TILL DEATH DO US APART EX EIFE

Episode 14

Jane's pov

Dad is gone

When I felt the pain in my right shoulder I probably know I didn't sleep in the bed , I gently raise my sleepy head when I saw my self still sitting on my desk, my laptop is still on and my phone was tossed out nearly to fall out of my desk . I must have fallen asleep while I was walking on my projects yesterday night.

My body felt week and I don't usually feel like this . Totally will like to take today's off but it's not professional, not because Jared helpede get this job doesn't mean I should treat it like it does not worth it . Remembering Jared early this morning made me smile in a big way. Our yesterday activity left me not but awakeness . Jared was totally sweet but it's reayvery hard for me to open up again .

I took my phone to check if I have emails or have missed something urgent but all the emails and messages I saw was not really what I was hoping for. Christian and my mother has been disturbing my phone.I sighed as I tossed the phone back to my desk. Messages lit up the screen, but I didn’t bother to open them. Whatever they had to say could wait. I pushed myself off my desk and headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth.

Just as I ran the water over my toothbrush, my phone started ringing again. I grabbed it mid-ring, not even glancing at the screen before answering.

“Hello?” I said, my voice came in fast

“Jane.”

I froze. I didn’t need to look at the screen to know who it was. It's Paul my brother.

“Paul, whatever it is, it’s too early,” I said, already tired of the conversation.

“Wait, Jane, don’t hang up. It’s about Dad.”

I paused, the toothbrush still in my hand. “What about Dad?”

“Mom’s been trying to reach you. Christian too. Dad is… he’s gone, Jane. He paused for a while as his voice breaks He died this morning.” he continued as he started crying. I couldn't move from where I'm standing. My dad just dead like that. I know we have bad energy between us , he never saw me like the daughter I was but death is not what I ever wish on a person.

“What?” I whispered, as my mind went blank.

“Dad’s dead,” Paul repeated, with his sobbing voice .

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I sat down on the edge of the bathtub, my legs shaking so badly I couldn’t trust them to hold me up.

He’s dead.

I didn’t know how to feel. He wasn’t a good father, not to me. But still, he was my father. No matter how much he hurt me, no matter how distant we were, this news left me feeling hollow.

I sat there, staring at the tiled floor, the silence pressing down on me. He deserved better than this, I thought. No one deserved to die like that, even him.

“Jane?” Paul’s voice pulled me back.

“I’ll be there,” I said quickly, ending the call.

I got ready in a blur. My hands trembled as I texted My department manager, letting her know I wouldn’t be at work today. Her response came almost immediately: “Take your time. We’re already aware.”

Jared must’ve told her, I thought. My father wasn’t famous, but the Holmes connection made our family more notable than we otherwise would’ve been. But who told Jared? Well Jared in his own way wasn't a smaller person either.

I dressed in casual clothes, not bothering with makeup. I grabbed my purse and keys, rushed to my car, and drove straight to the hospital.

When I arrived, the place was already crowded. People I recognized, people I didn’t, all gathered in groups, murmuring quietly. How had they all found out so quickly? How had they beaten me here?

I made my way through the crowd, heading toward the room where my mother and Paul were. When I walked in, I saw them sitting together by the bed, my mother’s face streaked with tears, Paul silent and distant.

I sat down in a chair far from them. As I watched my mom being comforted by some of my aunties even as much as I pity her right now and how broken I am I know too well she can snap seeing me here. I wasn't the favorite and everyone knows that and it will only be embarrassing if she gets to insult me here .

“Jane.” I heard Christian voice called as he noticed me .I looked up to see Christian walking toward me. Of course, he’d be here already. Whatever business he said he do run with my father must have been deep that made the two close but they never showed it open. More like keeping a secret relationship which makes me question him more he kept away from me .

“Spare me the sympathy, Christian,” I said sharply. “If anyone needs comforting, it’s my mother and paul. I barely knew him.”

“Jane, Are you still playing hard to get even now he is dead now’s not the time for this,” he said, his voice low and firm. “You just lost your father, and act like you do , don't be so cold.”

I glared at him, my hands tightening into fists. Before I could reply, my mother approached me, her face crumpling as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.

“Jane you are already here,” she cried , her voice trembling made her look more broken than I am. For the meantime I don't even know how to react about it.

I didn’t want to comfort her too much, but when she wrapped her arms around me, I found myself holding her back. Not because I forgave her, but because it was all I could do. Maybe family runs deeper cause of blood.

“Mrs. Stella, my condolences.”

I turned to see Jared entering the room. He moved toward my mother, gently patting her back. Then he shook hands with Paul, who nodded stiffly.

When his eyes met mine, he didn’t hesitate to hug me, even with Christian sitting right beside me. He walked over, his gaze warm and concerned.

“Are you okay?” Jared asked, sitting down on my left side.

His presence was like a shield, cutting through the tension I felt with Christian on my other side.

“She’s fine,” Christian answered even before I could say anything, his voice cold. “You can leave now.”

Jared’s head turned sharply toward Christian. “And who the hell are you to decide who stays and who leaves?”

His voice was louder now, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

“Jared,” I said softly, placing a hand on his arm. “I'm okay.”

“It alright pumpkin,” he said, his voice firm. And I can tell how this made Christian more sad“You don’t get to order her like that, Christian. She is not your slave , You may have treated her disrespectful before but don't even think you will try that now Jared warned him. The way he kept his face steady as he speaks to Christian. Very composed, you can hardly tell what he was saying with his unreadable face.

Christian stood up as his jaw tightening. “This isn’t your place, Jared. And nobody was disrespecting her, if someone do you won't be informed and it will be handled.”

Jared sit tight where he was as he smiles, I can see how Christian has been boiling in anger. “You mean like you handled it before when your mistress left her at the gala restroom to bleed to death And yet, here I am. Where were you then? Oh, that’s right—you were too busy playing the best friend lover ... What's her name again..Amanda.”

“Don’t you dare—” Christian started, his voice rising.

“Stop it,” I snapped, cutting them both off. “This is not the time or the place for this.”

They both looked at me, their faces tense and their jaws tight. Christian was already causing a scene and if care is not taking things will go out of hand.