Episode 11
1145 Words
Unwanted Apologize
Jane's pov
I pulled a chair from the corner of the room and sat down, deliberately choosing a spot far from Christian. My parents sat huddled together, their eyes darting between me and Christian as though they were deciding who’d deliver the bad news.
The room was suffocating. Every face here reminded me of a past I’d fought so hard to escape—a past I never wanted to see again.
“Whatever you people have to say, make it quick,” I said, my voice sharp. “I don’t have the energy to keep sitting here pretending this isn’t the last place I want to be.”
“Jane, can you just calm down?” Christian said, his tone cautious, as though he were handling a live wire.
“Calm down?” I shot back, my voice rising. “You want me to calm down when I’m stuck in a room with the man who threw me out of his house like I was garbage and my parents, who disappeared the moment I married you? All of you suddenly claiming you want me safe—do you even hear yourselves?”
“Jane,” Christian said, his jaw tightening, “this is serious.” He turned to my father. “I did some digging with my brother, and we found out the crypto deal we sealed eight years ago… it’s back to haunt us. Someone from the group is out for revenge.”
My father nodded gravely, adding, “They’re not just coming for me, Jane. They’re targeting anyone connected to me—or to Christian. That’s why they broke into our home asking for you.”
I blinked, trying to process what they were saying. “What does this have to do with me?” I asked, incredulous. “I have nothing to do with your business deals. I’m not even married to him anymore. So why the hell would anyone involve me in this mess?”
Christian’s face was tight with frustration. “Because they know they can use you as leverage. Either to get to me or your father.”
“This is ridiculous,” I said, standing up. “Last time I checked, none of you gave a damn about me. Now suddenly, you want me to believe you’re worried about my safety? Give me a break.”
“Jane,” my father said, his voice trembling, “please. I know we’ve made mistakes, but this is bigger than all of that. We need to work together to stay safe.”
I laughed, bitter and loud. “Stay safe? You’re worried about safety now? Where was all this concern when I needed you? When I lost my baby and didn’t even get a call from either of you? You didn’t care about me then, and you sure as hell don’t care now.”
I grabbed my bag and turned toward the door. “I’m done here,” I said coldly.
Before I could leave, Christian stepped in front of me, his hand gripping my arm. “Jane, listen to me,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “These people are dangerous. This isn’t a game.”
I yanked my arm free. “If they’re so dangerous, why not go after Amanda? Or Paul? Why me? What makes me such a perfect target?”
Christian’s face darkened, and his voice rose. “Leave Amanda out of this! This isn’t about her. This is about people who will stop at nothing to hurt anyone they can to get to us. This is life and death, Jane.”
“Maybe it is,” I said, glaring at him. “But I don’t trust any of you to care about what happens to me. I have work to do. You can deal with your own mess.”
Without waiting for a response, I stormed out of the room, the sound of their voices fading behind me.
As I walked through the hospital corridors, my mind raced with anger and frustration. What was wrong with all of them? First my parents, now Christian—suddenly acting like I mattered after treating me like I was nothing for years.
I clenched my fists, my jaw tight. They’d spent years telling me how weak and worthless I was, and now they wanted me to trust them? To believe they had my best interests at heart?
I turned a corner and nearly ran straight into Paul. He was standing there, blocking my path, his expression unreadable.
“Paul,” I said, my voice sharp. “I don’t have time for this. Get out of my way.”
He didn’t move. His face softened, and for the first time in years, I saw something unexpected in his eyes: regret.
“I’m sorry, sis,” he said, his voice quiet.
I blinked, taken aback. “What?”
“I’m sorry,” he repeated. “For everything. For how I’ve treated you all these years. I’ve been… unkind. Unfair. And I regret it.”
I stared at him, my mind reeling. Paul, my brother, apologizing? It was so absurd I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Unkind?” I echoed, shaking my head. “Paul, you’ve been a complete asshole to me my entire life. And now you want to apologize?”
“I mean it, Jane,” he said, his voice steady.
“Well, I don’t care,” I snapped. “Get out of my way.”
I pushed past him, ignoring the flicker of hurt that crossed his face. As I walked away, my mind raced with questions. What was going on with all of them? Why were they suddenly trying to be decent human beings?
When I reached the parking lot, I climbed into my car and gripped the steering wheel tightly, my hands trembling.
I needed to get out of here. Away from the hospital, away from their fake concern, away from the memories that were clawing their way back to the surface.
Just as I started the engine, I saw Christian walking out of the hospital. He spotted me immediately and called my name, his voice carrying across the parking lot.
“Jane!”
I ignored him, slamming the car door shut and revving the engine.
“Jane, wait!” he called again, jogging toward me.
But I didn’t wait. I put the car in gear and drove off, his figure growing smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror.
As I drove back to my apartment, a thousand emotions churned inside me. Anger. Sadness. Confusion.
I didn’t know what Christian and my family wanted from me, but I wasn’t about to let them pull me back into their chaos. I’d spent years being their punching bag, their afterthought.
Not anymore.
Whatever danger they thought I was in, they could deal with it themselves.
- Writer
