Later that night, everyone sat at the sitting room in silence. The tension in the room was still very high, and even breathing seemed really difficult.
"She's awake!" Mike announced, and Jack jolted up. Chris stood up as well but didn't have the nerve to take even a step.
"I will go check on her first. The rest of you can come in later." Jack said and ran to the room. He opened the door and met Jane seated up and crying.
"Hey!" Jack called her attention, and she looked up. Jack ran to her and pulled her into a hug while she cried out her heart.
"I'm sorry, Jane. I'm sorry for losing you when you were a baby and not protecting you from all that hardship and hurt." Jack cried, and Jane, even though she didn't understand what he was saying, just cried.
A while later, Jane calmed down and stopped crying. She remembered everything that happened and wondered what the situation was.
"What's happening?" Jane asked.
"It's a long story." Jack replied and then narrated everything that happened to her.
"What! This is impossible! So Mrs Whitney knew who I was all along?" Jane asked.
"I believe so, you look exactly like our mother. There's no way she couldn't have noticed." Jack replied and then a knock came on the door.
"Jane!" Grace and cassie called and ran to hug her.
"How are you feeling?" Cassie asked and Jane nodded her head.
"I'm better!" Jane said and turned to Grace who was crying already.
"I'm sorry Jane, for everything my family did to you. The mere existence of my brothers and I caused your parents their lives, and also affected you and Jack. I'm so sorry!" Grace cried and Jane hugged her.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. It was never your fault. We were all victims here." Jane cried too.
"I know it is shameless for me to ask you this. But could you please find a place in your heart to forgive my brother and my mother? I know they have both hurt you deeply. But they love you, and can't live without you." Grace begged and ran out crying.
"I want to be alone for a while." Jane requested.
"I will be right outside. Let me know if you need anything?" Jack said, and Jane nodded. Jack left with Cassie.
"What do I do?" Jane shut her eyes. How is it possible that the man she loves the most was the one who hurt her terribly? How is she supposed to live with that fact.
A knock came in and the door open with Whitney stepping into the room. Jane saw her and froze.
"Jane!" Whitney cried.
"Have you always known?" Jane asked and she nodded.
"Then why didn't you tell me?" Jane asked her.
"I didn't want to believe it at first. But then I confirmed it. I was scared Jane. I was afraid for you, for me and for my children. I thought I was doing the right thing by letting the past go." Whitney explained and walked forward.
"And little Jane? You sold my daughter off?" Jane felt her heart shattered.
"I'm sorry Jane, please forgive me. I just wanted you to live. I couldn't bare to see you die." Whitney slumped on the floor and cried.
Jane felt her heart broke seeing her like that, but she can't help the way she feels.
"I don't know if I can forgive you Mrs Whitney. But I definitely can't live without you." Jane cried and Whitney ran to her.
"I love you so much child, and I'm sorry." Whitney hugged her and they both cried on each other's shoulder.
"I want to see Chris, have him come in." Jane said to Whitney.
"Are you sure?" She asked and Jane nodded.
"Okay!" Whitney agreed and walked out of the room.
About ten minutes later, Chris walked into the room.
He walked in with his head bowed, and a box in his hand. He went down on his knees.
"Just hear me out!" Chris said.
"There's no justification for what I have done to you. But I have spent so many years living in guilt and pain for what I did to you. And I looked for you endlessly without knowing you were right here with me." Chris began.
"I know the past has been horrible. But with our love, I know we can create the kind of future that we want. You, me, and our children." Chris cried.
"Please forgive me, Jane. I can't live without you." Chris bowed his head and cried. Tears trickled down her eyes as her body was numb with pain.
"Are you just going to stay there or come and hug me." Jane asked and Chris eyes widened with shock. He quickly stood up and rushed to hug her.
"I love you Jane!" Chris cried.
"I'm yet to forgive you, but I love you too." Jane replied.
"What's that?" Jane asked pointing at the box.
"Open it!" Chris said and Jane did.
"My bracelet!" Jane gasped.
"I've had it with me since that night. It was the only thing I had of you, and looked for you with this. It was what led Jack and I to cassie." Chris explained.
"So when did you know I was the one?" Jane asked
"The day we got married and found cassie." Chris answered.
They both stayed locked in each other's embrace in silence.
"I love you Jane!" Chris confessed his love.
"I love you too Chris." Jane replied.
******
"You may now kiss the bride!" The officiating priest announced, and everyone cheered as Jane and Chris kissed each other.
Jane turned back and could see Grace's engagement ring shining through the crowd.
It's been two months since the wheel of their lives changed forever. Jane and Chris decided to do a wedding reception since they didn't have one.
Grace and Mike got engaged. Whitney and Williams registered their marriage a week ago. And, of course, Maria, Jonas, Angel, and everyone involved in the crimes are currently in jail.
Thanks to the evidence Jack gathered, the witness they provided, and Whitney's testimony.
"Congratulations Mr and Mrs Smith." Grace giggled.
"Your wedding is next, my dear sister in law. You have been engaged for a month now." Jane teased.
"We are working on it, Jane, don't you worry." Mike said, and everyone laughed.
"I can imagine you will be on every news outlet tomorrow." Cassie said.
"Congratulations!" Jack greeted.
"Congratulations!" Whitney and Williams came forward as well.
"Congratulations!" Madam Rebecca chipped in.
"Thank you, grandma!" Chris replied.
"Mummy! Chris won't let me play with his iPad." Little Jane tugged at Jane's wedding dress.
"Come on, Chris, let your sister play with your iPad." Jane subtly scolded him.
"Alright fine! Only for a few minutes." Little Chris said and dragged his sister away.
"Why are we still here? Let's move down to the hall and party." Cassie said, and everyone laughed.
"We should party, but before then." Jack said and went on his knees before cassie. He brought out a ring, and everyone gasped.
"I'm not a man with many words. But all I can say is that I love you, Cassie, and I can't imagine my life without you. So will you marry me?" Jack popped the question.
"Yes…" Cassie screamed without hesitation. Jack slipped the ring in her finger, and they kissed each other.
"We are getting married!" Cassie yelled in excitement, and everyone cheered.
Jane heaved a deep sigh. She can't imagine a more perfect life than this one.
"I love you, Jane!" Chris whispered into her ears, and she turned to look at him. Their eyes locked with their eyes filled with affection and pure love for each other.
"I love you too, Chris." Jane responded and sealed it with a kiss.
THE END