Almost there

Almost there
Everything seems to be going on perfectly well for Jack and Elizabeth. She received a job offer from him in Chicago days ago but didn't want to take it. After much pressure from Jack and David to take it considering the events of the past few months. It's her ticket to get out of New York and start a new life somewhere else.

She hasn't heard from Karen ever since the occurrence at Mr Brown's party last summer. She didn't plan on contacting her anytime soon either. She missed her but she wouldn't admit it to herself.

They didn't know at her former organization that she was the cause of her sudden resignation or the culprit behind the rumors.

Elizabeth sighed as she looked at the packed boxes in the room. She has packed all of her belongings and is waiting for the moving company to send it ahead of her flight.

She sighed, looking around to see the mess she had made. She will be donating a couple of things and have separated that from the ones she's throwing out.

An envelope caught her attention under her dressing drawer. She bent down to it, stretching her hand farther until she finally reached it.

It is sealed and addressed to Jack. She picked it up and found the address of the sender. UK?

UK?
And it reads Emma Wales. That is Jack's sister.

She had begun to shake when she dropped the envelope unwillingly.

Jack had a sister?

When she asked him he told her about how he's an only child and had to take over the family business when his father passed away. He didn't mention his mother so she had thought they weren't on good terms.

So Jack had a sister? In the UK?

He had lied to her. Everything was a lie all along.
With shaking hands she reached for the envelope on the floor and ripped it open. She cared less if she was intruding into his privacy.

Mother had begun to worry that you wouldn't see father until he passed away. He isn't improving and death beckons on him. He's going to leave soon, Jack. Everyone is worried. With you gone, Helen couldn't take care of little Jay all alone. He is growing and needs to see more of his father.

You are the eldest son yet you neglected your responsibilities. Mother is very disappointed in you. You have a chance to make things right and you should know the headquarters here are having issues. Mr Kent, the chairman is thinking of overthrowing you and making plans for father to make a new will before he passes away. You have to hurry if you still want to keep your place…

Elizabeth couldn't bring herself to finish reading the letter. She felt her heart sing as tears clouded her eyes.

"No, no no…" she sobbed fervently. She had been lied to. Everything all along was a lie

He came to New York and seduced her when he had a family… even a son. All Elizabeth felt for him was love yet he could betray her this way.

She pulled her engagement ring off her finger and placed it on the drawer. She can take everything but not betray. She begins to remember the earnings of her father and sister.

She sobbed again. How she wished she had listened to them. There's no going back now.

When Jack came back later that evening, he was surprised to see half of the house empty. It was blank like the way it was before Liz moved it. He knew she would start packing but didn't realize it would be today.

"Liz" he called for her as he flipped on the light in the bedroom. Liz had her back turned to him.

"Liz" he called again but she didn't bulge. This is unusual, the Elizabeth he left home this morning had a bright smile when she walked him out.

"Since when?" Elizabeth turned to him. Her eyes were shot red with tears and lines of dried ones removed on her face.

Jack looked at the envelope in her front and recognition dwells on him. He had been caught. Though he hadn't read the letter he knew who it was from. Emma, his sister.

She has been writing to him incessantly since their father became ill. It was getting suspicious so he stopped reading them and had to sweep the envelope under Elizabeth's drawer in a hurry. Apparently, he had forgotten to retrieve it and now Elizabeth came across it.

"Liz, i can explain" he moved to reach for but Elizabeth moved back outstretching her hand and putting distance between them. It was clear she didn't want to be near him so Jack stayed where he was and didn't make an attempt to reach for her any longer.

"Since when?" She asked again, fresh tears streaming down her face. It breaks Jack's to see her this way and knowing he's the cause of her heart break.

" Since…what?"

"Have you been lying to me?" She sobbed. "Was meeting me part of your scheme?" She yelled.

"Liz no… I never lied.. I " he ran his hand over his hair in frustration. He didn't know where to begin.

"Then explain.. you have a sister jack but you told me you were an only child" she scoffs. "You have a family… even a son" she whispered the last part as it breaks her to even say the word 'son'

She had pictured her life with him, spending the rest in his embrace and making babies together. He robbed her of that fantasy. That was just her own imagination.

"I… liz.. I can explain. It's not what you think it is"

"Then explain what it is! You have a son jack. I trusted you with everything. I turned my back against my own family when they were against us bringing us together but all of it was a lie" she raised her voice.

"You fed me with nothing but lies. Is our love even real? Do you even love me at all?" She sobbed .

"You should know I love you. I love you and that's the truth. I wish I could explain all of these but Liz I can't. "

"Why can't you jack? Tell me something. Tell me all of this is a lie"

"It's not, Liz. I'm sorry"

He hands him her engagement ring and picks up her last suitcase. "don't come after me" she said while he made an attempt to go after her.

"No, I understand that you're mad but I'm not letting you go out in that condition"
Her eyes were swollen from crying too much and her hair was tangled.

"Don't you fucking touch me" she yelled. It was the first time she had used the "f" word and it took her by surprise too. She didn't care about the man in front of her.

Jack obeyed her wish and let her go but not until he made sure she got to get the car safely. He picked up the letter she had read, read through it then burnt it.

He's not going to lose the love of his life over something like this. What he felt for Elizabeth was real even though he didn't come clean with her. He hid his origin from her because he wasn't sure she would be with him if she knew what it would take from her in order to be with him. She will have to stay thousands of miles away from those she loves.

Elizabeth drove around for about an hour, not sure of where to go. Her tears had subsided but that didn't reflect how hurt she had been or how much her heart was bleeding. She couldn't go back to her parents house and can't call any of her siblings without their parents finding out. Karen is not an option she would like to consider also giving all that happened so far which makes her left with just one option. David.

Dave picked after the third ring.

"Liz…"
She sobbed, not knowing what to say. "Can I stay at your place for a couple of days?" She asked.

"Yes, sure," he answered. It is not the first time this has happened. Most times after arguments with her parents, she would crash at his parents house but this time he could tell it's not an argument with her parents.

"Thank you" she whispered then ended the call.

Dave answered the door as soon as she rang the bell. She wrapped her arms around his neck and sobbed in his chest.

"It hurts… so much… Jack and I…." she sobbed louder. He didn't ask what had happened or why she was with her suitcase and needing a place to stay that night. He let her wail and soak his chest. If Jack breaks her heart he had vowed to kid his ass without tearing he would charge him for assault.

"It's okay"he patted her back as she sobbed. "You don't need to say anything. I understand"

Elizabeth doesn't know how long she was crying but the stain on Dave's clothes could tell her it was for a long time.

"Thank you," she said. Dave had made her tea to cool her down.

"What did he do?" Dave asked but Elizabeth hesitated. "You don't need to tell me if you don't want to," he said. "I'll understand"

Thank you, Dave" she mouthed. She wants to get ready to go through the trauma of recalling what Jack had done to her.

She stayed with Dave for a few more days before leaving for Chicago. She had thought she would not be leaving for another week but since she had nothing to do in New York, she felt it's better to go early an
d get used to the environment.

It was a good idea as she had time to think and reflect on what had happened so far.