The confrontation

POV: Jared

It was a quiet morning in the office, the kind where everything felt routine. The hum of my computer filled the room as I worked through an endless string of emails. I liked mornings like this—structured, predictable. But the peace shattered in an instant.

The door to my office slammed open so hard it hit the wall. I looked up, startled, as Xaden stormed in like a man on fire. His face was twisted with fury, his eyes sharp and blazing.

"Jared!" he snapped, his voice loud enough to carry through the entire floor.

My assistant, Sarah, appeared behind him, looking flustered and apologetic. "I tried to stop him, Mr. Jared, but he—"

"It's fine," I interrupted, holding up a hand. "Close the door, Sarah. I'll handle this."

She hesitated for a moment, clearly unsure if she should leave me alone with him. I gave her a reassuring nod, and she finally backed out, shutting the door softly behind her.

Xaden wasted no time. He strode over to my desk, his movements stiff with anger. He planted both palms on the surface and leaned in, his face inches from mine.

"You knew," he said, his voice low but trembling with rage.

I stayed seated, meeting his glare with a calm expression. "Knew what?"

"Don't play dumb with me!" he roared, slamming his fist on the desk. Papers jumped, and my coffee mug wobbled dangerously close to the edge. "You knew Asher is my son!"

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "Yes," I admitted simply.

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might actually explode. "How long?"

"A while."

His eyes narrowed, and I could see the betrayal sinking in. "And you didn't think I deserved to know? That I had a right to be in my son's life?"

"You lost that right," I said, keeping my voice steady. "The moment you cheated on Zina, you threw away any claim to her or Asher."

He flinched, his anger momentarily replaced by something that looked like guilt. But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by a scowl.

"You don't get to decide that," he growled.

"I didn't decide anything," I shot back. "Zina did. And I respect her choice to protect her son from someone who walked away when she needed him most."

His fists clenched tighter, and his entire body seemed to vibrate with barely contained rage. "You think you're better than me? You think you're some kind of hero for stepping in where I couldn't?"

I stood, leveling the playing field. "It's not about me being better than you. It's about what's best for Zina and Asher. And you storming in here, throwing a tantrum, isn't helping your case."

That was the breaking point. He swung at me without warning, his fist aiming straight for my face.

I ducked, narrowly avoiding the punch. Before he could swing again, I grabbed his arm, twisting it and shoving him back.

"Don't," I warned, my voice hard. "You don't want to do this."

But he wasn't listening. He charged again, his movements fueled by pure rage. This time, I didn't hold back. My fist connected with his jaw, and the impact sent him stumbling into a chair.

He caught himself, rubbing his jaw with a grimace. "You think this is over?" he growled, his voice low and menacing.

"It's over when I say it's over," I replied, shaking out my hand. The adrenaline masked the pain in my knuckles, but I knew it'd sting later.

He stood, his chest heaving, his face a mix of anger and frustration. "You don't get to keep my son from me," he said through gritted teeth. "I'll fight you for him. I'll take this to court if I have to."

I crossed my arms, refusing to back down. "Do what you have to do, Xaden. But you'd better be ready for a fight. Zina is an incredible mother, and Asher is happy. No judge is going to take him away from her."

He glared at me, his hands flexing like he was debating whether to take another swing. Instead, he turned on his heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

The room was silent again, save for the faint ringing in my ears from the confrontation. I took a deep breath, letting the tension slowly drain from my body. But the knot in my stomach remained.

I sat down, running a hand through my hair. This wasn't over. Xaden wasn't the type to let things go, and the last thing I wanted was for Zina and Asher to get caught in the crossfire.

I reached for my phone and dialed Zina's number. It rang once, twice, three times, before going to voicemail.

"Zina, pick up," I muttered under my breath, trying again. Still no answer.

Her silence only made my unease grow. I left a voicemail, keeping it short. "Zina, call me back when you get this. It's important."

I stared at the phone for a moment, debating whether to try a third time. Zina always answered my calls. The fact that she wasn't now could mean she was busy—or it could mean something was wrong.

I leaned back in my chair, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. I'd handled Xaden for now, but this was just the beginning. If he was serious about taking this to court, things were about to get messy.

And I'd do whatever it took to make sure Zina and Asher were protected.

After a few moments of silence, I stood up and walked to the window, staring out at the city below. My thoughts were a whirlwind of worry and determination.

This wasn't just about Xaden trying to assert his rights. It was about Zina's peace, Asher's happiness, and the life they'd built together.

And I wouldn't let anyone take that away from them.

The phone buzzed on my desk, pulling me from my thoughts. For a brief second, I hoped it was Zina calling back. But when I glanced at the screen, it was Sarah.

"Mr. Jared," she said when I answered. "There's a situation."

"What now?" I muttered.

She hesitated. "A messenger. He says he has something for you."

I waved my hand dismissively. "Send him in."

A few seconds later, a tall man in a dark suit entered, his face impassive. He was carrying the envelope, still sealed. His posture was stiff, and I couldn't quite place his energy—he wasn't here for a casual chat.

"Mr. Jared?" he asked, his voice low and professional.

"That's me," I replied, leaning back in my chair. "What's this?"

The messenger didn't say a word. He stepped forward, placed the envelope on my desk, and handed it over with a small nod. I didn't take it immediately, instead studying him for any clue about what was going on.

"Who's this from?" I asked, still eyeing him.

The man remained silent for a beat too long before replying. "It's for you. From Mr. Xaden."

I raised an eyebrow, but my expression remained neutral. Xaden—of course. The man was relentless, and even though I thought I had dealt with him earlier, it seemed he had more to say.

"Thanks," I said curtly, reaching for the envelope. As the messenger turned to leave, I hesitated, feeling a strange unease in my gut.

"Wait," I said. The messenger paused and looked back. "Do you know what's in this?"

He shook his head slightly, not giving away anything. "I'm just the messenger, sir."

With a final nod, he exited the room, and I was left alone with the envelope.

I stared at it for a moment, my mind racing. The paper was heavy, expensive. Xaden wasn't one to use just any stationery. This was no casual letter.

I tore the seal open, unfolding the paper with a sharp motion. The words inside were straightforward, and as I read, my jaw clenched.

Jared,

Consider this a formal notice of intent to pursue legal action for custody of my son, Asher. I will be fighting for his right to live with his biological father, and I intend to take this to court if necessary. Be prepared for the consequences of your interference.

Regards, Xaden

I reread the letter, my grip tightening around the paper. So, it was true. Xaden wasn't going to back down. He meant business.

The thought of Xaden taking Asher away made my blood run cold. Zina had been through so much already, and now this man—this selfish bastard—was going to drag her through another battle she didn't deserve.

You son of a bitch .

I grabbed my jacket and headed for the door. I couldn't let Xaden get away with this. He was playing dirty, and I wasn't going to let him win.

As I stepped into the elevator, my mind raced. How had we gotten here? How had Xaden not just walked away but now thought he had the right to tear apart Zina's life again?

I swear, he will not.