The question lingered in the air, heavy with implications. Jerica valued her privacy fiercely. She wasn’t about to beco tabloid fodder, and if this reunion ca at the cost of her peace, she wouldn’t hesitate to walk away.
Arthur started to respond, but Jerica cut him off. "If... oh." She paused, sensing they had spoken at the sa ti. Jared’s hand found hers, grounding her.
"No, please continue," Arthur said, chuckling softly. The surreal nature of this conversation wasn’t lost on him.
Jerica took a deep breath. "It’s... I don’t want anything from you. We can get to know each other, but I need space. If we’re going to try, it has to be without getting too involved in each other’s lives."
Arthur exchanged a glance with Lydia, who nodded reluctantly.
"And," Jerica added, her voice firr now, "about what my husband said earlier—he will never apologize to Brandon Glover or anyone else. In fact, we need an apology. Victoria needs an apology from him."
Jared’s grip on her hand tightened slightly. "Jerica..." he began, his voice low with caution. He couldn’t believe she was making this demand when they were just starting to nd things.
"We don’t have to discuss this right now," Jared interjected, his tone gentle but firm.
Jerica pouted, her frustration evident. Why couldn’t they?
"Let her speak her mind," Lydia said suddenly, her voice stronger than it had been all day.
Lydia stood, taking a step closer to Jerica, only to be stopped by Arthur’s hand on her arm. She didn’t move further, but her words carried the weight of her emotions.
"I don’t want to just ’get along’ with you," Lydia said, her voice trembling slightly but growing steadier with each word. "Your father and I want to be part of your extended family. I want to watch my grandchildren grow. You have a brother—Alfred. I want your children to play with his soday. I want you to visit us during holidays, and I want to babysit if you ever need to. I want a daughter who calls every day and..." Her voice broke, and tears welled in her eyes as Arthur pulled her into his arms.
"I know we have a long way to get there but we will," Lydia continued, her voice quieter but no less resolute. "I’ll make it happen. If you want Brandon to apologize, I’ll make him. Publicly. Not just to Victoria but to everyone he wronged. The Glover family will apologize for covering it up. Whatever it takes. Give you space? Did you think I’ll watch you from afar like a beggar? I am your mother! You’ll listen to !"
Jerica stood abruptly, her emotions boiling over. "I will not let you micromanage my life!" she shouted.
"Oh, you can!" Lydia shouted back, her voice fierce with determination.
Arthur quickly pulled Lydia back, his expression apologetic as he guided her out of the room. Jared t Arthur’s eyes, and they shared a silent understanding.
Jerica and Lydia were too similar—strong-willed, stubborn, and fiery with a deadly combination of having little patience. It was going to be a long, difficult journey for them to find common ground.
Jerica took a calming breath, her face still flushed with frustration as Jared gently rubbed her back. Lydia’s words echoed in her mind—raw, emotional, and demanding. It wasn’t that Jerica didn’t understand Lydia’s emotions. In fact, she felt them too deeply, and that was part of the problem. It was overwhelming, and she wasn’t ready to embrace it all at once.
Jared pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head. "It’s okay," he murmured. "You’re both just... passionate. This will take ti."
Jerica sighed and leaned into his chest. "Passionate is an understatent. She wants to rewrite my entire life. She doesn’t even know , Jared."
"She’s trying, though," Jared said gently, his tone neutral, careful not to stoke the fire. "She’s just as lost in this as you are. Give her so grace. And yourself too."
Jerica didn’t reply imdiately. She stared out the window, watching Arthur and Lydia outside. Arthur had his arm around Lydia, speaking to her softly. Lydia looked tired but resolute.
"She’s stubborn," Jerica said finally. "I see where I get it from."
Jared chuckled softly. "It’s not a bad trait. It ans you don’t give up easily. Neither does she."
Jerica tilted her head back to look at him, her lips quirking into a faint smile. "You’re always taking the middle ground, aren’t you?"
"It’s safer here," he said with a grin, earning a small laugh from her.
But he couldn’t put into words how deeply her actions had moved him. Even in this situation, with everything swirling around them, she had rembered his mother—her struggles, her pain—and his lifelong goal that had once consud him. Where he had sought revenge, she sought justice. And now, when he had decided to let go of his vengeance, it was she who held on, determined to secure the closure they all so desperately needed.
Her determination was humbling, and he felt a strange mix of pride and sorrow welling up inside him. An apology wouldn’t undo the past. It wouldn’t bring back what was lost or erase the scars that ti had etched into their lives.
Yet, sohow, it still mattered. Acknowledgnt, even in the form of a grudging apology, could give them a sliver of peace—a final thread to hold onto after spending so many years living in the ruins of what that man had wrought.
It wasn’t just about seeking justice anymore. It was about healing wounds that had festered for too long, wounds that words alone couldn’t nd but could, perhaps, soothe. And in that mont, he realized how deeply her resolve reflected the love and strength he had co to admire in her.
"I love you, Jerica... So, so much," he hugged her. What else could he say?
Outside, Arthur was still talking to Lydia, his gestures calm but firm. Lydia nodded reluctantly, her shoulders slumping slightly. Whatever he said seed to ease her tension, but the determination in her eyes didn’t waver.
"They’re not giving up, are they?" Jerica said, half a statent, half a question.
"Nope," Jared replied. "And I don’t think you really want them to."
Jerica looked at him sharply, about to protest, but stopped. Deep down, she knew he was right. It was just a matter of figuring out how to navigate this new, complicated relationship without losing the control and independence she had fought so hard to build.
"I’ll try," she said quietly, almost to herself.
"That’s all they’re asking," Jared said, holding her closer.
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