Chapter 4

Kathy Pov

The moment the word prenup left his mouth, my brain stalled. I didn’t know what to think or even how to react. What did he mean I can’t divorce him? Why in the world would I be thinking about divorcing him just minutes after we got married? Maybe he thought I would hold a grudge after he abandoned me at the altar earlier today.

But he had a reason for that didn’t he? So why else would divorce even cross his mind?

My spiraling thoughts were cut off when I heard, “Congratulations, Mrs. Hudson.”

I forced a smile at the bald clerk, but the words struck me strangely. Mrs. Hudson. I had always imagined myself becoming Mrs. Forbes when I was with Jason. Yet here I was, bound to him under a new name—one he’d so easily abandoned his mother’s for. I never thought Jay would discard it this soon.

Jason pushed away from the desk with such force that the chair scraped harshly against the polished floor. He stormed out of the office as though the walls themselves were closing in on him, and I had no choice but to follow, my heels clicking in uneven rhythm against the marble tiles.

The courthouse doors swung open, spilling us into the late afternoon light. The air outside was sharp, cool against my heated skin, carrying the faint smell of rain-soaked asphalt. That was when I saw them—Harry and my parents—rushing toward me with fear etched across their faces.

Harry reached me first, his arms wrapping around me so tightly it stole my breath. “Are you okay, Sweets?” His voice was low, trembling with worry.

Before I could answer, Jason’s hand clamped around my forearm, tugging me back against him with enough force to make me stumble. A small yelp escaped before I could stop it.

Harry’s entire demeanor shifted, his worry burning instantly into fury. “What the hell, Jay? Let Kathy go.”

Jason didn’t much flinch. He smoothed down the cuff of his tailored suit. His eyes were cold, his voice even colder. “You mean my wife?”

The word sliced through the space between us.

Harry’s head whipped toward me, his jaw slack. “What’s he talking about, Sweets?”

I swallowed, my lips dry. “We… we got married. We Registered it just now.”

My father, Kalker Lester, the pillar of my life—stepped closer. His face was grave, but his voice was soft when he spoke. “Do you think this is a good idea, little pea?”

A sharp sting burned behind my eyes, but I swallowed it down. If I let one tear fall, I knew my father would crumble too. So I forced a smile and nodded.

Harry’s glare deepened, sharp enough to cut glass. “No. I won’t accept this. You’re coming with me to the station, Jay. You took advantage of someone mentally drained and vulnerable. This marriage should be annulled.”

My mother, Regina, slipped her hand through Harry’s arm, her touch steadying him. “It’s okay, dear. If this is what Kathy wants, then we need to support her. You know she wouldn’t do anything against her will.”

But Harry wasn’t convinced. He stepped closer until he stood nose-to-nose with Jason, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “If she suffers even once, I’ll make sure there’s not a shred of you left.”

Jason’s nostrils flared, the vein in his neck pulsing visibly. His jaw clenched hard, his molars grinding as if he were holding himself back from snapping.

The tension was unbearable, heavy as thunder before a storm. I couldn’t let it explode. With a shaky breath, I slipped between them, pressing my palms to their chests, urging them apart.

Harry Bennett had been part of my world since diapers—his parents, my parents, and then us. A best friend, a protector. He’d always been there, and now, as a police officer, that protective instinct was multiplied tenfold, especially after what happened this morning.

I rose on my toes, cupped Harry’s face, and forced his gaze to mine. “You know me,” I whispered, needing him to trust me.

His chest rose with a heavy breath. At last, he nodded. “Yeah. I know you.” He sighed, stepping back, his shoulders tight with frustration.

After a few more strained goodbyes and my mother’s gentle squeeze of my hand, Jason pulled me away. His grip was firm, unrelenting.

We drove straight to the airport. The city blurred past the tinted windows as silence pressed down on us like a weight.

His private plane was waiting, sleek and gleaming on the tarmac. Once inside, the cool hum of the cabin was a stark contrast to the chaos we’d just left behind. I strapped myself in, sinking into the leather seat across from him, my pulse finally slowing.

And then—her.

A woman in sharp business attire swept past me, the faint perfume of jasmine trailing in her wake. My brows knitted as she lowered herself onto the seat beside Jason, practically perched on his lap. Her smile was dazzling, her eyes fixed entirely on him, as though I didn’t exist.

My stomach knotted.

Now what the hell was this?