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CHAPTER 264
Yasmin's face paled. Her heart seemed to stop, her body going cold as the words sank in. "Silver?" Her voice was barely a whisper.
The terror and horror that followed in her eyes. The same Silver, the lady that almost caused a rift between them when she threatened to take her life.
Silver… his fucking cousin?!
Shawn's heart tightened and he nodded, his guilt overwhelming him. "It was a mistake. A huge mistake. We were both drunk, both feeling sorry for ourselves. I didn't mean for it to happen, and I regret it more than you can imagine."
Yasmin stared at him, her mind racing. She wanted to scream, wanted to cry, and wanted to push him out of her life forever. But at the same time, she couldn't ignore the fact that they hadn't been together when it happened.
He hadn't cheated on her and he had been honest about it too.
But it still hurt. Deeply.
"I can't believe you…" she began, her voice shaking with the weight of her emotions. "You kissed her. After everything…"
Shawn reached out for her hand, but she pulled away, standing up from the couch.
"I told you because I didn't want to hide anything from you. I couldn't live with myself if I kept that from you. You deserve to know the truth, Yas."
Yasmin clenched her fists at her sides, trying to hold herself together. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "I'm thankful you told me the truth, Shawn. I am. But this… this is a lot."
She turned away from him, wrapping her arms around herself and shutting her eyes.
Yasmin tried to prevent the tears from spilling but she couldn't. Her chest hurt just imagining him pressing his lips to Silver's.
The same lips she had dreamt of kissing since they broke up.
But then again, when she gave it a thought, it all happened because of her. Had she not broken up with him, perhaps he wouldn't have been in such an emotional state in the first place.
Although it felt like she was only making up excuses for him, Yamin truly wanted to believe in Shawn.
It wasn't because they'd have a great time on their first night but something about him just clicked with her.
Shawn stood, his voice soft. "I know. And I don't expect you to just forgive me right away. But I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make it up to you. I love you, Yasmin. And I want to spend the rest of my life proving that to you."
Yasmin slowly turned to face him, her eyes filled with conflict. "I need time, Shawn. I can't just jump back into this, not after everything that's happened."
Shawn nodded with a heavy heart. "I understand. Take all the time you need. I'll wait."
She held his gaze for a long moment before finally speaking again. "But there's one thing I need from you… if we're ever going to have a chance at fixing this."
Hope sprung forth in Shawn's eyes. He stepped forward, his hand holding her before before Yasmin could react. "Anything."
"You need to forgive Skai," she said quietly. "I know what happened between you two has torn you apart, but if you can't let go of that, then how can we ever move forward? How can I believe that you've truly changed?"
Shawn's face tightened at the mention of his sister reopening old wounds.
Yasmin noticed the hurt flash in his eyes and knew she was asking too much of him but she needed to know he was willing to do things for her, to spare his heart such hurt and ache.
Shawn, on the other hand, knew Yasmin was right. He had to let go of the anger he had carried for so two decades. He had to forgive, not just for her, but for himself.
He took a deep breath and nodded slowly. "I'll try. I'll try to forgive her."
Yasmin's expression softened, and for the first time that night, there was a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "Not just try, Shawn. Forgive Skai of whatever it is you are angry at her for and make up with her."
Shawn held his breath before releasing it slowly. "Then maybe… just maybe, we have a chance."
Shawn stepped forward, holding her hands tighter. "I'll do whatever it takes, Yasmin. I won't lose you again. You have my word. However, talking with Skai, can it be not so soon. I need to process and…"
Yasmin looked down at their hands, feeling the warmth of his touch, the sincerity in his words. "Hey, hey, no rush, but there'll be a start," she assured him.
She wasn't ready to forgive completely, but this was a start. And maybe, just maybe, they could find their way back to each other.
"Okay. In that case, I forgive my sister."
"I guess we'll see," Yasmin whispered.
Shawn did not give Yasmin a chance to take her hands back from him when he pulled her into his arms, holding her close, and for the first time in a long while, they both allowed themselves to hug and hope.
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With everything happening, Skai and Damien barely talked to each other, and neither did he visit her office.
She took her time deciding on what she wanted in her life.
Both men's opportunities were too hard to pass on after much thought. Finally, she finalised her choice and decided to pay Damien a visit to the company.
The air that greeted her as she stepped into the company made her feel a sense of deja vu, especially when Damien and she walked in.
Thoughts of how far they've come rolled through her thoughts.
Soon Skai found herself on the floor leading to his office and began her slow and calculated stride.
Within two minutes, she stood face to face with his door, her knuckles raised, ready to knock on his door.
"Just breathe, Skai. You can do this," she self-assured, reopening her eyes. Just as her hand moved, the door pulled open, revealing Damien standing before her, wearing a smirk on his lips.
"Hello, love. Did the vamp finally allow you to remember me?"