Chapter 29: Chapter 29

"Pull it, pull the trigger," Valjerome said weakly as he stared at me.

I did not move for a second, I just remained standing, still pointing the gun under his jaw, staring at his bloodshot eyes. Confused to the emotion he was showing.

I flinched when he held my hand. He pushed the gun I was holding more intensely under his jaw.

"Kill me. You can leave my house at any moment. But as long as I live, you and my son will stay here," he said in finale.

My grip on the gun tightened. The corners of my eyes began to tear up with frustration and anger.

"My son, Valjerome. He is mine. From the day you ordered me to abort him, you have completely lost the right to him," I said emphatically.

Once again, he pushed my hand closer to his jaw and slowly shut his eyes. "I'll restore that right of mine. If you don't want to, feel free to kill me right at this moment."

I froze and stared at him for a few seconds.

"Are you really this ruthless?" I uttered and let my tears streamed down to my cheeks.

He slowly opened his eyes. He stared at me softly as he wiped off the trail of my tears

"I just want to be with my child, Jazzie," he said hoarsely.

I laughed emptily and loosened my gripped to the gun. I faintly distanced myself from him and shook my head.

"Not even a second, Valjerome. You have no right to be with my son."

I saw the pain in his eyes. It seemed like at any moment, his tears would completely fall.

I don’t know if he’s just acting or it’s all real what he’s showing right now. If all of this were true, I could do nothing for him. We are talking about my son here. If he is hurt with what I did and what I am doing, he deserved it.

I never thought of revenging. Ever since I left his custody, I have only sought a quiet life despite my anger and resentment towards him. If he is hurting now, these karmas aren’t enough for him to pay for the decision he made before.

"I am still his father, Jazzie," he reminded again.

"HE'S NOT YOUR SON!" Due to mixed emotions, I could no longer restrain myself from pulling the trigger of the gun I was holding.

It echoed throughout the room as Valjerome fell to the floor.

I was stunned and stiffened in my position when I saw the blood slowly spreading in his leg. I expected him to moan in pain but he was just staring at me. He looked at me painfully, as if what I did was more painful than his wound.

I let go of the gun, tremblingly. Slowly, I have realized what I was doing ever since I entered his office. I'd been physically hurting him since earlier, my anger towards him blinded my heart and mind.

"MOMMY!"

My eyes widened when I heard Erom shouted. So is Valjerome. Both of us hurriedly moved and went out of the room.

"Erom ?!" I shouted panicking as Valjerome and I took our steps downstairs.

Valjerome reached the living room first and met my son who was crying, causing me to stop from my steps

"What happened? Are you okay? Is there any pain?" he consecutively questioned the child as he examined its entirety.

"I-I heard something," my son replied between his sobs.

"Oh! Sir, I'm sorry. The boy was scared when he heard...a loud noise," said Manang who was behind my son.

Valjerome hugged him and caressed his back. "Sshhh. It's okay. It's nothing, something just broke at the top," he comforted my son.

I don’t know what to react. Seeing Valjerome consoled my son despite his wound hit something inside my chest. I also couldn’t help but feel guilty for what I did. I didn't plan to pull the trigger, it's just I was swayed by my extreme emotion.

I bit my lower lip when Valjerome lifted Erom. It seems like his bleeding leg is nothing to him, only in order to calm my son.

" Señior, your le—" Manang stopped speaking when Valjerome gave him with signals with his eyes.

He looked at me next. He slowly moved his head to signal me to come closer. It was only then that I regained my consciousness and continued to move. I averted my eyes and walked closer to them.

"Bring him to your room," he said as he gave me my child.

Erom immediately hugged me and continued sobbing. "Calm down, my prince. Everything is okay," I murmured.

"I want to sleep, Mommy," he whispered.

I just nodded and didn't even look at Valjerome who was staring at the two of us.

"I-I'll just let him rest," I hesitated.

He slowly nodded and looked at Manang. "Prepare a meal for them." Then he faced me back again. "Eat first before you rest. I'll just deliver your food to your room later," he said.

I did not answer anymore and slowly turned away from him. I started walking up the stairs as I was lifting Erom up. I avoided looking back or even peeking at Valjerome. I felt like guilt was spreading inside my body. I just tried to ignore it so that I would not be affected.

A few seconds later, we're finally reached the façade of my former room. I slowly opened it and was stunned to notice the entirety of the room.

Nothing has changed.

The interior, the things I left on the vanity mirror, almost nothing has changed. Only the bedsheets were changed and the curtains, probably those were the only things that are cleaned here in the room. I was even stunned when I smelled Valjerome's familiar scent.

Why does his scent can be smelled here?

Instead of drowning myself in thinking, I just went inside. I made Erom sit on the bed for a while and comforted him there to calm him down.

A few minutes later, I heard a knock from the other side of the door, it slowly opened and Manang peeked inside. As Valjerome said, he commanded Manang with another maid to bring the food upstairs for us. I fed my son and washed him after.

"Mom," my son whispered as we lay in bed.

I hummed and hugged him as respond.

"Are we going to stay here long?" he curiously asked.

I wasn’t able to answer right away and remembered what Valjerome had said earlier.

'Just kill' me, you can leave my house at any time. But as long as I live, you and my son will stay here. '

I just tried to smile at my son and kissed him on the forehead. "Let's go to sleep, son. Mommy is a little tired now," I changed the subject.

He smiled back at me and then squeezed onto my body. "Good night, Mommy," he said.

"Good night, my prince," I replied.

I caressed his hair until I felt him fall asleep. I just stared at my son's little face and sighed.

"I'm sorry, son. Looks like we'll be here for a while," I whispered.

I properly moved Erom in his lying position. I also tried to sleep but I was repeatedly disturbed by what had happened. I bit my lower lip when I remembered Valjerome's leg bleeding earlier.

Is he really sincere towards my son?

I flinched when I heard a knock from the door, followed by Valjerome's voice.

"Are you still awake?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I faced my son and hugged him¾pretending to be asleep.

Soon I heard the door softly opened as well as his careful footsteps. I held my breath when I felt him closer to us. Even though I can't see him, I can feel him staring at us.

Have he treated his wound?

He didn't move nor speak for a second until I felt him cover us with a comforter. Whether I wanted to object to what he was doing I just chose to continue pretending to be asleep.

"Good night," I heard him murmured then his presence moved closer to my son.

It may be quite but I heard him kiss my son. I bit my tongue to supress any movements from me.

My heart stopped beating when I felt his breath near me.

"I miss you ..."