Chapter 28 – Jack Comes Begging
I didn’t think it would feel this natural. Sitting around a family table. Listening to a mother fuss about whether I’d eaten.
Watching a father beam with pride like he was seeing me for the first time–and yet like he never stopped seeing me.
“You used to love mango pudding,” Mrs. D’Angelo said, laughing as she spooned it into a bowl. “You would cry until someone gave you a second serving.”
I smiled softly, “Maybe that explains my sweet tooth now.”
George chuckled, “And Tony would always try to steal it from your plate.”
Tony groaned, “I was seven! Stop making me sound like a thief.”
It was… strange. Comforting. Like I had walked into a life that should’ve always been mine.
And for the first time, I wasn’t Gwen the abandoned wife or Gwen the CEO.
I was Rachel. Daughter. Sister. Real. Loved.
“I saw a photo of your engagement,” Mrs. D’Angelo said, eyes twinkling. “He’s handsome, your Ryder.”
I blushed, “He is. And I think… I think I really love him.”
“Awww,” they all cooed at once, making me hide my face.
Later that evening, I was walking down the stairs when I saw the front door open.
Jack was standing there like a ghost.
He looked like he hadn’t slept in days. His hair was messy, shirt wrinkled, eyes hollow.
George stepped forward immediately, blocking him. “You’ve got a lot of nerve showing your face here.”
“Please,” Jack said, voice rough. “I just want to talk to her. Please. Gwen–Rachel- whatever name she wants. I just need one minute.”
“Turn around,” Tony said, “before we drag you out.”
“It’s fine,” I said, coming down the stairs slowly. “Let him talk.”
They moved aside hesitantly. Jack looked at me like he had been drowning and I was the only oxygen left on earth.
“I don’t expect you to forgive me,” he started, stepping closer. “But I’m sorry. For everything. For the plane. For the baby. For the lies. I was a monster. I know that now.”
I folded my arms, staring him down.
“You didn’t just hurt me, Jack. You humiliated me. You treated me like nothing.”
He swallowed hard. “And I hate myself for it. I lost everything the moment I let you go. Please–please just give me one more chance to fix it.”
“You think I’m here for your redemption arc?” I said coldly. “You want pity, Jack? I ran out
He Killed My Son. Now I’ll Ruin Him
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of that a long time ago.”
He looked down, tears slipping quietly.
George scoffed, “Where’s your wife? Shouldn’t you be begging her, not your ex?”
Jack looked up slowly. “She said she lost the baby today. I thought… I thought she was lying. Like the party.”
The room fell quiet.
Mrs. D’Angelo stood. “We should go check on her. Miscarriage or not, she’s still family.”
I nodded. “Let’s go.”
The hospital was cold and clean. Everywhere smelt of antiseptic.
We arrived together–my new family with Jack trailing behind us like a shadow.
The nurse frowned when we asked about Cara. “She’s already been discharged,” she said.
Mrs. D’Angelo sighed. “She didn’t even call us.”
“I’ll be right back,” I said, heading toward the restroom.
I stepped inside the tiled room and closed the door, needing a moment to breathe.
That’s when I heard the click.
I turned–and saw her.
Cara was standing in front of me.
Her hair was wild, makeup smeared, and in her hand… a knife.
“I told you,” she hissed. “I told you you’d ruin everything.”
“Cara,” I said slowly. “Put the knife down.”
“I LOST EVERYTHING!” she screamed. “Jack! My baby! My family!”
“You did that to yourself.”
She lunged at me.
I screamed, grabbing her wrists, pushing back. We slammed into the door and burst into the hallway.
Everyone turned.
The D’Angelos, Jack, the nurses–they all froze as we stumbled into the waiting room, locked in a struggle.
“CAR-” I started, but i couldn’t finish.
Because the moment she raised the knife again… Jack stepped in front of me.
And she stabbed him.
Right in the back.
Time stopped.
The knife fell from her hand as she screamed. Jack slumped forward, his body collapsing
onto mine
Blood soaked through his shirt. His hands trembled as he touched my cheek. “I paid,” he whispered. “With my life.”
Then his body went limp.
*JACK!” Cara shrieked. “No, no, no–Jack, I didn’t mean it! I didn’t mean it!”
“Call a doctor!” someone shouted.
stood there frozen, with Jack bleeding on my chest, and everyone shouting around me.
Ryder, who had just arrived pushed through, pulling Jack off me, laying him gently on the loor as nurses rushed in.
Mrs. D’Angelo clutched her chest.
eorge grabbed Cara and pushed her against the wall, “WHAT DID YOU DO?!”
ara was shaking, crying hysterically. “I didn’t mean it! I just wanted her gone! I didn’t mean
m-
nd I just stood there, watching because for the first time, Jack bled for me and I still felt imb.
