Mr Melendez,Your Wife Wants Divorce Long ago novel Chapter 396

**Chapter 396**

Jayceon’s reaction came slowly, as if he were caught in a thick fog that dulled his senses.

When he finally registered Arabella standing beside him, he hastily extinguished the cigarette that hung from his fingers, the smoke curling away like his fleeting thoughts. In a swift motion, he removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders, an instinctual gesture of protection.

Arabella looked up, her gaze meeting his.

In that moment, the vibrancy in Jayceon’s eyes seemed to fade, replaced by shadows of exhaustion.

His eyes, slightly red and weary, held a depth of fatigue that weighed heavily on his voice as he murmured, “I’ll go get you a clean shawl.”

But Arabella halted him, pulling the jacket tighter around herself as if to shield herself from more than just the chill of the evening air.

Jayceon observed her, his heart racing at the sight of her reaction. There was no trace of joy in his expression; instead, panic flickered in his eyes, a silent plea that he couldn’t articulate.

Arabella stood there, clad in soft pajamas with Jayceon’s black suit jacket enveloping her, her figure silhouetted against the railing as she gazed into the distance.

In his black trousers and white shirt, Jayceon found himself lost in contemplation, staring blankly at the delicate outline of Arabella, her features softened by the dim light.

They lingered in silence, the air thick with unspoken words, each lost in their own thoughts.

Finally, Arabella broke the stillness, her voice a gentle intrusion into the heavy atmosphere.

She tilted her head slightly, casting a sideways glance at Jayceon. “Do you remember when we came here for our honeymoon? What I did to you on this very terrace?”

Jayceon fought to pull the corners of his mouth into a smile, but the effort felt futile; no sound emerged, only the weight of memories.

Arabella chuckled softly, filling the silence with her words: “I made you swear you’d be good to me for the rest of your life. You called me childish. I can even remember throwing a fit about it.”

Her self-deprecating smile pierced Jayceon’s heart, and he felt a sting in his chest as he watched her.

His eyes, bloodshot and filled with pain, remained fixed on Arabella as he leaned against the railing, desperately seeking stability.

Arabella continued, her voice drifting into the past. “I remember running over to the Melendez family’s house all the time as a child. Kim was always so cheerful; we were practically inseparable. Your mother was gentle and beautiful, treating me with such kindness. Your grandfather and father seemed fierce, but they were decent to me. I truly cherished that sense of family.”

She glanced at Jayceon again, her tone lightening as she reminisced. “Remember that time I snuck out after school to play with Kim, and we got caught in a downpour? After you and Sam found us, the four of us huddled under the same eaves, sharing a small bag of cookies.”

Thank you for the man you once were.

Jayceon’s heart raced as he absorbed the weight of her words.

A flicker of laughter escaped him, soon followed by a wave of tears.

As he sank to the ground, his body shook with sobs, raw and unrestrained, reminiscent of a child lost in sorrow.

Arabella stood before him, her heart breaking as she looked down at the man who was so emotionally shattered.

“Jayceon, Kim and I are as close as sisters, and your mother is like a mother to me. I truly cherish that bond,” she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil surrounding them.

But then her tone shifted, and she added firmly, “But if cutting ties with you means I have to give up that bond, I can do it.”

“You can’t do that!” Jayceon sprang to his feet, gripping Arabella’s shoulders as if she were his lifeline. “You said they were your family for life! How could you even consider it?!”

Arabella met his gaze, her expression unwavering. “As long as I can clear the slate with you, I can give up everything,” she replied, her voice devoid of any hesitation.