it always like this, how his life's a series of sorrow, loss and catastrophy. His only sibling ran away, his parents died together, and now, he's gonna lose the only woman he loved and their kid.

"Jerome, please, talk to me." He heard Tatiana say. He wiped his tears away because he was driving. "Jerome, please."

He purposely ignored her

Please, what? Please let her go? Is that it?

She could have been honest, she could have told him they got married before, she could have told him she was working with that man. But she chose to lie to him.

When they reached home no one dared to get out of the car. They were engulfed in silence. He was staring ahead of them. He didn't want to look at her, he couldn't imagine what she have possibly done. The Tatiana he knew would never hurt him this way.

"I should have told you. I'm sorry, Jerome."

"So you married him in Palawan?" His voice hoarse.

"Yes.”

He closes his eyes.

“And you knew he was your boss but you still worked for him?” he laughed dryly.

"All these years Tatiana, you lied to me. You could have told me you married that man! I would've underestand.”

"Rome I didn't know that he was the CEO, trust me. If i would've known beforehand i wouldn't have taken it.”

"But you did know, right? And you didn't do anything to get the hell out of that job. Because you want to be with him? Is that it? You want to continue where you both left off? Tatiana you lied to me!"

Jerome shook his head. "Julian looks so much like him." He tried to smile, finally their eyes met. She was close to tears too. But he got into tears first.

God, Julian and him looked so much alike.

That man was Julian's father, Tatiana's first love. And him? He's just the substitute father, the freaking rebound.

"Tell me, Tatiana. Did something happen between you two?" He couldn't breathe at all even with the silence.

Tatiana didn't answer. Making him tick off and punching his steering wheel. "Fuck! Answer me! God damn it!"

Tatiana's sob gave it away. He felt his body froze.

"Jerome, I'm sorry."

"Great. Just fucking great.”

She wanted him.

“Tatiana, in those years we were together, did you even love me?”

"Yes! Of course I love you!"

“So why did you do it?” he raked his fingers through his hair. “Why did you cheat on me?” He's too damn frustrated, angry, disappointed and broken hearted. "What did I do wrong? I want to know where I went wrong because as far as I can remember I try my best around you! Tatiana what am I missing?"

"Jerome..."

"For seven years, I was loyal to you, I could never cheat on you because I love you, because I wanna marry you.  And this is what I get in return? All I wanted is your honesty and the assurance that you won't leave."

When his parents were still alive, he saw the love they had for each other. He wanted a love just like that. So when he was just a boy he promised himself he would be just like his father. That's what he did, he did everything to keep her happy.

But it was never enough.

He should've stopped her from coming home. Maybe, this wouldn't have happened.

“What did I ever do? Huh, Tatiana. Why would you lie to me?” He demanded. "Ha, Tatiana? What am I lacking?”

"Rome, it's me. It's just me. It's all my fault!”

Damn right.

“I loved you, I took care of you and this is what I get in return? Tell me, do I deserve being lied and cheated on? I can't beliebe this.”

He expected much from her.

He clenched his jaw. "He left you. I was there for you. For your son. Wake up, Tatiana. You're married to him? Then you know what you have to do. Get an annulment."

He got inside the house leaving Tatiana in tears.

"What a fucking cheat." He murmured to himself.

“THIS is all wrong. How many times do you have to revise this? And here I thought all of you here are great CPAs. Even an accounting student can do this freaking job!" Jacob's voice boomed all over the accountint department. "Do this properly or I'll fire all over you.” he said coldly.

He's the type of boss who rarely lashes out infront of his employees like that. But sometimes, they have to learn the hard way. Plus, he was suffering from a terrible hangover. After dining with his sister and nephew, he headed to the bar and drowned himself into alcohol.

Girls flocked at him. He was tempted, but he couldn't do that with his mind set on Tatiana.

When she followed Jerome without thinking twice, it hurt him. She left him there like she didn't care at all.  That woman, she's a one of a kind beauty, but she stings a lot.

She's supposed to stay with him, afterall, they're married.

What was the use of their marriage when Tatiana clearly loves someone else now. Maybe that time, she was just confused. And now that her boyfriend is back, she's just gonna dump him like a fucking garbage.

Like he said himself, she's a different woman now. He couldn't expect her to stay inlove with him especially when all those years she thought he left her.

So was it all just meaningless sex?

His hand balled into a fist.

His intercom buzzed, "Sir, you have a visitor. Mr. Jerome Castro wanted to see you."

How nice. He thought sarcastically. What is he doing in his empire?Does he want to pick up a fight?

"Send him in. And please, cancel all of my meetings."

"Right away sir."

He tightened his tie and waited for him.

Jerome strode there confidently, stopping infront of him.

"Take a seat." He motioned a seat with his hand. Jerome immediately eyed his wedding ring.

"Water?" Jacob asked, trying to be hospitable even if he wanted to punch his gut.

"Scotch. If you have." Seryosong sagot nito sa kanya. Jacob smirked before he retrieved one from his wine shelf. He poured them a drink.

“I'm not wasting time. Jacob, stay away from Tatiana.”

Jacob titled his head, chuckling. "You're asking me to stay away from my wife? Does Tati even know you're here, asking me that? are you that desparate.”

"I'm desperate because I love her. What do you want from her, didn't you leave her? You want her back after you discarded her and left her on that fucking island alone?"

"Oh you can ask her on that department." He rolled his eyes. "No sane guy would leave someone like her.”

"You back off.”

“Oh between us, Jerome, I think I have more right to say that because she, is my wife.”

Jerome clenched his jaw.

What did Tatiana ever like about this guy? He's full of arrogance.  Jerome used to think he might be great, since it took her years to get over.

"You destroyed her, you didn't see how hopeless and broken-hearted she was on her first years in Italy. You came into her bests and left her devastated. But I was therr, I've seen her worsts and I loved her even before she was okay. I watched her grow. I fixed her brokenness. I helped her start over again. You weren't there to make her happy, or to take care of her. You werent there to support her dreams but I was.  I was there, every moment and I made her so happy she forget about you. So tell me, do you even deserve her even if you were the one who hurt her the most?”

Jacob almost gripped the shot glass in anger.

"You don't know what happened. You don't have any idea what agony I had to go through without her.”

“We were happy before you came, Shaw.

For a CEO and a prominent man like you, you're one hell of a pathetic, and a loser excuse of a man."

"Watch your words. Need I remind you that you are in my empire.”

Jacob wanted to punch this guy's face. He talkes alot. He wonder how Tatiana's together with a guy like this.

If he came here to piss him off Jacob wouldn't give him the satisfaction. He wouldn't give her up no matter what. She's the love of his life and she's worth more than his life. He doesn't care if they were together longer.

“If she wanted me to stay away she should've told me personally. Why, are you scared she might choose me over you?

W

ell, I'm really a threat to you, Engineer. That's because I'm her first love and her husband. And she looks like she hasn't gotten over me yet. I can still drive her crazy and mad, I doubt you can even do that."

“Maybe you two are married but don't be too confident, Mr. Shaw. You might be surprise next time she'll be here bringing you documents.”

“what do you mean?”

"I proposed to her last night" Jerome paused,

"and she said yes. She's areanging your divorce papers. Hopefully, this week. So even after breaking her heart, I still thank you. Because her pain led her to me.”

"Don't play games with me." Jacob smirked. It might be true but he chose not to believe.

Jerome shrugged. "Your wife chose me, Jacob."

It was true. The next day Tatiana was inside his office, handing him the annulment papers.