My heart tightened as I watched Dennis stand up so bravely, calling Alain the "old man." His courage filled me with both pride and concern. I gently stroked his hair, trying to soothe him.
Jackie nodded, his voice calm but firm. "I understand, Dennis. It's important to protect the people we love, but we have to do it without breaking promises or putting ourselves in danger. We need to be strong and smart."
Dennis sniffled, his fierce determination softening as he nodded. "Yes, Uncle Jackie," he said quietly.
I let out a sigh of relief, my eyes meeting Jackie's with gratitude. "Thank you," I whispered, feeling the weight of everything slowly lift. "I didn't realize you had helped us so much."
Jackie smiled warmly, standing tall. "It's my pleasure, Elwyn. Dennis is a wonderful boy, and I just wanted to make sure he was safe and happy."
Hearing this, my heart swelled with gratitude. It was hard to believe that someone could be so kind and do so much without expecting anything in return. "Thank you, Jackie," I repeated, my voice thick with emotion. "I don't know how we could ever repay you."
He shook his head, still smiling. "There's no need for repayment. Knowing that you and Dennis are safe is more than enough."
As the tension in the room began to fade, I felt a calm wash over me. For the first time in a long while, I believed things might finally be getting better. I glanced down at Dennis, who was staring up at Jackie with admiration and trust, and my heart softened. We would be okay.
It surprised me how quickly Dennis had warmed up to Jackie. My son had always been shy, never opening up to strangers, but now, he trusted Jackie completely. It left me in awe, watching their bond grow.
Alain, however, stood fuming in the background. He could no longer tolerate the sight of me and Dennis finding comfort in another man's presence. His face twisted in fury as he hurled another insult. "You're pathetic, Elwyn. Found another man behind my back, huh? Disgusting."
I tried to stay calm, but I had reached my limit. I turned to face him, my voice steady but sharp. "We're divorced, Alain. It's perfectly normal for me to be with someone else now. You're the disgusting one for cheating on me."
My words struck him where it hurt most. His face flushed with anger, but before he could retaliate, Jackie spoke, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "Elwyn," he called out.
I turned toward him, startled by the softness in his voice. There was something different in his eyessomething deep and sincere that I hadn't noticed before. My heart raced unexpectedly, caught off guard by the surge of emotion that welled up inside me.
"Elwyn, you and Dennis need to rest," Jackie said, his tone calm yet authoritative. "Let me handle this."
His words stirred something inside me, and I found myself nodding, trusting him completely without a second thought. Jackie's strength, his calmnessit all gave me a sense of security I hadn't felt in years.
Alain, watching this exchange, looked furious. He must have felt abandoned, isolated. But there was nothing he could do. All he could manage was a hateful glare aimed at Jackie.
But Jackie didn't flinch. He met Alain's gaze with calm resolve, his voice firm as ever. "Alain, you need to leave. Don't make this worse than it already is."
Alain clenched his jaw, his face twisting with rage. But he knew he was beaten. With one last venomous look, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
The loud echo of the door slamming left the room in silence. I exhaled deeply, finally feeling a sense of relief. It was over.
Jackie turned to me and Dennis, his smile gentle and reassuring. "It's over now. You should rest."
I bent down, taking Dennis's hand, feeling a warmth spread through me. For the first time in so long, I felt lighter, like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. With Jackie by my side, I realized I didn't have to face everything alone anymore. A small spark of hope lit up inside me.
But as I watched Jackie step closer, something unexpected stirred inside me. Each step he took toward me sent my heart racing faster, and I felt my face flush with an unfamiliar warmth. It had been so long since I'd felt emotions like thisunexpected, uncontrollable.
And then, Jackie stopped in front of me and pulled out a small box from his pocket. I froze, my breath catching in my throat as he opened the box to reveal a sparkling ring. My eyes widened in disbelief.
Before I could process what was happening, Jackie knelt down on one knee, looking up at me with unwavering sincerity.
"Elwyn, will you marry me?"
The world around me seemed to freeze. I couldn't believe my eyes. Was Jackie really proposing? This was beyond anything I could have imagined. But then, a thought crossed my mindmaybe he was just trying to help me out of this awkward situation, a way to finally shut Alain out of our lives for good. Jackie was a good man, after all. Perhaps he was simply offering me an escape with no strings attached.
Alain, still standing by, was in shock. His face was a mix of disbelief and rage.
I looked into Jackie's eyes and saw only sincerity and kindness. He truly wanted to protect me. Though confusion still lingered in my heart, I knew I had to make a decision. So, to Alain's utter shock, I nodded, my voice soft but clear.
"Yes, I will."
Alain's face fell. He looked like he had been punched in the gut, standing there, mouth agape, speechless. Relief surged through me as I saw his reaction. This wasn't just about escaping Alainit was a chance for a new future.
Jackie smiled, his eyes shining with happiness and relief. He stood and gently slid the ring onto my finger. A warm sense of safety filled me as I looked into his eyes. Dennis stood by my side, his face beaming with joy and admiration.
In that moment, I realized that no matter what challenges the future held, I wouldn't face them alone. With Jackie and Dennis by my side, I felt stronger than I had in years, ready to face whatever life would bring.