Chapter 126: I Can’t

Words : 1091 Updated : Sep 30th, 2025

Chapter 126: I Can’t The ride to the lounge was quiet. Genevieve leaned her head against the window and stared outside without really seeing anything. The trees looked like green blurs. The cars on the road looked like toys. Her heart still felt heavy, like a rock was sitting inside her chest. How could she be feeling this way when she had only met him four days ago? Why was she feeling this way when she knew deep down that he wasn’t hers, and the only reason he was being this way to her was because he believed she was Dawn? Would he still like her or be friends with her if he finds out she was the daughter of the man who had stolen everything from his friend, Dawn? Would he want to have anything to do with her if he got to know she was the daughter of prostitute and drug addict and not Kimberly Moore’s daughter? Why did she have to stupidly feel this way about him? Jamal kept glancing at her through the mirror as he drove carefully, giving her space. When they got to the lounge, Jamal found a parking spot close to the door. Genevieve wiped her face with the back of her hand and took a deep breath before opening the door. The lounge was not busy yet. It was still early in the day, so there were only a few people inside. Soft music played from hidden speakers, and the lights were dim and warm. Genevieve walked slowly to a small table in the corner. Jamal followed her like a quiet shadow. She sat down heavily, like her body was too tired to hold itself up anymore. Jamal pulled out the chair across from her and sat too, but he stayed quiet. He kept his hands folded on the table and watched her carefully, making sure she was okay. A waitress came over, smiling politely. "Good afternoon. What can I get you?" she asked. Genevieve didn’t smile back. Her voice was soft when she answered. "A bottle of white wine, please. And a glass." The waitress turned to Jamal and when Jamal shook his head, she nodded and walked away. When the waitress returned and set down the bottle and glass, Genevieve poured herself a drink. She took a big sip right away. The cold wine burned a little as it went down, but she welcomed the feeling. It made her chest feel a little less tight. Jamal sat quietly as he watched her, giving her company like he had promised. After a few minutes, Genevieve spoke. Her voice was low and rough. "Pete... have you ever met someone who made you want to be a better person?" Jamal thought about it for a moment. He thought about his large family and every one of the men in his life. "Yes," he said simply. "Lots of people actually." Genevieve smiled weakly. "You are pretty lucky then," she said. "Yes, I am," Jamal agreed. "I’m not as lucky," Genevieve said as she looked down at her glass. "Jamal is the first person who’ve made me feel that way. Like I can be better," she said as she raised the glass to her lips. Jamal wanted to say something, but he didn’t know what. So he said nothing. How would she feel when she realizes Stefan wasn’t really Jamal? Would she mind or not? Jamal wondered with an inward sigh. He understood that she really liked Stefan’s person, but would she stick with him when she finds out he was Stefan and not the billionaire Jamal Jonas? Would she mind that he wasn’t really a billionaire? "I don’t deserve him," she whispered, breaking into this thoughts. Jamal leaned forward a little. "Why not?" "I’ve made so many mistakes," she said, her voice cracking. "I’ve done lots of terrible things. I don’t think he’d forgive me if he knows all I’ve done." Jamal looked at her, feeling very sorry for her. "Regardless of what you’ve done, he sees something good in you. And maybe you should start seeing it too. Sometimes, people need a second chance. And sometimes, they need someone to believe in them until they can believe in themselves. Maybe Mr Jamal is that someone for you. He’s the one who sees you clearly." Genevieve blinked hard to stop the tears, but they still came. She wiped her face quickly with the back of her hand and took another sip of wine. Genevieve shook her head, "You don’t understand, Pete." "What you did in the past is not as important as what you do now and going forward," Jamal said gently. "Trust me, Pete, nothing I do now can make up for what I’ve done. Especially to Abigail," she said, tears rolling down her eyes. Jamal nodded slowly, understanding what she wasn’t saying. He liked that he was seeing this remorseful part of her. He wondered if she had shown this part to Stefan and if that was the reason Stefan liked her so much. "You never can tell until you try to make amends. Apologize and do what’s right," Jamal said quietly. Genevieve pressed her lips together tightly to keep from crying harder. Jamal watched as she took another big gulp of wine. Genevieve set down the glass and shook her head. "I can’t." "You can’t what?" Jamal asked, and she sighed deeply. "I can’t apologize to Abigail." Jamal’s brows pulled together, "Why not?" "Because an apology won’t fix anything between us. I’ve come too far and lied for far too long. An apology without real repentance and change is useless," she said, and Jamal sighed inwardly. He understood what she meant. She didn’t see any need to apologize to Abigail when was going to keep pretending to be Dawn. She was only going to be able to apologize when she was ready and bold enough to admit to Abigail that she was an impostor. Genevieve smiled a little as she watched him. "Thank you," she whispered. "What for?" Jamal asked, confused. "For listening without asking for deeper explanations or asking any personal questions. You’re a good listener. I guess that’s the reason Jamal loved to drink with you," Genevieve said quietly. "If I thought it was my business or you’d answer my questions, I’d ask," Jamal said, and Genevieve smiled. "I trust you can keep our conversation confidential as you kept the ones you had with Jamal?" She asked, and Jamal gave her a nod. "Thanks," she said with a sigh.

Chapter 126: I Can’t

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