Captive

chapter 45

Jeff stood at the edge of the ceremony, hands stuffed in his pockets, watching the celebration from afar. Mile stood at the altar with Matteo, glowing with happiness. Laughter and cheers filled the air, but Jeff felt like an outsider, a mere shadow observing a life that no longer felt like his. The joy seemed distant, almost untouchable.

His eyes wandered to his parents in the crowd. His father wore a strained smile, his usual mask of control slipping at the edges. His mother dabbed at her eyes, tears mingling with an expression Jeff couldn’t quite decipher—grief, regret, or something else?

Suddenly, the wail of sirens pierced the air. Heads turned, and Jeff’s father stiffened, his smile faltering. Officers approached, speaking in hushed tones. Jeff couldn’t hear the words, but the tension was palpable. His father’s reassurances to Mile—“Just a misunderstanding”—rang hollow.

Then, his mother collapsed. The scene shattered like glass. Mile rushed to her side, panic etched on his face. The weight of the moment hung heavy.

After the ceremony, Jeff found himself walking to the family house. It hadn’t felt like home in a long time. His parents had cast him out, severing ties when they learned about the child he had with someone they considered an enemy. Yet, despite everything, he stood there, knocking on the door.

His mother opened it, her eyes hard. “Why are you here?” she spat. Her words were like knives. “After everything you’ve done…”

“Mum, please,” Mile intervened, his voice soft but pleading. “He’s still your son.”

Her eyes flickered, but the walls around her heart were unmoving. “After the betrayal? The shame?” She turned away, tears slipping down her face.

Jeff’s heart ached. “I’ll leave,” he whispered, turning to go.

“Jeff... don’t go,” Mile called, stopping him. They stepped outside, the night air heavy with unsaid words.

“What’s really going on, Mile?” Jeff pressed. “Why were the police here?”

Mile hesitated, eyes flickering with uncertainty. “Someone reported fraud at the company. The police are investigating... and Dad is hiding something. It’s bigger than he wants to admit.”

Jeff frowned. “Who would do that? What’s Dad hiding?”

Mile’s jaw tightened. “It’s... Bible. He’s behind everything.”

The words hit Jeff like a blow. Bible—the man he loved. Betrayal twisted inside him. “You don’t know him like I do,” Mile continued. “He’s dangerous.”

Jeff’s mind raced. Was it true? The person he had trusted with his heart now the cause of his family’s turmoil? Anger and confusion churned within him.

“I need to know the truth,” Jeff muttered, more to himself than Mile. With every step he took away from the house, the storm inside him grew stronger.

The air between Jeff and Bible was thick with tension as Jeff stormed into the small café where they had agreed to meet. His heart pounded in his chest, the anger inside him bubbling over as he finally stood face-to-face with the man who had once meant everything to him.

Bible’s eyes softened when he saw Jeff, but the expression quickly shifted to concern. "Jeff..." he started, his voice hesitant, unsure of how to approach him. "What’s wrong? Why are you so angry?"

But Jeff couldn’t hold it back anymore. He had to let it all out. "Why can’t you just leave them?" he shouted, the words escaping in a rush of pain and frustration. "Why do you keep hurting me like this? Why can’t you just let it go and leave them alone?"

Bible took a step back, his brow furrowing. "What are you talking about? Why are you saying these things?"

Jeff’s fists clenched at his sides, his voice shaking with the weight of his feelings. "Don’t fool me, Bible! You’re the one who called the cops, aren’t you?" he accused, his chest tight with anger. "You’re the one who set all this in motion. Why else would they be after my family? Why else would everything be falling apart?"

Bible’s face shifted, confusion clouding his features. "What? No... I didn’t—"

"Stop lying!" Jeff snapped, his voice cracking as the hurt inside him finally spilled out. "I know it was you! You’re the one who’s been pulling the strings behind all of this, making everything worse, tearing my family apart! You did it to punish me for... for what? For us?"

Bible stood frozen, his heart pounding in his chest. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the swirling emotions inside him. "Jeff," he said slowly, his voice steady but laced with hurt, "Why would you think it was me? Why would you assume I’m the one behind all of this? You know your father has so many rivals. He’s made so many enemies over the years. Why does it have to be me?"

Jeff felt his anger flare once again, but something in Bible’s voice made him hesitate. Was it possible? Could it really have been someone else? No, he couldn’t allow himself to believe it, not when the pieces seemed to fit so perfectly.

"You really expect me to believe that?" Jeff spat, shaking his head in disbelief. "After everything that’s happened? After how you’ve been acting? I know you, Bible. I know you better than anyone. And I know you’re the one who’s been hiding something from me."

Bible’s expression hardened, his eyes filled with frustration and confusion. He stepped closer to Jeff, his voice quieter now but still firm. "Jeff, stop. I swear to you, I didn’t do this. You think I want to hurt you? You think I want to see you suffer like this?"

For a moment, the words hung in the air between them, thick with tension. Bible’s gaze softened, a hint of vulnerability seeping through the anger. "I came here today because I wanted to fix things," he continued, his voice strained with emotion. "I wanted to fix us. I wanted a second chance. But if you can’t trust me, if you can’t believe me, then... then what’s the point?"

Jeff’s chest tightened as he tried to process the storm of emotions inside him. He was torn. Part of him still loved Bible, still wanted to believe in the man he once knew. But the hurt was too raw, too fresh, and the doubts were suffocating him.

"I don’t know what to believe anymore," Jeff whispered, his voice cracking. "You... you’ve hurt me too many times. I don’t know if I can ever trust you again."

Bible reached out, his hand hovering near Jeff’s shoulder as if unsure whether to touch him. "I’m sorry," he said softly, his voice breaking. "I never wanted to hurt you. But I... I can’t lose you, Jeff. Not like this. Please."

Jeff looked into Bible’s eyes, searching for any trace of the person he had fallen in love with. But all he saw now was a man broken by his own choices, a man who had been caught up in a web of lies, betrayal, and pain.

"I wish I could believe you," Jeff said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I don’t know how."

Bible’s expression faltered, but he didn’t look away. "I’ll prove it to you," he said quietly, the desperation in his eyes unmistakable. "Just... just give me a chance."

But Jeff wasn’t sure he could give him that chance anymore. The wounds were too deep, and the trust that had once held them together felt like it was slipping through his fingers.

"Prove it to me"