Jessica was glaring at him. She had expected him to say something but he stood there like a mute, staring at her.
"What do you want? What are you doing here?" She demanded icily.
He didn't answer her. He was still staring at her. After seeing her on TV, the next place he had seen her was at the bar that night, and he didn't have a clear view of her. Mostly because he was drunk, and partly because the lights were dim. He couldn't stop staring at her. She had truly become more beautiful.
"Of course, Roy must have told you. I knew he couldn't keep his mouth shut. Because why else would you be here, standing before me like a mute?"
Edwin frowned slightly. What did she mean by she knew Roy was going to tell me?
"Roy?" He asked in confusion. "Does.. did Roy know about this?"
Jessica didn't respond to him. What did he mean by the question he was asking her? Of course, Roy knew about it, who else would have told him if not Roy?
"Answer me. Did Roy know about this?" He asked again.
"I don't know why you're asking me! Do I look like Roy?!" Jessica fired back at him.
"It's just a fucking simple question, Jessica. Does Roy know about this?!"
"Yes!" Jessica answered, matching his tone. "Yes, he knows."
"He found out a few days ago." She answered slowly.
Edwin pinched the bridge between his eyebrows. He could feel a headache forming.
"How could Roy not tell me about this?!" He asked again. Jessica quietened. If not Roy, then how did he find them?
"I have no idea, but he must have understood that you didn't deserve to know anyway."
"What?" Edwin demanded. "Jessica, you made me fall for you, and then you left without a word, only to return later with my kids, without telling me still. And you're saying I don't deserve to know?"
"Exactly what don't I deserve to know?" He asked. "About my kids? Or why did you leave?"
"Tell me, Jessica. Why did you leave?"
"Why did I leave? Why do you care? It's not like you cared about me before. So what changed now?"
"What? I've always cared about you, Jessica. How can you accuse me like that?"
Jessica scoffed. "Like hell you did. I put it to you today, Edwin Turner, that you never felt anything towards me. I was a mere toy that you used to satisfy your ego, proving to your friends that you could get any girl regardless of how tough she acts."
Edwin was taken aback. "Jessica, that is a very broad accusation. You were never a toy, I never saw you that way, okay? I know we didn't start in the right way at first, but I never actually used you to satisfy my ego or anything."
"Like hell," Jessica muttered. "I did hear you tell your friends how good you were, you fulfilled the bet. What did you mean by that then? I was just a bet!"
"You never actually cared about me."
"Jessica, that was a mistake!" Edwin tried to defend.
"No, it wasn't, Edwin. Nothing that has happened between us was a mistake or a coincidence. It was carefully planned by you. You never loved me, you never cared for me, I was nothing, I meant nothing to"
"Jessica Graves! That is not true! I did love you! I do love you! You meant everything to me and you still mean the world to me now!" Edwin confessed. There was silence. The two stood, staring into each other's eyes.
Jessica's eyes were getting glossy already. Edwin also was hurt by the direction of her thought, but more by the fact that it was he who made her feel that way.
"I love you, Jessica. I still do." He said again, very softly, almost like a whisper even. Jessica closed her eyes. She didn't want to cry before him. Before she could tell what was happening, she felt him very close to her.
Edwin leaned in and kissed her. He closed his eyes, savoring all the feel and taste of her lips against his. Jessica's eyes went wide as saucers. What was happening? Why was he kissing her.. kissing her just like old times?
Why did she feel like jelly, under his kiss? Why did she feel as if she longed for this? Did she really never stop loving Edwin all these while? A single teardrop flowed down her cheek. The kiss lasted a while, and then he broke off.
"Jessica, I miss you. I want you with me. I still love you, I swear." He proclaimed in all honesty. Jessica stared at him hopefully. Then she remembered everything again, down to his engagement with Hannah. Subconsciously her eyes moved to his left hand where the ring sat prettily. She felt used all over again.
"Leave." She said softly. "Go away. I don't want to see you."
"Jess-"
"Leave, Edwin. Do not get me mad." She warned. "You don't want to see me mad."
Edwin stared at her in mild shock. He didn't care about that, he cared about making peace with her. He wanted to have a family.
"Jessica, don't -"
"I swear to God, Edwin. If you don't leave right now, you would regret even coming here. Hell, you would regret waking up this morning." She threatened. "Go away." She pushed him out the door.
Edwin got mad. He stormed off. He got into his car and drove away without turning back. Jessica watched him leave. She returned to the sitting room and fell onto the couch. She sat there and cried her eyes out.
Again, Edwin had broken her heart. He had reopened closed wounds. He made her hurt again. Holding her chest, she went alone.