THE FORGOTTEN DAD

Chapter 37: Broken Promises

Jasmine walked out of the detention center with Dae Ho, her emotions swirling in a whirlwind of confusion and pain. She had asked Emil for a divorce, her voice steady but her heart breaking. Deep down, she didn't want to end their marriage—she wanted to believe in him, in the man she thought she knew. But the lies and secrets had finally taken their toll.

As they approached the car, Jasmine stopped, wiping her tears. "Dae Ho," she began, her voice trembling, "I didn't want to do this. I didn't want to ask him for a divorce."

Dae Ho, who had been silently supporting her, took a deep breath. "Jasmine, you did what you had to do. Emil has hurt you more than anyone ever should. You deserve better than this."

Jasmine shook her head, her mind racing. "But what if I'm making a mistake? What if he's telling the truth? What if... what if I still love him?"

She spun around and hurried back toward the detention center, her heart pounding in her chest. Every step brought her closer to the possibility of saving what remained of her family. But as she approached, she saw Emil with Ruby, their voices hushed but clear enough to reach her ears.

"I'll marry you, Ruby. I'll make you the President's wife," Emil's voice was clear and firm, devoid of any hesitation.

Jasmine's world seemed to collapse around her. She had come here hoping to find some semblance of the truth, to find a reason to hold on to their marriage. But hearing those words from Emil... it was as if he had driven a knife straight through her heart.

She staggered backward, unable to breathe, her vision blurring as tears filled her eyes. Dae Ho quickly stepped forward, catching her before she could fall.

"Jasmine!" Dae Ho whispered urgently, pulling her away from the scene before Emil or Ruby could notice them. He held her close, his heart pounding in his chest as he felt her shaking with silent sobs.

"How could he... How could he say that?" Jasmine choked out between tears. "I thought... I thought he loved me. But he's just going to replace me... like I meant nothing."

Dae Ho's jaw tightened. He had spent years harboring his feelings for Jasmine, always staying in the background, hoping that one day she might see him as more than just a friend. And now, with Emil's betrayal laid bare in front of them, he couldn't hold back any longer.

"Jasmine," Dae Ho said, his voice filled with urgency and emotion. "You don't have to go through this alone. Emil doesn't deserve you. He never did. I've been waiting for years... hoping that one day you might see me, that you might realize I've always been here for you."

Jasmine looked up at him, her eyes wide with shock and confusion. "Dae Ho, what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I love you, Jasmine," Dae Ho confessed, his voice trembling slightly. "I've loved you since the day we met, but I respected your relationship with Emil. I stayed back because I wanted you to be happy, even if it wasn't with me. But now... seeing how he's treated you, how he's broken your heart, I can't stay silent anymore."

Jasmine's breath caught in her throat. This was too much, too fast. She had just witnessed her husband promising himself to another woman, and now Dae Ho was confessing his love for her. It was overwhelming.

"I... I don't know what to say," Jasmine stammered, pulling away from him slightly. "This is all too much."

Dae Ho reached out, gently taking her hand in his. "I know it's a lot, Jasmine. I'm not asking you to make any decisions right now. I just needed you to know how I feel. And I needed you to know that you don't have to go through this alone. I'll be here for you, no matter what."

Jasmine looked at him, seeing the sincerity and pain in his eyes. She could tell that Dae Ho's feelings for her were genuine, that he truly cared for her. But her heart was still aching, still confused and torn between the man she thought she loved and the betrayal she had just witnessed.

"I need time," Jasmine whispered, her voice barely audible. "I need to figure out what's right for me, for Eva... I can't just jump into something else."

Dae Ho nodded, his expression softening. "Take all the time you need, Jasmine. I'll wait for you, no matter how long it takes. Just know that I'm here for you, whenever you're ready."

Jasmine nodded, her heart heavy with the weight of everything that had happened. She needed to think, to process the pain, the betrayal, and now, the unexpected confession from Dae Ho.

As they walked back to the car, Jasmine couldn't help but glance over her shoulder at Emil and Ruby, still standing together, their voices a distant murmur in the background. The man she had loved, the father of her child, was slipping away from her, and she didn't know if she had the strength to hold on anymore.