Chapter 112: Chapter 112

Jace's car came to a halt outside the building of Jasmine's apartment. "Thank you so much for tonight. It was so great spending time with you," she confessed while placing the strands of her hair behind her ear shyly.

"Me too. I'm glad you had fun spending time with me." Jace replied as he held her hands. "We go again tomorrow at the same time, right?" He asked, caressing her cheeks with his thumb.

Jasmine nibbled on her bottom lip and nodded her head; this action made Jace's throat dry, making him lean in and kiss her on her lips. "See you tomorrow."

"Mhmm," she uttered, carefully getting out before waving him goodbye. Unknown to her, Tessa was watching her through the window the whole time. As she went upstairs, she met Tessa standing at her doorstep with her hands folded to her chest.

"So, were you going to tell me that you finally have a boyfriend?" Tessa said, her tone laced with concern and a tinge of eagerness.

"Is that why you're standing at my doorstep like a spy? Look, mom, he's not officially my boyfriend yet. We're still getting to know each other."

"Just remember one thing, Jasmine Kayla Beth. Unless he gets married to you, you are prohibited from getting to the bedroom stage because I won't be letting my only child raise a bastard under my roof."

Jasmine rolled her eyes at her mother's elaboration and rushed into her room before Tessa could continue with her endless tantrums. She lay flat on her bed, staring at the ceiling, and a sweet smile played on her lips.

Jasmine picked up the pillow beside her and hugged it tightly to her chest " I don't mind raising a dozen bastards just for you, Jace," she muttered while biting on her lips. She grabbed her phone from her bag and sent him a text saying, "Are you home yet?"

***

At the Jones residence, the sun had just set, casting a warm glow westward. The Jones and Wilson families were gathered around the dining table, enjoying a delightful meal together. Mr. and Mrs. Jones had thoughtfully suggested having dinner with their in-laws, so they graciously extended invitations to the Wilson's.

Andrea received a phone call and, with a polite smile, excused herself to head to the cozy living room area to answer it. After engaging in a conversation for a few minutes, she returned to her seat, her expression unchanged, assuring everyone that there was no cause for concern.

"Dear, I hope it's nothing important." Mrs. Jones asked, her eyes filled with worry.

"Everything is fine, Mom. It's just Alicia calling again. She's nervous about her big day tomorrow," Andrea responded with a reassuring smile. For the past few days, she has been receiving a series of calls from Alicia, asking for encouragement as she shared her fears with her regarding her wedding.

"I'm glad that your friend is doing the right thing by getting married. Oh, and I also heard that the Sonny guy is around Jacob's age. Yet, this silly brother of yours refuses to introduce any lady to us," Mrs. Jones poured out in an aggrieved tone.

"Mom, please not now," Jacob said, shooting his mother a glare.

"Why shouldn't I? I'm extremely worried about you. Your little sister is already married; she has kids of her own, and you are yet to find a lady. Shouldn't a responsible mother be concerned?" She retorted.

Andrea sighed silently and remained quiet. She wasn't sure if Jacob's feelings for her had faded completely, and she had been scared to confront him over the issue. The thought of him confessing his feelings for her alone freaked her out. She also wanted the best for him, and for that to happen, he had to move on with his life.

"I can introduce him to some decent ladies I know here in New York," Sean offered, suddenly chiming in from nowhere.

"That'd be great, son," Mrs. Jones said, smiling warmly at Sean's suggestions.

Jacob gave him a dirty look and dropped his cutlery on the table before leaving the dining room in a fit of rage. Mrs. Jones was worried and apologized to Wilson's on behalf of Jacob's behavior before going upstairs to speak with him.

"Sean, that wasn't cool at all," Andrea whispered softly before rising to her feet. "Excuse me," she politely said, walking towards the stairs.

...

"Son, what do you mean by what you displayed downstairs?" Mrs. Jones demanded angrily.

"Or do you mean what Sean Wilson displayed out there?" Jacob retorted, also angry.

"He's your brother-in-law now, part of our family. Even if you don't like him because he took your girlfriend in the past, he's still your sister's husband. Do you care about your sister at all?"

"Don't tell me you still have feelings for Andrea. Son, that's insane! She's your little sister," Mrs. Jones scoffed, placing her hand on her waist.

"Please stop giving me that look. I haven't had such thoughts about her since I found out she's my sister, okay? My feelings for her are platonic; I was the one who misunderstood everything at first."

"Son, are you telling the truth? Because if you aren't, then you must forget about her. You've been spending a lot of time with her, and it's made me extremely worried about you."

"Trust me, mom. I can assure you that I only view Andrea as my little sister, and that's it."

Andrea quietly retreated to the balcony, listening intently to the conversation between her mother and brother. Once they left, she joined Sean and Mr. and Mrs. Wilson downstairs, maintaining her composure. After seeing the guests off, Andrea and Sean found themselves alone.

Sean wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close, and whispered an apology. "I'm sorry. I didn't know that jerk would make it a big deal. I shouldn't have interfered in his affairs. I was just trying to help."

Andrea felt a mix of guilt and relief. "I'm happy now, and I'm sorry for overreacting."

Smiling, Sean pointed at his lips. "Give me a kiss here to prove to me that I have been forgiven."

"Sean! Not here!" Andrea whispered urgently, glancing around. They were standing on the balcony, admiring the stunning night view below.

Ignoring her protests, Sean pulled Andrea closer and passionately kissed her, sucking on her lower lip. "You don't want to, but I can," he said, releasing her with a smirk.

"Mr. Wilson, you are so shameless!" Andrea exclaimed, trying to regain her composure and cover her flushed face.

A mischievous glint sparked in Sean's eyes as he responded, "Oh, really? You call that shameless?"

This made Andrea step back cautiously while trying to suppress her laughter. She warned him sternly, "You better don't come any closer." She threw her hands in the air, attempting to create some distance.

Seizing the opportunity, Sean grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer to his chest. He then lifted her from her buttocks, causing Andrea to wrap her arms and legs around him warily.

"What will you do now?" Sean teased her playfully as he showered her face with gentle kisses.

Trying to maintain her composure, Andrea whispered, "Put me down before someone sees us."

Laughing softly, Sean countered with a gentle rebuke, "Who cares? I'm your husband, and you are my wife, silly."

As Andrea and Sean continued their playful banter, Jacob couldn't help but observe their closeness from a distance. He felt a mix of emotions: surprise, confusion, and relief. He had always thought he would be devastated if he ever saw Andrea in a romantic situation with someone else, especially Sean. But surprisingly, he found himself feeling indifferent, as if a weight had been lifted off his chest.

Jacob realized that his feelings for Andrea had indeed changed over time, and he was no longer as attached to her as he once was. This newfound realization gave him a sense of freedom and clarity. He could now focus on moving forward in his life without the burden of his past emotions.

Seeing Andrea and Sean together also made Jacob reflect on his own behavior towards his mother. He understood that his mother was only concerned about his well-being and wanted him to find happiness. He decided to make an effort to communicate better with her and not let his past emotions cloud his judgment.

In the meantime, Andrea and Sean continued their flirtatious conversation, unaware of Jacob's presence and the impact it was having on him. As they enjoyed the night view, Andrea couldn't help but feel a sense of happiness and contentment in her relationship with Sean. Little did she know that her brother had just experienced a significant shift in his emotions and was on the path to healing.