One More Chance by Jaycelle Rodriguez

Chapter 80: I want my family back

~~~Too blind to realize I was chasing a fantasy and hurting the one who'd never hurt me. I've been searching for one I've already found. This time I know it's real, God only knows I've been so lonely without you. Give me the chance to heal, oh, please take me back, can't go on living without your love~~~ -Norman Saleet-

"What the hell are you talking about and where did you get that idea?" I glanced at him, but instead of being afraid of my serious reaction, he did the opposite. His laugh grew louder as he shook his head.

"Haist! I wasn't born yesterday, Luke. You can fool everyone here in the office, but not me. I know who's on your mind lately, boss." He said, emphasizing the last word. "Anyway, how do you feel right now after seeing your ex-wife? Knowing that she has already moved on from you?" He asked, leaning against his seat. His face became serious as he crossed his hands over his chest.

Hearing his last question took me out the stage for a moment. How should I answer that question? How would I hide the truth and lie in front of my assistant and a friend who had known me for almost five years?

"Have you already talked to her?"

"Yes." I nodded and took a deep, frustrated sigh afterwards.

Patrick knew what happened between me and Sam. It's not that he witnessed them all, but I told him everything. Other than Dale, he appeared to be my second best friend as my friendship with Dale seemed to have changed when he found out what I had done. "She thanked me for everything... for what I did to her."

"What? W-What do you mean by she thanked you? Shouldn't she hate you for ruining your marriage and family?" He suddenly straightened his seat as he got confused about what I was saying.

"She told me she has to thank me for letting her go as she found David, the person who loved and appreciated her. He showed her the things I should have done before but---" but he interrupted me.

"But you closed your heart and chose to lock the door when she was knocking and begging for you to love her, am I right?"

But instead of answering him, I got up and walked to the glass window where the view of the San Francisco skyline came first before my eyes.

"I wasn't expecting to hear those words from her, Patrick. I mean, I-I wasn't ready to see that look in her eyes while she was talking to me, while she was saying thank you for hurting her and for letting her go. There was a smile that never left her lips, but her eyes showed differently."

"Why? What did you notice in her eyes?"

followed me and stood next to where I

was a glimmer of anger

before I felt his hand

answered his

you think you would feel if you saw the person who never treated you well, who has caged you in a dark and empty room for four years and now suddenly asking for your forgiveness? Would you

passed as I remembered everything I had done to

would feel the same and..." I stopped. I suddenly

glanced at him, frowning, but

you thought you had in your mind. Then

assistant or are you

a throaty laugh that also made me laugh. "But

head and decided to go back to my seat in which, of course,

So, you mean you loved her, but you cheated on her

first place and why didn't you apologize at that time instead of letting her go?" "Because I was stupid back then not to realize what I had. I got confused about what I

years before asking her forgiveness? What did it take you so long to realize your feelings for

never made her feel happy when she's with me. I have never treated her right, I have never given her even the simplest things that a wife asked for her husband... time, acceptance, forgiveness and

what made you suddenly decide to go after

things right. I want to make up for all the mistakes I've

first because I'm telling you, there's a lot of effort you have to put in than plan of yours. But anyway, what

tell her except for apologizing? I know I can't tell her how I feel

what about the truth!

forgiveness and I don't think it would help. She would hate

are you going to hide it from her? Oh, dude, you know you can't hide

believe there's a right time

spoke again. "Are you also going to hide what really happened that night? That