Chapter 6
Jack Garcia, who’d never bought me a single gift, now stood holding an armful of lavish boxes.
He shoved them into my hands, urgency in his voice:
“Emily, I’ve missed you so much.”
“Look, I got all these gifts for you. Do you like them?”
I stared at the designer bags and heels, feeling nothing.
Everything I’d once begged for, he’d refused.
Now that I wanted none of it, he’d crossed mountains to deliver them.
I dropped the boxes, weariness settling in my bones.
“Jack, you couldn’t stand me. You wanted me gone. I gave you exactly what you asked for. What is this?”
“We’re divorced. None of this matters anymore.”
He flashed an awkward smile, pretending not to understand.
“You don’t like these? Tell me what you want-I’ll buy it right now.”
Suddenly his eyes lit up as he pulled out the Garcia family heirloom jade bracelet-the one Deborah Clark had worn.
“You’ll love this, Emily. It’s our family treasure. Here, let me—”
I stepped back, sheltering behind Aaron Walker.
Aaron’s voice turned icy:
“Jack, this isn’t China where your threats carry weight. Leave before you embarrass yourself further. My fiancée needs to focus on her wedding gown.”
Jack’s composure shattered, his voice choked with tears.
“It was just a mistake any man could make! Was leaving me really necessary?”
“I’ve cut ties with Deborah. I’ll change-I swear it.”
“Emily, I finally understand-I love you. I regret regaining my memory. Without it, I’d have cherished you forever.”
“Tell me how to earn your forgiveness. One chance-just one-and I’ll spend my life making you happy.”
I watched his breakdown with detached calm.
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“Can you resurrect our child? Bring my
“How will you repay years of humiliation and heartbreak?”
“Jack Garcia-how could I possibly forgive you?”
“Leave. I never want to see you again.”
His phone rang.
Deborah’s name flashed on the screen.
He answered on speakerphone.
Deborah’s bloodcurdling scream pierced the air:
“Jack! Save me! They’re going to cut our baby out alive-they say it’s your order! I don’t believe it!”
Jack’s face twisted in disgust:
“You heard right. It is my command.”
“I know everything. You pushed Emily down the stairs. You killed our child!”
“That baby isn’t mine-it’s Joseph Garcia’s. You’ve always loved him. You got close to me to eliminate me for his sake!”
“You vile woman! You took Emily from me! Now you’ll suffer everything she endured!”
He ended the call mid-scream, a cruel smirk playing on his lips.
Then he looked at me pleadingly:
“Look, Emily, I’ve punished Deborah. Please forgive me?”
My patience was hanging by a thread.
“This is between you two. It’s got nothing to do with me!”
“If you don’t leave now, I’m calling the police!”
Jack couldn’t comprehend why I still refused to forgive him after everything he’d done.
He dropped to his knees with a thud, tears welling up:
“Emily, don’t be so cruel to me. I’m begging you…’
“I told you I’d change. Just give me one chance. Only one…”
All desire to continue wedding dress shopping vanished. I grabbed Aaron’s arm and turned to leave.
Jack suddenly pulled out a knife. Aaron shoved me behind him, eyes locked on Jack in warning.
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But Jack flipped the blade toward himself, letting out a guttural roar.
“If you won’t forgive me, I’ll kill myself right here!”
Trembling with rage, I spat through clenched teeth.
Before Aaron could speak, I stormed toward Jack and screamed:
“What else can you do besides threaten me?”
“Jack, you make me sick!”
“Wanna die so badly? Go ahead! Maybe it’ll atone for what you did to my child and my parents!”
Jack’s eyes widened, disbelief washing over his face.
Then despair replaced sorrow as tears of regret streamed down his cheeks.
“So you hate me this much. Fine… if my death brings you peace, so be it!”
He drove the blade into his body with sudden force, collapsing with a twisted smile.
I went limp against Aaron in shock.
Jack survived. After emergency treatment, Aaron contacted Mr. Garcia.
Mr. Garcia chartered a flight that same night to bring him back home.
He promised to keep Jack under watch and prevent further disruptions.
Our wedding proceeded as planned, though I dreaded Jack might crash it.
Fortunately, he never appeared.
But as the reception neared its end, a server approached with a gift box.
A wedding present from Jack, they said.
I hesitated, suspicious of his motives.
Aaron took the box and opened it for me.
Inside lay an unnervingly unique diamond necklace.
Then my bridesmaid handed me a phone displaying a text from an unknown number.
I knew it was Jack.
After I blocked him, he’d called once from this number. I hadn’t answered.
The message froze me:
These diamonds were forged from your parents’ ashes. I dissolved their remains in water, evaporated the entire pool,
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and crystallized them into this necklace-your wedding gift.
Today, on your new beginning, Deborah and I will return to the river where I should’ve died three years ago. Thank you for those three years, Emily. Had I drowned back then, you’d have been spared all that pain.
Wishing you eternal happiness.
I pocketed the phone. Hand in hand with Aaron, we stepped into the tulip-covered carriage amid cheers. The grand procession carried us toward our hard-won happiness.
(The End)
