Chapter 63.2: I’m sorry
"Let's head to the swing behind. I have something to tell." Ivy said as she took a deep breath while she led the way.
"Ivy, are you sure bout this?" She had been fighting with her thoughts all day long even to the last moment. "Alright, I must do this. Yes, you can do this Ivy. You must." She told herself as she led him to the garden.
She realised she didn't want the moment to end too when she sat on the swing. She recalled the first time he came to her house at her grandma's house during her wood project with Andrew and Sandra and the first time they met which ended up in a nasty argument. She smiled while looking up at the sky as she could feel her eyes reddening but tried to control them.
Jason didn't notice her facial reaction as he was behind her pushing her lightly on the swing. She smiled sweetly, savoring the last peaceful moments with him as she looked up at the sky lighted by glittering stars.
At that point in time, Andrew and Sandra were standing next to Nick and Marcel in the hallway and Nick knew it was time as he eyed Ray who was standing by the stairs. Nick walked over and let Ray lead him upstairs to where Ivy will meet him as they both had promised to stay by each other side after she cut things clear with Jason.
"Jason..." Ivy cooed as the gentle breeze blew past them reminding her of the nights he settled her by the balcony when she awoke from her nightmares.
"Hmmm..." Jason hummed.
"The sky is glittering again. And we are talking by the swing this time."
"Hmmm..." He agreed as he continued to push the swing lightly. Ivy knew it was time as she drew a deep breath.
"Thank you… For always being by my side, comforting, teaching, entertaining me…" Ivy put down her legs on the ground as Jason was made to stop pushing the swing.
"You're welcome." He smiled as she stood and turned around. She couldn't bring herself to draw the line as just seeing him smiling had made her miss him already. "I have decided to stay in Landsfield to continue my studies and help my dad," Ivy said as she stared right into Jason's eyes.
"Yes and I am also a shareholder in the company…" Jason was playing along carefully and wondering what was Ivy's point.
She took a deep breath wondering if she should really keep only a professional relationship only as it was her last chance before she let her emotions break her. "I..." She blinked back her tears.
"Ivy… What is it?" Jason held onto her shoulders which made Nancy panic a little before she walked out to the vicinity where Ivy could see her. Ivy panicked a little too but knew she had to remain her composure and proceed as planned as Nancy was waiting. Ivy gave her a comforting smile before turning back her attention to Jason.
"I understand all this time I had put you in an awkward situation. From tutoring to luring away my ex-girlfriend to my family chaos and your chaotic life. I think we should clear the air. It was all for show but now..." It was breaking her heart just to hear him wanting to confess as he paused watching Ivy trying to control her emotions.
"Stop! Just don't continue. I understand. I don't think we should continue any further with that fake relationship… So, just stop." She was wiping her tears away. Before he could give her the infinity necklace, she had stopped his confession.
"Ivy, don't give up on us…" Jason pleaded in his heart.
"It was a huge mistake from the beginning. First, you abducted me all you want and gave me a part-time job. You tutored me and brought me success. You were there for both my down and up times. You even taught me about what love is without my consent for the sake of convenience in front of others. And you even save me from danger ..." She couldn't bring herself past the intense memories of being assaulted by Kyle as she grimaced. Jason walked closer and nearly hugged her only to be gently pushed away by Ivy.
"And you even took a knife stab for me and found me, my family..." Ivy drew a deep breath as she forced herself to wipe her tears away.
"She is such a strong girl." He watched her trying very hard not to cry in front of him.
"Ivy, we have gone through so much together and I really want to make it up for you. I want to stay by your side and continue teaching you and protecting you." Jason explained as Ivy wavered for a moment but she fought through it.
"Jason, the person who needed you the most is Nancy and not me. Humans make mistakes and that's part of life. If her mistake could make her realise how much her love had grown for you, you should give her a second chance to make it right. Even so, a chance for you to try to love her again. After all, you don't want to waste years of effort you both had put into the relationship." Ivy said firmly as Nancy was already behind Jason close by.
"I wish you both the best of luck. Stay blissful." Ivy's words were like thousands of spears piercing through Jason's heart as his eyes reddened when he realised Ivy was giving up on them. Ivy smiled at Nancy, holding onto Jason's right arm happily as Ivy let go of Jason's hand and walked back to the hall.
All he could do was dumbfoundedly stood by the swing to register the reality as Marcel walked over to have a look at the couple. All Jason could see was Ivy at the bar trying to take a few shots in front of her. He instantly got worried that Ivy would try to drink too much as he rushed into the hall.
Ivy forced herself to walk back to the dining hall while remaining composed as there were still plenty of guests. She found Andrew and Sandra with their 10 tequila shots lined up. Ray was on standby when he saw Ivy but Ivy nodded at him to assure him that she was alright as she decided she should have a drink first.
"Are these yours?" Ivy asked as Andrew nodded.
She intended to down all of them in one shot as Jason walked in at them and signaled Andrew to stop her. She was at the sixth shot.
"Ivy, you're alright?" Andrew asked as he stopped her.
"I am very alright. I'm sorry but you can order more shots after this. Just let me have these." She went on with the last three and Jason stopped her on the last one.
She stared back at him furiously as she dragged her arm away from his fist. "Mr. Rahi, mind your own business." Nancy was enjoying the moment she had long awaited as she watched Ivy break Jason's heart.
"Enjoy the night all of you! Merry Christmas!" Ivy said as she quickly stormed upstairs led by Ray to her room in the hotel with her burning throat.
"I'm sorry, Jason." Ivy apologised in her heart.
The moment the lift's door closed, Ivy cried her heart out as she fell off to the ground lifelessly. It was also the moment she finally accepted that her feelings for Jason were very deep but there was nothing she could do to change their fate. For now, all she had done was to improve the quality of life for everyone. She could only hope for the best outcome. Ray quickly carried her in his arms as she sobbed even more while on the way to her room where Nick was waiting for them.
Ray had no choice but to sit with Ivy in his arms on the bed as she cried helplessly while Nick quickly prepared a glass of warm water and blanket to keep Ivy warm as she sobbed till she fell asleep in Ray's arms. Nick could only sit by her side as his eyes reddened from time to time while accompanying her as Ray had to head back down to the party since the family was the host.
"Jason, what happened?" Andrew asked furiously knowing Ivy was not happy with him.
"You didn't happen to ... confess, did you?" Sandra whispered.
Jason sighed at his effort and luck. "Do me a favor. Rest early and check on her tomorrow. She would need the both of you." Jason walked away realising that he had been the sacrifice all along as he got Marcel to drive Nancy back to her hotel although she was making a fuss wanting to stay by his side.
Jason was not in a stable mood for it at all. After a few moments of coaxing, he managed to get Nancy to agree to stay in the hotel first. He then found himself taking a taxi which end up at Ivy's house as he sat by the park nearby motionlessly while Marcel came later to accompany him.
"I don't want to go back to the hotel where everything reminded me of her," Jason mumbled before he let some tears drop while holding on to the necklace he prepared for Ivy.
"I have waited for so long for tonight to do this but…" Marcel patted Jason's back as he began to cry.
Marcel knew things wouldn't be as peaceful as it is anymore moving forward. "Have you known about all this before this Marcel?" Jason asked after a calm moment when he stopped crying. Marcel kept quiet.
"Was there something that I don't know is going on between Nancy and Ivy?" Jason tried to pester for confirmation Marcel nodded as Jason was trying to cope with accepting the truth.
"Jason, I think it's best for you to stay by Nancy's side for now as it would at least keep Ivy safe from harm. Besides…" Marcel was contemplating telling Jason the truth on the night Nick tried to commit suicide.
"What?" Jason pestered even more. "Nick and Ivy had made a pact to leave you and Nancy alone together as it would at least give Nancy some peace and save you a lot of trouble."
Jason wiped away more tears. "But it isn't what I wanted anymore…Ivy is a gem I would not want to lose." Marcel could only pat Jason's shoulder to comfort him.
In his mind, Jason wasn't giving up on Ivy just yet as he started to think of a plan to keep his distance from Nancy and that would be to trick her to stay for her treatment in the mental institution in Manes so that he could try to put in more effort to pursue Ivy or at least have a glimpse of her instead in Landsfield. That way he could also use one stone to kill two birds; keeping Ivy and Nick safe while he attempts to keep Ivy by his side.