Chapter 34: Chapter 34

"AGAIN, I'm sorry for the inconvenience I brought to you, Mr. Palmes, there are... personal things that needed to be handled beforehand."

"It's okay, Mr. Shaw. I'm still glad that we have come into our terms. So, I'll see you at the gala of our company next month. You should bring your wife."

His smile faded because of that. . "I'm still a bachelor, Mr. Palmes."

"Oh! I thought..." The old man's eyed his ring.

He smiled apologetically.

After that meeting, he went back to his office. Andrew Zobel was there. "Closed the deal?"

"Easy." Jacob smirked. "Have you met the new corporate lawyer?"

"Yeah. He's okay, 6 years older than us. You'll meet him tomorrow." Andrew answered. "I still think Tatiana's the best corporate lawyer we have here."

Jacob snorted. "She's out of the picture." And out of my life.

"Ah! I knew it, she's the reason why you've been so... messy these days, isn't she?”

Jacob pursed his lips. "She didn't want me anymore and clearly, she's inlove with someone else. I don't want to force myself on someone who doesn't want me.”

"So you decided to terminate her because she broke your heart?"

"I really don't want to talk about it." He said. Andrew didn't say anything about it anymore.

Jacob just want to move forward, to start again and it's not easy to do it since there are lots of things that remind him of her, but he'll make it thought. He's done chasing after her, done begging. He's been on the ground far too long.

He's got a pride bigger than the iceberg. But he threw it all away for Tatiana. To what extent, he still lost her. She left him.

"You know I can help you with that problem. Why don't we go to Lux later? The ladies miss you.” Andrew laughed. Taking his phone out. “I'm calling Rochelle to ask permission.”

-

"WHAT can you say about this one?" Jerome wiggled an eyebrow, waiting for her answer. They were in a cake shop for food tasting

"It's okay." She shrugged, "I mean... it's good and if you like then let's have this one.”

Jerome pursed his lips. "Are you sure? We can try other flavors.”

"Jerome, we've been to it for the past two hours. If this is what you like, then we'll choose this. Besides, I'm fine with any flavor of the cake." She whispered. She saw a flick of disappointment in his eyes before he forced a smile.

"Okay. If that's what you like."

He excused himself to talk to one of the staff while Tatiana waited un her seat.

Her heart quickened when she saw Jacob's sister entering the shop. She wanted to hide but it was too late. Miana had unwelcoming and unfriendly eyes. Too far from how she used to react everytime she sees her.

Jacob must have told her. She concluded.

Still, she offered her a small smile towards Miana and Jasper. She was a bit shock when Miana went to her.

"You're here alone?" Miana qsked.

"No, Mia. I'm with my... fiancé."

"Oh! You're getting married!" She gasped. The fake enthusiasm was too evident. "When? After the anulment with my brother?"

She was... stunned. Looking at Miana now, she looked nothing like the friendly and joyous Miana she met.

"I thought you were some great woman for my brother, attorney. But I guess I was wrong. You're the reason why my brother is a wreck now, you destroyed him, and I'll be damned if I ever let you near him again." Miana held her head high, Tatiana on the other hand didn't say anything. She's got nothing to say because Mia's right, and she deserves it.

"And you're aware of the fact that you're the reason why my brother and mom didn't get along, right? Maybe you forced my brother to marry you back then and now, you have the audacity to leave him.

I wish you never came back in his life, you just hurt my brother." Miana laughed.

"Mia, that's enough." Jasper whispered. "People are looking ”

"No, she has to hear this."

"Mia," he repeated.

"I'm really sorry." She said in a low tone. she wanted to defend herself but didn't make the effort to do so. It's her fault anyways. Mia was right, she's never gonna be good for Jacob.

"Anyway, you're a good riddance. you won't do anything good to my brother, I really thought you were a decent woman. God, I was so wrong."

"Tatiana?" She felt Jerome's arm wrapped on her waist. baywang. "Excuse me, what do you think you're doing?"

"Oh! You're the fiancé?" Mia faked a smile. "Be careful, I bet you know what she has done with my brother, right? You know, Jacob? Her boss? Her soon to be ex husband? She likes to jump from one guy to another."

"You watch your mouth around my fiancée, miss." Jerome threatened and stepped forward. Jasper noticed this, she held his wife's arm. "The last thing you would want is embarrass my fiancée infront of others."

"I'm just warning you. This woman is good for nothing." She shrugged.

"Miana, this is enough!" Jasper pulled his wife. "You're already making a scene here. She's still Jake's wife, he wouldn't appreciate you doint this to her." He looked so ashamed and sorry. "Tatiana, I'm so sorry."

"Let go of me, Jasper." Miana struggled to get out of her husband's hold on her arm but he didn't let her go.

"Not until we get out of here, Mia." Jasper turned to Tatiana, who was being comforted by Jerome. She looked like she was about to cry. "I'm really sorry, Tatiana."

"Next time handle your wife like how she should be handled." Jerome answered.

It was so silent on their way home.. She didn't dare speak nor did he. She can see the irritation etched on Jerome's face. She was indifferent, she didn't know what to feel. It may be bad Miana lashed out on her in front of other people but she was right about her. She was bad for her brother.

Perhaps one day Jacob could find the woman that was really meant for him. The one who is gonna fight for him and won't leave him. Someone more suitable and bearable. Tatiana isn't that woman.

But she's gonna admit. An image of Jacob with someone else hurts her. It crushes her.

Tatiana took him for granted, and he was the man who should never be taken for granted. He's being chased after by a lot of ladies. Everyone adores him. Jacob is one in a million, and still, she was a fool who discarded him away. She would never be proud of that.

She'll find a way to introduce Julian to him one day. Maybe after the marriage, maybe after they go back. Maybe she can gather strength and tell him the truth.

SHe'll never love anyone more than he loved Jacob. But maybe all the love left in her, she's gonna pour it on their son. And perhaps, she could try it again with Jerome. He's not a man whose hard to love anyway. She did before, maybe she can do it again, right?

Even at night, Jerome and Tatiana barely spoke words with each other.

The dinner was silent. Julian and Mrs. Susan must have sensed it, so they just kept silent too.

She found him in the living room with his laptop after dinner.

"I'm very sorry about what happened, Rome. I wasn't expecting to see Miana there. I'm sorry if I ruined the day.”

"She's angry because you left her brother? Real mature." He closed his laptop and patted the empty chair right next to him. Tatiana went and sat.

"I'm pissed because I came there late, she's already insulted you big time and I'm pissed because you didn't even defend yourself."

"Because I deserved it," she reasoned out. “I wasn't fighting her because I know it's my fault. And that she's right about me.“

"To embarrass you like that in front of others? Hell, no. Tatiana, after our wedding, we are going back to Italy. We'll forget about the ugly things that's happened here. We'll start over. You, me and Julian." Jerome sighed and hugged her. "You weren't in the mood earlier. Do you want us to push back our wedding preparations? I'm fine with it.”

"I'm sorry, I'm just... really tired, Rome. So stressed with work, everything. And I've been... thinking of many things. Maybe I'll call it a day tomorrow, I'll stay at home.”

After they talked she went to her son's room. He was still up,.he was sketching something in his sketch book. He's such an artist. He takes up after his father.

She felt a pang of guilt inside her chest.

"Hey, why are you awake yet?" Her voice was hoarse, she took all the courage not to cry infront of her son who resembled Jacob so much.

Even the things they do...

Julian shrugged. "I couldn't sleep, yet. Mom. I was trying to draw a farm scene." He showed his drawing to his mom. Everything in drawing was so detailed, like it was really true and painted by some expert artist.

For her, Julian is a prodigy in arts. He's still young but he's so good at it. She knew someday his works would be recognized.

She gave him a warm smile. "It's okay. You can stay up late tonight, it's saturday. But be sure to sleep before 10:30, okay?"

"Va bene, momma. You too, mom. You sleep early. You look tired. I don't want you to get tired.”

With all the stress she has been, the only one who could take it all away is her childn "Come here." She said, at niyakap niya ang kanyang anak. I'm so sorry, Julie. I'm so unfair with you and your dad.

"Mom?"

"Hmm?"

He looked up to her. "Are you sure you really want to marry now, mom? I mean... daddy is the best and I love him. He loves both of us. But... aren't we gonna wait for papa?”

"Do you want to see him, anak?" Her voice broke. She didn't want to cry infront of her son.

"I mean... it's okay, mom. I've already accepted he might not come back even if you said he will. I waited since I was four. I'm nine now, but he still hasn't shown himself. Maybe he's forgotten about us? Maybe he's not looking for us.”

He was talking like a grown up man so despite of fighting the tears Tatiana still managed to smile at him.

"I'm fine with daddy, mom. He's the only one we've got and he helped you raise me. So if papa doesn't return, it's okay... I've accepted it.”

What her sons said seemed like a trigger to her. She immediately wiped her tears.

"Mom, don't cry. Please."

"Do you hate your father, Julie?"

Julian stayed silent.

"Don't... hate him. He loves you so much."