The CEO’s Ex-Wife Can’t Escape

To Love You Again, My Husband

Chapter 30: Knelt and Begged

Passage of time heals whatever had been broken by the past. But does Airina feel healed after almost a year? She had been loving Jackson for five years. She saw him first when she attended to one of her friend’s weddings and coincidentally, she saw him. She fell in love with his appearance; a god-like face. From that moment onwards, she kept clutching her heart which didn’t stop pounding. She’d search for his figure and upon witnessing a faint smile on his face it was the moment that she realized her feelings had become stronger and deeper.

She stalked and followed everything in his social media accounts, of course, with a different name. She used to like all those related about him. She assumed she wouldn’t stand a chance since they were from difference classes, adding to that was her family was in a crisis where they couldn’t buy clothes for their torn ones.

like a fateful occurrence, her father and stepmother saved him from his car accident, giving her the chance, she had been waiting – a marriage with him, at that. She knew love wouldn’t love out of force so she just let him be. Until he handed their divorce agreement without plausible explanation. Where did she lack?

Airina, who was eyeing the steak was reminded of the old days which she thought had been buried dep within the abyss. But it resurfaced at the sight of steak he had cooked for her.

Jackson noticed the changes from her expression, and it was already too late to take out the steak from the options of the food. She had seen it, and now her happy face had changed to morose demeanor. She didn’t even get to taste all the food he cooked for her, yet her appetite had lost because of him, too.

“… Do you want water?” He asked, wishing she wouldn’t get mad.

Airina set her knife and fork on the sides of her plates. She looked at him and sighed.

“It’s delicious”, She suddenly felt nostalgic, “Just don’t cook for me again.” “Is it not to your liking? I could cook for another, the one you like the most.” He claimed, his eyes were begging her not to discard him or the food. But she couldn’t trust him.

She folded her arms, her eyes contained yearning and regret.

“You don’t have to cook for me. Either you pity me or you’re guilty, I don’t care any of those.”

“… Rina, but you told me”, he stepped forward, “You told me to beg. I haven’t even started yet, and you want to take that back?” He sounded like he was about to cry, even his eyes became teary as he gazed down on her.

Frustrated, she shook her head with a close of her eyes. She even took a step back, not wanting them to have a close proximity. She was used to having line from him, they always have barrier so why was he trying so hard to break it?

“… I don’t want you to beg.”

Jackson wriggled his brows, “What do you want me to do? I’ll do anything.”

And just then, he knelt before her, and she held her breath at the unexpected scene. She stretched out her hand to support him up, then she hesitated. Not for the second time.

“Rina… just this once. Give me a chance.” He grabbed her hand, holding it dearly while she looked up.

She didn’t wish to witness him begging her for anything. Wasn’t he just like her back then? She was begging she’d look at her just for once. She had hoped he had seen her charms, if not charms, at least her good side. But he didn’t.

She forcefully took off his hand from hers. “I’m tired of this, Jackson. Let’s treat each other like we’re strangers.”

“How can you-”

“I’m tired of you, I’m tired of us.”

“… You …”

She had a crooked smile and upon seeing it, Jackson couldn’t utter anything. He helplessly listened to her.

“It’s wearing to hope that there could be an ‘Us’. I had been hoping, I-I was wishing you’d glance at me and smile, but all it takes was a divorce agreement. I l-loved you despite your flaws, but that affection of mine wasn’t enough to make up the grudge you have for me.”

She huffed; her tears were rolling down. Jackson wanted to stand up, but he lost his energy. Seeing her cry made him unable to do anything. He had made her cry again.

“R-Rin…. Rina, look a-at me, will-”

She shook her head, scoffing at their situation. “Why d-do you hate me that much? W-What did I do wrong? Where d-did I lack? W-Was I not pretty? Was I not sexy?”

She hiccupped, disclosing everything she had questioned all along. Just where did she lack?

Jackson desired to hold her hand, but she used them to wipe her falling tears.

“Y-you let me go, Jackson…”

“Ri-Rina, listen to me-”

“No, I-I hate you, so just disappear. Don’t appear in front of me again.”

No, he didn’t want to hear her saying she hates him. He wanted her to like him again, just for another time.

He rose up. Jackson didn’t care when his knees throbbed with pain, all he cares was the woman in front of him. He gently touched her shoulder, making her look at him while crying.

He frowned at the sight of it and couldn’t say anything momentarily.

“Hate me all you want, hit me, punch me. Just don’t push me away,” He smiled, “I want you to be mine, Rina.”

“….”

“Let me try for the second time, I won’t disappoint you.”

“…. I d-don’t want to.”

“I won’t let you go this time. No, you can push me away, but I’ll pull you closer, closer than you think.”

“Go away….”

She shook her head. This isn’t good, this really isn’t good.

He resumed, not waiting for her reply.

“I don’t hate you; I hate myself. I was the one who wronged you, I deserve your hatred. You didn’t lack anything, I was lacking.” He frowned, then softly wrapped his hands around her back. He was hugging her, “You are always beautiful that I couldn’t take my eyes off of you and you’re breathlessly sexy.”

He leaned back, looking down on her tears. He wiped it softly with a faint smile on his face.

“Let me try, Airina.”

“… I can’t.”

“Let me be your man.”

“I don’t want to.”

He then again embraced her for the second time. This time around was tighter, as if he really wouldn’t let go of her despite her struggling and squirming inside his arms.

“Rina….”, He closed his eyes, leaning his forehead on her shoulder and heavily breathing. “I will chase you until you want me back, just give me the chance.”

“I… I can’t breathe.”

He let out a restrained laughter, “I’ll loosen up a bit. Let me stay like this with you for a little longer.”

After a while.

“It’s been five minutes”, She had stopped crying since he was basically comforting her, “Let go of me.”

He shook his head, “Just a little more…”

She really didn’t like him, but he was just so warm to let go.

“Not yet, just a little more.” He spoke.

*

A little more took a little too long.

It was already morning.

Airina woke up from her deep slumber. She had an unusually good sleep; it was the best sleep she had after her divorce.

“Mhhhmm…” She wriggled, feeling there was another weight on her waist. It wasn’t that heavy, but she wasn’t used to having that kind of weight over her stomach. Was it a pillow?

When she hazily opened and continuously blinked her eye, she found herself in her bedroom. It was the same ceiling, windows, and curtains. Everything was neatly and precisely intact.

The only difference was….

“You’re awake?”

Jackson was lying beside her.