Chapter 21 [ This is a letter I never had the courage to send . Jessie , I think I've fallen for you . But you're always by Nelson's side , and your eyes light up when you look at him . I know this will only ever be a silent , one - sided love . ] Standing there in her snow - white wedding gown , Jessie's eyes glistened with tears . She hadn't expected it - Charles had been in love with her since high school . She turned to look at him , heart full , eyes soft . Just then , a security guard burst into the room in a panic . " Mr. Holland ! Someone's threatening to jump from the roof . It's Mr. Voss . " Jessie's hands trembled . She thought she'd made everything clear to Nelson yesterday . Charles stepped forward . " I'll handle it . " Jessie shook her head . " No. Charles ... let the ceremony start twenty minutes late . Is that okay ? " He pulled her gently into his arms , voice tender . " I know if something happened to him , you wouldn't be able to live with it . I'll wait . " Tears brimmed again in Jessie's eyes . Maybe she didn't know how to love Charles yet - but she was willing to spend the rest of her life learning . She made her way to the rooftop . There stood Nelson , in the same white suit he'd worn at their wedding thirteen years ago . Even after all this time , Jessie recognized it instantly . " Nelson , do you want to die ? " Nelson's crimson eyes blazed with agony . He stood at the edge of the top floor - one more step , and he'd plummet from the 78th floor of the Holland Group , his body shattered beyond recognition . " Jessie , " he croaked , voice hoarse . " Without you , I can't survive another day . " Chapter 21 18.42 % Available on the GETITION App Store Google Play The CEO's Wife Is Jessie gave a watery smile . " I thought the same thing when I saw you at the airport , kissing Lila . I thought losing you would kill me . " Nelson's voice broke . " Please ... Jessie , forgive me . I've been looking for you every day for the past five years . If I had known you never left the country , I would've come back the second I found out . " Jessie simply asked , " Nelson , did you ever go to the restaurant where we used to celebrate our anniversary every year ? " Nelson flinched . That place inside this very hotel - had been where they celebrated every year . He'd picked it once , deliberately , to spite Charles , just to show off how happy he and Jessie were . But Jessie ended up loving it . " There , " she said quietly , " is my last anniversary gift to you . It's been waiting for seven years . Go pick it up . Charles is still waiting for me downstairs . I've already returned the 30 billion dollars . We're even now . Let's not owe each other anything ever again . ' Still wearing her wedding dress , she turned and walked away . Just like that day in the hospital - Jessie didn't look back , even if he died right there on the rooftop . Nelson rushed to the restaurant , breathless , demanding the staff bring him her gift . The manager returned with a frozen box . " Mr. Voss , " he said solemnly , " Ms. Hale left this five years ago . She told us to give this to you if you ever came . " Nelson's hands shook as he opened it . The moment he saw the hospital markings , he knew . Inside , preserved in a chilled slurry , were two tiny , indistinct shapes - two lost lives , bloodied and torn . Nelson collapsed , sobbing . In that moment , he finally understood . Why Jessie never forgave him . Their two unborn children were gone . " Thank you ... honey . " Hearing her call him that , Charles leaned in and kissed Jessie gently on the lips . " Jessie , " he murmured , " no matter how hard Nelson clings to the past , I will never let go of your hand . " Jessie smiled through misty eyes . " I'll learn to love you , " she whispered . That night , Nelson jumped from the top of what used to be the Voss family house . By the next morning , the entire city was flooded with headlines of Nelson's suicide . Jessie didn't dare look at the gruesome photos . Charles was the one who handled the funeral arrangements . He kept it quiet , respectful . The front page of every paper ran the story of Nelson's death - but none revealed the final detail known only to a few . When Nelson was found , his hand clutched a single , vibrant red rose . The image pulled Jessie back to a memory from when she was fifteen . " Nelson , " the teenage girl had asked , leaning close to the boy , " what kind of flower do you think I am ? " He had just lifted his head then , his boyish features soft with a crooked smile . His eyes , always filled with her , crinkled with warmth as he pointed to a small potted plant she'd Chapter 21 Available on the GETITON App Store Google Play The CEO's Wife Is 18 42 % just placed on the windowsill . With a teasing tone , he replied , " You're a rose , Jessie . Bright, beautiful - and covered in thorns . Fragile , but sharp . The kind only I could ever take care of . " Now , Jessie turned her head toward the bouquet Charles had left for her that morning - red roses . Tears rolled silently down her cheeks . Chapter 21