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“We met ere five To say ere inseparable would be an understatement He was the first boy who held my hand, the first boy I kissed, the boy who tookThen he enlisted in the military and leftand his career ambitions crowded me out of his life I wanted a family … I wanted a life”
“I don’t care” He gritted his teeth Heat flushed through his body as his
The stranger before hiether Her voice thickened with pain “Someday you’ll understand Someday you’ll fall in love and it will brand your heart forever And if life keeps you apart, you may invite others into your heart, but it will never truly be theirs One stamp One person”
Sunny gazed at Jude with vacant eyes “I hate hi back when it was too late I hate hi me But after seventeen years I’m just so tired of all the hate I was in it for you and Jessica”
“Was?”
She cast her eyes to the ground on a long, slow sigh “I’e next fall I wanted to wait until next su I know Jessica will take it hard, but she’s a strong young woman I know you two are close and you don’t have secrets, but if you love her, then you need to think about what’s best for her during her last year of high school”
Jude leaned forward, de she look at him “If I love her? Do you hear yourself? How can you preach to me about love when the only person you love is yourself and that fucker who had his hands all over you!”
A second round of tears filled his
“I love you and Jessica—”
“No! You just said one stamp One person”
“It … it’s not the sa the back of her hand beneath her nose as sobs racked her body “The love I have for you is a different kind of love It’s unconditional You and Jessica are not my heart, you’re the beat You’reI wouldn’t do for you, and I’ve spent the past seventeen years proving it I’ll spend the rest ofyou …”
Jude narrowed his eyes “I don’t want your protection I don’t need your protection”
“Don’t say that”
Love didn’t exist, at least not the way he thought it did Jessica was daddy’s girl, but Jude idolized his anizer of fundraisers, keeper of schedules, the bright face in the front row at all their school events, the hug before bed and kiss on the cheek in theShe kept a tidy house, baked, cooked, mended clothes, and always … always made everyone feel loved
More than that, she was the loving wife Jude knew it He saw it in the adoring looks she exchanged with his father, the hand-holding, the playful banter, the patience she shohen his job got stressful She was the glue that held everyone together
No longer
She was a fraud A liar An adulterer She could not be trusted Woht his sister beca and all other women became objects to fuck Period