One More Chance by Jaycelle Rodriguez

Chapter 170: The old days

"Sam,"

I was reading a romance novel in my room when I heard a knock on the other side of the door, followed by my brother's voice.

And after a few minutes when I didn't respond to his call, he opened the door and gave me a 'why aren't you responding look'. "What?" I lazily asked giving him a quick look and then turned my eyes back to the book on my lap.

I couldn't help letting out a deep sigh when I heard his footsteps heading in my direction. I'm sure he would convince me again to go out of my room and talk to the people in the house to ease the heaviness in my chest.

It's been two weeks since I decided to fly back to Los Angeles and stayed with my parents and Cali. I decided to come back home after a month of not receiving any updates from Luke and after Lucy came to the cafe with scandalous photos. And since Jack, my best friend had only given birth four months ago, my parents asked them to stay in the mansion so they could often see their newborn grandchild which I like too because I missed them and I missed her... And that's why my brother can often knock on my door and pester me to go out again.

"How are you?"

I huffed as I glanced at him. I don't know how many times he had asked me that question since I came here and told them what happened.

"Hmm... the same as yesterday," I shrugged. It was also my favorite line to answer his question.

He sat down on the edge of the bed with a half-hearted smile on his lips.

"I remember almost ten years ago, I came to this room after finding out what happened to you and Luke or should I say, what you did to him that night. I think that was also the time I found out you were pregnant---" "Dale, what's the point of mentioning those things again? Those were in the past and we can't live in that past!" I interrupted him with a bittersweet chuckle.

"I know, but what I was just saying is that time has passed so fast and so much has changed, but I never imagined that I would come back to this room again and ask you the same question I asked you before. How are you... how are you, Sam?"

I just lowered my gaze with a deep sigh, trying to blink away the tears that had suddenly formed around my eyes. I still remember that day too.

"I know he screwed up again and what he did was absolutely unforgivable and it hurt you so bad, but please don't make your life miserable, sis. You still have us, you still have your daughter,"

A small sob escaped my throat and was followed by another and another until I could no longer stop them.

"D- Dale..."

was useless as it seemed to be getting harder and harder to hold back. I felt like my heart was about to explode due to so much heaviness and

he used to do back then when I was still his little sister. And that signature gesture of my brother made me cry even harder. I seemed to go back

you, Sis, welcome back to the old you." The only words he

to feel when I heard that news again, Dale," I said as I continued

the only word he said and continued to hug me like I was still the young Samantha who he always bullied but then always protected

because he said he regretted what he did before and he promised he wouldn't make the same mistakes anymore but..." I stopped as I was

"Shhh..."

trusted him again, Dale, but he just

"Sam..."

going to

by the shoulders and made me look

stop the pain?" I asked, looking at him as tears kept streaming down my face. "What am

"Samantha,"

am I going to move on again when all I know is to love and trust him that he would be by my side until I grow old? Help me, Dale... please help me because I'm going crazy thinking about him all day, every hour, and every minute of every day!" "Samantha, pull yourself together," he said as

could run to, cry and tell about all the pain and resentment I have in my chest. And that very thing was enough to realize that

the end? And why do every time I give so much,

you forget to save up for yourself, so you end

him in surprise right after I heard those words, but I didn't show it because honestly, that question was really just for myself, but I didn't notice that I mentioned it out

I won't end up miserable

my face with

Well, wait for him," he shrugged but that

"Dale,"

for him, so you can find out

find out when everything is already clear? He cheated on me again!" my voice came a