Chapter 34
****JASON P. O. V ****
I told her behind her back, “She’s still very mad at me,” after seeing Nina’s reaction from a distance.
She looked at me and said, “No, she is mad at me.”
“Melina, I’m sorry. I put you in all this trouble because of my past life. I’m so sorry, and I promise to try to make this right,” I told her. She nodded.
She changed the subject by saying, “You were really great today.”
I turned to look at him and said, “Yes, I was. But I think Ryan is the amazing one because he didn’t know what we were doing, he asked me to stay in the car so as not to make his anger worse, and he knew he could get shot again, but he still offered to help.” He was talking to Nina and the police at the same time.
She said, “You have a great family, and I can see why you love them so much.” I looked at her.
I told her, “I don’t only love them anymore,” and she bowed her head.
She said, “I heard the voice recording,” and I looked at her with a puzzled look on my face.
I asked, “What Voice recording?”
“Ryan played me a song where you said you love me and I drive you crazy,” she said, and my jaw dropped.
“He put that on tape?” I asked in shock as I looked back at Ryan.
She asked, “You didn’t know?” and I shook my head.
“No, I didn’t think he’d go as far as recording my speech so he could play it to you,” I said, arching my brows at Ryan. He smiled and said, “I never thought he’d go that far.”
She asked, “You didn’t want me to hear it, did you?” I turned around and looked at her.
I stuttered, “No, it’s… Hun… I wanted to tell you myself.”
She said, “You wouldn’t have told me,” and I narrowed my eyes at her.NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.
I asked, “Why?”
“Because you think I’d tell you the same thing I’ve always told you: that I hate you and that you’ve made my life a living hell,” she said, and I nodded.
She told him, “Trust me, Jason, that voice message means a lot to me. Saying you love me shows that you can love someone other than your family.”
I asked, “Is that the only way you can see it?” She touched her hand to her face and looked down.
“I don’t hate you Jason. I never hated you. I hated that I didn’t hate you,” she said, and I looked at her with tears in my eyes.
So, what are you trying to say? That you love me?
She told me, “Trust me, Jason, I don’t know what I feel and I don’t know what to feel.” I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
Then Harrison came over and stood next to me with his back to Melina.
He told her, “It’s time to go. We have to get you out of here.” She looked at me.
She said, “I don’t,” and I stopped her.
I told her, “She’ll be there soon. Just give us a few more minutes,” and she nodded for him to leave.
She said, “Jason, why did you tell him that? I don’t want to go anywhere. I like it here,” and I held her hand and sighed.
“Melina, I don’t want you to leave either, but after what happened today, it would be selfish of me to still want you next to me.”
“Melina, one of my many enemies out there took you and almost killed you because of me. If you stay in this town, they will keep coming to you to punish me.”
“They know I love you and that I am weak; I can’t handle it when you are in danger, and everyone knows that you are my weak point.”
I told her, “You should leave town with Harrison. You need to be safe. Go far away where they can’t get to you.” She shook her head.
“Jason, we won today. We did it together, and I know if I were here you would protect me,” she said, and I let out a sigh.
“Remember when you left the orphanage home, you said you never wanted this life. You wanted to start a meaningful life and see the world, not be stuck with a monster who has changed but still has a hundred enemies trying to take out their anger on you,” I said while holding her face.
She said, “But this is what I want.”
I said, “That’s what you need and what you deserve: a safe, trouble-free life. That’s what’s best for you.”
Harrison said, “Melina, listen to him. Our ship is about to leave, and we need to get the hell out of here.” I guess it’s for the best though.
“And you? Do you want me to leave you alone? Is that what you think is best for you?” she asked.
I said, “Yes,” and she moved back and nodded.
“Okay, then. Goodbye, Jason,” she said as she and Harrison walked away, and my eyes filled with tears right away.
That’s not what’s best for me; it’s best for her. And I would put her safety first in everything. I wiped away the tears that were about to fall and turned around to see Ryan standing there.
He said, “You let her go,” and I nodded as I walked to the car.
“She needs to be far away from me to be happy. She can’t be what she wants to be and be with me, or my enemies will keep torturing her,” I told her.
He told me, “I know, and I have to say that was the most selfless thing you’ve ever done. You surprised me.” I tried to smile.
I told him, “It’s not that easy. She offered to stay this time, but I sent her away again. I don’t think I’d get over it easily,” and he agreed.
He said, “I know Jason, but you didn’t do a good thing. If you’re meant to be together, she’ll come back to you, so for now, you should focus on your job.” I smiled and nodded.
I said, “Thanks, big brother,” and he started the car. As we drove away from the crime scene, I saw someone I knew in the car’s side mirror.
I asked myself, “Isn’t that Agnes?” Ryan turned around to look at the figure.
He asked, “Was she one of your maids?” and I said, “Yes.”
I said as I got out of the car, “She was the most kind and sweet person.”
I said, “Agnes,” and she turned around to look at me.
She called out “Jason,” and I said yes.
I put my hand up and asked, “Hey, what are you doing here?”
“I was watching the news when I saw the headline, and I saw you, Gracie, Ryan, and her best friend here. I had to leave the house quickly to see if you were all okay,” she said.
“That’s very kind of you, Agnes. Everyone is fine, but Gracie just left with Harrison,” I told her as I walked her to the car.
She was shocked and asked, “You let her go with him?” I said, “Yes.”
I told her, “She was always in danger in this town, so I had to let her go with him to keep her safe.” She agreed.
She told me, “That was so kind of you. Don’t worry, she’ll be back,” and I smiled.
“Enough about me! Why are you still in town? Weren’t you going to leave with Tony?” I asked as I got into the car.
She said, “Hi, Ryan.” He smiled back.
We had planned to do that, but he let his own desires get in the way. We are no longer together, she said, and we both looked at her.
I told Agnes, “I’m so sorry about that,” and she smiled.
She said, “It’s okay, I’m better now. I was even thinking maybe I could start working in your mansion again, since I had always planned my life with Tony and he dumped me.” I felt so bad for her.
As Ryan drove away, I told him, “Your family would be so happy to see you.”
“They died in a car accident while I was away,” she said.
Ryan and I both said, “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.”
She said, “I really need a friend, but now that Gracie is gone, I don’t know who to talk to.” I looked at Ryan.
“Don’t worry, Agnes. I could keep you company just fine,” Ryan said with a smile, and I nodded.
“Yes, my brother knows how to keep people company, and you know me,” I told her, and she nodded.
She said, “You just changed, and you just lost Gracie. I get it,” and I nodded while looking toward the road.
“Don’t worry, Agnes. You’re no longer a maid; you’re now one of us,” I told her.
She asked, “Really?” and I said, “Yes.”
“That’s the least I can do for you,” I said. “I robbed you of time with your family, and now that they’re gone, I can’t help but feel bad. I’m so sorry, Agnes.” She nodded and let out a breath.
“I know you’re Jason, and that makes me feel better. That you know it was your fault and you wish it hadn’t happened makes me feel better, too. I understand, and I’ve forgiven you. You have nothing to worry about,” she told me, and Ryan smiled at me.
**** NINA P. O. V ****
I was sitting on the couch drinking alcohol when the doorbell rang.
I said, “It’s open,” and I didn’t look back. When the door opened, whoever it was came in.
“Nina,” I heard Gracie say. When I turned around and stood up, I saw that she was with Harrison.
I asked, “What are you doing here? Leave.”
Harrison said, “Nina, please calm down. I know what happened and I know how you feel,” and I started to cry.
“No, you don’t. You have no idea how I feel. My mother was killed because she helped a stranger!” I yelled, and he nodded.
He said, “I know, but she didn’t do it. Jason did this, not her.”
I told her, “If she hadn’t gone to her in the first place, none of this would have happened. Jason has been there before.”
She told Nina, “I’m so sorry, I wish I could take it all back.”
I said, “But you can’t, so just leave. You took everything away from me.”
Harrison came up to me and said, “Nina, you lied to me.”
“Because I didn’t want you to go! I thought we still had something, but I guess I was fooling myself. You can go with her. I hope you have a good life,” I said as I walked into the room, then I broke down and cried.
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