Chapter 84: Chapter 84

The first time he met Rella Cortes she did not hide her dislike towards him and Stefan had felt the same. The feelings were mutual.

The second time they met was at the engagement party if he was not mistaken and that was when the deception began and he didn't notice any of it. He didn't notice that the woman who lost her balance and almost fell on her face was Rella Cortes the twin who had nothing but contempt for him. Memories that were once locked or forgotten came tumbling out.

He remembered asking her where Rella had gone that night because he'd thought she was Cindy but she looked him in the eyes and lied straight to his face. And like a fool he allowed himself to be manipulated into falling in love with what he thought was a new version of Cindy Cortes. Stefan remembered thinking that she'd changed so drastically from the woman who's always on the tabloids for one scandal or the other but he'd been wrong, she didn't change at all because she was a totally different person.

Stefan shook with anger. They were so desperate for his wealth and status that they never cared whichever sister got her claws on him. He was right from the beginning to think that they were golddiggers nothing more. Had she even meant it when she told him she loved him or was it just another scheme to see how deep those claws could go? What was his grandfather thinking getting him entangled with that sort of family?

Stefan scrubbed his face with his hand. His head pounded like a sledgehammer, there was a roaring in his ears he couldn't turn off. He stood by the door to the guest room long enough to catch their conversation.

"How long have you known?" He asked once Christian cut the call with his faux wife. He still could not comprehend all that's happened.

"A while."

He frowned. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"It wasn't my secret to tell."

" Aren't you supposed to be my friend? Since when have you felt the need to protect my wife? " When Christian said nothing Stefan left it at that he wasn't in the mood to pick a fight so early in the morning he simply went into the kitchen opened the refrigerator and snagged himself a can of beer.

"I don't think that's healthy at all. How many have you had since last night?"

Stefan simply ignored Christian and went for a second can as soon as he finished chugging down the first.

Christian sighed. "You know you're going to have to face her at some point."

Four days later he simply did not care to know how she was doing or even what was going on around him, not even when Christian told him that the story was all over the tabloids so much so that he wasn't surprised when he found out that Lucille Carpenter was behind it.

She had to have known before then which means that everyone else had known about it but him. They must all think him an idiot or worse a blind fool. The only time he responded to anything was the seventh day when Christian came back from God knows where looking pissed and yelling at him to get his act together and act like a man but what had really hit him was when Christian said. "Your wife is pregnant by the way, I thought you should know."

"I didn't mean to hurt Van believe me. I didn't mean for things to end up the way they did."

Jake waited with bated breath at the chastisement he knew was coming, with a slap or punch to get his head straight but none of that happened. Felix Montenegro just sat there behind his desk after Jake artfully laid out his sins—sins he knew did not deserve anyone's forgiveness much less Van's— a sombre expression on his weathered face. Jake told him everything starting from the time he met Van, his mother's death and his promise to her. Jake's head was bowed in shame but what the old man said next was the last thing Jake had expected. "I should haul you up by the neck and feed you to the dogs but I suspect that that would hurt my granddaughter even more. Our relationship may be rocky but I love her a lot which is why I am going to give you a chance to make things right."

"Thank you sir I will not disappoint you."

"Don't thank me yet, Vanessa still has to decide whether or not she wants your sorry ass around."

Felix Montenegro didn't smile at all, Jake wondered if the man ever smiled at all. Although some of the weight had been lifted off his shoulder, Jake knew he still had a long way to go with Van and he promised himself not to mess it up.

Ash inched away from the door his shoulders curving inward. He didn't know what he was expecting to be honest, ever since Jake Calloway showed up and declared his intentions he should've known that there would be nothing left for him. Grandfather was so taken in by him that he was very certain he could do no wrong.

Ash should have known better and now he's left high and dry with a shattered heart he didn't know how to mend.

Jake made a beeline for Van's bedroom after he left her grandfather's study. He was more nervous than he had the first time he asked her out and she said yes. Fear gripped him now that it all depends on her because Jake had a feeling he was about to be rejected. He was so lost in his miserable thoughts he almost crashed into Ash.

"Sorry." He apologized. Ash simply gave him a small nod and began walking in the other direction. "Ash?" Jake called after him and Ash half turned. "I'm truly sorry. And thank you." And Jake meant every word. He heard about the engagement that was never made official and he didn't presume to know how the man was feeling but it had to have hurt.

"No hard feelings."

And now as he watched Van who was resting her back against the headboard while he fidgeted, it wasn't outright rejection he felt from her, just wariness. He couldn't blame her though. They had so much to talk about and yet he couldn't seem to find the right words. It wouldn't do him any good to mess this up or he'd lose her forever.

"Are you just going to sit there and space out or will you tell me what's bothering you?" Van snapped irritably.

Jake sighed and shifted uneasily.

"Look, I know that what I did doesn't deserve to be forgiven, I messed up but I promise to make it up to you if you will give me another chance."

"You've had so many chances and you threw them away."

"Van I understand now that it was a big misunderstanding and I apologise. I love you Van you have to know that and I want to be with you at this moment."

Her throat bobbed as she studied him, Jake had no way of knowing what was going on in her mind. They were both silent for a while before finally she sighed and said. "I need some time to think I don’t want to make anymore mistakes."

"Take all the time you need. If I need to court you all over again I will."

Van didn't doubt he'd do that. She'd always known that Jake was determined and if he sets his mind on something he'd achieve it by hook or by crook. This reminded her of the things he was willing to do at the misguided notion of avenging his mother and yet in spite of all that Van must admit that a part of her was thrilled to be the one that fuelled his determination this time, that he'd do whatever it takes to get her back. Van wasn't going to go easy on him though, she'd let him get a taste of his own medicine.