Sweet Revenge: Jace & Emerald

Emerald went to the event hall with Daryl and was thinking about Jace. She never expected him to kiss her, and she didn’t expect him to respond either. She shook her head and followed her friend, who stopped before the stage.

“Let’s all welcome the new CEO of Morgan’s Grocer, soon to be ACE’s Family Mart!” Elise said, motioning her hand in Emerald’s direction to cue her to get on the stage. Everyone looked at her, and she never missed the gasp from Emerson, Merly, and Emerose Morgan, who were now holding their breath in disbelief, standing before her friend.

Young Morgan stands in front of them wearing her bare back, off-shoulder emerald green evening dress with a slit in the front that is half of her thigh-high paired with an emerald green stiletto and adorned with jewelry made with pure emerald green crystals. She looked so elegant and beautiful that Jace, standing not too far away, couldn’t help but feast his eyes.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Emerson asked Elise, now giving him a confused look as if she didn’t know what he meant. “Don’t act innocent! I know you know what I am talking about!” he exclaimed. Guests started buzzing in gossip after hearing him. He held a mic beside Elise so everyone heard him loud and clear.

“Is there a problem, Mr. Morgan?” Emerald asked arrogantly. Showing her father that he means nothing to her. But Emerson ignored what she had just called him and asked.

“You plan this? You jinx our business so you can hold on to my company?” Emerson asked angrily. His fists balled as Merly held him by his arm, making Emerald want to smirk because her mother appeared to be a loving wife.

“What do you mean, plan this?” Emerald asked in a calm voice. “The last time I saw you, the grocery store was doing well because of Mr. Higginson’s investment. I left the country and just returned; how can you say I was the one who jinxed your business? Why not ask your wife and daughter if there’s a jinx here?” Emerose and Merly’s eyes widened as they looked at Emerson, who was also looking at them, confused.

“We don’t know what she was talking about!” Merly exclaimed, sounding defensive. Emerald smirked because she had already seen the mother and daughter looking nervous, and she was also sure that she already instilled doubt and suspicion in her father’s mind.

Elise turned the mic off and told everyone, “If anything is going on between you, can you set that aside and continue with the program? We didn’t want these people to feast on your issues.” Then she turned and faced the guests again to apologize before she handed the mic to Emerald, who was smirking at her family.

“I would like to thank everyone who has attended this event. I know that what happened earlier caused everyone confusion. Still, being the new person holding the controlling share of the company, I want the store to achieve its goal by providing customer satisfaction while adhering to the needs of its workers. I want to give the people working in the company the experience of living a decent life and providing for their loved ones the life they all deserve. With this, I would like to encourage all patrons and new customers of the store to continue their support and build a wonderful and harmonious working environment for our workers while providing their families the best in life.” Emerald said, making everyone clap their hands in astonishment.

Most people would only talk about the goodness of their company without thinking about its people. But after they heard Emerald, even the grocery store workers who attended the party started to look forward to her management.

Whispers about her being a good employer started to escalate, and Emerson didn’t like it. But he can’t do anything about it as he already signed a contract with them.

Jace, who watched the entire event, felt proud of how Emerald had changed over the years. He thought that he was regretful for what he had done to her, but he was also happy that it somehow changed her wife drastically in a good way. Because he tormented her for a year, young Higginson brings out the best in Emerald. He didn’t show up and stayed on the sideline, waiting for anything the Morgan family might do to his wife. But after he was sure that Emerald’s team had left, he too went home, hoping his relationship with young Morgan still had a chance after the kiss they’ve shared.

The following day, Emerald went to see Jack Higginson. She decided to talk to and hear him out on whatever he wanted to discuss. Although she already thinks like her friends tell her, she’s still skeptical and ignores the feeling. She also wants to know if there will be a chance for the Higginsons to accept Ace.

Young Morgan didn’t sleep well the other night thinking about the event. She was happy it ended well, and seeing her family’s reaction was priceless. Then, the thoughts of Jace kissing her, which she responded to, made her eyes open the whole night.

“Emerald, is it okay if I call you by your name?” Jack asked hesitantly. Although he was confident in everything, knowing what his little brother did to her made him feel that way.

“It’s okay, Mr. Higginson,” Emerald replied,

“You can call me Jack or Big Brother.” The eldest Higginson replied, smiling. He wanted her to know he meant no harm and only wanted to talk to her.

“Jack, it is,” young Morgan replied with a stoic face. She wanted to maintain professionalism so the man would not think she was easy to deal with, just in case he thought he could bully her like his younger brother did to her.

“Emerald, I don’t know if you remember, but we already met before. Although we didn’t have time to talk because you were in a hurry, I’m sure you already knew who I was.”

“Yes. I know you’re Jace’s brother,” she replied casually, and Jack nodded.

“I didn’t mean to fry or meddle with your business with my little brother. But there’s something that you don’t know.” Emerald looked at him, confused. She had no idea what he was talking about and started to think if she would listen to him or not. But since they were already talking and facing each other, even if she didn’t want to, she kept herself silent, waiting for eldest Higginson to continue.

“Jace did that to you because of me.” Emerald’s face hardened after Jack said that. She looked at him angrily, and he decided to continue. “I tried to take my own life after a certain woman dumped me.”

“I don’t care about that, Mr. Higginson. I came here thinking we would discuss the project our companies will start working on.”

“I’m sorry about that, but I want to tell you why my little brother did what he did.”

“Mr. Higginson,”

“Please, Emerald. I’ve been keeping this to myself and feeling guilty for the last five years. After I saw you leaving his house and found out who you are and what happened, guilt has been eating me every day.” Emerald saw sincerity in his eyes, and even if she didn’t want to discuss the past, she couldn’t help but sigh.

“Alright, what is it?” she asked.

Jack Higginson nodded and started telling her what had happened to him, resulting in Jace taking revenge on her. “He loves you, Emerald. But because of me, he set aside his feelings and happiness.”

“He doesn’t love me, Mr. Higginson.”

“He does. I know what he did is unforgivable. But still, I want you to know that he loves you. He told me and our parents everything he did to you, and whether you believe it or not, he didn’t look happy when he said he had finally avenged me.”

“Did you think that after telling me this, I would easily forgive him?”

“No. You have every right to get mad at him or even take revenge. He misunderstands everything, and I think he deserves it as well. You know, I like you.”

“What?” Emerald exclaimed with wide eyes.

“Before you think of other things. I like you as a person, as my sister-in-law. I am happily married with a beautiful daughter.” Emerald sighs in relief. She didn’t want to get herself entangled in either Jace or Jack. She already thinks her husband is too much for her to handle, and an additional Higginson will be bothersome.