"So? How was it?", asked a woman in her sexy jeans and peach floral blouse, visibly hugging her voluptuous figure. Her well-maintained long and big-curled hair flowed between her shoulders, bouncing as she moved. She gently picked up the exquisite teacup and took a sip. Her eyes were keen on Jacques.
"I was given few payment schemes. Here take a look." Jacques handed over a white A4-sized envelope and put it in front of the woman.
"Nah. I don't wanna see it. It's not like I can help you pay for it. I just help you get it, not return it."
"You never change. But yeah, you're right, I don't plan to ask for help from you on paying too. You already helped me a lot." Jacques suddenly wore a face of worry and sadness.
"What happened to you? What's that face for?" She asked.
"Well, the schemes were generously offered to me by the President. Personally, in his office by the way. However, he took time to paint the picture of what happened to Nyla from the day, I went berserk..." Jacques continued according to the story Callum told him earlier.
"Oh... so you were supposed to be an expecting father now?" Her face turned sour, a hint of jealousy in her question.
"Yes... Violet, don't be worked up now. I've been with you all this time. I am just saying, I knew all about Nyla's difficult life before and I was the worst that happened even after knowing all that." Jacques tried to coax the woman who had tried to slap his hand from holding hers. She failed so she let him hold her left hand while reaching for the teacup with the other.
The woman, who looked 80% like Nyla, suppressed her emotions. She has been in love with Jacques since high school. They grew up together because they were neighbors. Although her family was well-off and Jacques' was not, her family did not concern themselves with family status, riches, or fame.
She could have entered a prestigious university during college due to her intelligence and money. However, to be with Jacques, she decided on her own to enter the community college where Jacques went. Her father indulged her since that would make her happy.
Imagine her surprise when one day she knew that Jacques' girlfriend looked a lot like her and started living with him in just 5 months. Her heart broke into a thousand pieces but nobody can know. If anything, Jacques cannot know. Or does he know already that time? She can't tell.
Jacques had always treated her like a friend. He had always kept an invisible barrier between them. But he was always that "available friend" to help her with things. That was why it was very difficult for her to accept that the woman he fell in love with looked a lot like her.
When Jacques fell into the bad habit of gambling and debts, She was the one who helped him fake the documents. She was the one who signed the co-maker portion. She was the one who appeared before the lending company with Jacques. She only did a few makeup tricks and nobody could tell her apart from Nyla.
So why didn't she help him financially? Simple. She's mad at Jacques and Nyla for falling in love.
Violet Van Meyer. Heir to the retail store empire in the country. Only daughter and child to widowed Mr. Rudford Van Meyer who is the fourth generation Emperor of Gapigora Shopping Malls.
She could help him in one fell swoop but no. She wanted Jacques to suffer also.
She was the imposter. And she was the one who indirectly caused Nyla's further misery at that time.
They got together after all of that turmoil. It's exactly what they say when you experience the same storm, it will make you grow closer.
She is very irritated now.
Jacques is still trying to coax her.
"Please, Violet. She's happy now with her life. I don't intend to disrupt their lives. I am just guilty for the wrong things I've done to her."
"Of course, you cannot disrupt her life! Otherwise, why am I with you? Look, you can wallow in your guilt all you want but don't let me see it. I helped you scam her, remember? Do you want to pass on that guilt to me too? I'm telling you, I don't plan to." She stared intensely at him and rolled her eyes after her speech.
"Yes, of course not. I'm sorry. I will look into the available payment schemes and decide within the week. My job is stable now after switching careers. I am confident, I can do better handling of my life this time."
He hugged the woman from behind and coaxed her more.
"Besides, with you in my life, I believe it will be better from here on out."
"I don't need lip service. Prove it. Don't you dare cheat on me. I don't forgive easily."
"Babe, when did I ever lie to you? Besides, you know wherever I am. you even have a tracker on my phone. I tell you everything. Can you please trust me?"
Violet was taken aback a bit. True. Jacques was particularly honest with her. And as far as she knows, she is the only person in his life whom he can cry, complain, and beg without shame.
"Alright... I believe you."