Page 252 of Taeja

He hung his head low. “I thought I was doing the right thing. You have to understand that since I was little, no one wanted me, but my mother always stood by my side. Especially when Jerald denied me.”

“What does that have to do with our daughter’s upbringing?”

“I wanted her to be up to a certain standard so no one could treat her how Jerald did me and the woman who conceived his first son.”

She pursed her lips, knowing his father had always been a touchy subject for him. “What about me?” she asked after a moment of silence. “I’m your wife and the mother of your child. You know all that you and your mother went through. Why would you do the same to me and Taeja? People either learn from their past or they become their past, and look how you turned out… Did we not mean anything to you?”

“You both mean the world to me, Cassedi,” he stated firmly. “My judgment was skewed while I thought I was doing the best thing for everyone. I really am sorry, Cass,” he said, and she hated how genuine he sounded. It broke down her barrier more than he did last night. Especially when he called her by her nickname. “If I could take it all back, I would.”

“You can’t.”

“That is why I will work for your forgiveness.” He sat beside her. “I know I don’t deserve yours and Taeja’s forgiveness, but you are my family. You are all I have, and I love you both.”

Cassedi’s heart paced. “You love me?”

Jerry nodded. “I never stopped, Cassedi. Even when I thought you ran away with Romar. And I know you still love me. I can feel it.”

“Not because two people are in love means they should be together.”

“I know, but I want to remind you why we were together in the first place.”

She sighed, looking away from him. He hooked his finger beneath her chin, making her skin tingle and her breathing quicken as she met his eyes.

“Give me another chance.Please.”

“Not if things are going to be like they were with Teddy. If I give you another chance, I wantus. I want the person I met in college who made me smile and laugh every other second. I don’t want to walk on eggshells around you again. I found some peace here, and I can’t go back to that.”

“I will be a better man for both of you. Just say yes, Cass…” he pleaded. His eyes shone with unshed tears.

Cassedi sighed, using her last bit of willpower to give Jerry an answer.

42

Looking at the diplomain her hands, Taeja smiled. Her last semester of college ran off faster than she expected it to. She’d accomplished a lot during these past months…

Being a germaphobe and harsh critic aside, Gavin was an amazing mentor. Now that her internship was complete, she’d work at Damon’s office part-time, but for the most part, she’d be a freelance web designer. She was in the final stages of getting everything ready to venture into her new career, and things were looking up for her already.

Taeja looked at Liyah, who walked beside her. “We did it!”

Tightening her coat around her body, Liyah smiled. “Best believe it!”

Taeja smiled as she stopped by the car. “Before I forget—” Taeja opened her diploma jacket, pulling out a small envelope Mason discreetly handed her moments ago. “This is for you.”

“What is it?” Liyah asked with a smile, her teeth clicking against each other as a gust of wind blew by.

“Open it to see!”

She opened the envelope and gasped. “What’s this?”

“Gyal like you weh just graduate cya read already?” Taeja teased, and Liyah rolled her eyes. “You’re looking at a paid-off student debt, and a card stocked to kick start your first semester in grad school.”

“Tae,” Liyah sobbed. “Ican’t—”

“I told you that you had no choice but to accept it,” Taeja said, and Liyah tugged her into a hug. Their body warmth seeped into each other’s skin.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Taeja chuckled when wetness settled on her neck. “Mi love yu, but nuh bother with the crying on me right now. The place is too cold as is.”

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