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?"

stood next to where I

of anger and

sigh before I felt his hand on my

I answered his question

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

moments of silence passed as I remembered everything I had

I would feel the same and..."

you will never forgive her." I glanced at him,

can get anything she wants, but eventually, you've discovered that she's different from the woman you thought you had in your mind. Then what happened? If you already found out she wasn't that kind of woman, why didn't you learn to love her? And the big question is that, why the

are you my assistant

to be both." This time, he gave me a throaty laugh that also made me laugh. "But you haven't answered any of my

my head and decided to go

loved her, but you cheated on her

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 feel for her and Cherry until it became too late to realize that I

you say so." He shrugged again, nodding. "But why did you wait another four years before asking her forgiveness? What did

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 love. I was too selfish not to think about her feelings. I was blinded by anger and disappointment

suddenly

make things right. I want to make up for all

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

for apologizing? I know I can't tell her how I feel yet, because I

the truth! That

to work hard to earn her forgiveness and I

are you going to hide it from her? Oh, dude, you know you

but I believe there's a right time for

also going to hide what really happened