Avenging Love

Chapter Thirty-five

Jennifer's POV....

As the man left, the lights flickered on, casting a warm glow around us. Our eyes widened as we saw the scene before us.

The roof was covered in white flowers. Their sweet scent filled the air, mixing with the soft music playing in the background.

A red carpet stretched out beneath our feet, leading to the center of the roof. There was a large heart made of deep red roses stood out. Suddenly, the lights inside the heart flickered on, revealing the word "Sorry" written in bold, flashing letters.

A cool breeze blew, making the flowers sway and my hair lift in the wind. Then, we heard footsteps approaching, getting closer with each step.

As the footsteps echoed, I spun around, trying to see who was approaching, but before I could fully turn, I collided with a solid chest. The impact sent me stumbling backward, but before I could fall, two strong arms wrapped securely around my waist, pulling me close.

My breath hitched as I instinctively clung to his neck for balance, my fingers tangling in the soft fabric of his shirt. When I looked up, my gaze locked onto a pair of familiar eyes, eyes that had haunted my thoughts for longer than I cared to admit. They bore into mine with a deep, unspoken intensity, as if searching for something hidden within me. A shiver ran down my spine, electrifying every nerve.

Time seemed to freeze as we stood there, lost in each other’s presence. His hands, warm and steady, slowly guided me back to my feet, but I couldn’t bring myself to let go.

My heart pounded so fiercely in my chest that it drowned out everything else, even the distant hum of the building around us. The connection between us was undeniable, a powerful force that neither of us dared to break.

Just as the moment threatened to swallow us whole, the sharp ring of a phone shattered the silence. Daisy's phone.

The sound was harsh, pulling us both back to reality. She quickly cut the call, but the spell had already been broken. I blinked, suddenly aware of how close we were, and took a shaky step back, my arms reluctantly falling to my sides. His hands lingered on my waist for just a heartbeat longer before he let me go, and the absence of his touch left me feeling unexpectedly cold.

"So you were the kidnapper, Mr. Aaron Vinson?" Daisy mocked.

"I just wanted to talk to Jenny," he replied, without breaking eye contact.

His intense blue eyes, bore into mine with a mix of pleading and vulnerability, as if he was silently begging me to understand the depths of his intentions.

The muscles in his jaw tightened, and I could see the slight tremble in his hands, betraying the calm facade he was trying to maintain.

"So why was this whole drama necessary?" Daisy asked, her voice thick with frustration as she threw her hands in the air.

"I knew she wouldn't come. She would never listen to me, no matter how hard I try. That's why I sent them."

"Seriously, Aaron, you've lost it. You're not the same person anymore," she continued, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and disappointment. "The Aaron we once knew is gone, as good as dead." She turned and stormed out.

As I started to follow her, his hand shot out and grabbed my arm, yanking me back so forcefully that I collided with his chest, the impact knocking the wind out of me. His arms wrapped around my waist like a vice, pulling me closer. I could feel the heat of his breath against my cheek, and when his lips, the color of fresh roses, parted, his voice was nothing more than a desperate whisper.

"Stay," he pleaded, his words trembling.

"Stay?" I echoed, a bitter chuckle escaping my lips as I looked up at him. I balled my fist and hit his chest, hard enough to make him lose his grip on me. He stumbled back, surprise flashing in his eyes as he struggled to regain his balance.

"I've heard the world is shameless, but I never expected this level of shamelessness," I said, my voice cold as ice.

"I know I've hurt you alot, but please, don't leave. Just hear me out," he begged, his voice breaking as he reached out for me.

"What's left to hear?" I shot back, shaking my head. "Everything between us is finished now. Whatever we had died the moment you walked away. That love is gone, Aaron. There's nothing left here for you," I said, my heart aching with each word.

He nodded, swallowing hard as if the weight of my words was too much to bear. "Let me explain," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"And what good will that do?" I asked, my voice laced with exhaustion. "What's the point of explaining if the person you're talking to doesn't want to listen?"

"But you have to, angel, you have to," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion.

My eyes widened in disbelief, the word cutting through me like a knife.

"Don't call me that, you have no right to call me 'angel' anymore."

I could feel the tears burning in my eyes, but I blinked them away, refusing to let them fall.

"I still can't believe the kind of man you've become. You hid your identity from me, never showed your face, and then, after all these years, you had the nerve to text me, asking to meet. And like a fool, I believed you. But you.... you ditched me, just like before. I waited, but you never came. Was that some kind of sick joke? Do you even care to explain?" I asked, my voice breaking as I finally let the tears fall.

Tears streamed down my cheeks. As he reached out with a trembling hand to wipe them away, I flinched and brushed his hand aside, unable to accept his touch or the comfort it might offer.

"I was on my way that day, thinking I'd finally get out of this mess. But then I got into an accident, which is why I ended up in the hospital."

"Oh, come on, Aaron. If you agreed to tell me, then why didn't you say anything later? I believe we met plenty of times after that."

"You're right, but something held me back. There was a misunderstanding," he replied.

"Misunderstanding? Really, Aaron? That misunderstanding made you betray me?" I asked, my voice rising.

"I never betrayed you," he insisted.

"Seriously?" I scoffed.

"Let me explain."

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.

"You have just five minutes," I replied, my tone firm.

"Come and sit," he said softly and extended his hand to hold mine, but I walked past him, ignoring the gesture, and sat on the beautifully decorated couch.

The cushions were soft, covered in intricate patterns that would normally catch my eye, but today, nothing could distract me from the storm inside my chest.

He hesitated for a moment, then sat beside me, close enough that I could feel his warmth, yet distant enough that it felt like a thousand miles between us.

I didn’t want to hear him, I couldn’t. My heart had been through too much already,  But deep down, in the quiet corners of my heart, I desperately want to listen and believe his every word.

Every day, I had died for him, for his love and now here he was, sitting right in front of my eyes. But even with him so close, I couldn’t bring myself to reach out, to touch him, to pull him into the embrace I had craved for so long. My hands remained folded in my lap, trembling, while tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision.

My heart pounded, faster and faster. Questions flooded my mind. What did he want to say? What was the misunderstanding? Was he planning to leave again? The thought twisted in my chest like a knife. But even if he didn’t leave, I knew deep inside, I couldn’t stay with him. Not after everything.

My heart was too shattered, to be fixed. Every second I had spent waiting for him, loving him, had been like torture, and the pain was something I would never be able to forget."

Until then....