Eternal Love

Chapter 11

The hidden lies

In the days following Jeff's nightmare, he was haunted by the memory of Kim and Vegas’s anguish. He tried to return to normal, but the images kept resurfacing, gnawing at him. Jeff could sense Bib’s concern, though he hadn’t shared the full extent of his distress.

One morning, as Bib poured coffee, Jeff’s hands trembled slightly. “You sure you’re okay?” Bib asked, his eyes filled with worry.Jeff forced a smile. “Just a little tired,” he said, brushing off Bib’s concern.Bib squeezed his hand gently. “If you need to talk about it, I’m here.”Jeff nodded, appreciating Bib’s support but knowing he had to handle this on his own.

The weight of his past was too complex, too tangled with the faces of Kim and Vegas. He needed answers he wasn’t sure Bib could help him find.

Jeff arrives at the temple seeking solace, hoping the serene atmosphere will calm his troubled mind. As he walks through the peaceful courtyard, he notices a figure cloaked in white, sitting in meditation under a sacred tree. The saint’s presence feels oddly familiar yet unsettling.

Feeling drawn to the saint, Jeff approaches cautiously. Without opening their eyes, the saint speaks softly, "The past will haunt you if you do not confront it." Jeff freezes, feeling a chill run down his spine. It's as if the saint knows his inner turmoil, his hidden struggles with Kim and Vegas.

Curiosity mingled with apprehension, Jeff hesitates before responding. "I've been trying," he admits quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "But the memories... they're elusive."

The saint nods slowly, their eyes still closed. "Memory is a thread that binds us to our truths. Denial only tightens its grip."

Jeff stands humbly before the saint in the temple's serene courtyard, the weight of his recurring dreams heavy on his mind. "What signs are these dreams trying to tell me?" Jeff asks, his voice tinged with both curiosity and apprehension.

The saint, eyes gentle yet penetrating, takes a moment before responding. "These dreams are a sign that unresolved parts of your past threaten your present happiness. They will persist until you confront and resolve them."

Jeff absorbs the saint's words, feeling a knot tighten in his chest. "How do I resolve them?" he asks, voice filled with earnestness and a hint of desperation.

"You must allow the memories to guide you," the saint advises, their voice steady and reassuring. "Open yourself to their emotions and truths. Only then will you understand their significance and find the peace you seek."

With determination etched on his face, Jeff nods solemnly. He understands now that his journey toward happiness requires confronting his past head-on, despite the discomfort it may bring.

After  returning home, Jeff tries to gather his thoughts from the temple encounter when his phone rings urgently. It's Justin.

"Jeff, you need to check this news link right now. It's about Bible," Justin insists, his voice carrying a tone of disbelief and concern.

Jeff opens the link Justin sends him, his heart sinking as he reads the headline. The words on the screen deliver a devastating blow: "Businessman Bible's Secret Affair and Pregnancy Scandal."

Jeff clicks on the link Justin sent him, opening the video of Jane's press conference. His heart sinks as he watches Jane, her demeanor serious and composed, addressing the gathered reporters.

Jane's voice echoes through the screen as she begins, "Thank you all for being here today. I want to address recent rumors and clarify the situation. Yes, I am pregnant, and Bible is the father."

Jeff feels a wave of disbelief and betrayal wash over him as Jane continues to explain, "Bible and I have discussed this privately, and we've decided to raise this child together. It's a decision we've made with a lot of consideration and mutual respect."

Unable to contain his emotions, Jeff's eyes well up with tears. He watches in silence as Jane's words cut through him like a knife. The pain of betrayal and the shattered remnants of trust overwhelm him.

With a cry of frustration, Jeff throws his phone onto the couch beside him. It lands with a thud, echoing his anger and helplessness. He buries his face in his hands, shoulders shaking with sobs as he tries to process the enormity of what he's just seen and heard.

The room feels suffocating as Jeff struggles to make sense of the betrayal. Memories of his past with Bible flood his mind, each one now tainted with a new understanding. He realizes that the foundation of their relationship was built on lies and deceit.