One More Chance by Jaycelle Rodriguez

Chapter 185: His fear

"I won't do it again," He said shaking his head. Seriousness permeated his voice and his eyes as he stared at me.

"How can | make sure you're telling the truth? How do you know you won't look at them again when we still have

a long journey to take ahead?"

He was silent for a moment, but his eyes never left me. And after a few seconds of silence, he then took a deep

breath and started answering my question.

"Sam, | won't hurt you like that again and | won't do anything --- anything whether big or small to make you

doubt me. | won't do anything that could break your trust. | know I'm not perfect and far from being one. | could

definitely make smistakes like not attending a dinner party, our friend's party, or whatever party it is. | can't

be able to attend because maybe I'm stuck in an important meeting or I'm on an out-of-town project again.

In the future, | may not be able to take our daughter to a school fair or a family day and forget ssmall things

or details that may be so important to you or Cali that | know could sometimes lead to misunderstandings, but

that's just it. Sometimes, it's pretty normal in a relationship, isn't it? And unlike before, now | know my priorities,

limitations, and boundaries not just as a father, and a family man, but as a person too, so you can put your

worries away because | will never cheat on you again. | will never lie nor keep anything important or even if it's

not that important--- | will tell you everything.

I will send you pictures when I'm not around. | will send you messages and call you so | can be sure you're

always safe and of course, to let you know I'm not doing anything behind your back anymore. | know what | did

to you before was completely wrong and hurtful but | promise it will never happen again. Besides, | can't get our

daughter out of my mind every t| think back on what I did, so I assure you, you won't regret givingthis

chance." It tooka while to absorb everything he said and when | was finally back on earth...

"Hmm..." All | could do was nod after he finished his long speech. But deep inside, excitement and satisfaction

filled my nerves and sanity. At that moment | felt every beat of my heart hammering inside my ribcage. And it's

a good thing it's inside my chest otherwise it has already jumped out of my body.

But then | frowned as | remembered something from what he said and that madeconfused.

"Wait, what do you mean when you said you can't get our daughter out of your mind?"

"Ahh... that thing," he took a deep breath. "You know, what | did was wrong... it was so wrong that every tit

comes back to my mind, | can't help but fear that one day, men will do to my daughter the sthing I did to

you and | don't know what | can do or feel when that happens."

| blinked twice upon hearing his revelation. | didn't know he has that fear and feeling inside him.

"So you're afraid for Cali?" | raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, kinda," he shrugged. "You know, there is this belief in the Philippines that sometimes it is the daughter

who pays for the sins of the father to her mother, and it honestly creepsout!"

| couldn't help biting my inside cheek to suppress my laughter and asked him again.

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"And who told you that thing?"

"Caleb," he simply answered.

"And you believed him?"

"Yes, and sweetheart, | swear | don't know what to do if that thing ever happens to our daughter!"

| was going to say something but he spoke again which madeforget that thing in my head.

"So | wonder how your father managed to suppress his anger towardsthat tor even how your mom

reacted to seeing you cry."

| hitched my breath as | straightened my seat and stared straight into him.

"Well, | asked them not to do anything. | begged my father not to hate you because | know it was my fault from

the very beginning, so | told him--- | told them to let you go because that's what | also wanted to do after what

happened. Start a new life for myself and my daughter without looking back at the past."

"I'm sorry," he reached for my hand and | took a deep breath.

"I wish | could undo my mistakes or rewrite the past, so you wouldn't have to go through all that."

The only thing | could do was to smile and...

"Thanks," The first word | uttered after taking a few deep breaths. "Thank you for explaining all these things to

me, Luke. | need to hear those words. At least now, | have something to hold on to." "What do you mean?"

| sighed.

"You know, after what happened between us a few years ago, it's hard fornot to think, not to worry, and be

scared. Luke, to be honest, I'm scared. I'm scared to bet on this relationship. | can't stop thinking and worrying

that because of what happened, | might find it hard to trust again and that it will lead to more

misunderstandings in the future."

"I know... | know, sweetheart, and | understand that," he squeezed my hand tightly with his two hands. "If that

happens, | will understand you no matter what and | will continuously prove my sincerity. If | have to take you to

the office when we have a meeting, then, | will take you. If | have to stay hall day for you not to worry, | will

be hand gladly cook for you. Or if | have to stay next to you every day, every hour, every minute--- 24/7, |

will stay."

| couldn't help biting my lower lip after hearing what he said. A mischievous smile appeared on the corner of my

lips as an idea cto my mind.

"Are you really sure you can do all that?"

"Yes, this t| will do everything to make you happy,"

"Ohh... what if | agree to everything you said? What if | cwith you every day to work or what if | ask to be

with you 24/7?"

His mouth dropped at my question and | raised an eyebrow.

"Then... we will go to my office every day," he shrugged. "We will just order food every lunch or we can go out to

eat at our favorite restaurants, no problem!"

"Hmm... won't you get bored of my face? Won't you get tired of me?"

"No, of course, not!" This the was fast to react. "I won't get tired of you, Sam, never! We will enjoy life

together, every day until we grow old!"

And no matter how much | tried to hold myself back, my traitor heart made my lips curl into a smile.

"| love you and | promise to make it all right this time. | will be the man that you deserve and the husband that

you need. But..." He suddenly paused in the middle of his sentence, so | couldn't help but ask. "But what?"

"But | hope this time, you're still willing to joindespite the pain I've caused you..."

And he stopped talking again which madeeven more confused. Why can't he just continue his question and

not stop in the middle for crying out loud?

"Willing to you join you where? What do you mean--- what do you want to say?"

"Willing to joinon my journey," he replied, squeezing my hand again.

"Luke---"

And before | could open my mouth, he spoke again.

"I hope you still want to be withfor the rest of your life?" | clearly heard the question mark sound at the end

of his sentence.

| blinked twice, thrice, and more in my seat as my mouth hung in mid-air.

"Ohh... whoa! Wait--- wait a second, Mr. Williams, where is this conversation going? Are you proposing to me

right now?" | bit my lower lip when | already figured out what could he possibly mean. "Uhm..."

| raised an eyebrow when he hesitated to open his mouth.

"Uhm... kinda," he finally replied, a sheepish smile curling against his lips.

"Ahh..." | said, nodding slowly. "If you're proposing toright now, then where is the ring?"

"Sweetheart, I..." He stuttered.

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"Whoa! So you don't have a ring, Mr. Williams?"

"I'm actually going to buy---"

"Seriously? Are you really proposing right now?"

"Yes, and I'm hoping you would say yes despite not seeing a ring?" A statement that ended as a question.

"Hmm... No!"

"No?" his eyes widened in shock and confusion as one.

"No," | shook my head as | leaned back against my seat.

"What do you mean by no?"

"No, nope, not a chance! | won't accept your proposal unless you already have the ring," | pinched my pinky

finger as | tried so hard to stifle my laughter. His reaction was epic, | swear. "But sweetheart---"

"Don't you know that it's every girl's dream to wear an engagement ring? To see their man lovingly put their

knee on the floor and sweetly ask for their hand. Remember, I've never experienced such a thing from you

before, duh!"

"But | gave you a ring, didn't 1?"

"Huh! Yes, you gavea ring but you didn't ask for my hand, tss!" | rolled my eyes which made him scratch the

back of his neck.

"Ohh... yeah, | get it," he gavean embarrassed smile. "But sweetheart, can | just give you the ring next

time?"

"What?" my eyes

widened a bit at his

question. "No! You're only doing it

once, so do it properly, hmmp!" | chuckled. "If you're going to givethe ring next time, then let's just talk

about it next twhen you already have it,"

"Sweetheart"

"You said you're going to the Philippines, right?"

"Yes, but--—-"

"Then let's talk when you get back," | shrugged and then took the glass of wine in front of me. "Don't worry, | will

wait for you. | waited for you for 10 years, so I'm sure | still could wait for days or weeks until you're back," |

ended with a wink which causedto earn a handssmile from him.

He didn't say anything but that smile already gaveall that | needed to hear.