I stood at the bar, my eyes wandering over the crowd as the noisy party buzzed around me. The music was loud, but inside, I felt silent, conflicted. Running into Alain here was the last thing I expected. My exhusband, the man who had caused me so much pain, appeared out of nowhere with a fake smile and a provocative look.
"Elwyn, long time no see. You still look... alright," Alain sneered, his eyes sweeping over me with disdain.
I didn't want to respond, but his presence was suffocating. Reluctantly, I forced a faint smile, hoping to get him to leave.
Suddenly, Jackie approached, sensing the tension between Alain and me. Without a second of hesitation, he knelt down in front of me, his voice clear and strong as he called out, "Elwyn, marry me!"
The entire room froze, the noise of the party dimming as eyes turned toward us. I stood in shock, speechless, unable to comprehend what was happening. Jackie looked up at me, his eyes filled with sincerity. I could hardly believe it. Was he doing this to help me out of this awkward situation? Seeing the serious look in his eyes, I knew I couldn't refuse.
"Yes," I said softly but firmly, my voice carrying through the silence of the room.
Alain's face twisted in disbelief, his anger flaring as he stepped closer. But before he could say a word, Jackie's warning gaze stopped him.
"What are you doing, Elwyn? You can't marry him just to avoid me!" Alain shouted, his voice thick with fury. "This is a joke, right?"
I held my ground, meeting his eyes with cold determination. "I don't owe you anything, Alain. Please, leave me alone."
Jackie stood up, pulling out a small ring from his pocket. The gem sparkled under the dim lights of the party as he gently took my hand and slipped the ring onto my finger. I stared at the ring, a rush of emotions filling me. It had been years since I wore a ring, and the feeling of it resting on my finger again was overwhelming.
Once, I had dreamed of finding new love and happiness. But now, my priority was Dennis. Love couldn't be my focus. Still, the way Jackie slid that ring onto my hand stirred something deep within me.
Before I could fully grasp the moment, Jackie linked his arm with mine, his voice calm but full of resolve. "Let's go, Elwyn."
I turned to Alain, the man I once thought I would spend my life with. His eyes were filled with anger, but I wasn't going to let him control me anymore. "You have no right to be here," I said, my voice steady. "This is my life now, and I don't want you in it."
Alain's face twisted further. "You're pushing me away for someone like him?" He pointed at Jackie, his voice dripping with contempt.
But Jackie didn't let Alain continue. He stepped forward, his eyes steely. "She's made it clear, Alain. Leave. Don't make this worse."
Alain sneered bitterly. "You think this is over? You think you can get rid of me so easily? I won't let you off, Elwyn."
I stayed silent, holding onto my composure, refusing to let his words affect me. Jackie, still standing firm by my side, stepped even closer, shielding me from Alain's rage.
"You're nothing but a whore!" Alain's voice echoed through the room, his words slicing into me. "Already moved on to the next guy, huh? You were just waiting for me to be out of the way!"
The venom in his words cut deep, but I stood tall. Tears threatened to fall, but I fought them back. Jackie, unfazed, moved closer, his voice calm but filled with strength. "You can try to hurt her, Alain, but remember, I'll protect her. Don't ever underestimate me."
Alain's fury flared, but he took a step back, eyes burning with hatred. "Dennis is my son. I'll take him back. You won't stop me."
I didn't respond. My eyes were cold, unwavering. Jackie stood beside me, his silent promise of protection filling the space between us.
Finally, Jackie motioned to his security guards. "That's enough, Alain. I've had all I can take."
Two tall guards entered the room, their presence intimidating. Jackie gave them a simple command: "Escort him out."
Alain struggled, but it was futile. The guards pinned him down, twisting his arms behind his back. His shouts filled the room, his voice filled with hatred as he cursed us both. "You'll regret this! You have no idea who you're dealing with!"
But Jackie didn't flinch. He calmly tilted his chin toward the door. "Take him away."
As Alain was dragged out, his curses faded into the distance, leaving the room in silence. I stood there, my heart heavy with exhaustion. The weight of everything pressed down on me, but I felt a strange sense of relief as the door finally closed.
Jackie turned to me, his eyes filled with concern. "I'm sorry you had to go through that," he said softly. "You don't have to face him alone anymore."
Tears finally fell, and I couldn't stop them. "Thank you, Jackie," I whispered. "I don't know what I would have done without you."
Jackie placed his hand on my shoulder, a simple gesture that brought me strength. "You're not alone," he whispered. "Trust me."
I looked into his eyes and saw the truth in them. His grip on my hand was firm, a silent promise that he would always be there for me, no matter what. "I'll protect you, Elwyn," he said again, his voice soft but determined.
I couldn't deny the sense of safety I felt with Jackie. But I also knew that this might just be him helping me escape the nightmare Alain had created. Even so, in this moment, I let myself trust Jackie's words, trust his promise.
But I knew my life was never that simple. People were watching, whispering, but for now, I didn't care. I had stood before Alain, strong and unwavering, and that was what mattered.
Later that night, when I returned home, I carefully took off the ring and placed it on the table. Sitting down, I stared at it, my mind swirling with thoughts. Jackie had helped me out of a difficult situation, but could this really turn into something more?
I thought about the years of betrayal and pain with Alain. I couldn't go through that again. I looked toward Dennis's room, where my son slept peacefully, and knew that my priority was to protect himand myself.
I stood, walked to Dennis's room, and bent down to kiss his forehead. "I'll always protect you," I whispered.
But as I returned to my own room, I couldn't stop thinking about Jackie. He had always been there, always helping, always protecting me. But love couldn't be built on gratitude alone. I needed time to figure out my feelings, to see if I could trust my heart again.
I picked up the ring and slipped it back onto my finger. "It's just a show," I told myself, but my heart beat faster at the thought of Jackie.
No matter what, I knew I wouldn't let myself be hurt again. Before I could love someone else, I had to learn to love and trust myself. With Dennis by my side, I had a reason to keep moving forward, to keep fighting, and to never give up.