Taming Demi's Mom (ONGOING)

Chapter 20

{JACKSON}

I STUMBLED into the grass here in the park. It's almost midnight, and I'm the only person here. It's just a short walk from the venue.

My feet led me here. All I ever wanted was to escape from that place. Even though my knees were almost giving out, I forced myself to walk away from that location. I'm trying to hold back my tears as I make my way here. It's difficult, but I managed to do it.

I stood up. "Ahhhhhhhh," I shouted. Then the tears I've been holding back started to fall.

My heart aches terribly. I can't explain the pain I'm feeling. I can hardly stand straight. I just placed both my hands on my knees. My head was spinning from my intense emotions, thinking about what had just happened.

"WE'RE still legally married," Liam said to me.

Ever since I heard those words, every minute has been torturous for my heart. It's getting hard for me to breathe, but I'm maintaining good posture. I don't want to show them both that I'm affected. I've pitied myself too much.

All I could do was nod to Victoria, as if I'm just accepting everything despite not wanting to. I know deep down that there's nothing I can do to change the situation we're in right now.

"Okay, Victoria. If you have nothing to say to me, I'm leaving," I finally stated to her. Still, she didn't respond.

I hate her eyes. The way she looks at me. She appears to be sorry for me. Screw this!

I turned my back on both of them, taking slow steps away.

Please, Victoria, run after me. I'll accept all your explanations. I'm willing to listen because I love you that much. I can forget everything that happened, everything I've learned and seen today. I can hire the best lawyer to expedite your divorce process.

But seven steps have passed, and still, Victoria didn't stop me. Maybe this is really the end for us. I can't believe everything would vanish just like a blink of an eye. As I kept distancing myself from them, anger replaced the feelings in my chest. Now I realize I've been a terrible fool all this time.

"Mommy!" It was Demi's voice. Even from a distance, I clearly heard her small voice.

I stopped in my tracks, hiding behind other people. I peered at the three of them from the small space between the people in front of me.

"Mommy, I've been searching for you and Daddy. I'm almost tired," Demi complained, pouting to Victoria.

Despite my situation, I couldn't help but smile because she's incredibly cute. And the fact that she keeps referring to me as her Daddy made my heart melt.

But sadly, I won't be your Daddy anymore. Your Mom has found your real Daddy, and he's right in front of you. But I want you to know that you'll always be my baby, Demi.

I didn't wait for what would happen next. I couldn't bear to watch everything. I left the venue completely, my heart shattered and my knees weak.

"YOU'VE made me a fool, Victoria. Is that all? Do I deserve to be just a lover?" I asked weakly into the air.

My lips were quivering. I felt as if I were being killed while thinking about Victoria and how she made me her lover. She should have told me sooner that she wasn't legally separated from her husband yet. She should have let me know if she still loves her husband so I'd be aware and wouldn't be hurt this badly.

I still can't believe Victoria did that to me, but it's crystal clear in my eyes that she only used me as a pastime. And now that the two of them reunited, I'm nothing to her. I'm just temporary in her life. Or perhaps they were talking behind my back and planned to meet here at the ball. Why didn't I notice? I'm such a fool!

Perhaps they are now a happy family. But deep inside my heart, I'm happy for Demi. Her family is finally coming together. She won't be like me, seeking the care of my mother. She will truly be happy now. If the pain I'm feeling now is the price for Demi's happiness, then I'll just accept it.

As much as I'd like to, I won't chase after the woman I first loved, who ultimately just deceived me. I also couldn't bear to destroy the family Demi has longed for. I don't want to be seen as a bad person in her eyes.

"DO you even know what time it is?" Enzo irritably greeted me, scratching his head as he opened the gate. I didn't stop ringing the doorbell of his mansion until he let me in.

I knew he was still deeply asleep because it was just the crack of dawn. But I didn't care. He deserves to wake up this early. I don't care if he gets annoyed, after all, we were born to be enemies.

I scowled at him. "No," I replied seriously.

He was about to say something when I abruptly entered inside. Then, I pointed at the taxi outside.

"Pay for my fare. I don't have any money with me," I ordered him bluntly. I didn't wait for his response and went inside his house, leaving him behind at the gate.

I hate seeing his face. I really don't know why I always end up coming here whenever I'm bored or have problems.

He followed inside, swiftly grabbing something from his room. When he came back, he had money in his hand and went out of the house again.

I glanced at his house. It was still the same. I heard that his wife and his two daughters were on vacation in another country, leaving him alone at home, giving me the audacity to disturb him at this hour. As a police officer, he had no time to join such vacations. His entire life was dedicated to his duty as a police officer. Such a pity, but he deserves it.

Upon his return, he immediately sat beside me on the sofa in the living room of his mansion.

"No money for the fare but got money for nine bottles of alcohol," he complained to me.

I faced him, pointing at his face. "You don't care about that," I drunkenly said to him.

"Are you drunk?" He furrowed his brows, asking me.

I closed my eyes and shook my head at him. "I'm not drunk. There were supposed to be ten," I embraced the bottle wrapped in thick plastic before continuing. "But I drank one earlier. It was staring at me, begging me to drink it."

Enzo forcibly took the bottles of alcohol from me and placed them on the table in front of us. Then he grabbed one, using the edge of the table to open it.

"So what's your f*****g problem now that you remembered to come to my house?" he asked before taking a swig of his drink.

I looked at him, seated on the sofa facing him like a monk.

"I came from the ball last night in New Orleans—"

I couldn't finish my sentence as Enzo spat the alcohol from his mouth onto my handsome face. How many million germs landed on my face because of his rudeness? Nevermind. I don't want to know.

"What the heck! What, did you just make it seem like a 10-minute car trip coming here from New Orleans last night? Are there planes flying at that time, and you're the only passenger?" He asked, utterly surprised.

I took off my coat. I still hadn't changed my clothes, making me look like a wasted runaway groom. I wiped my face with my coat. I didn't care if it got dirty.

"I think you forgot I'm a millionaire. I have my own private plane, and I had my pilot picked up by one of my staff from the hotel he's staying at temporarily to bring me back to Italy," I explained at length.

"Why am I even explaining this to you? I don't want to talk. All I want is to get drunk until I lose consciousness," I said angrily to him, throwing the clothes I used to wipe my face at him.

I took out all the bottles from the plastic and started drinking. I didn't care even if my head was pounding and the pain was unbearable. It just kept on hurting until after I drank, and then I didn't feel any pain anymore.

I was stunned into emptiness. Even in my drunken state, I couldn't forget Victoria, especially the scene where she and Liam hugged. My jaw clenched just by recalling everything that happened.

In the near future, if our paths crossed again, I would pretend I didn't know her, as if she never held a special place in my life. The pain she caused was too much to bear, that I wish I hadn't met her. However, Demi was an exception. If I ever saw her again, I would still be the same Daddy Jackson she once knew.