Chapter 154 - 152 - Forgiveness

"Jayden. Jayden."

Someone was calling me. It was the voice of a woman but it wasn't Peggy's.

"Son." She called.

I slowly opened my eyes and was surprised to see that I was in our old apartment.

Why am I here? This was the place that I wanted to forget. This is where everything started, where my nightmare began and where my pain came from.

I stood up and looked around.. The place was still in a mess and the smell of blood still lingers into my nose. I wanted to barf when I saw the table where mom was raped and murdered.

"Jayden."

I knew it. It was my mother's voice.

"Mom? Where are you?" I called and looked around again.

"I'm here."

When I turned around, she was standing in the living room, smiling at me. Her long blonde hair was braided on her left shoulder like how she always styled her hair when I was a kid. Her silver eyes were sparkling like diamonds.

"Mom!' I rushed into her and hugged her tight.

"Oh my baby." She whispered when I began crying.

She let me cry and hugged me back, brushing her palm on my back.

"I missed you mom. Where have you been? I-I was reaching out to you but didn't answer." I sobbed.

"I missed you too, my baby." She said then pushed me gently to hold my hand.

She was smiling but I could see tears from her eyes. She pulled me so we could sit on the couch.

"Jayden, mom is okay now. You can let me go." She suddenly said.

I frowned.

"What do you mean?" I asked, curiously.

She touched me on the face and sniffled before answering.

"I know you've been wanting to avenge my death. I know that you are still in pain because of what happened to me but baby, I don't want you to suffer anymore. I want you to continue your life with Peggy and your kids. I want you to be happy, son." She continued in a gentle voice.

"But I made a promise to you mom. Every time I remember that day, I felt like my mind would explode. I wanted to forget about it but if I did, it's like forgetting you." I said while crying in front of her.

She wiped my tears with her thumb and stared at me. He was looking at my face as if she was memorizing every detail.

"How about your heart? Jayden, forgiveness doesn't mean that you will have to forget about me. Instead of thinking about the bad things that happened to me, I want you to think of our happy memories together. Do you remember the days when you and your dad would help me in the kitchen? Our picnic every summer and our first trip to the beach? We were so happy right? Those were the things that I want you to remember, son."

"That's the reason I cannot forgive those people. They took you away from me. Those memories that we had? That was it. We cannot make more memories because they killed you." I said with gritted teeth.

"Jayden, listen to me. My life was cut short but you and your father are still alive. Now, you have a wife and a kid. You also have another child on the way, right? Would you like to live in misery for the rest of your lives? Are you going to break your promises to Peggy and to your son?" She asked in a serious tone.

I was still crying but suddenly realized what she said. I promised my mother that I will avenge her death but I made a lot of promises to Peggy. I made a vow when I married her.

Then I saw the bracelet on my wrist, the red thread of fate. I gave one to Peggy and made another promise to her.

Mom saw that I was looking at my wrist. She touched it and sweetly smiled.

"It's beautiful." She commented.

"Yeah. Peggy thought so too."

I looked at her and more tears fell from my eyes.

"Mom, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I fell in love with the daughter of the man who killed you. I'm sorry I can't fulfill my promise anymore. I don't want to hurt her."

She pulled me into her arms and cried with me.

"Shhh. You suffered enough. I'm sorry I left you so soon. Now, be happy with Peggy. Protect her from that man." She said.

I slightly pulled away from her. "Mom, can you stay with me?"

"I am always with you." She said while putting her hand on my chest.

I hugged her again even tighter while we cried, saying our goodbyes to each other.

"I will protect dad and my family, mom. For you, I will live happily and keep on going. I will never forget you. Goodbye, mom. I love you."

PEGGY POV

I was awakened by Jayden's low howl. When I looked at my side, he was crying while asleep. I frowned and sat to wake him up.

"Love? Wake up! Wake up!" I called while tapping his shoulder.

He opened his eyes and I was surprised when he suddenly pulled me, embracing me tight.

"Peggy." He whispered.

"Love? Is that you?" I asked.

"It is me." He answered, still sobbing.

"What happened? Did you have a nightmare?"

He sat on the bed, leaning at the bed's headboard so we could talk. I sat beside him, hugging my legs and waited for him to talk.

"I dreamed of mom." He started then continued to tell me about what he and his mother talked about.

He finally said goodbye to his mom and asked her forgiveness because he can't keep his promise anymore.

I was happy and at the same time, I'm sad. He was in pain for a long time and was waiting for the moment that he could finally avenge his mother's death. But then, it turned out it was my father who caused him great pain.

"Love, let's make happy memories together." He said.

I nodded and smiled at him. We still have issues with my father and I was thinking of talking to him once more. I know it's dangerous but I can't just sit here, waiting for him to hurt us, especially now that I have another child in my womb.

My father was the one who started this and I would have to be the one to finish it.