Lea's POV
***present***He was my everything.My morning sun.My brightest moon.He was the reason I woke up and also the reason I went to sleep.But there was a reason I had to leave him again. It was my choice. I could not drag him down. Not after pushing him to the top. He had worked so hard for what he deserved.Could I not wait for a few more years? Of course I could.That was the only reason I had left without telling him anything, because I knew if I told him, he would leave everything behind and follow me home.I had switched my phone off. Talked to him once or twice and just made up excuses to say goodbye.I had literally cut off all ties with him even though it was killing me from the inside.It was not like it was the first time I was living away from him.But his texts, his voice, those video calls kept me going.But this time was particularly difficult.I was also not keeping very well. Health wise. Perhaps because I was unable to eat properly and would vomit if I was too full. Locals like us didn't go to the doctor for such trivial things.We took our herbs and teas. But honestly nothing was helping. My nights were sleepless and my mornings became restless.The only reason I decided to come back to his city was because of the local news.The headlines read something like this-" Rising star spotted on the road. Accused of public intoxication and abuse. "I wanted to believe those were rumors but the video footage showed otherwise.My Jake looked miserable.I had not left him for him to turn his life upside down.I needed to talk some sense into him and I could not do that over the phone.That was the only reason I had the courage to pack my bag and come to him, again.It was very late in the night when I landed. I took a cab home.Just when I was about to ring the bell I noticed that the door was slightly open." My silly, Jakey.... as careless as ever... " I was getting ready to scold him with one hand over my hip as I pushed the door open with the other hand.The lights were off.I struggled to turn them on because I had forgotten the switch.My heart wasn't ready to witness what I was seeing.My Jake, with no clothes but his brief, on the couch and that colleage of his, Rosa, on top of him, topless. I couldn't even see if she had anything on down from her waist."Jake... "A faint gasp left my lips even though I didn't mean to say anything.Rosa immediately turned towards me." I'm sorry... "I have no idea why I apologised but I dropped everything that I was carrying and just ran.I ran as if my life depended on it. I ran as if I was being chased.I ran as soon as the lift hit the ground floor not even bothering to look behind whether or not I was being followed.The world faded around me.I was trying to win a race against time.I was trying to unsee what I had just seen.I ran and ran as fast as my little feet could carry me, across the roads and blocks.I could hear a loud honking coming at me from somewhere but I was too disoriented to understand.Then, out of nowhere there was a deafening crash and an excruciating impact. My body felt like it was violently thrown, tossed up in the air like being fried on a wok.I lost all sense of control. There was an intense, searing pain, as if my entire world had shattered in an instant. I couldn't breathe, couldn't move, and panic washed over me like a tidal wave.The world around me turned into a chaotic blur of flashing lights, blaring horns, and muffled voices. I struggled to make sense of what had just happened, but the pain was so overwhelming that it consumed my every thought. I desperately wanted to get up, to escape this nightmare, but my body refused to cooperate.Even in that moment, what I had witnessed at Jake's place, began flashing in my mind. It was as if my head was malfunctioning and it needed a reset button.Fear and confusion gripped me as I lay there, helpless and vulnerable, unable to do anything but hope that help would arrive soon.Help, but from only one person.I wished nothing but to see Jake's face.I wanted him to extend his hand towards me, lift me up in his arms and whisper in my ears that it was all a terrible nightmare and that I would soon wake up.But he was nowhere to be seen.I could feel the wetness soak my tshirt and pant as my nose filled with the coppery scent of blood.I had no idea of my wound. Where I was hit or injured.My eyelids started getting heavier as I slowly closed my eyes and involuntarily wrapped my hands around my abdomen. The realization that my life had changed in an instant was both terrifying and surreal, and I prayed for the strength to endure whatever lay ahead.***As I was being moved into the ambulance and was being rushed towards the hospital by complete strangers, I realised it would be unfair if I didn't explain what had happened earlier. So give me a few chapters to tell that story before we come back to my present condition. ***A month after Lea's death - Jake stood in front of Lea's grave, holding onto the bouquet that he had brought. He had her favourite box of chocolate, custom made by the old baker lady back in their home town. He brought her flowers everyday after seeing Kai off at his daycare. He spent the rest of his day talking to her before going back to picking Kai up again. He brought her all the things he had promised to get her one day when they were little. He was trying to give her everything he always wanted to give her but never really could. Today was no different. As if Lea's death wasn't enough of a blow, after the postmortem Jake was told that Lea was pregnant with their second child. It didn't make things any easier only driving another dagger through Jake's heart. Perhaps it was just because Kai existed that he could move forward.He didn't want to but he had to for the sake of the little guy. With Lea gone, there was no meaning left in this world. All colours were gone. It was o
" NOOOOOO! " Jake flung himself forward trying to put himself between Lea and the bullet but it was too late. The bullet hit her right on point blank. She fell right in front of his eyes,blood gushing out like a crimson fountain. " LEAAAAAA!!! "Jake's voice broke with the sheer intensity of his scream as he ripped his white shirt and pressed it over her forehead. " CALL FOR AN AMBULANCE! NOW!!! " He barked, desperately clinging onto Lea's body as Kai grabbed his shoulder and began to whimper. " It's alright, baby. Don't worry. Mommy will be fine. " Jake could barely hold onto his child as his hands started to tremble. Mercy fell down on her knees, probably the only one whose rationale was still working. She closed Lea's lifeless eyes as her body whacked with tremors as she cried.Lea was no more. It was instant death. " Mercy! What are you doing? " Jake shoved her hand away from Lea's body. " Somebody please call an ambulance! " He kept screaming as Kai's cries reached the breaking po
Lea's POV I stood in front of the grand mirror.Today, I would marry Jake, the love of my life, and the father of my Kai. Our journey had been anything but normal but it had brought us to this breathtaking moment. My dress was a masterpiece, a custom creation by one of the most renowned designers in the town. The silk fabric clung to my figure, adorned with intricate lace and delicate pearls that sparkled as I moved. The train flowed behind me like a river and the veil was draped over my shoulders, waiting to be lifted.I felt goosebumps at the thought. "Lea, you look like an absolute dream," Lisa said, fussing with the final touches on my veil. She stepped back, her eyes bright with unshed tears. "Mr.Rodger is not going to know what hit him." I laughed, trying to steady my breathing. "You think?" "I know," she replied, giving me a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder."Wow, Lea. You're stunning. Seriously, Jake's going to lose it when he sees you."The door opened and my maid of h
Suddenly Jake leaped off the bed, crossing over Lea as he did. He went for the cupboards, yanking them open, rummaging through the drawer as he did. Lea raised herself up on one elbow, watching him closely. " Jake, what's going on? " She asked with one brow raised. " I swear it has to be somewhere in here. I left it just as it was. " Jake kept searching not looking back at her. Lea signed as she got up from the bed, still very naked and walked right over. " If you tell me what you are looking for, maybe I can help. Is it your wallet? " Jake yanked another section of the cupboard open and Lea stopped at the sight of all the neatly arranged laundry. It was her side of the cupboard. Absolutely mess-free and tidy, just like she had left it years ago. She left Jake as he went through the night stand , touching the fabrics and checking if they were still in the same sequence like she left them. " They are untouched. Why didn't you move them? " Lea's voice was barely above a whisper
Lea's POV His kiss soothed me a little. Those things had been bottled up inside and it was high time I let it escape. Tears streamed down my face as memories I had tried so hard to suppress resurfaced. I couldn't hold back the sobs that wracked my body. Jake's presence beside me was both comforting and agonizing."Lea," he begged, his voice trembling slightly, "talk to me." I shook my head, unable to find the words to express the turmoil inside me. Instead, I let out a choked sob, burying my face in my hands. Jake's arms wrapped around me, pulling me close. His embrace was warm and strong."I'm here," he murmured, his lips brushing against my hair."I'm not going anywhere." His words broke something inside me. I clung to him, my fingers digging into his shirt as if he were the only thing keeping me from falling apart. His scent filled me with comfort as I burried my nose over his neck while he nibbled at mine. His lips slowly found it's way back to mine. But before he could kiss
Jake's POV " Yes, we are coming right now. Yes please. Keep the keys ready. " I called the old watchman because it had been ages since I last went there. Lea hadn't spoken for the rest of the drive and I knew for certain there was something cooking in her little head. I wasn't complaining. She had been through a lot and I was happy to be of any serve to her, any use... anything to make my Lea happy again. Make her smile and dance like when she was a little girl. My crazy, sweet, innocent Lea. She had been leaning on the seat but as soon as we entered the driveway towards the apartment she sat up, rolled down the window and stretched her neck out. " Lea, careful... " I tried to pull her back but she opened the car door before I could pull up and made a run for it. I tossed the keys to the valley with much frustration and ran after her. " Lea, wait" She topped right in front of the elevator and turned around. I was running so fast, I almost banged into her. She pulled my hand int