Harley's house. Jake's car entering the front house. Harley's new home. Jake lived in apartment, same apartment his mother Katherine had renovated when he was sixteen.
He grew to be such a beautiful man, so did Belle. They will become a perfect couple this year. Smile as he gets out of the car, butler of the house greeting him.
"Young master Jake. What a pleasant surprise to see you early this morning". said the butler.
Jake slammed the door shut. "I brought you cranberry jam". He wink. The butler smiles wide reaching the jar. "Are they inside?" He asked.
"Since morning. But Sir Nicholas went to a country club. Sir Nicholas will be back in the evening". Jake nods. "Let's go inside young master Jake. I believe Miss Honey is waiting for you inside".
"She's here too? I've told madam that I don't want her in here. Doesn't she have a home to stay in!"
The butler chuckled. Both men entered the house. "I mean it". His pair's eyes saw Katherine and the girl he didn't like to know her. Her family is rich.
Who cares?"
Katherine stops talking as she notices Miss Honey's eyes stare at someone she loves. Katherine follows her eyes that point to Jake. She smiled. Finally her son was back in her arms.
"Jake. Come on, sit in here. Sarah has been waiting for you". Katherine patted the sofa beside her. "Oh don't be so shy. Come on here, Jake".
He approaches and takes a seat beside Katherine. "You don't want to say hello to Miss Honey?"
Jake rolled his eyes. "No!" His eyes on hers. "What the hell are you doing in here? Don't you have a home to live in?".
"Jake! Be nice and lower your tone of voice to Miss Honey. Of course she had home. I called her because my instinct said that my son will come home today and you did. Miss Honey here for you. You said something nice. Soon you two will be engaged _"
"Mom ENOUGH!" Jake rose up. "I'd never said anything about me being engaged. I don't engaged, okay. I don't!".
Miss Honey lowered her eyes on her laps. She felt embarrassed of herself. She had loved Jake since they were five. Miss Honey's family and the Harley's have known each other for over years.
For Jake. Miss Honey is like his own little sister. He never thought to give all his love to her for marriage.
Never.
"Jake. Calm down! you're not yourself".
"I Am myself. I will engaged but not hers". He point at Miss Honey. "Not hers".
Katherine rose up. "If not Miss Honey then who?"
"Belle".
"Belle is long gone, Jake. You have to forget about her".
"NO! I won't, Mom. I found her. I found my Belle. She's alive and safe. She stayed in this state that I proudly have her back in my arms".
Katherine's eyes widened. She then turns to Miss Honey. "I call you again, Sarah. Something I need to hear from Jake lips".
"Who's Belle, Mrs Harley?" ask Miss Honey.
"Someone we knew when Jake was sixteen. We knew her back in Colorado when our old apartment was under renovation. My Jake now lived in that apartment".
She smiled. "I'll make up with you. We're going shopping next time". I smile. "Jake please walk with Sarah at the door".
"We've got Mr. Niles. Why should I walk her to the door? The door wasn't a dangerous thing to touch".
Miss Honey said in a smile even Jake already hurt her feelings. "It's okay Mrs Harley. I'll walk at the door by myself. Jake was right. The door can't harm me".
"I'll accompany you then".
Moments later. "That wasn't nice you treating her like that, Jake".
"If you're not having an engaged conversation I wouldn't treat her that badly. In case you miss it".
Sighing. "You know I never had a feeling towards hers. She is like a little sister to me. How can you think I would marry her".
"Because hers and our family have known each other for years. I can't stand to hear her mom saying that you belong to her daughter. Look what she brought for me from Egypt".
She pointed at the corner of the room. "Even that vase is a hideous thing to keep and haunting me still _ bloody expensive".
Katherine walks toward the fridge. Grab some cranberry juice then back to her place.
She drank up. "That vase is cursed". Breathing, she spoke back. "Where you found, Belle?"
"Times square. We accidently bumped into each other. Look what she gave me". He pointed at his bruised cheek. "She gave me those bruises".
"That's more like her. How is she? What happened to her disappearance that day. Is it true he abducted her. Tell me, Jake".
Later than that. The mother and son are still inside the kitchen. Two bottles of wine Katherine drink up as she hears the story about Belle's darkest past.
To pain, to cruel.
Belle is a stronger, brave girl that Katherine herself can't do what Belle can do.
Losing her best friend is the most pain she first receives, second Jake then her own life. Barely imagine this girl is the true hero. Now Victor Gibson is gone. No one can't hurt her again.
"So I was thinking of having her back, Mom".
"Jake. She had a kid. You can't just enter her motherhood and know her kids just like that".
Katherine snapped her finger. "Have you met her kids? No? That's the point. You can't barge in and claim yourself as their new father".
"That bastard died before they were born".
"That's what I'm saying. You can't". Katherine reaches his hand. "Jake. I will never stop you from having her. But I need you to know something".
He looked up at her eyes. "What if that bastard is still alive out there, watching her and his kids from far away? If he found out you still exist in her life, that could be the worst that a bastard does to you. Remember what he did".
"He's dead. He can't be out there".
"Have you seen his body?"
"Belle did".
"Well, I'm not surprised".
Jake studies his mother. What exactly Katherine wanted to say to him.
"Listen, Jake. She may see his dead body in the morgue room, what she doesn't know is that inside that coffin it wasn't the real him. Maybe it was someone else's body. Even death can't keep them two apart, why must you?"
Jake sighs, Katherine continues.
"No matter what we think. Belle's life has been in danger since the beginning. Now she has a child. Soon he will return and claim what belongs to him. And that time we cannot stop him. He's an unstoppable man".
Katherine leaning closer to him. "He's the dangerous man we've known".
"Are you trying to scare me?"
"I try hard".
"I'm not five that you use to tell me a boogeyman story".
He leaned closer to his mother. "I'm not afraid. I'm a twenty -six -year-old man. He could be early thirty or whatever if he lived. I'm not afraid of him. If he is still alive out there I'll be prepared".
"That's what I'm afraid of". Katherine sighs. "I don't want him hurting you and I'm not gonna lose you".
"You will not lose me, Mom. I promise".
Katherine cried, nodding her head. "Where can I meet, Belle?"