Jaxon's First Love

Ashley was wide awake the entire time that Jaxon and her son were sitting beside her as they watched the talking pig on the television. For the first time after her two lifetimes, Ashely felt incredulous about how this was the only time that the three of them sat as a family while watching a cartoon.

A daily occurrence in a normal family was something akin to impossible for a family like Ashley, Jaxon, and Scottie.

And this seemingly impossible event was happening right now, making Ashley tense all of a sudden.

Like Ashley's tense form, Jaxon acted as if he was entranced with the talking pig on the screen. Unmoving, Jaxon's back was straight as he crossed his legs and arms.

Scottie was the only one acting normal between the three of them. His little chubby legs dangled the sofa as he leaned to his mother's side and his father's side. His cute little cheeks were like buns and his eyes were twinkling happily.

The odd tranquility was shattered by the ringing tone of Jaxon's phone. On cue, two pairs of eyes were fixated on Jaxon, forcing the latter to answer the call that he did not like to take for reasons he did not even want to wonder.

Clearing his throat, Jaxon said, "I'll take this first."

Ashley merely raised her brows. She did not get why Jaxon acted as if he did not want to answer the call. She did not care and would never care at all. She merely hummed, barely sparing Jaxon's departing figure a glance.

"Where is Daddy going?"

Pulling Scottie into her arms, she placed her chin above her son's head as they continued to watch the talking pig on the screen. "Just leave Daddy be. It is his work, probably."

Upon hearing that it was his father's work, Scottie shifted his young mind back to the pink-colored talking pig. He shoved his father's concern at the back of his mind, thinking that his father would be back shortly after.

The sound of Jaxon's footsteps resounded.

Through Ashley's peripheral vision, she observed the clenched jaws of the man she used to love. Ashley knew this kind of look well. This was the face he would show her in her last lifetime whenever he would leave her for that reason.

A bitter smile appeared on Ashley's face like a ghost—the faster it came, the quicker it vanished.

"I have to go," said Jaxon, "Something came up in the company."

"Okay," Ashley nonchalantly glanced at Jaxon as if she was looking at a stranger before she tapped her son. "Scottie, your father is leaving for work. Say goodbye to your Dad."

Scottie needed not to be told twice. He dashed from Ashley's embrace to Jaxon's leg, hugging his father's thigh as he looked up.

"Will you come back?"

Jaxon felt the clog in his throat upon being stared at by a pair of eyes that resembled his. He was used to staying away from his son, only seeing his heir every night when Scottie was already asleep. But now, after Ashley changed attitude toward his son, Scottie seemed to strip away from being a timid heir to a bubbly one.

The word 'No' seemed to be stuck in Jaxon's throat as he looked down. On instinct, Jaxon looked at Ashely who was quietly looking at him and Scottie.

Ashley sighed. She took a step forward and pulled Scottie away from Jaxon's thigh. Bending down to carry her son, she hugged his son's small frame to her body.

"Scottie, do you want to go to Mommy's place?"

Scottie hugged Ashley's leg as he nodded vehemently. "Yes! Yes! I want to go with Mommy!"

The word 'Mommy' did the trick. Scottie no longer paid attention to his father who was now oddly sensing a foreign feeling of loss after watching the mother and son hugging each other. Jaxon saw Ashley's nod to him, signaling him to leave immediately.

Despite the reluctance, Jaxon still left the villa with heavy steps.

Jaxon easily made his way to a hospital's VIP area and opened it with great familiarity. As soon as the door opened, he was met by a pair of glistening eyes. The moment he stepped in, those unshed tears trickled down her delicate cheeks as if she was deeply aggrieved at the moment.

"Talia, why are you crying?"

As if the heavy burden on Jaxon's shoulders vanished at the back of his mind, Jaxon focused on the lady who was wearing a hospital gown.

"Jaxon! You're finally here!" She opened her arms in reflex, welcoming Jaxon with a big hug, not minding the fact that she just pulled Jaxon away from his family.

As soon as Jaxon's arms engulfed the thin woman in a tight yet comforting embrace her shaking shoulders calmed down. Patting her head, he stood beside her hospital bed, silently consoling her.

"Did you have that dream again?" Jaxon's voice, which was usually cold and unfeeling, was now laced with concern. He pushed her by the shoulders and scanned her from head to toe. "Did you have a bad dream again?"

Talia hugged Jaxon by the waist and buried her face in his wide and firm chest. In a muffled voice, she answered. "It's fine as long as you are always there in every bad dream I have, Jaxon."

On the other hand, Ashley carried Scottie back to his room. Tucking him carefully, she kissed her son on the forehead lovingly.

"Your father is with that woman again," Ashley murmured.

She stood up, walked away from the room, and took the locked notebook where she scribbled notes about her first life. She listed all the important events of that time. Skimming through the pages, she abruptly stopped the page where two words were only written.

Talia Taylor

Talia Taylor—the bane of the former Ashley's existence. Ashley, who was madly in love with Jaxon, lived a life of misery as she was dubbed by the public as a villain who was antagonizing a sickly lady due to blind jealousy.

Ashley ripped the page and tore it to shreds. She walked to the fireplace of the garden and burned the pieces of paper. Her gaze, which was staring at the fire that swallowed the pieces of paper, stared at Talia's name until it turned to ashes.

"In this lifetime, your act will not pull me anymore. Because of you, my son has to work hard while your younger brother takes all the admiration of the Elijah Family. This time, I, Scottie's mother, will be your greatest nightmare."