Chapter One–Hundred Forty–Two

Chapter One–Hundred Forty–Two

Valerie's POV

I didn't grant Sarah's wish right away. I told her I was going to think it through.

Maybe this was an opportunity to get the closure I never had. After that, we can move our separate ways, the thought hung in my head.

It did not help that Jayden kept pestering me about meeting his "daddy." I kept coming up with creative lies to tell him while I looked forward to when we returned to Canada.

The more excuses I came up with for my son, the heavier the guilt grew in my chest until I finally decided it was time to face my fear and meet up with Jake.

Three days after my best friend's urgent call, I unblocked Jake's number and texted him the address and time I wanted us to meet. His reply came in a flash.

I applied a little makeup, pulled my hair into a sleek bun, and settled for a simple green dress that flattered my curves, paired with silver heels. I might as well give him a show if we were doing this. I stood in front of the mirror, taking a final glance at my appearance.

A knock came on my door, and Jayden walked inside after I gave him permission. "Mum, are you going somewhere?" he asked innocently.

"Mm-hmm," I smoothed the dress with my hands and grabbed my purse.

His eyes flickered with excitement. "Can I follow you?"

"Nope. Mummy has to go alone, okay?" I pinched his cheek softly.

"But I want to come with you," he made a cute pout.

I shook my head in defiance. "I promise to bring something for you when I come back. Now be a good boy and go play with your toys."

He bent his head down. "Yes, Mum."

I pressed a kiss on his forehead and watched him exit my room. A sigh I didn't realize I was holding escaped my lips.

The moment I stepped into the private rooftop restaurant, I spotted Jake at the far end. The place was empty and quiet, exactly how I wanted it.

I squared my shoulders and put on a strong face as I walked up to the table where he sat.

He stood up quickly to pull out a chair for me before returning to his seat opposite mine. He wore a blue shirt with the sleeves neatly folded, paired with darker trousers that fit him just right.

Our eyes met briefly, but I was quick to look the other way.

"For a second, I thought you changed your mind," that deep baritone voice spoke up. "How have you been, Val?"

"I didn't come here to exchange pleasantries like we're old pals. Cut to the chase already," I snapped. "I don't have all day." My eyes drifted to the night sky behind us. The quiet breeze blew softly—a contrast to the chaos in my life.

Jake sat straight. His hand moved close to mine, but he had a rethink and withdrew it.

"Forgive me, Val," his tone softened. "I was cruel and treated you badly. I was too blinded by rage that I believed a lie over your word."

He brought out a file and handed it over to me. It contained DNA results from different hospitals.

Anger, pain, and another feeling I couldn't quite name spread across my chest. "I told you I was innocent—Jayden was yours—but you didn't believe me!"

He sighed deeply. "I'm deeply sorry, and I regret ever hurting you."

The silence that ensued was thick with emotion.

Jake rested his elbows on the table and leaned forward slightly. "I hired a private investigator, and it was discovered that Eli was secretly working for Damian."

I gasped. "What?"

He nodded. "It was Eli who gave him intel on my company and our...marriage."

"Fake marriage," I corrected pointedly.

But he continued regardless. "By now, Damian has been arrested and will face criminal charges. He'll spend some time in prison. As for Eli, he's been blacklisted and has a lawsuit to settle. His career is destroyed for sure."

Warmth curled in my chest as I gazed at the man before me. I had no idea he had gone this extra mile just to give me the justice I deserved.

When I thought he was finally done, he revealed that Monica was the one behind the fake DNA results. Apparently, Dr. Jones is her uncle, and she found a way to bribe the lab scientists in his hospital. They altered the test results. Jake told me to watch the blogs tomorrow—the culprits and their crimes would be revealed. I could only imagine Monica's downfall when her millions of followers discovered the evil bitch she truly was.

Life has really been unfair to me. My first shot at true love was destroyed thanks to haters. I've had my share of ups and downs, but every day I wake up and choose to focus on the beautiful parts of my life—like my adorable son, Jayden, the light of my life. My family. Sarah. Sophia. My job.

My makeup was ruined with tears. Jake handed me a tissue, which I hesitated before collecting and used to dab my face.

He cleared his throat, making me look at him. Those familiar honey-brown eyes bored into mine. "I have learned my lesson the hard way, Val. I realized that no other woman would love me the way you did," he paused. "I want you back."

Of course he wants me back, like I was some toy he can toss and play with. Don't think I would run into your arms because of what you did. You had me once, and you lost me. Now it's too late.

"I've moved on," I forced confidence into my voice. "You should do the same."

His eyes dropped.

"Goodbye, Jake," I grabbed my purse and hurried out as fast as my legs could carry me before another round of tears burst out. What we shared was history. Maybe it was best we left things that way...