Interesting , he thought
She sat still for a moment before standing up, and for a second, he thought she
might stumble. His lips curled up in amusement as he wondered whether it was
all for show.
As she sat in the witness box, her voice trembled slightly as she repeated the oath.
"I, Janine Lauren Harris, do swear ..." she began, her voice familiar, sending a spark
of recognition through Jared. His ears perked up, his curiosity piqued. That voice was awfully familiar.
Janine?, he felt his pulse quicken.
He'd met so many Janines in his life, and his heart always turned at the name. But this lady looked different; his Janine was fiery, wild, with hair that was always a vibrant color. He concentrated on the voice, though. This Janine was calm, almost meek, like she was afraid. He hadn't seen her face yet, but her voice sounded the same. He shrugged it off, not wanting to raise his hopes too high about finding the woman he'd been searching for over the past decade.
Jared's emotions simmered just below the surface as he listened to her testimony.
If her story was true, the man who was her ex-husband was a monster. Jared's gaze turned cold as he looked at the man, wondering how someone so large could stoop to hurting a woman half his size. When she stood up to return to her seat, Jared's eyes followed her, and he noticed the clerk give her a reassuring smile. The exchange between them seemed warm and friendly, like they knew each other well. Jared's anger toward her ex-husband only intensified, and he found himself wanting to protect this woman he'd only just seen in the courtroom.
And then he saw her, his heart quickened and he felt all the air rush out from his lungs.
It was her, Janine, his Janine, his girl.
His heart racing, he stood up abruptly, his instincts screaming to rush to her side. But Kieran's firm grip on his arm held him back, pulling him out of his trance-like state.
"Jared, what the fuck are you doing?" Kieran whispered with clenched teeth, his voice laced
with a hint of annoyance. "The press is here, and we can't afford a scene"
As he forced himself to calm down, Jared's gaze remained fixed on Janine, his mind
reeling with emotions. He'd searched for her for so long, and now she was right in front of him. He felt like he was dreaming, like this was too good to be true.
He turned around and saw the reporters watching him and making notes on their
note pad. Rolling his eyes, he turned around and fixed his stare on Janine. Kieran's
words barely registered as he took in Janine's appearance, his heart aching with a
mix of longing and uncertainty.. Fuck, he couldn't believe his eyes or his luck -
Janine was here, he'd searched for her for about 10 years before he finally gave
up and stopped searching. And now here she was. He'd longed for her so much
that now she was here he didn't know what to do or how to feel. He rubbed his hand on his face and stared at her bashfully, a mix of emotions swirling inside him.
The uncertainty was almost palpable, but one thing was clear - he had to talk to her.
As she stood up to exit the courtroom, their eyes met, and for a moment, time
stood still. She stopped, did a double take, and Jared could've sworn he saw a flicker of recognition in her eyes. But it was fleeting, and then she turned and walked away. The uncertainty gnawed at him - did she remember him? It had been
15 years since they'd last seen each other, but still, he expected...something. A spark, a glimmer, a hint of the connection they'd once shared.He didn't know what to feel or what to expect, but one thing was certain: he had to talk to her. Jared made up his mind to go after her once his case was done. Now that he knew she was there, there was no going back.
Once Janine was outside the courts premises she steadied herself against a pillar using it to support her weight afraid her legs would give out, she felt dizzy as she clutched her chest. The sudden surge of emotions left her insides heated and her throat dry. She swallowed hard, trying to process what had just happened. What the hell was that?!
Jared Seplan? Was her mind playing tricks on her? She had felt eyes on her in the courtroom, and when she was about to leave, she saw the devilishly handsome
man staring at her. But those blue eyes...she knew those eyes.
"Janine, you okay?" Mark asked, concern etched on his face.
"Uhm, sure, Mark. I just need a moment," Janine replied, trying to compose herself.
"I understand. Janine, seeing Henry again must've been a lot," Mark said,
referencing her ex-husband.
Henry? Oh yes Henry was in court today, Janine mused.
Her head still reeled from the unexpected encounter with Jared. Her thoughts weren't on Henry; they were consumed by the man she'd just seen. It couldn't be anyone else. The same eyes, the same intensity. She felt like she'd been punched in the gut, all the air knocked out of her. What was he doing here? And why did she feel like she'd been transported back in time, to a part of her life she'd thought she'd left behind?
"Oh, yes...Henry. I haven't seen him since he went out on bail two months ago"
Mark's expression softened. "I'm glad you're okay, Janine. Do you want me to pick Hannah and Manfred from school? I can take care of them today."
Janine nodded gratefully. "Would you, Mark? I won't be able to get them today. I'm working till late."
"Sure thing, Janine. See you this evening," Mark said, giving her a reassuring hug before they parted ways.
As she settled into her seat on the bus, Janine plugged in her earphones and gazed out the window, her eyes drifting shut as fragments of her past began to resurface. She thought about her family, her home, and the life she'd left behind.
Fifteen years had passed since she'd last spoken to her father, a man who'd once
been her entire world. The memories came flooding back, and with them, a wave
of longing and regret. She stifled a sob, her palm instinctively covering her mouth
as she struggled to compose herself.
Just as she was starting to lose herself in her thoughts, she felt a gentle jab in her
shoulder. She turned to see a young man staring at her with concern. "Are you okay, ma'am?" he asked softly.
Janine forced a smile and nodded. "Uh, yes...thank you."
The bus came to a halt, and she stood up, grateful for the distraction. As she alighted, she caught the young man's eye and waved goodbye, appreciating his kindness. The cool breeze outside the bus hit her like a slap, snapping her back to reality. She took a deep breath and began her walk to the hospital, as she walked into the hospital, the familiar scent of disinfectant and the hum of machines
provided a sense of comfort. Janine's thoughts were still reeling from the courtroom encounter, but the routine of her job helped her focus. Moments later,
her phone rang, and Nadia's name flashed on the screen.