Ex husband's Plea for Forgiveness

"Jonas, this is our baby." Holley had both hands on her belly in a protective gesture. She backed away a few steps, wary of the dark expression on Jonas’s face. She could feel the force of his intent across that small distance.

"I will never acknowledge that child. Get rid of it."

"Jonas, how could you say that? This is your baby!" Holley immediately regretted her sudden outburst. There was a ruthless glint on Jonas’s eyes, and it frightened her.

"One million," Jonas barked each word succinctly. "Get rid of that child."

Holley felt a momentary elation the moment she heard the amount of money that was coming her way. She had initially planned on using her baby as leverage to extort some money.

But then Jonas’s continuous denial and his vehement demands to get an abortion were starting to get to her. It was then that it dawned on her: she wanted both the money and the child.

Besides, if she could get Jonas to accept them, she might even have a shot at becoming his wife. That was all the motivation she needed. "Jonas, this is a human life you want to eliminate!"

"Do you think I care?" A sardonic smile was on his face. If he wanted a child he could always have one with his wife, and no one else.

At that point Holley knew resistance was futile, and no amount of her dramatics would make him change his mind. This was the rumored tyrant, after all, the man whose emotions no one could seem to stir.

"Jonas. Jonas, please, I really want to keep the baby. Please give us a chance, okay? Please? For old times’ sake?" She needed the baby alive if she wanted a trump card in the future.

She started to go down on her knees and knelt her way towards Jonas, begging and crying as she grabbed his hand.

Jonas only slapped her hand away, and shot her a look of utter irritation. It looked like he would forcefully throw her out at any given moment.

"One million," he repeated. "I will personally take care of the arrangements for the abortion. The doctor has to be someone I trust." He moved away from where Holley crouched on the ground.

"You had better accept this proposition, Holley, while I’m still being patient and telling you nicely. If you don’t, I’ll make sure you lose everything you have."

Holley rose and touched her belly, the tears flowing down her face now turning genuine. "Jonas, please." All she could do was beg. She knew Jonas would do exactly as he said. She’d seen him trample on other people to get things done the way he wanted.

She was having seconds now. She truly wanted to keep her baby, not just to use it for whatever greedy plans she might hatch. But at the same time she harbored a great fear at what Jonas might do to her. To say she was regretting ever coming here today would be a gross understatement. Jonas smoothed his shirt from when Holley tried to maul him, and adjusted his collar with cold indifference. "I will give you three days to make a decision. I know you’re not stupid, Holley. I trust you know what choice would be good for you." With that Jonas turned away and called for Gavin. He ordered for Holley to be escorted out of the premises, and returned to the villa to pour himself a stiff drink.

Melinda was at the pavilion at that time, and she saw Holley leaving through the gates. Although she couldn’t see the woman’s face clearly, she got the impression that the model was being sent away.

Melinda remained in the pavilion for a few minutes more, expecting Jonas to come to her. When he didn’t show up after a while, she went looking for him.

She scoured the main villa, but her husband seemed to have shut himself out somewhere. Deciding not to dwell on it, Melinda retired to her own villa.

The moment she opened the door to her foyer, she was assaulted by the pungent smell of alcohol and cigarette smoke. Jonas was sprawled on one of the large chairs in her parlor.

smoke and drink yourself to death, kindly do it somewhere

and threw them wide open to air the room. Then she walked over and stood in front of her

Are you so glad to see your old lover you’re indulging yourself with your vices?" She was careful to keep her

and his voice sounded tired. "Do I look glad to you? You must be

you," Melinda muttered to herself as she picked up the empty

looked the part,

to yourself?" he asked with a frown, his tone a

rolled her eyes.

all, but he was too

anyone to know why she came here today, especially Melinda. He was admittedly worried what she might do if she found out. He had no

and Melinda prepared some tea to revive him from all the alcohol

made no move to

did not anticipate, however, was that Holley contacted the press and leaked the "scandal." She must have been desperate indeed, for her

came to him as a shock. He almost had a heart attack on the spot. People rushed over to

on his trail as he stormed to the main offices. They knew without asking that

secretary told him his grandson was in the middle of a meeting. Without mincing his

task, urgently asking the board members to vacate the room. As soon as it was just

been dealing with endless meetings since early that morning, and was yet unaware of the ugly havoc that Holley wreaked in

surprised at his grandfather’s sudden visit, but saw no cause to worry. "What brings

my grandson?! How could you do this! What face do I have to show Leonard in the future after

was heartbroken, he was ashamed. It had only been a few days ago when he made a promise

was about Holley. He didn’t know the extent of

face, and his

in shit you are? Now everyone knows what you’ve done. What will Melinda think? Oh God, what

was apparent failure to raise a good man in his grandson. To think

mind of every thought except for his wife. The implications of this situation came crashing down on him all

think of was "no." 'No, no, no, no, no. This can’t be

sake!" his grandfather cried at last. He was shaking with emotion, and finally seated himself on one of

his silence the entire time, absorbed in his own dark

man would beat him. But now his grandfather was slumped in defeat, and

how he always pushed for Jonas

never make someone with such a bright and beautiful soul happy. His grandson was the kind of man who would only bring

something urgent had come up, and

quick on his grandfather’s heels, giving out precise instructions to William as they