One More Chance
Chapter 74: If ever you're in my arms again

~~~We had a once in a lifetime, but I just couldn't see it until it was gone. A second once in a lifetime, maybe too much to ask but I swear from now on... If ever you're in my arms again, this time I'll love you much better. If ever you're in my arms again, this time I'll hold you forever, this time will never end~~~

-Johann Mendoza & Kim Molina-

(Best Version)

Luke's POV: "Babe..."

I turned to see Cherry on the bed, wearing her red silk nightgown and based on the way she patted the space next to her and the mischievous smile playing on her lips, I already knew what she wanted.

I got up from the table and took my computer. I intend to go into the study room and continued checking the reports there, but I stopped when she got up and asked me with a frown.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to the study room," I answered shortly and headed for the door. "You should go to sleep, you still have a show tomorrow."

"Ahg! And what about you?"

"I still have to check the company's financial statements because dad already asks me and he's expecting this by tomorrow."

"If that so, you're still going to come with me tomorrow, right?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't." I shake my head. "Dad and I have a meeting tomorrow with the investors, I'll just ask Ryan to come with you." "But babe---"

"I'm going to the study room, goodnight." I didn't even wait for her reply as I had already walked out the door and closed it behind me. "Whew..." I sighed the moment I reached the guest room which I used as an extension office and a study room at the same time.

I put my laptop on top of the table and sat in the chair with another loud sigh. Actually, I just lied earlier when I said I still have to check the financial reports and that dad was already asking for it. I wasn't just in a mood to do what she was asking. I don't know, even I myself can't explain why I suddenly don't want to touch her.

I leaned back in my seat and was about to close my eyes when the door opened and Cherry walked in still wearing her daring red velvet nightgown. She opened it as she took steps closer to me and her firm and round breasts came into my sight, including the intimate area between her legs.

I gulped and held my breath not because of the kind of view she's giving me, but because I'm afraid of what to tell her this time just to refuse what she was about to ask.

I turned my gaze away as I don't want her to think that I'm affected by the show in front of me.

"I told you to go to sleep because you still have a show tomorrow. Why did you still go down here?"

I opened the laptop and tried to ignore her, but she sat on the table, spreading her legs in front of me.

"What are you doing?" I asked, frowning.

"Come on, babe, I know you missed this."

I gritted my teeth when she started touching herself.

"What the hell are you doing? Can you stop that?"

Yeah, she stopped what she's doing, but I was surprised when she sat on my lap and started stroking my arms and chest.

"Oh, babe, come on, I missed you." She said in a seductive way and tried to kiss me, but I quickly avoided it so her lips landed on my cheek.

I thought she would stop there, but I was wrong as she has now started kissing my jaw down to my neck.

"Cherry, please stop," I said, trying to stop her by holding her shoulders.

"Hmm---?" but she continued what she was doing and even tried to unzip my pants if I didn't grab her hand.

"Cherry, I said stop it!" I pushed her.

Shock and disappointment were clearly written in her eyes when she looked at me. Now I finally got her attention.

"I'm tired, so please go to sleep."

And with that, she slammed her hand on the table before getting up from my lap.

"What did you say, you're tired?" Anger can be heard in her voice, but I turned my attention to the computer. "As I remember earlier before you left the room, you said you're going to check the financial status of your company and then now you're telling me that you're tired?" She put her arms in front of her chest.

"Cherry, please---"

"Please what, huh, Luke? Are you avoiding me?"

"What are you talking about?" I asked, not even bother to glance at her.

"Do you think I haven't noticed what you've been doing lately? You're giving me some nonsense alibis just to avoid me."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Really? And do you think I'm an idiot not to notice your sudden change in behaviour this past few weeks? Huh! You've been like that since your daughter's birthday and I guess I already knew the reason why!"

This time I looked at her with knitted eyebrows.

She scoffed. "Tell me, I just want to confirm if what I have in mind is true. Are you always tired because of work or because of chasing your ex-wife?"

"Tss! You know what, you should go to bed because this conversation is becoming nonsense."

"Whoa!" She suddenly laughed. A kind of laugh that has a mixture of anger and sarcasm. "Becoming nonsense? Since when did you shut me out and called our conversation nonsense? You just saw Sam, your ex-wife and you suddenly went cold to me---" "Jesus Christ! Can you stop dragging her name here? We are the only ones talking and she has nothing to do with this!"

"And now you're mad?" She asked, narrowing her eyes at me.

I took a deep breath to calm myself. I don't know why I'm like this. I'm not sure if it is because she's becoming annoying and demanding lately or because at some point she's right. Sam still doesn't talk to me and always avoids me whenever I try to get closer to her. "Huh!" She sneered. "I remembered something she said to me at the party."

I frowned. That caught my attention and my curiosity kicked at the same time.

"See? Now I have your attention, 'babe"." She emphasized the last word. "Do you know what she told me? She wanted me to tell you to stop bothering her. Hmm... actually, I really wouldn't have believed her, but based on your coldness and reaction you gave me after hearing her name, I found out it's true!"

But instead of confirming what she had said, I turned to my seat and avoided her gaze.

"You know what, I don't time to discuss this thing, Cherry. Yes, I'm tired but I still have to finish these reports. And as for the thing---the reason you're getting mad, I'm not in the mood to have sex with you."

"Oh, my God! Did you just called it 'sex'? Are those things just sex to you? I thought you love me---"

"Cherry, please! I said I don't time to talk about this. Don't you understand that I still have fucking reports to do?" I screamed in frustration, brushing my hair with my fingers.

"Fine!" She also shouted in my face. "But I just want you to keep this in mind, you, Luke Marcuz Williams are just mine! You are mine and mine alone!" She yelled, pointing her index finger at me before leaving the room and closed the door with a bang. "Haist! Goddamn it!" I couldn't help but scream and slammed my fist on the table.

This gets me frustrated day by day.

I went back to my seat and scrolled through what's on my computer screen, trying to focus, but I failed because what Cherry was saying kept coming back in my head. 'Why am I like this?'

And she's right. This is because of Sam and it started when I saw her at our daughter's birthday party. Since then, it has seemed to me that the past came back to me to torture my head.

I regret everything I've done and all the words I've said, but by the time I realized it, it's too late. I've already let her go. I've already made her hate me and now I'm gaining the consequences of what I did to her and it's all my fault.

I tried to get close and talk to her, but every time I get the chance to do it, she always avoids me. She can't even stand to talk to me even just for a few minutes.

She's changed. She has changed a lot, from the clothes she wears to the things she can do now. She has matured a lot and I can say maturity suits her. She got more beautiful and caring for our daughter. She now smiles often and laughs even with a small matter. Those simple things and happiness I should have given her, however, I didn't appreciate it when she's still with me... when I still had her.

I was blind back then. I was blinded by the feelings I had for Cherry, my dreams and the anger I still had for what Sam had done. I know it's been a long time and we've already created new happy memories, but when I saw Cherry again... when she returned, the anger I felt for Sam, suddenly boiled up in my chest again.

And I did the most stupid thing without thinking it might hurt her and get her to file for a divorce and left me. It was hard coping at first, because I know it was my idea, my stupid idea. I hurt her. I've caused her so much pain and now I don't know what to do to make it with her... to make her forgive me.