Chapter 5— Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea.

~Sara~

Fuck.

Jason and the man from the pool are brothers?!

My head spins, a nauseating feeling rising to the back of my throat as I grab onto one of the seats for support.

The universe is cruel enough to send me to this party, and now I’m tangled up with the brother my ex hates so much?

The same person I met at the pool?

Lord, please just take me.

“Sara, are you okay?” Sandra asks, her voice cutting through my spiraling thoughts as I stare blankly into space, my hand clutching my chest.

I snap my head toward her, cold beads of sweat forming on my forehead. “Of… of course."

She frowns at me, confused, and I force my lips into a stiff smile.

Suddenly, a hand grabs me, spinning me around sharply. My heels screech against the floor, my ankle winces, and a cold breeze brushes against my skin as I turn to face the architect of such audacity.

Jason. Of course.

“Do you care to explain what the hell is going on?” he demands, glaring at me like I owe him anything.

Seething, I dig my nails into the hand gripping my wrist. He flinches—but tightens his hold.

“Let go of me,” I grunt.

“Not until you explain yourself,” he shoots back.

I close my eyes, trying to suppress the rage boiling inside me.

“I said… let. go.”

“I think you’re overstepping, Jason,” Sandra cuts in, stepping forward.

“Shut up, bitch!” he barks, his eyes flashing with something dark.

Sandra stumbles back, stunned.

The noise draws attention. Conversations die down, and soon the once lively hall falls into silence.

I catch sight of Kayla watching us intently, her head tilted slightly, as if analyzing the drama unfolding before her.

Jason is gone, completely consumed. Rage burns in his eyes as though I’ve committed some unforgivable betrayal.

There’s a flicker of something else too—pain. Tears gather in his eyes, but he wipes them away quickly.

I raise a brow, surprised by the sudden display of emotion.

“You know my relationship with him,” he says, his voice breaking slightly. “You know how much he hates me. You know how he makes sure I never amount to anything in front of my father… and yet, you decide to sleep with him?”

A collective gasp ripples through the crowd.

I blink.

“Sleep with him?”

“Yes, Sara,” he snaps. “Sleep with him. I know this is your twisted way of getting back at me. Don’t deny it.”

I let out a disbelieving scoff, genuinely stunned by the depth of his delusion.

My expression hardens as I yank my arm free.

“You fucking deluded idiot!” I snap. “You really think I’d stoop that low just to get back at you? For God’s sake, Jason—we were together for three years. Three. Damn. Years. And the first thing that comes to your mind about me meeting your brother isn’t my work, not my professionalism—but my body?”

The guests murmur loudly now.

“Relationship? What is she talking about?” someone whispers.

Sandra stares at me, her eyes filled with questions, while the man from the pool—who I now know is Alex—stands there, arms tucked into his pockets, watching with clear amusement.

“You’ve always been desperate, Sara,” Jason blurts. “Just like when you forced me into that marriage.”

“A marriage you admitted was fake,” I shoot back. “You know what’s laughable? You calling me petty when you sent me a video of you sleeping with your fiancée just to spite me.”

Another wave of gasps.

Jason frowns. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

“The video, Jason,” I sneer. “Your sick attempt to hurt me. Don’t you dare deny it.”

His brows furrow—then slowly relax as realization dawns.

Ah. So he gets it.

Accused, just like he accused me.

I’m pretty sure Mira was behind that video, but watching Jason squirm is satisfying enough.

His jaw tightens.

“What?” I taunt. “Can’t handle your own medicine?”

He steps forward, something dark flickering in his eyes.

“Look, Sa—”

Suddenly, a broad, well-built frame in a perfectly tailored black tux steps into view. A subtle, expensive scent lingers in the air, enough to make me pause for a split second.

“I think we’ve had enough for today, Jason,” a familiar, smug voice says.

That voice.

The man from the pool.

Alex.

I step aside, catching the shift in Jason’s expression as his rage deepens.

“This doesn’t concern you, Alex,” Jason growls.

“Well,” Alex shrugs casually, “she works for me.”

“Step aside, Alex.”

“Or what?” he replies with a grin.

“Well, this is quite the standoff between brothers,” someone whispers nearby.

And then—

A sharp, piercing scream cuts through the hall.

Silence follows instantly.

We all turn toward the source.

Mira.

Of course. Who else would make an entrance like that?

She storms forward and stops in front of Alex, fury blazing in her eyes.

“Alex!” she shrieks. “I know you have a reputation with women, but insulting Jason for her? That’s low—even for you.”

Alex chuckles. “Insulting Jason for her is low, but using her and dumping her isn’t?”

Mira falters.

Wait… did she—

Alex raises a brow, as if reading my thoughts. “Ah. So you knew?”

Jason’s jaw clenches.

“People like her aren’t like us,” Mira says coldly. “They’re disposable.”

Alex scoffs. “And yet, here you are.”

Mira chokes on her words. “Alex!”

“For God’s sake, Alex,” Kayla cuts in sharply, “you’re embarrassing us in front of guests over this… woman?”

“Woman?” Alex tilts his head. “That’s rich, coming from someone who walked into my office wearing nothing but a fur coat—which, by the way, didn’t stay on for more than thirty seconds.”

Kayla’s face drains of color.

Mira steps forward. “You—”

“Enough!”

The commanding voice slices through the tension.

Heels click against the floor as a woman approaches—elegant, composed, and striking despite her age. Blonde hair. Sharp blue eyes. Authority in every step.

“Mom!” Mira calls, but stops when the woman raises a hand.

She turns to Alex with a polite smile and gives a slight bow.

“Forgive my daughters’ impudence, Alex,” she says smoothly. “Young people these days act without thinking.”

Alex slips his hands into his pockets, smirking. “Keep your dogs on a leash, Catherine. Their barking is disturbing the guests.”

“Mom?!” Mira protests.

But Catherine simply smiles.

Alex grabs my arm and starts to lead me away when she stops him.

“But I must say, Alex,” she adds, “isn’t it ironic that the nation’s playboy is defending a random girl?”

Alex pauses.

Then slowly turns back, a smile spreading across his face.

“And why is that ironic?”

Before I can react, his arm slides around my waist, pulling me flush against him. My boots press against his solid chest.

My brows knit together as I look up at him.

There’s mischief in his eyes.

Dangerous mischief.

His lips curl into a sly grin as he says—

“She’s my woman.”

Wait. What???

And then—

BAM.

His lips crash onto mine.

Jason’s face darkens instantly.