Life Must Go On

Sunlight rays hit Jeanne's closed eyes. Jeanne felt disturbed. She then woked up by rubbing her eyes. She felt a little bit tef pain on her cheek and so much pain on her whole body especially her private part. From afar she saw a figure standing near the window. Then she felt suddenly cold as she lifts up the duvet from her body. HELL NO! she's naked!

Her shock attract Andy's attention who standing at the side of the window. Andy quickly went to her. He sat down right beside Jeanne on the bed.

"Jeanne...." Andy called her name with a huge burden of regret. Little did he know he would able to go that far on Jeanne. He looked at Jeanne's face that is looking down. He then tried to reach Jeanne's hand.

"Don't touch me!" Jeanne warned while crying heavily. She never thought that Andy, who she once loved can treat her like that. Now, there is no longer an inch of love for Andy in her torn and broken heart.

Andy forcibly reached her hands.

"Jeanne, I'm sorry. Last night was crazy. I'm so sorr..."

Before Andy finished talking, Jeanne pulled her hands from Andy's grasp and gave Andy a slap.

Andy was flabbergasted with Jeanne's action but he knew that he deserved it.

Jeanne rushed to pick her cloth and put it back in an instant. Andy's eyes followed her actions but he did not dare to say a word. Jeanne then quickly step out of the house and jumped into her car. She pushed the gas pedal as much as she can. In her head now, she has to get out from there.

Jeanne cannot hide her sadness and frustration. Her driving becomes reckless as her eyesight becomes blurry due to a pool of tears coming out. She decided to stop at the roadside. She yelled and cried as much as she can. She never thought that her utmost priority which is her virgin is stolen in such a way. Added to the stress is the one who did it to her, who she once wished to be married to, did it in such a dirty and cruel way. She felt like the sky has fallen on her.

Suddenly, her phone rang. It was a call from Aaron but she decided to reject it. She picked up the leftover spirit in her and continued the day. She wiped her tears and reached for her phone.

156 missed calls, from Aaron. Jeanne sighed.

She then texted Aaron

"So sorry I just wake up. Will be in the office ASAP"

Without wasting any more time, she cleaned herself who is very messy right now and directly drove to her home to quickly get changed.

Upon arriving, she saw Ma was waiting at the veranda. She did not want to stop and just acted like she did not see her.

"Where were you last night? You didn't come home" ask Ma worriedly.

"I work overtime" answer Jeanne short.

Before Ma could even ask more, Jeanne quickly disappeared into the house. Ma was left puzzled. There must be something happening, but Ma decided to keep it to herself first as she did not want to pressure Jeanne.

In the toilet, Jeanne can clearly see herself in the mirror. Her right cheek seemed reddish, due to the punch last night. There was also bloodstain at the edge of the lips. She touched it to clean it but it was quite hurting. Meanwhile, there were marks everywhere on her body. She can do nothing but cry.

What a sad life I have, being raped by someone who I loved dearly, Jeanne sighed deeply in her heart.

Soon, she did not want to waste more time. She started cleaning up and dress up and head to the office.

Upon arriving at Aaron's room,

"Morning, Aaron" Jeanne greeted Aaron.

Aaron who was busy looking at the laptop just realized that Jeanne was already there. He looked at Jeanne and Jeanne directly turn her body to the pantry to make Aaron some tea.

"You don't have to make me tea today. You've got a new job to do, right" asked Aaron when Jeanne seemed lost.

Jeanne only then remembers that she now has a team of designers to handle. She quickly arranged her steps to the secretary.

Aaron realized Jeanne acting weirdly quickly get off of his seat and grasp Jeanne's hand before she stepped out of the room. Jeanne's steps stopped. Aaron forced Jeanne's body to be in front of him.

"What's wrong? you seem different" asked Aaron.

Jeanne quickly hid her face but Aaron was faster to catch the face. He pulled the face facing his face.

Aaron was shocked seeing Jeanne reddish cheek and wounded lips. His face seemed shocked, sad, and mad at the same time.

"Who did this to you?" asked Aaron with anger.

Jeanne started crying and shaking her heads. She did not want Aaron to find out what is truthfully happened to her.

"No, I fell in the toilet" replied Jeanne, lying to Aaron. She was scared that she might get fired if Aaron knew she messed up and break her own philosophy.

Aaron did not seem to be satisfied with the answer but he did not want to disturb Jeanne's miserable feelings.

"Ok then. Let's go meet your team. They are excited to meet you" said Aaron cheerfully, wanted to change the atmosphere.

Jeanne gave a little smile and followed Aaron after. The room was placed right in front of Aaron's room. So Aaron can see Jeanne's workplace from his room. They both entered the room titled "Special Project".

In that room, Jeanne became a little bit happy to see her former colleagues, Rex, Cara, and Dita coming together with Anne. The colleagues were excited as Jeanne when they see each other except for Anne. They hugged and cried joyously as they haven't met each other for quite a while now.

"Oh my god, Jeanne! We missed you so much!" said Cara, one of Jeanne's best friends at a former workplace.

Anne seemed to be uncomfortable with the interaction but whatever said Jeanne's, little heart.

"Well, I shall leave you all and let you all get started," said Aaron simple, with a little smile, presenting his CEO vibe which is so very much different when he was alone with Jeanne.

They all nodded and wishing good luck to each other.

Jeanne took her place in the middle front of the table and started the briefing,

"So hello everyone, I'm so excited to see everyone here. Since I just entered this project as the main designer, I'm however still lack understanding about the whole plan of the collection. Hence, I would like to invite Ms. Stewart to give the briefing to everyone so that everyone is crystal clear about the project. Ok, let's get started, and Goodluck everyone!"

Anne walked towards the board and started explaining the whole proposal and processes. Anne also made a job scope for everyone so that everyone knows what roles are they playing in succeeding in the project. After Anne finished briefing, Jeanne clapped her hands and gave a proud smile to Anne.

To Jeanne, Anne is always a person with a good plan. She really knows how to plan ahead and see what's coming. No wonder her projects never finish after the deadline and never worked overtime as she knows what she should be doing every day and finishes it. Other colleagues clapped with her as well, as they also amazed at Anne's proposal.

Jeanne tried to put aside past conflicts and praise Anne. However, Anne did not seem to be welcoming of the praise. Jeanne just let it be and did not want to focus on the negative vibes. The team then started doing the project focus.

Later that night, when everyone is already going back home, Jeanne was still in her office, pondering on ideas for the collection at her table which is at the other side of the room, facing the skyscraper buildings. The mellow songs played accompanied her in the silence. She was so into her job that she did not notice that Aaron was behind her.

"Still not going back?" Aaron asked Jeanne while giving a kiss on Jeanne's hair and rest her hand on Jeanne's shoulder.

Jeanne was so shocked that she accidentally move the large table to the front.

Aaron laughed at Jeanne's reaction while Jeanne was massaging her chest due to massive shock.

"You always like this. Love to see my shock, huh?" said Jeanne angrily, but Aaron finds it so cute.

Aaron chuckled a little bit.

"It's late already, let's go back," said Aaron.

Jeanne smiled at Aaron.

"I want to finish this. Just a little bit more" said Jeanne while showing her sketch to Aaron.

Aaron focused his sight on the sketch for a moment.

"I find this perfect already," said Aaron.

Jeanne raised her eyebrows.

Aaron nodded eagerly, expressing agreement to his view.

Jeanne thought for a moment.

"Hm, okay then. So it's done" said Jeanne.

She then packed her stuff and walked together with Aaron.

"Let me send you home," said Aaron to Jeanne at the lobby.

"No I can drive" replied Jeanne.

"No, you seemed exhausted. I insist" said Aaron firmly.

Jeanne was feeling so tired to argue with Aaron. She then just followed Aaron to the car where Mr. Cullenwood was already waiting at the side of the car.

Throughout the journey, the couple did not talk much. Aaron just stroked Jeanne's hand gently, as if he wanted to console Jeanne from something. Jeanne did not say much, she was just comfortable by the way Aaron comforted her.

At some point, she found herself sleepy and accidentally leaned her head to Aaron's shoulder. She tried to change her head position but Aaron insists and she also finds his shoulder is much more comfortable to her neck. Without more time, Jeanne was asleep and Aaron was just following the flow.

Who did this to you, whispered Aaron in his heart when he saw the pain in Jeanne's eyes previously. He then tried to scan Jeanne's body without waking her up. Then, he saw a mark on Jeanne's wrist, as if she was chained by something. When Jeanne started moving, Aaron stopped her scanning and comforted Jeanne to sleep.

Upon arriving at Jeanne's mother's home, Jeanne was half woke up yet she can see a familiar figure was leaning at a car parked in front of her house.

It was Andy.

She relieved a huge sigh. Aaron realized the sigh and asked Jeanne

"Who's that?"

Jeanne looked at the outside of the window.

"Just an old friend of mine. Thank you for sending me home" Jeanne get out of the car.

"Wait, you don't seem ok. You want me to accompany you?" Aaron stopped Jeanne from getting out of the car. He sensed that Jeanne did not like to see her 'old friend'.

"No, I'm fine. Please go home. You need rest as well" asked Jeanne gently.

Aaron let go of her hands, giving her some personal space. Aaron's eyes accompanied her steps. Jeanne walked towards Andy lazily. Andy, who was leaning against the car directly stood up straight seeing Jeanne.

Aaron then moved from the compound. He led the way back home but stopped at one point.

On Andy's face, Jeanne can see the sign of remorseful and regretful. Jeanne looked away from his face, because of harness that is building inside.

"Jeanne..." called Andy but Jeanne remain silent.

"I see your house is all dark. Bet Ma's asleep already" explained him.

But all reply he can hear is the sound of crickets from afar.

"Jeanne.." he called again while reaching for her hands.

Jeanne aggressively pulled her hands from Andy's. Andy was shocked by seeing Jeanne's action. Jeanne that he knew was all petite and graceful, but because of that event, Jeanne becomes cold and treated him in such a way. Well, he deserved it.

"Please, I'm sorry. I was out of mind that moment" pleaded Andy.

"Please, I want to responsible for my doing" continued Andy.

Jeanne, who was battling with her feelings since moments ago bursting into tears. She never thought that her once fairy tale love story ended up this way. She cannot control her emotions.

Andy who saw Jeanne break quickly hold Jeanne into her arms but Jeanne refused it. Jeanne punched him aggressively but Andy firmly hugged Jeanne. Long after that, Jeanne was too tired to fight a man's body and just decided to cry just like that. She was too hopeless.

"Jeanne, I'm sorry. I will fix it all" begged Andy.

Jeanne was still all silent but a little sobbing comes out from her little mouth. Jeanne gather her last spirit and pushed Andy. She quickly went inside her house, leaving Andy puzzling out just like that.

At that very moment, Jeanne did not realize that there were eyes watching her with jealousy and anger.