Semua Bab UGLY SCARS: Bab 21 - Bab 30

JAKE POV. That morning? I woke up with a whole new feeling. There was this weird feeling in my chest. Nerves? Maybe. But I also felt alive. I had a long hot shower, stepped out and picked my best suit—it was a navy-blue suit. I hadn’t worn it since the whole tragic incident. I slid into it, buttoning it up while staring at my reflection in my mirror. Then I heard a knock on my door. I grabbed my mask from the table and put it on immediately. It had already become a habit. As soon as I opened the door to see who it was, I froze. Liz stood there in her maid uniform, head bowed, holding a food tray. My heart kicked hard. I didn’t understand why that happened. “Good morning, sir,” she said in a low tone, her voice calm. “Do you mind if I come in for just a few seconds, sir? I have something to say.” Her voice cracked near the end. She sounded scared. Not of me, exactly… just uncertain. Like she’d been rehearsing those words all morning. I stepped aside. “Sure. Come in.” She walked

JAKE POV. I’d barely let Charles’ body heat fade from his chair when Audrina finally stood up. She’d been silent the whole time, perched at the far end of the boardroom table. Her hands were folded neatly on the glossy surface, back straight, posture perfect. But I saw through it. She wasn’t here. She felt distant. She cleared her throat, soft but deliberate, commanding just enough attention to shift every eye in the room her way. When she spoke, her voice was crisp, measured, every word sharp and professional as she spoke.“Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great honor that I formally welcome back the man who built Shark Hotels into a global luxury powerhouse. The man who set the gold standard across all our New York branches and beyond…”Her eyes flicked to mine.“…Jake Blackwell has officially resumed his position as General Manager for all Shark Hotel branches across New York City and all associated regions across the country.”She paused for a while, then she smiled. “Welcome b

JAKE POV.I didn’t sleep much. The light cutting through the blinds hit me in the face and I groaned. Morning, already?I pulled myself up with a grunt, rubbing my neck. My body still buzzed from last night—like the chaos hadn’t drained out yet. I used to be out the door by seven sharp, pressed and perfect in a suit. But since I resumed, I didn’t feel the need to rush. I was the boss. I could walk in at ten and no one would say a damn word.But I still believed in showing up early. I hated when people slacked off. Especially those women who strolled in like they were models on a runway. “Oh, there was a lot of traffic, sir.” Save it.I walked into the bathroom, flipped on the faucet, and grabbed my toothbrush. As I brushed, everything that happened yesterday flashed through my mind. From work, to the boutique, to the files I forwarded to the blogger. I rinsed my mouth, wiped my face with a towel, and grabbed my phone off the counter. One glance at the screen, and my lips stretched in

AUDRINA POV.Just like that… she walked away. My own mother. I knew it was going to turn out bad. I expected nothing, but I didn’t expect the worst—this was worse than I expected. I stayed frozen, not even blinking. The silence that followed was loud—louder than the yelling had been.Jake reached across the table and pulled me into his arms, like he knew I’d fall apart without him. And maybe I really would’ve. More tears fell. They wouldn’t stop. I felt my heart crack open and everything was spilling out.“Shhhh… it’s okay, Princess. I’m here with you.” His voice was soft but strong. I pulled back just slightly, my words slurring through the sobs. “How come you don’t hate me, brother? I brought shame home… I’m a disgrace.”He held my cheeks gently, forcing me to look at him. “Hate you? No, Princess. Never.” His eyes were glassy. “I’m gonna be an uncle soon. Isn’t that great?”And then, he smiled. A real smile. “Damn, I’m gonna finally be a cool uncle. Wow… thank you, Princess.”Some

JAKE POV. My phone wouldn’t shut the hell up. I rolled over to the empty space beside me. No Liz. The bedsheets were still warm, so I knew she’d left early. Silly girl. She had me wrapped around her finger, and I couldn’t even fight it.I buried my face into the pillow and smiled like an idiot. God—was I really falling for the maid?But then the ringtone blasted again. Same damn unknown number. I hissed and dragged myself up, groaning as I reached for my phone across the nightstand.“Hello?” I answered, voice rough.“Sir, we have a patient who was just rushed in. Your contact was saved as ‘Big Brother’ on her phone. That’s why we called. Please… come immediately.”I froze. “Wait—what?! What happened? Who is this?”“We’ve emailed the hospital address. You need to come now.”Just like that, the line cut. And just like that, my whole world shattered.I stood there, stiff, numb. I didn’t even realize I wasn’t breathing until the burn hit my lungs. Audrina. It was Audrina. I mean, I had j