51

Tomas.
After I first met Daniel, I found myself drawn into a long and tumultuous series of confrontations with him, driven by my fierce and overwhelming desire to protect my son and Amanda. My instincts kicked in, and I fought hard, insisting he stay away from both of them at all costs. However, before I left his house that day, an unexpected moment of clarity washed over me. I realized that my selfishness in this complicated situation wouldn’t truly benefit my son in any meaningful way. It was essential for me to step back and consider what was genuinely best for him, rather than simply acting on my immediate emotions.
So, after much deliberation, I made the decision to allow Daniel to have contact with my son. In a surprising twist, I even invited him over to our home to meet him as often as he wanted. I felt a deep sense of gratitude toward Daniel for the way he had raised my son and for treating him with the kindness and care of a father. This shift in my perspective was monumental for me; it was not at all how I typically dealt with such sensitive matters. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, I was earnestly trying to be a better person, to be someone who could rise above his own insecurities and fears. I wanted to avoid future regrets, or at the very least, lessen the burden of guilt that so often weighed heavily on my conscience.
After what had been an exhausting journey filled with emotional turmoil, I finally took my son and Amanda back to my home. I was utterly drained, both physically and mentally, and my son was sleeping soundly, like an angel, in his car seat. As I looked at him, a surge of hope filled my heart. This child had the potential to inspire me to change my nature for the better, to transform into someone worthy of his love and trust. I realized that my previous behavior-including how I treated others, my involvement in illegal activities, and the immense stress I inflicted upon myself in pursuit of wealth and power-had turned me into a monster. Yet here was this child, a living testament to the possibility of change, urging me to become someone different, someone more like the nice guy I had been back in college.
Once we arrived home, Amanda mentioned that she wanted to put little Tomas to bed. I agreed, encouraging her to come down afterward for a chat. But then, I was taken aback when she suggested using Jennifer’s old room for that purpose. That suggestion ignited a fire of anger within me. My eyebrows furrowed tightly, and I frowned deeply, trying my best to ignore her words as she walked upstairs to prepare for the evening. A few moments later, she returned to my side, looking somewhat apprehensive.
“Carl?” I called out, raising my voice slightly to get his attention.
He strolled over, curiosity evident in his expression. “Yes, Mr. Tomas, what’s up?” Carl asked, a hint of apprehension creeping into his voice.
“Do you have any news about Jennifer?” I widened my eyes, eagerly wanting an answer.
“What?!” Carl’s mouth fell open in surprise, his eyes bulging in a shocked expression that reflected my own rising tension.
“Do I have to repeat my question, Carl? Don’t make me mad! Just answer me! I know she used to call you ‘father,’ so don’t even think about trying to trick me. You’re still in contact with her, aren’t you? What’s she doing now, and what about Jack?” My curiosity pushed me closer to Carl, my heart racing with the urgency of my questions.
“Why are you asking about Jennifer now? Is this some kind of joke?” Amanda yelled from behind, her voice cutting through the tension in the room.
I gritted my teeth, irritation bubbling to the surface like a boiling pot. “Stay out of this; it’s none of your business! And don’t forget our deal. You’re here to work as a maid for me and our son. If you don’t remember that, I could easily throw you out of my life forever! No one would be able to help you!” I glared at her, my frustration mounting with every word.
Amanda huffed in response, crossing her arms defiantly. “Okay, but I still want an answer. Why are you asking about Jennifer? Do I need to remind you that she betrayed you, nearly got you jailed, and then ran off with Jack, that drug dealer?”
I stormed over to the nearby table, picked up a glass cup, and hurled it toward Amanda in a fit of rage. “Stop annoying me and don’t interfere in my life!” I screamed, my voice echoing ominously in the room, filled with a volatile mix of anger and confusion.
Just then, one of my men approached me cautiously. “Oh, Mr. Tomas, I apologize for the interruption, but you have a guest. I’m not sure if he’s welcome here, but he’s been begging for half an hour to see you,” the guard informed me, his tone carefully measured.
I frowned, my curiosity piqued despite the tension. “Who is it?” I asked, feeling a knot form in my stomach.
“He asked me not to tell you his name, so please give him permission to come in,” the guard replied, his expression neutral but his eyes betraying a hint of concern.
“Fine, let him in,” I commanded, feeling a mix of anticipation and dread swirling within me.
A minute later, the guest appeared, and to my shock, it was Jennifer standing in the doorway.
Oh God, when I saw her, my heart began to race uncontrollably, pounding against my chest as if trying to escape. It felt as if I had lost control of my legs, unable to move. I stared at her, completely ignoring Carl, the maids, and even Amanda. It was as if I was seeing her for the first time all over again. Memories of our time together rushed through my mind, scene after scene replaying vividly and painfully. For a brief moment, I forgot everything that had happened on our last day together, the arguments, the hurtful words exchanged. The urge to run to her and embrace her was overwhelming, but I fought against it, forcing myself to maintain a composed exterior. Instead, I scowled, masking my emotions behind an angry facade that barely held the turmoil within at bay.
I cleared my throat, trying to sound stern but failing to hide the tremor in my voice. “Why are you here, Jennifer? Did you leave some clothes behind? Or are you here to invite me to your wedding with Jack?” I attempted to smirk, but my heart wasn’t in it; the words felt hollow.
“Are you stupid? You’re a selfish, terrible person!” she screamed, her voice filled with a mix of anger and hurt that cut deep.
I furrowed my eyebrows in shock at her words, my mind racing to process the accusation. “What? How dare you speak to me like that?” I shouted back, taken aback by the intensity of her emotions.
“Do you really think I would leave you for Amanda? You’re so mistaken! Don’t you know how much I love you? I teased you because you treated me like I was worthless! You were always talking about some unknown girl! I was so jealous! I’m not in love with Jack; he’s gay! Everyone knows that! I tried to tell you countless times that he only used me for his promotions. I did all of that out of jealousy!” She shouted, tears streaming down her face, her vulnerability striking me like a thunderbolt. My heart shattered at the sight of her distress. Despite my best efforts to maintain my composure, I felt compelled to comfort her.
Before I could think, I pulled her into my arms, hugging her tightly, feeling the warmth of her body against mine. “So, all of this was just because you were jealous of Amanda?” I gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, gazing deeply into her eyes, wiping away her tears with my thumb.
“You can ask Mr. Carl. I never left him alone. He called me every day. I always asked him about you. I didn’t go back to Jack. I know it’s hard for you to believe, but I wrote that article about you as a prank. I left it here in the house for you to find, not to publish. I couldn’t do anything to hurt you. I was going insane. I felt like nothing compared to Maya, the businesswoman, or the famous star Selena, or even Amanda, your first love! I fell into a deep depression,” Jennifer explained, her voice trembling as she recounted her struggles. I felt a wave of empathy wash over me, mixed with guilt for the pain I had caused her.
I laughed softly, trying to mask my confusion and uncertainty. “And now, why are you here?” I asked, looking at her, searching for answers amidst the chaos of my emotions.
She pushed me away playfully, hitting my shoulder with a light laugh. “Don’t be so mean,” she said, pointing a finger at me teasingly. “I’m here to reclaim my place in your heart. I will never give up. Don’t think for a second that you can just throw me out. I’m staying,” she declared, her expression fierce and determined.
“But you know I have Amanda and my son now, so…” I narrowed my eyes, feeling the weight of my responsibilities settle heavily on my shoulders.
“So it’s a war of love, then. I will never surrender. You need to know that I’m going to do everything I can to win you back. Maybe at first, I didn’t understand the meaning of a love war, but now I know how to follow my heart. Every beat is for you,” Jennifer said in a warm, earnest voice that made my heart soar with happiness at her words. It felt like my soul was returning to me, piecing itself together in her presence.
“Oh, but don’t forget, I’m fighting for my first love and my son too. Do you think I’ll be an easy opponent, Jennifer?” Amanda chimed in suddenly, crossing her arms and glaring at us, her expression a mix of defiance and protectiveness.
“Okay, enough, girls. I’m the man in charge here, so let’s not start fighting. Each of you has your own space, and I’ll stay in my room. We’ll see how things unfold from here. But for now, I need some time with my son. So, I have to head upstairs,” I said, laughing lightly to ease the palpable tension in the air. As I walked up the stairs, my thoughts whirled in confusion.
I realized I had missed Jennifer more than I cared to admit, but now that she was back, everything felt incredibly complicated. I was faced with the daunting task of choosing between them, a decision that weighed heavily on my mind, like a storm cloud lingering overhead, threatening to burst forth at any moment.