Chapter 101


    “I watched her, became a friend to her. That was the only way I could get ess to her, get her to trust


    me, to see if she could finally recall something, anything. Besides that, she had nob*dy. So, I went back


    to college, and that was it,” Nathan exined, theyers of his own deception unveiled.


    “I created a new identity for her,” he admitted, the revtion hanging in the air like a heavy secret.


    Axel’s mind was reeling, connecting the dots of Jasmine’s life styles. It all made sense, and his eyes


    widened at the magnitude of what he’d heard.


    “So just so you know, I have never and would never try to harm her. The lies I told her…” Nathan


    sighed, the admission weighed heavy in the air.


    “Although selfish, had to be said,” he finished, the vulnerability in his voice revealing the internal conflict


    he had harbored for years.


    “Even though I stayed around her and became a friend, it was all for this,” Nathan admitted, the


    revtion echoing in the space between them.


    Axel stumbled backward slowly, his head and mind reeling as theyers of deception unraveled before


    him. The scars, the abuse she endured, filled him with a surge of rage that threatened to consume him.


    “I couldn’t push her. Her forgetting was her mind trying to escape from what she had been through. She


    was a child at that time, been through so much. The ident gave her a means of escape, a ce to


    hide,” Nathan exined.


    “She desperately wanted to forget all she had been through,” he stated, the weight of her pain settling


    heavily in Axel’s chest. The room seemed to contract around them, and be suffocatingly small.


    Axel’s chest heaved heavily, his fists clenched in an outburst of rage.


    “Who was it? Who had hurt her in that manner?!” he bellowed, the intensity of his voice reverberating


    through the room.


    “I don’t know. We never found out. They were miles away from nothing,” Nathan said through gritted


    teeth, frustration etched across his face.


    “Here’s what I think. My wife found Jasmine and she had probably trying to escape with her. That must


    have happened,” Nathan exined.


    After months and months of pondering, that was what he could finallye up with.


    “You me her?” Axel asked softly referring to Jasmine, a note of understanding in his tone.


    Nathan turned away guiltily, a heavy silence hanging in the air.


    “My wife,” he muttered with a sad smile, “Would never be able to look away from a person in need of


    help, even if it means endangering her own life. She must have seen Jasmine and tried to help her.


    She was that way, nosy,” Nathan said, a bittersweet chuckle escaping him, carrying the weight of


    memories and regret.


    “She tried to help everyone,” he stated with a pained sigh. “And now, because of that, she’s gone. I


    don’t know how that makes me feel, Nathan admitted, the weight of loss evident in his words.


    “Watching her every day, live her life. Life given in exchange for my wife’s, I don’t know how to feel


    about that.”


    “And the perpetrators are still atrge,” Nathan said, frustration boiling over as he threw a fist in the air.


    “Not that it would bring her back, but..” he trailed off, his arms dropping to his sides defeatedly, the


    lingering sense of justice denied echoing in the room. The pain and helplessness etched across


    Nathan’s face created an atmosphere heavy with the unspoken struggles of a man haunted by the


    consequences of a past that couldn’t be rewritten.


    “You said she’s been followed?” Nathan inquired, his voice tinged with concern.


    12:45 Thu, 28 Dec M


    “Like she’s been stalked?” he asked in a quiet voice, locking eyes with Axel, seeking answers.


    “Yes. Any idea who it might be or what he wants?” Axel probed, his gaze unwavering.


    Nathan shook his head, weariness etched on his face. “Jasmine hasn’t harmed anyone. She barely has


    any friends, neither. does she socialize with anyone. I don’t have the slightest idea who would be


    watching her. But it’s not me. I wouldn’t do something like that,” Nathan said, sounding exhausted and


    thoroughly drained.


    “Jasmine, she’s a lovely girl. Who would try to harm her?” he mused with a sigh..


    Axel watched Nathan. “Would you tell her the truth?” he probed.


    45


    Nathan sighed, grappling with the internal turmoil. “It’s best we leave things the way they are,” he


    replied, the weight of the secret pressing on him.


    “I just hope she doesn’t end up too hurt when everythinges boiling over.” He added.


    Keeping this from Jasmine did feel like a huge betrayal, it weighed on Nathan’s mind and made him


    feel Terrible whenever he looked at her.


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    But Jasmine innocently looked up to him, a man who harboured anger towards her over the fate that


    had befallen his family.


    Her eyes lit up whenever she talked about him. To her Nathan had done everything for her. But she had


    no idea what kind of secrets it was that he h oarded. The truth would no doubt crush herpletely.


    There was nothing left to be said.


    Axel stood there in silence. The air seemed heavy. Just then, Axel’s phone buzzed with a notification,


    the sound slicing through the silent atmosphere. It was a text from Jasmine..


    “I’m ready.” The text read.


    “Is it her?” Nathan asked, his eyes seeking confirmation. Axel grunted in affirmation, then turned to


    leave.


    “Take care of her,” Nathan called out just as Axel reached the door and pulled it open.


    “Do you actually have the right to ask me that?” Axel asked, his tone frigidly cold.


    “No.” Nathan replied gently. “I might have to leave soon. I’m kinda the only one she has left. I’ve been


    at this long enough.” He stated with a sigh.


    “And you….” he continued, his gaze fixed on and boring into Axel’s.


    “You care about her,” Nathan finished, his words hanging in the air. Axel froze, his fingers wrapped


    around the door kn ob.


    “I’ve seen the way you look at her,” Nathan continued, his voice carrying a knowing tone.


    Axel pulled the door open then stepped out, leaving the room and its heavy revtions behind.


    He stepped out of the building, his gaze scanning the surroundings until he spotted Jasmine standing


    next to where his car was parked.


    “Axel?” Jasmine called, her eyes lighting up with a warm smile when she spotted him walking towards


    her.


    “You’re here. I was wondering where you went; your car was here but you weren’t,” she stated, her


    voice carrying a touch of curiosity. Axel was quietly studying her, a thoughtful expression on his face.


    Her brows furrowed in confusion’as Axel continued to stare at her, aplicated look lingering in his


    eyes. “Is something wrong?” she muttered, picking up on the unusual intensity of his gaze.


    12:45 Thu, 28 Dec M


    “No,” Axel replied finally, the thoughtful expression giving way to a moreposed demeanor as he


    continued watching her. “You ready?” he asked.


    “Yes,” she nodded.


    Nathan remained sitting in his office. Perhaps it was time to unburden himself from the weight of


    unresolved questions that had haunted him for almost ten years. He sighed.


    Hazel, Liam, and Daisy-a faint smile crossed his l*ps as he thought of them. He couldn’t alter the


    course of history, neither could he rewind time to bring back his wife and child. But maybe, just maybe,


    he could shape a happier future for himself and those still present in his life.


    “I hope I’m doing the right thing,” he whispered, his gaze resting on the photograph of his wife.