When I Left, He Found His Way Back-Chapter 40: Reconcile

Jessica’s POV.

The fog in my mind began to clear out. I felt my anger begin to shift, redirecting towards Zoey. Could it be true? Had I misjudged him entirely?

I studied his face, searching for any sign of deception. His expression was sincere, his eyes pleading for understanding. I wanted to believe him, but...

"You gave her the chance to tear our marriage into shreds," I began, my voice trembling with emotion. "I don’t know why she returned to the country, but she had family members. You aren’t the only one she knew."

I took a deep breath, the memories flooding back. "You were a married man, yet you allowed your ex into our home. You took her side over mine countless times, even though she always provoked my reaction."

The pain and betrayal boiled over me and re-opened my wounds. "You let her work at your company, going places with her. As if that wasn’t bad enough, you let her take my calls and reply to my chats. Still, that wasn’t satisfying enough for you. You had to let her use your family name, you paraded her as your wife, while I stayed hidden, Liam!"

Tears streamed down my face as I choked out the words. "Whenever I needed you, you were almost never there. Remember when she just came into the house? I told you I was sick, but you left for work, telling me to call Dr. Lee. But when she called you, saying she had a mild headache, you ran over and spent the whole day in the guest room with her."

The image of that day seared into my mind. "The day you got her that ring, she flashed it in my face, mocking me while her hand roamed your chest. Doing so, she told you to go rest because you had work the next day. She could see I was having a conversation with you. She could see I was desperate to make our marriage work, yet she wanted you to leave. How could you not see that?"

I swallowed and continued, "I didn’t slap her because I hated her, I did so because she mocked me, crushed my self-respect, and humiliated me."

My voice rose, accusation etched in every word. "But what did you do, Liam? You shoved me aside and went to her. You’re a mean person, you never treated me right. Even though what you said was true, the way you treated me was solely on you. She didn’t force you to treat me like your enemy."

My shoulders squared as I looked him straight in the eyes, my gaze piercing with emotion. "If you had treated me like your wife from the very beginning, if you had shown me just a hint of respect, she wouldn’t have been able to drive us apart so easily," I declared, my voice trembling with anguish.

"You empowered her. You gave her the ammunition to destroy our marriage, and in doing so, I lost our child." The weight of those words hung heavy in the air. "And I hate you for that."

The car fell silent. I was awaiting his response. He would try to defend himself, to water down the situation. I mused. But his voice came soft and solemn.

"I’m sorry."

I blinked. No arguments, no attempts to shift blame. Just a simple, heartfelt apology. The sincerity in his tone was undeniable, and for a moment, it took my breath away.

"I’ll be a better husband and a loving father this time, I promise," he vowed, his eyes locking onto mine with determination. "I’m so sorry, Jessica."

He gently took my hand in his, his touch sending a spark of emotion through me.

"I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused you, for the suffering and heartache. For not being the partner you deserved, for not protecting our family." His voice cracked, filled with regret.

Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes, and his voice trembled with vulnerability. "I know I don’t deserve you, but please... Allow me to have you," he implored, his words dripping with longing.

"Can you ever forgive me, Jessica?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes pleaded for redemption, searching for a glimmer of hope in mine.

The raw emotion etched on his face cracked the armor around my heart, and I felt the weight of our past bearing down on me. The memories of pain and betrayal still lingered, but in this moment, I couldn’t watch him being like this anymore.

Forgiveness wasn’t logical, but love rarely was. I knew the risks of forgiving him - the possibility of future hurt, the danger of repeating past patterns. Yet, as I looked into his eyes, I felt an undeniable connection, a pull that drew me closer.

Without thinking, I leaned in, my heart guiding my actions. Our lips met in a tender kiss that soon deepened, filled with longing and desire. I had missed this, missed him so much that my heart heaved a sigh of relief.

’You want more.’

’A kiss is not enough.’

’Do some crazy things in the car. You’ve always fantasized about it, right?’

The voice in my head continued to whisper, urging me to explore his familiar contours with my hands. His strength was still undeniable, his toned muscles feeling like home beneath his black shirt.

I yearned to feel them again, to rekindle the connection that once burned so brightly within me. My fingers began to work on his buttons, desperate to uncover the flesh beneath.

With each button undone, my anticipation grew. The soft rustle of fabric, the gentle brush of skin against skin, sent shivers down my spine.

As the last button came undone, I pushed his shirt aside, revealing the chest I once knew so intimately. My palms traced the contours of his muscles, relearning the terrain of his body.

As I gazed at his exposed chest, I noticed the subtle changes that had etched upon his body. His muscles were less defined than I’d known him.

Lifting my gaze to his face, our eyes locked, filled with a desire that mirrored my own. But as I searched his features, I noticed subtle differences. His skin was paler than I remembered, his chiseled face more prominent now.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel