The Shadow Man

PAST LIFE: PART IV

"Where have you been?" Jessica asked, shocked to see the man, drunk and looking like a beggar. She thought to herself as she looked at the man, 'How did I even end up in this kind of situation.'

"Oh, dear, you're finally home. Did you know, while you were away, everyone has been so kind to me?" He said all drunk as he tried to straighten himself up and walk properly towards her. He was drunk, so he was unable to keep himself from walking in a straight direction. As he stumbled and fell onto the bush, he laughed, "Ha-ha, oh dear, I fell."

Jessica blood boiled in annoyance. She was getting so frustrated by everything and now she returned home, finding the man she married all drunk and wasted. "Get up, don't embarrassed me at the middle of the night. Our neighbors are all asleep."

In Jacob mind, 'What neighbors? Those so-called neighbor who do nothing but curse me for ruining your so-called perfect life.'

"Ah, you're finally here. Get him inside already before the neighbors see us." Jessica called out to Vic, who was preparing to head to bed.

When Jessica entered back into the house, Vic hurriedly went to check on the man's condition. She worried that he might get himself hurt from the fall. As he checked, a hand landed on her shoulder.

"Don't worry, I'm fine." Jacob said as he slowly got himself up.

"What were you thinking drink so much, and this…" Vic got rid of the bottle of wine before the man would drink more from it. "It's alright late, you better go inside and take a rest. I'll bring some soup up to your room to help ease you to sleep."

"Auntie, I'm fine. I'm not drunk." He tried to explain himself; however, it was futile when the elderly woman seemed to be not buying what he was saying.

"Not drunk, then how did you fell down? Tell me!" Her face was in rage and annoyed at how ridiculous the boy was for trying to make excuses. Despite how much she wanted to tell him off, she couldn't. For deep in her heart, she knew exactly why the man came home all so drunk.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I'll get inside already." Jacob replied, pleading and apologizing as he felt sorry for what he did. He didn't think that his acting would end up causing the elderly woman to worry so much about him. Apart from her, no one in this household does care for him.

As soon as Jacob returned to his room, he got into the shower and freshened himself up. Despite how he looked during the day, the man was in perfect shape. His body was in good condition, ready to be sent to any battle. Not only that, he was far more attractive and fitting than those so-called movie stars and models. What the Blake family don't know is that, when the sun has not risen, he normally works out in his room. Despite the lack of equipment, he could keep himself fit and in shape.

"Jacob, are you still awake."

Jacob went to open the door, and outside, the elderly woman had prepared the hangover soup for him.

"Drink up, it'll do you go." She said as she handed the cup of soup to him.

Jacob did not resist and drunk the whole soup in one go. It was indeed good as it helped warm his body up and his mind became all relaxed. "Thank you, Auntie Vic."

"You’re welcome, get some rest now."

"You too, good night." As Jacob watched the woman walk away, he suddenly recalled something. However, as his mind wasn't focused at that time, he couldn't picture out the woman clearly. "I must be drunk then, I'm seeing things."

As soon as the day broke, Jacob woke up, all restored. As usual, he was up before anyone else. Just as he was about to step out of the door, he was surprised when his wife was awake as well, all packed up.

"Oh, Jacob you're awake." Jessica said shocked to see the man all awake and looking refreshed. She thought that because he came home drunk last night that he'd be in bed till noon. But who would have thought that before the sunlight could, even though the sky above and change its color, the man would be wide awake.

"Hmm, my head hurt so I'm going to get some water." He replied, acting all sick and in pain from being hangover.

"Oh, should I help you." She replied as she kicked her luggage to the side as she went closer to check on the man's condition.

"Don't worry, it seems you have to go somewhere." He replied as he walked ahead and went down.

"Ah, you see, the company have been given me all sort of projects. Sadly, I have to be away again." She explains as she hopes her excuse would make the man believe her. As they had been keeping her affairs a secret from him, they hoped he would not find out at all. For once they planned to be on their ways, she hoped the man wouldn't demand anything from her. Even though his family doesn't care for him, who knows what will happen once they file for divorce.

"Oh, I see. Then, take care." Jacob replied as he headed to the kitchen, not bothering as to what the woman had to do.

As soon as Jacob was gone, Jessica hurried back upstairs to get her luggage. Outside, a car was already waiting for her. She didn't bother turning back to check if someone was watching her or not.

In one of the kitchen windows, which has a view of the front house, Jacob witnesses what has been happening all this time. He watched as his so-called wife wrapped her arms tightly around the neck of some man and kissed his lips. The two were being so intimate already that their kiss lasted longer than their kiss during their wedding. The two haven't even spent a night together, including during their wedding night.

Jacob observes and checked closely who the man could be. He knew that the man was from the Black family, but he was unsure which of the Black sons was having an affair with his wife.

"Oh, so it's him." Jacob said as he didn't bother looking at the two outside and went back to make his coffee. "The two of them does fit well together."

The person whom Jacob saw outside with his wife was the famous Joe Black. The black sheep of the Black family. Despite being the black sheep, the man has his own special power apart from his family. He was talented and skilled as well; he knew how to establish himself and gain power without his family's help. However, he too has his own dark secrets, and one of them is what he is doing now.

"Should I tell her?" Jacob wondered as he took a sip of his coffee. As usual, he was never pleased with the coffee at home, for the coffee beans were never to his standard. "Should I go out and visit Jade again."

What the Blake family did not know is the fact, Joe Black gained his power and wealth through affairs. He was famous for having sugar mommies. However, those sugar mommies would not meet any light again when Joe had enough of them. No one could ever prove that he was the reason behind those women's deaths, as he was not known for what he was doing. He was good at keeping his hands clean from all the mess. He'll always find ways to put the blame on others.

However, he knew about the man's secret as he discovered him one time. He was on a mission back in the States and he saw the man with the woman inside the hotel back then. He didn't bother about the man back then, but since the person his mission was involved with had something to do with the woman. Coincidentally, the woman whom Joe Black was seeing at that time had been dealing with the underground.

"Hmm, I better not spoil their good fortune. Maybe the man has change." Jacob said as he went to the back garden and enjoyed the fresh air.

The Blake house wasn't that big at all. It can be classed as a mini mansion. It has six large bedrooms, two rooms for the servants, and large halls which can accommodate a few people for any gatherings. The garden, too, was half the side of the house; it wasn't even managed well. However, since Jacob became part of the family, he had been putting all his time into the garden. Planting all sorts of flowers and vegetables. Since the family didn't even bother with the garden, he had the pleasure of planting whatever he wanted. The family don't even tell him off, even when they notice what he was doing since many of the guests that have visited them have always praised them for having such a magnificent garden, always curious as to who they hire to manage the garden.

Jacob put his coffee down as he headed to the shed to get some gloves and tools. He put on the gloves as he started plowing the grounds and pulling out the weeds. He was always at peace when he did the garden as it was one of the things he enjoyed whilst growing up with his grandparents.

"Jacob, not like that or else you'll ruined the roots." Grandmother Wayne said as he teaches the young Jacob how to plant some flowers.

"Sorry, Nana, I'll try again." Young Jacob said, all determined to get things right.

"That's it, well done." She praised the young boy as she patted him in the head.

The boy has been with them for months now since the incident. The boy was well behaved and didn't even cause any trouble for the two elders. They were worried that the boy would cry and want to see his parents. As the two elders explained to him everything, he only nodded and didn't say anything. He was obedient and followed through with whatever they said.

"Nana, can we cut those flowers. I want to give them to Grandpa." Young Jacob said as he pointed at the flower.

"Oh, you can. Let me teach you how to properly cut it without causing any damage."

Young Jacob watched eagerly as the woman showed him how to cut the flower stems. As soon as the elder woman finished, she handed the flower to Young Jacob.

"Here you go."

"Hmm, thank you." Young Jacob smelled the scent of the flower and smiled. The smell was pleasing and he particularly enjoyed it smell.

"Young Master, it's time for your lesson. Your teacher has arrived."

"Nana, I'll be on my way then." Young Jacob excused himself as he planted a kiss on the elder woman's cheeks.

"Very well, listen to your teacher and learn well." Grandmother Wayne said.

"I will." Young Jacob said as he followed the butler inside the house.

"Young Master, what's the flower for." The butler asked as he notice the young boy was happily looking at it.

"This is for Grandpa; I'll give it to him once he comes home." Young Jacob replied happily as he showed it off to the butler.

"Oh, since you want to give it to the Master, should we put it in a small vase?"

"Okay, can you bring me one please? As long as it not ." Young Jacob asked, wondering if what he asked would cause some problem with the old man.

"No problem at all, I'll have one of the maids bring it to you."

During Young Jacob's class, a maid did arrive with a small vase for his flower. The maid helped him put the flower in the vase, which had water inside it already. From time to time, the young boy would check on his flower. He would smile, and his teacher would also explain to him what kind of flower he had.

"Hyacinth." Jacob said as he picked up the flower and smelled it. It had been a while since he had smelled the flower. It had a lavender smell, but less herbal and slightly sweeter. It was the flower that the man had loved since he was a child.

The flower Hyacinth meant a lot to Jacob as it had a great flower meaning. It symbolizes peace, commitment, and beauty, just like his character and appearance. However, it also means power and pride, which he strongly stands for. However, sadly, the other meaning of it does not seem to agree with him.

"Happiness and love, that what you are." Jacob said as he looked at the flower and placed it in a basket. He had picked a full flower as he prepare to give it to someone.

Once he finished what he was doing, he returned to the shed and arrange back the tools he used. He made sure to clean them first just like he always does.

Before anyone would wake up, he hurried back to his room and got what he had prepared yesterday. Along with the flowers, he went ahead and walked to the elderly woman's room.

Knock Knock