by Tia Wylder
“You pushed her away… because you wanted to get back together? After all that we’ve put each other through, after how attached Jenny had grown to Jasmine? Although you know I’m in love with her!? How could you be so selfish?” He demanded, taking a step back. Deborah met every step back with a step forward of her own, capturing his chin in her grip and smiling wickedly.
“Oh, Mark. I just want us to be a family again. That’s all Jenny would want, I’m sure. You know I’m twice the woman that Jasmine tramp could ever be. You belong to me-- with me! You belong with me,” the ex-wife cooed, drawing her lips towards Mark’s once more. He shoved her away, and she stumbled back, hitting the ground on her rear. She bared her teeth almost animalistically, but Mark met her gaze with equal fury.
“You ruined my one chance at happiness. I never loved you, Deborah. I never have and never will. I looked for love outside of our marriage because there was a void inside me that… that I just had to fill. I know I went about things in the wrong way, but you see I’ve changed. Why would you harm such an innocent girl? The one girl I’ve ever truly felt love for,” he hissed, his voice growing louder and breaking towards the end. Deborah struggled to get to her feet, and Jasmine had to try and calm her breathing as the two stepped towards each other. It looked as if they were ready to break out into a brawl, and Jasmine was startled to see the man’s ex-wife throw a wild left hook towards his face. He caught her fist in his hand, narrowing his eyes upon her. “I won’t get physical with you, Deb. You need to leave. I’m hoping to hear from Jasmine today, and even if she doesn’t make that call… I don’t want you,” he muttered.
Jasmine’s heart pounded in her chest as she tried to process what she’d seen, but she could think of little but how earnest Mark looked as he confessed his feelings for her. Sure, it wasn’t a confession made to her, but he stood behind it just the same. She resolved that when Deborah took the hint and left, she would step into the clearing as if she’d seen nothing.
“She’s not coming back, Mark. Why would she want you? You’re cruel, manipulative, and there’s nothing you can do to make her come back to you. I made sure of that. Without me, you’ll die alone, and Jenny will never know the love of a mother,” the man’s ex-wife said softly. Mark stared at her for a long moment, anger shining in his gaze. But abruptly, that anger broke and shifted to despair. He turned his back upon Deborah, unable to look at her any longer.
“You’re probably right. But I must at least try. What more can a man do?” He choked out. Jasmine hesitated a moment longer before realizing that Deborah wouldn’t leave until she had her claws locked in Mark, or until she was forced to leave. If the younger woman had her way, it would certainly be the latter. Steeling herself, Jasmine inhaled a quaking breath before stepping out from behind the shrub.
Chapter Ten
As she stepped out into the open lawn, Deborah’s eyes fell upon her immediately. Jasmine was certain she had never seen such venom turned upon her in the entirety of her life.
“Get out of here, you little whore,” the older woman screamed, launching herself at her. Jasmine sidestepped, giving her a slight shove as she passed to knock her off balance. Mark was looking at her with shock in his gaze, and she rushed forward to pull him into an embrace.
“I heard everything. Do… do you really love me?” She inquired softly. If she expected him to be embarrassed, she was surprised by the warmth he considered her with.
“With my entire heart,” he confessed. Her eyes pricked with tears, but he wiped them away as he caressed her cheek. When she met his gaze, she could see nothing but sincerity and adoration reflected at her. The fact that Deborah was even there faded away as Jasmine slowly closed the distance between them. She pressed her lips against Mark’s, feeling as if fireworks were exploding beneath her breast. She clung tightly to him, tears streaming down both of their cheeks as they realized how foolish they had been.
“How precious. Have both of you forgotten how toxic you’ve been to each other?” Deborah said snidely as she struggled to get to her feet. Jasmine and Mark exchanged a look, and Jasmine took a threatening step towards Deborah.
“A toxicity that was perpetuated by your manipulation. I thought Mark was the cruel one, but it’s obvious now that you’ve been the one behind our misery. Do you not even care about your daughter? Do you not care about her happiness?” Jasmine demanded.
“I don’t care about any of this bullshit! I want the payout I deserve, the one I earned after putting up with this idiot and his hellspawn for so long,” Deborah screamed. Jasmine’s mouth hung agape, and the soft sounds of sniffling reached her ears. She wheeled around, spotting Jenny herself hiding behind the shrubbery-- the same shrub she’d been hidden behind mere moments prior.
“You… don’t love me? But you’re… you’re my mommy,” Jenny choked out. Deborah snorted, turning her cruel gaze upon the young girl.
“You were a consolation prize. A rather poor one, at that,” Deborah said coolly. Before the older woman could process what was happening, Jasmine launched herself forward and tackled the cruel woman to the ground. She raised her fist threateningly, her teeth bared almost ferally as she was overcome by protective instinct for Jenny; her charge, her little friend. Deborah screamed, cowering beneath the other woman as she tried to scramble away.
“I’m going to say this once, and you listen very closely. You are to leave this property, and never show your face ever again. You’re a piss poor excuse for a wife and an even worse mother. You don’t even deserve to be called a mother. I’ll let you up, but when I do, you leave. If you don’t, I can and will kick your ass,” Jasmine snarled. Deborah nodded nervously, fear shining in her gaze. Jasmine was for once grateful for her obvious size advantage and drew herself off of the other woman. Deborah jolted to her feet, half running and half crawling away from the scene. Jasmine felt smug for half a second before turning in the direction Jenny had been standing. The young girl rushed towards her, wrapping her arms around Jasmine’s legs and sobbing against her. “Honey, I’m so sorry,” Jasmine murmured.
“I’m not crying over her. I’m so happy you’re back,” Jenny sniffled. A warmth settled over Jasmine, a warmth that only intensified as Mark stepped towards them. He rested a hand atop Jenny’s head for a moment, to soothe her. Then, he slipped a hand into his pocket. Jasmine watched curiously, her eyes widening as he produced the emerald necklace she had thrown at him. He stepped forward hesitantly, his expression warm.
“I know I have a lot left to prove. I know I’ve done wrong by both of you, but… I’m willing to spend the rest of my life making it right. If you’ll allow me, Jasmine,” he said softly. Jasmine felt tears prick the corners of her eyes, and she nodded her head slowly.
“I love you,” she whispered as he stepped forward to slip the necklace around her neck.
“I love you too,” Mark murmured. He leaned in to kiss her, stopping short as he realized Jenny was still clutching Jasmine’s legs. He frowned, dropping into a crouch beside her. She turned a cheeky grin towards him, reaching up to tug at Jasmine’s shirt.
“If daddy gets a kiss, so do I! I love both of you!” Jenny exclaimed. Traces of tears were still visible on her cheeks, but a brightness in her gaze spoke volumes about the future the three would spend together. Mark grinned, rolling his eyes and scooping Jenny up in his arms. At the same time, both he and Jasmine pressed a kiss to the girl’s chubby cheeks. Jenny giggled ecstatically before shoving their faces together. “Now you,” she ordered with glee. Jasmine and Mark considered each other for a moment before meeting for a sweet kiss.
At that moment, Jasmine felt as if she truly belonged. And for the first time in her life, she felt as if everything would turn out alright.
“Eww, that’s enough! Let me down!” Jenny squealed, and Mark allowed her to scamper off. He rose upright, turning warm eyes upon her. However, traces of uncertainty were still in his gaze. She reached out to cup his face in her hands, brushed her thumbs beneath his eyes t
o wipe away tears he didn’t seem to know he was shedding.
“Happy tears?” She asked gently. He smiled, nodding his head.
“That is… if you’ll stay,” he murmured. He drew Jasmine into his arms, resting his chin atop her head. She settled contently against him, rubbing her palms up and down the plane of his back.
“There’s nowhere else I would rather be, Mark,” she smiled. He searched her eyes for any signs of deceit, but she knew he would find none. She had never been so certain of something in her life. This was her family. This was her something to live for.
And sometimes, it’s as simple as that.
---
Around three months later found Jasmine dutifully working in the kitchen, preparing breakfast for her makeshift family. That day marked the end of her ‘contractual obligations’ with Mark, and she was certain things couldn’t get any better. She rested a hand idly upon her stomach as she flipped the ham and cheese omelet she was making for Jenny. In the time they’d spent together, Jasmine and Mark had only grown closer. It was the closest Jasmine had ever been to anyone, let alone a lover. Mark felt the same, stealing kisses from her at every opportune moment and never ceasing to tell her how much she meant to him. A single thread of doubt still lingered in the quilt of her mind, but she paid it little mind. She was sure that Mark would have kicked her out long ago if he didn’t feel anything for her.
Deborah hadn’t shown her face, but then again, that wasn’t surprising either. Jenny seemed more relieved than anything and had quietly admitted that Jasmine seemed more like a mommy than Deborah ever had. On top of everything else, Jasmine had taken on providing Jenny’s homeschooling. She’d never expected to be a mother, but she felt much the same as the little girl she’d come to treat as her own. It was almost like she could never love another child as much as she loved her young charge. Then again, she would likely change her mind because of a nagging feeling.
As she finished the last touches on Jenny’s breakfast, adding a dash of salt and pepper, she turned to call the father and daughter duo to breakfast. She was startled to see Mark lingering at the doorframe, watching her with a rather pensive expression. She smiled warmly, inching towards him and grabbing him in a tight embrace. She rested her head on his shoulder, exhaling a fluttery sigh of satisfaction. He seemed tense, and while she tried not to worry too deeply about the possibilities, she could tell that he had something on his mind.
“Penny for your thoughts?” She said mildly, drawing away from him and looking him in the eye. He seemed reluctant to meet her gaze, worrying his bottom lip between his teeth.
“It’s been three months,” he said carefully, and Jasmine felt as if a trap door had been opened beneath her. The thread of doubt in her mind multiplied, and she struggled to keep her breathing even as the man met her gaze. “Your contract technically ends today. It’s been a wild ride, hasn’t it?” He smiled nervously. Jasmine frantically tried to think of things she may have done wrong, things that would make him want her to leave. She had been certain things were going so well, but…
“But?” She managed, feeling a single tear make a trail down her cheek. Mark’s eyes widened, and he pulled her into a tight embrace, kissing the top of her head fiercely.
“No buts. It’s been a wild ride, the best three months I could have asked for. There were a few hiccups along the way, but I wouldn’t change what we have for the world… except,” he paused, drawing away to meet her gaze. “I’ve been working really hard to prove how much I love you. I was just curious as to if I’d had much success in that department,” he asked shyly. Jasmine wiped her eyes hurriedly, chuckling in response to the question.
“Of course. You’ve proven yourself a thousand times over. I still… I still worry, but I couldn’t see myself anywhere but here… with you,” she murmured. He smiled broadly, seeming pleased by the answer. Taking a step back, he fumbled in his pockets for a moment. Thinking nothing of it, Jasmine returned her attention to the food she was preparing.
“Do you think we should call Jenny for breakfast? I don’t want her food… to get… cold,” she trailed off, glancing towards Mark and feeling as if her heart would leap out of her chest. He was on the floor, poised on one knee with a ring box in front of him. He was sweating bullets but had an expression of hopefulness on his face. “Mark…?” She whispered, gasping as he popped open the top of the box. Inside sat a beautiful diamond ring with emerald accents, the exact shade of the emerald on her necklace. She reached up to touch it subconsciously, the tears beginning to spill anew.
“I know things got off to a rocky start. But over these past few months, I’ve only fallen deeper and deeper in love with you. You’ve been a mother to my daughter when no one else would, you’ve been a friend to me, but more than anything, I’ve come to realize you’re the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. I know this may seem sudden, but… Jasmine, I can’t keep it inside any longer. Will you marry me?” He implored, his voice cracking throughout the speech. Jasmine stared down at him, blinking as she heard a soft hissing noise.
“Pssst,” someone called from the stairs. Mark looked just as confused as her, and Jasmine looked up to see Jenny watching from between the rungs of the stairs rail. “Say yes, Miss Jasmine! Say yes,” Jenny urged loudly. Mark snorted, pressing his face into his palm. “What, Daddy, I’m helping,” she called out with a pout.
“Jenny, I told you to stay upstairs, this is a very private moment and--” Mark began.
“Yes,” Jasmine interrupted him, grabbing him by the front of his shirt collar. He stared up at her through wide and disbelieving eyes.
“W-what?” He stuttered out.
“She said yes!” Jenny screamed, bolting into the kitchen with them. The young girl bounced on her heels, and Jasmine felt her heart swell with warmth at the sight. Mark’s cheeks grew flushed, and with the smile that he was giving her, she was certain her heart would beat out of her chest. He nodded his head once, slipping the ring on her finger. He rose to his feet, and a loud sniffle echoed through the room.
“Jenny…? Are you crying?” Jasmine asked gently.
“I’m just so happy,” Jenny giggled. “You’ll be my real mommy now! For real!” She said ecstatically. Jasmine nodded, feeling a strange stirring in her gut. Almost as if something within her were vying for attention.
“I have a bit of news, myself,” Jasmine said carefully, and the man turned a curious gaze upon her. She hesitated for the briefest of moments before reaching out, capturing his hand in her own. In one swift motion, she pressed his palm across the expanse of her slightly pudgy stomach. He stared at her in confusion for a long moment, and both jolted away from each other to cover their ears as Jenny squealed louder than either of them had ever heard.
“I’m gonna be a sister!” She screamed, rushing forward to rest her palm on Jasmine’s stomach. Mark raised a brow, looking at his daughter and his fiancée with a curious expression. The words struck him abruptly, and he surged towards Jasmine to gently touch her stomach as well.
“You’re… you’re pregnant?” He asked, awe tinging his voice.
“Yep. You’ll be a daddy again. And yes, Jenny, you’re right. You’ll be a big sister. It’s a big responsibility. Do you think you can handle it?” She said in faux serious tones.
“Of course, I can!” Mark exclaimed, and the two females looked at him with exasperation and amusement.
“She’s talking to me, daddy. Gosh,” Jenny huffed. Jasmine grinned but nodded her agreement with Jenny’s assertion. Mark reddened but kept his hand on Jasmine’s stomach with a look of sheer happiness. “I’ll be the best big sister in the world. And you two will be the best parents in the world…,” Jenny paused, looking at the two. “You already are,” she added with a small smile.
The pieces having finally fallen into place, Mark scooped Jenny up in his arms and pulled Jasmine in for a warm embrace. The three, who had wanted for love in different ways, found themselves completed in the most magical way. A
baby was on the way.
Jasmine mused that it was funny how things worked out. It was a once in a lifetime experience, selling your virginity. She simply hasn’t expected it to end with her happily ever after.
However, it did just that.
Hope
Chapter One
Jack
“Barnes, I told you, I can’t talk right now,” I said. “My flight leaves in an hour – I’m not even packed!”
Barnes, my best friend, lawyer, and right-hand man since college, snickered. “Yeah, right,” he said with a roguish grin. “Like you ever travel with anything more than a toothbrush!”
I rolled my eyes. “Very funny,” I said, snickering. “Just because I carry a spare doesn’t make me a bad guy.”
“No, it just makes you a man whore,” Barnes said. He was sitting opposite my desk, lounging on the expensive leather couch I’d just bought for my office. After all – the CEO of Trident Gold needs to look presentable…and have a comfortable place for naps.
