His charisma and tenacity were undeniable, and it was evident that he would not give up quickly. His true motivation was to steal his elder brother's girlfriend.
Emily's predicament was getting more uncomfortable, straining her already delicate relationship with Jake.
Jeb was her dream guy in college, but she couldn't pursue a relationship with anyone else after Aiden.
She had made that plain to Jeb then but assumed he had already moved on.
But now he's back, and despite knowing she's Jake's wife, he doesn't seem to care and has been pursuing her recently.
Emily wasn't sure what to do with Jeb and Jake. However, she has more severe problems to deal with right now.
As a result, she put everything behind her and focused on her bucket list preparations.
After a particularly heated confrontation with Jeb, Emily, and Jake found themselves alone in the calm of their house.
They sat across from one another in the living room, the warmth of the fireplace casting long shadows over the walls, and the air was heavy with unspoken feelings.
"Jake, we need to talk about what's been going on," Emily said softly but forcefully.
Jake groaned and ran a hand over his hair. "I understand. Jeb is not going to quit, is he? I ordered him to back off, but he kept pressing."
Emily nodded, her gaze remote. "It's not only about Jeb. It is about our history and how things have been between us. I believe we've been dodging it for too long."
Jake leaned back, his eyes fixed on Emily. He had been reflecting on the past lately, particularly following Jeb's unwelcome approaches.
Memories of their youth, their families' agreement, and his reluctance to obey his parents' desires had emerged.
"You're right," Jake responded after a moment.
"I've also been thinking about it, about us. I had no idea what to think when I found out we were engaged before our birth. I liked you, but you were too young and inexperienced. Also, I didn't want to be compelled to do anything because our parents wanted it."
Emily gazed at him with a mysterious face. "I have a faint memory from when I was younger. Now that I think about it, when I met Grandfather Lewis, my parents would take me to your house, and I had a great crush on you. But you seemed so remote back then. It wounded me, Jake. I assumed you didn't care."
"I did care," Jake acknowledged, his voice full of sadness. "However, I was young and obstinate. I did not want to feel as if my life was being controlled. I think if I pushed back hard enough, I'd be able to make my own decisions. I resisted and did many silly things to show them I wouldn't follow their orders."
Emily smiled sadly. "So what about now? "Do you still feel that way?" She isn't sure whether she wants to hear Jake's response. But she needed it to maintain her sanity and peace of mind.
Jake paused for a bit. Before saying anything, he looked Emily in the eyes. "I do not know. I never wanted to accept it, but somewhere deep down, I knew you were the one. Even though I was resisting it, something about you seemed right."
There was a lengthy stillness as they sat with their thoughts, the weight of the past falling on them.
"Jake," Emily finally said in a soft but firm voice. "I must share with you something. For a while now, I've been thinking about moving out. I want to visit Europe and experience another side of the globe. I've always wanted to do it, and it's on my bucket list.
Her remarks caused Jake's heart to stop. "Europe? How long will this last? A wish list? Why would you create a bucket list when you are so young?"
With honesty, Emily said, "I don't know. Maybe a few months, perhaps even longer. I need time to consider things, both for us and for me. I must discover who I am apart from the corporation, the expectations, and even ourselves."
She let out a sigh and went on talking.
"The bucket list is unrelated to age. I wanted to do things, so I created a bucket list. That is all." She couldn't bring herself to tell Jake she was dying now that things were going well.
Jake rose and paced the room as he pondered what she had said. Even just thinking about Emily leaving made him feel sad.
He had already lost so much time with her, and now that things were finally beginning to make sense, she wanted to go.
"Emily, I—" he began, then paused, wondering how to go. He wanted to beg her to remain, but he felt it would be unfair. She needed it, and he knew why. He lied to her four years ago, and he continues to do so because he is terrified she will never return if he tells her the truth. He chose to stay silent.
"I'm not asking you to wait for me," Emily remarked, approaching him.
"I only need to do this for me. But when I return, we may truly understand what we mean to one another if we still feel the same way." Emily's eyes filled with tears as she realized she might never return.
Jake glanced down at her, his emotions churning within him. He stretched out and softly touched her face with his palms.
"Emily, I have made many errors, but one thing is sure: I do not want to lose you. If you require this, I will let you go and wait for your return.
But don't think for a moment that I'll allow Jeb—or anyone else—to take you away from me." His voice was hoarse, and he was almost in tears.
Emily smiled, her eyes shimmering from unshed tears. Thank you, Jake. "That means more to me than you realize." Her heart felt heavy, and she was in severe anguish.
They stood there for a minute, caught up in the uncertainty of the future yet grounded in the bond they had always had.
Both understood their adventure was far from over, no matter what was ahead.
Jake couldn't help but hope that when Emily returned from her trip to Europe, they could finally write the next chapter of their story together—on their terms.