Chapter 60 Apology
ANNA'S POV
“I’m sorry for everything I did to you Anna, I was wrong to do such things, I shouldn’t have pushed you away that night and I regret it now.” James said.
I stood there listening to him, my arms folded tightly across my chest as his words hung in the air between us. I stopped myself from letting out a small scoff and rolling my eyes. Now he’s sorry. Now, after all these years, after everything that had happened, he stood in front of my gate talking about regret like it was something he had just discovered.
He thinks saying sorry would just take away all the pain and everything that had happened. Like a few words could erase years of damage.
Or does he believe that telling me sorry would bring back my child?
Or wipe away all the embarrassment and tears of that day?
I took a slow breath, forcing my expression to remain calm even though my insides were boiling.
“Tell me something,” I said, my voice steady, controlled. “What’s your real goal in doing all this? I mean I can tell you’re just putting on an act, so why are you saying all this?”
James shifted slightly on his feet, his gaze never leaving my face. “This isn’t an act,” he said quickly. “My mom… she came over to my place today, and she made me realize that I made a mistake all those years ago.”
His mom?
The same woman who slapped me and called me a gold digger.
The same woman who took Melissa’s side over mine without even hearing me out.
The same woman who treated me like I was nothing.
She was the one who suddenly made him see reason?
Wow. This just keeps getting more and more interesting.
“Your mom?” I said with a humorless smile. “Alright, mommy’s boy. Does your wife know that you’re here at my gate begging for forgiveness?”
He stiffened slightly at the mention of Melissa.
“Because if your intentions were pure and you actually wanted forgiveness and nothing more,” I continued, my voice sharpening, “then your whole family would be here right now. You, your mom, and Melissa. Or are you forgetting they also wronged me too?”
“My mom,” he said hesitantly, “she’s… uhm, busy right now. But she would ask for your forgiveness once you have forgiven me.”
I let out a small laugh, shaking my head slowly.
“And Melissa,” he continued, “she’s not really important to me anymore. You know It’s always been me and you. She was a mistake, a nightmare that I’ve been living with for five years and I’ve had to pay for that. But it’s not too late for her to get out of the picture.”
I stared at him, disbelief flashing across my face.
“Wow, James,” I said. “You really do need an award.”
He frowned slightly, clearly not understanding my reaction.
“So it’s suddenly now you and I again?” I went on. “And you want to kick Melissa out of the picture the same way you did with me five years ago?”
My lips curled into a cold smile.
“Tell me, did you use these same words on Melissa when she entered your bed?”
“No,” he said quickly, shaking his head. “I’m not trying to deceive you. This is the truth. Look, what happened between Melissa and I was my fault, I take responsibility for that.”
He straightened his shoulders like he was preparing to confess something heavy.
“After I got the promotion, the whole rich lifestyle got into my head. I wanted a woman who could show off that lifestyle, and that was why I went for her. I didn’t know she would be such a problem.”
I raised an eyebrow, unimpressed, the same promotion he got because of me
“She’s a problem?” I repeated slowly. “But you guys are always the perfect couple in the media. You don’t fight or quarrel, so how is she suddenly a problem to you now?”
My tone was filled with sarcasm, and he clearly caught it.
“Because we’re not meant for each other,” he said earnestly. “Melissa and I are not compatible. I’m only compatible with you.”
He took a small step closer to the gate.
“What do I have to do to show you that I’m actually sorry? I can get you what you want. I can kneel and beg you here and now.”
Desperation dripped from his voice, and for a brief second, I could see fear in his eyes.
I laughed, a short sharp sound.
“Did I just hear you say you can get me what I want?” I asked. “Take a close look at me. Do I look like Melissa or any other lady who doesn’t have something doing with their life?”
He went quiet.
“Do I look like someone who can’t pay her own bills?” I continued. “I don’t need a man to get me what I want. I work hard and I get it by myself.”
My tone was intense, unwavering.
I saw how he swallowed the lump in his throat, a drop of sweat already forming and sliding down his forehead. He looked uncomfortable now, exposed.
“And secondly,” I added, pausing deliberately, “I’d like you to do it.”
“Do what?” he asked, confused.
“You just said you can go on your knees to beg me for forgiveness,” I said calmly. “I’d like you to do that.”
His eyes widened slightly.
“The same knees you bent to engage Melissa years ago,” I continued, my voice filled with venom. “You’re going to bend them to beg.”
He cleared his throat nervously and adjusted his shirt, clearly not expecting me to hold him by his own words.
“I didn’t literally mean I’ll go on…”
I didn’t even wait for him to finish.
I rolled my eyes, turned around, and began walking back towards the house.
“You’re wasting my time,” I said while walking.
“Wait, please wait,” he said, stretching his hands through the gate bars like he could hold me from walking further away.