Sweet Revenge: Jace & Emerald

Emerald sat on the edge of the bed, her heart aching, as she watched Ace sleep. His small chest’s soft rise and fall brought a fleeting sense of peace, but her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She knew she had to talk to him to understand what he wanted. It felt almost unbearable, but she had to face the possibility that he might want to live with his father.

With a deep breath, she gently stroked his hair. “Ace, baby, it’s morning. Mommy needs to talk to you.”

Ace stirred, his eyes flicking open. He looked up at her with sleepy confusion, then sat up, rubbing his eyes. “Mommy? What is it?”

Emerald smiled, trying to keep her voice calm. “I need to ask you something very important. Do you think you can talk to me for a bit?”

Ace nodded, sitting up straighter, sensing the seriousness in his mother’s tone. “Okay, Mommy.”

Emerald took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. “Ace, I know that it’s still early in the morning, but I also know that you’re very understanding. I can’t put myself to rest until I talk to you. You see, your daddy wants us to live with him. He thinks it would be better if we were all together. But I want to know what you think. Do you want to live with Daddy?”

Ace’s eyes widened, excitement and hesitation flickering across his face. “With Daddy? Really?”

Emerald nodded, her heart aching at the hope she saw in his eyes. “Yes, baby. But you must tell me what you want. Do you want us to live with your Dad?”

Ace’s face became thoughtful, his small brows furrowing as he considered her question. “I do want to live with Daddy. I miss him, Mommy. I want to experience having you two together. But…” He paused, biting his lip and filling his eyes with tears. “I don’t want you to be sad.”

Emerald’s heart broke at his words. She reached out, pulling him into her arms. “Oh, Ace, it’s okay to want that. It’s okay to want us all to be together.”

Ace clung to her, his voice trembling. “But you and Daddy-I know you’re uncomfortable with him. I don’t want you to be unhappy. I just want us to be happy.”

Young Morgan hugged him tightly, her tears falling silently. “I know, baby. I know you want us to be happy. I also want you to be happy. But sometimes, things don’t work out how we want them to.”

Ace pulled back slightly, looking up at her with a tear-streaked face. “But I love you both. I want you and Daddy to love each other, too. Can’t you just try again? For me?” The boy didn’t know where he got the courage to ask that question.

Young Morgan’s heart felt like it was shattering into a thousand pieces. She wished she could give Ace the happy family he longed for. Still, she knew forcing herself into a relationship with Jace just for Ace’s sake would only lead to more pain and confusion.

“Ace, I love you more than anything in the world,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “I also have affection for your father; however, living with someone you love is impossible. We can try to improve our situation and create a new family dynamic. We can find a solution that benefits all of us.”

Ace nodded slowly, tears still streaming down his face. “But I don’t want to make you sad, Mommy. I want you to be happy, too.” His mother hugged him tightly, kissing the top of his head.

“Oh, my sweet boy, your happiness is important to me. We’ll find a way to make this work, I promise. We’ll find a way to be happy, even if it’s not exactly how we used to be,” Emerald said.

Ace sniffled, his small body trembling with the effort to hold back his sobs. “I just want us to be together.”

Emerald nodded, holding him close. “I know, Ace. I know. We’ll figure this out, okay? Together.”

She felt renewed determination as she gently rocked him, soothing his tears. She wanted to create a life where Ace felt loved and secure, even if it meant facing difficult decisions and painful conversations with Jace. For her son, she would do anything.

Young Morgan went to work with Ace and Jace in her mind, especially about what her husband wanted for them. She admitted she still loved him, but that didn’t take the fear out of her heart. Co-parenting Ace while living separately is different from living together. Emerald wants the best for her son, especially his happiness. But is she willing to compromise her feelings?

“I assume you think about what I’ve told you.” Jace was leaning on her office door with his arms on his chest, looking confident. Emerald shook her head, looked back at her computer, and continued typing. “Emerald,”

“I am working, Jace. If I’m here facing my computer, please do not interrupt me with your selfishness.” She glared at the man who wasn’t affected even a bit and understood where her anger was coming from. But he wanted to know her decision.

“I am not being selfish; I am doing this for our son,” he replied, walking closer to her until he was in front of her office table and sitting on the chair.

“You’re doing this so you can have me back! Isn’t that selfish? You’re thinking only about yourself and not considering how I feel!” Emerald couldn’t help her anger and shouted at him.

“I am not going to risk my son’s safety because you are busy talking to your lover!” Jace shouted back.

“He’s not my lover! He’s my friend!”

“A friend you can’t let go.” Young Higginson was feeling helpless. He understands her feelings, but he has also already told her he is willing to compromise and show her how much he has changed and loved her and their son. “Let’s not waste our time on this; if you didn’t want us to meet in court and have Ace affected by our disagreement, you better make the right decision.”

“And you think agreeing to live with you is right?”

“Then tell me, what is important to you? Is finding your nanny far more important than Ace’s well-being? You told me Liam was there to find Lucy, so will you continue living with him until you find her?”

“Ace likes Liam, and you know that. If you’re not here, he would have asked me to make him his father.”

“And you want that?”

“All I’m saying is, Liam didn’t do anything bad to our son and treated the boy like he was his.”

“And I didn’t like it! Ace is our son, and I didn’t want anyone to claim or treat him like theirs.” Young Higginson feels his heart being shredded when he hears Emerald defend Liam. The only hope he clung to was the words she told him that morning after they made love. She says she loves him but is still fearful of what will come when she accepts him in her life.

“We will agree to nothing if we continue talking like this. Go back to your work while I do mine here, and we’ll talk when we already think things through,” Emerald said, trying to be rational while her mind tried to justify Jace’s.

“I love you, Emerald. And I understand your fear; that’s why I’m asking you for a second chance,” Jace said in a low voice, “no, for a last chance. Don’t deny me the opportunity to show and make you feel how much I love you even when I thought you were a bad woman who hurt my brother.”

“I don’t know Jace. I’ve already told you my reason, and I still have a lot on my hands that I can’t focus on. If you understand me, please stop this and let me breathe. I feel suffocated with everything happening and other possible changes in my life.”

“What do you mean?”

“Please, Jace, just for now. Don’t add up to my problems.”

“Emerald, I can help you if you let me in. I want to be by your side. If you need anything or are confused, you can tell me everything, and we will try to solve everything one at a time. All you have to do is let me in.”

Young Morgan is more confused than ever. Her heart wants to be with Jace, but her mind refuses. She knew that she wanted her family to be together, to give Ace the loving family environment he deserves. Will she take her husband now that everything about her seems blurry?