CHAPTER FOURTEEN- THE PRICE

The next day, Jack received a call from Elena's parents. And he knew it was time to go and finally meet up with them to discuss the issue at hand.

After a month of torture dealing with Elle being in a Coma, this is not the time for all of this to be happening to them, he should be with her right now celebrating that she survived and that she lives.But he is on his way to this dreadful meeting.

The meeting between Jack and Elena's parents was very tense. They sat in a luxurious living room, surrounded by expensive artwork and furniture. And the anger coming from Elena's mom was palpable.

"So, you decided to get our daughter pregnant," Elena's father said, his voice was cold and accusatory.

"We expect you to take responsibility for your actions."

Jack felt a surge of defensiveness, but he tried to remain calm. "I understand that i am responsible," he said. "I'll do what's right."

Elena's mother glared at him. "You'd better. You're going to marry our daughter and make this right. You've ruined her reputation, and now it's time for you to fix it."

Jack hesitated, feeling a sense of reluctance. He thought about Elle and how much he loved her. He didn't want to marry Elena, but what other solution was there other than what her parents were saying, he knew he had to do what was right but he did not love Elena and Elle was who he will always want and love.

"I don't know if marriage is the right solution," Jack said, trying to stall for time. "Maybe there are other options we could consider."

Elena's father almost slammed his fist on the table. "There are no other options. You're going to marry our daughter. You will do whatever it takes to restore her reputation and make our family whole again. My grandchild will not be born out of wedlock.

Jack was conflicted, He didn't want to marry Elena, but he was a Man and these are the consequences of his actions and when you do things without thinking. He thought about Elle and how much he loved her, but this was his child too.

"Okay," Jack said finally.

Elena's parents seemed to relax a little, but their anger for ruining their daughter was still evident even though they had always loved him before.

"Good," her mother said. "We'll start making arrangements for the wedding immediately. You'd better be prepared to do whatever to make this work."

Jack nodded, feeling like he was trapped. He knew he had to do what was right, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was making a huge mistake. As he left the meeting, he couldn't help but think of Elle and wonder what could have been.

She will never forgive him for abandoning her and neither will he forgive him self for hurting her after everything she has been through.

He informs his family as soon as he got home, dreading to call Luca or to see Elle face to face as he tells her he is about to be a Husband to someone else.

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ELLE’S POV

Meanwhile, Elle was heartbroken. After her accident and now having just woken up,She was just getting started to heal from being in a coma, but now she was facing the reality of losing Jack. She was struggling to come to terms with the reality of her life. she didn't know how to pick up the pieces. And where to go from here.

As she was thinking, she hears a knock at her door and Sam her sister comes through the door finding her sitting on her bedroom sofa.

“ Jack is here, should i let him in”, Sam asks her. Knowing how much pain she is going through after she told her family of the situation with her and Jack.

Her heart beat hard from hearing he is here. I nod to her to let him in, after a few minutes Jack opens the door and closes it behind him after getting in her room.

She is still sitting down since her body hasn’t fully healed after her accident and her body still ached in places.

Jack comes close to where she sitting taking my hands in his, with a kiss on the forehead as a greeting. We look at each other as Jack starts to narrate what will change our lives moving forward.

I sit frozen as Jack delivers the news. His words hung in the air as he tells me, daring me to respond. Elena's parents wanted him to marry her, and he had already agreed to do it.

"I love you, Elle," Jack says, his voice cracking with emotion. "I'll always love you. But I have to do what's right. I have to take responsibility for my child."

My heart was shattered, broken into a million pieces. I couldn't believe it, i knew this could happen but hearing it from Jacks mouth hurt the most. Jack was going to marry Elena, the woman he didn't even love.

"I understand," I say to him finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "I understand, Jack”.

Jack looked at me with pleading eyes. "Elle, please you have to know i am doing this for the baby. I have to take responsibility as a Man."

I shook my head, feeling tears streaming down my face. "I know, you are doing this because you are a good person," I repeated. " It just hurts, because our love finished before it even started.”

Jack moved closer to me, his eyes filled with desperation, wiping my cheek of the tears i shed. "Elle, I have to do this, even when i know i will regret it for abandoning you. Please, forgive me."

I felt a pang of sadness as Jack begged me for forgiveness. He has no control over this, whats done is done. I knew I had to let go.

"I am sorry too," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

" and there is nothing to forgive, because i believed you when you told me you loved me with your whole heart and soul when i woke up from that Coma and i will always remember that.”

Jack nodded, his eyes hard filled with understanding.

I looked at him, and we looked at each other for a long time, i knew this moment meant saying goodbye to each other, because if he got married there is nothing to be done about us after.

unsure of what else to do or say, i move close to him, i still feel my body is sore when i move but i have to touch him for the last time,

I leaned into him looking at his lips, and i see his eyes move to mine understanding me fully in that moment, he grabs my waist and pulls me more to him as I snuggle to his body and then his lips are against mine in a soft, gentle kiss. It was a kiss goodbye, a kiss that probably said everything and nothing at the same time.

I felt his soul and heart beat for me and i could feel a tear slip out of my eye because of how that hurt me so good.

He deepened the kiss and kissed the life out of me making me feel everything all at once, i did not want this moment to end. But eventually we pulled away, I felt tears streaming down my face. I knew he had to go, but a part of me would always stay with Jack.

I don’t know how to fight for him i felt too weak, my life was not making sense at the moment.

"I love you, Elle," Jack whispered, his deep voice barely audible.

"I love you too, Jack," I replied, my voice cracking with emotion.

As He stood up and walked away from me, I felt like He was taking my soul and leaving me with nothing behind. I knew I would never be the same again.

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