Chapter 26 – It’s Over
I paced around my room, my feet cold against the tiled floor. My hands trembled as I stared at the mirror.
I tried to breathe, but every breath felt shaky, like I was drowning inside my own skin.
Silas stood quietly behind me. He placed his hands gently on my shoulders, his touch warm and steady
“Breathe, Jasmine,” he whispered in my ear. “You’ll be fine.”
“How can I be fine? My voice cracked. “They’re all downstairs waiting for me… The same people who broke me into pieces, Silas. Now they want me to…. what? Act like it didn’t happen? Like they didn’t almost kill me with their words and actions?”
Silas hugged me from behind, resting his chin on my head.
“You don’t have to pretend, Jas. Just go out there and tell them how you feel. You owe them nothing.”
I closed my eyes tightly. Since yesterday morning. I hadn’t slept. Seeing Henry and the kids at the doorstep had turned my world upside down again.
I wiped the tears from my eyes. “Fine” I whispered. “Let’s get this over with,”
Silas gave me a small nod and walked beside me as I headed to the sitting room.
The moment I stepped in, silence filled the room.
All eyes turned to me
Henry’s face lit up with relief, but I looked away from him.
My kids–Clara,Chloe, Charlotte, Caleb, Camden, and Cole–were the first to react. They ran to me, their small arms wrapping around me tightly.
“Mommy!” Chloe sobbed.
“Mom, please forgive us!” Camden cried.
“We’re so sorry, Mommy!” Clara added, holding my hand.
They all spoke at once, their tears soaking my clothes.
Charlotte clung to me. “We didn’t know, Mommy. Bianca told us lies.
“Yeah,” Caleb sniffled “Please forgive us “8
Cole looked up at me with red, swollen eyes. “We almost hurt you, Mom. Can you forgive us?“%
I held them all close, my tears finally falling. My heart ached, but it also swelled with something warm. No matter what, they were still my babies X
“I forgive you” I whispered through tears. “You didn’t know. You were lied to.“!
They cried harder and hugged me tighter.
“I love you,” I told them, stroking their hair!!
Henry stood up and took a step toward me “Jasmine… 177
I turned my face away I couldn’t look at him. Not yet. Maybe not ever?
Henry’s grandfather cleared his throat. “Jasmine,” he said, his voice softer than I’d ever heard. “I also owe you an apology for everything my grandson put you through. For the way you were treated in this family.”
He bowed slightly, something I never expected from the old man.
“Bianca is gone,” he added firmly. “She will never come near you or the children again. I promise you that.”
I looked at him. For the first time, I saw the regret in his eyes. He wasn’t pretending.
He walked closer and placed his hand on my shoulder like a father would. “You can come home now, Jasmine: It’s your place.”
I smiled weakly and shook my head.
“I’m sorry, sir,” I said gently. “But no. I’m not coming back. Not to Henry. That chapter is over
The room fell dead silent.
The kids froze. Henry’s face turned pale.
I wiped the tears from my cheeks and added, “I can’t go back to the man who broke me. You may have thrown Bianca out, but some wounds can’t be fixed.
Silas stood beside me, his hand finding mine!
Henry took a step forward, his eyes desperate. “Jasmine, please-
I stopped him with a look. “No, Henry.7
The kids clung to me, confused.
“Is there nothing that can be done to change your mind, Jasmine? Henry would do anything.” Grandfather said.
I smiled at the man, “Thank you so much, Grandfather, you’ve always been so kind to me all these years which made living there not so
bad but right now I just can’t. I have someone who loves me and I’m not giving that up for someone who mistreated me.”
Henry’s grandfather looked at me for a long time, his face unreadable.
Then, slowly, he turned to Henry.X
12:47 PM.
“Do you see what you’ve done, Henry?” he said coldly. “You’ve lost her.”
Henry swallowed hard, his eyes never leaving me
I hugged my kids tighter as tears rolled down their cheeks while Grandfather sighed dejectedly.
15:47 PM
