Chapter 3 - Jessica

Pulling up to this house once again, I take a deep breath and prepare myself for what I will find inside. It’s been an hour since I caught Janathan cheating on me with Helen. An hour since I set the truth into the family group chat. I thought I would have to wait to come back and gather my things, but my dad called me twenty minutes ago, telling me Uncle Hunter was on his way with some men from their company ready to help me pack up and move out. I was grateful to hear this, happy to know that I would not have to worry about my things being destroyed.

“The front door slams open, and I jump, watching Jonathan storm out, his face contorted in anger. Making sure my car was locked, I started recording another video on my phone and rolled the window down just a crack to hear what my ex had to say.

“You made me a fucking laughing stock!” He shouts, slamming his fist on the window. I jumped, scared that he was going to break it down, but I tried to remain calm.

“You made yourself the laughing stock by cheating on me.” I state, trying not to show how terrified I was of him right now.

“All I did was let everyone know how you betrayed me.”

“Yeah, and your fucking cousins shared everything! They fucking tagged my boss and now I have to go in and sit down with HR. I might loose my fucking job!” He screams, spit flying out of his mouth and thankfully landing on my window.

“They did?” The question slips out before I can stop it, and I find myself laughing at the situation. Of course, my cousins would share the videos and the conversation in the family group chat. It was barely active, only being made so that we could plan events for both my mom's and dad’s sides of my family. I had separate ones for their respective sides, but I knew sharing what happened in the one with everyone was the best option, and I was right.

“Of course they did, you fucked around and found out.” I laugh out, running a hand through my hair. This only enrages Jonathan more as he begins to attack my car, calling me a fucking whore and should have been put in her place long ago. My amusement turns into fear, and in moments I find myself begging him to stop, or I would call the police. He ignores me, threatening that as soon as I leave my car, I am going to regret sharing everything.

Suddenly, Jonathan is tackled to the ground, and I peer over to find a man I know all too well holding him down.

“Now, now, Jonathan.” A familiar, deep bass voice calls from my left, making all the fear I felt disappear in an instant.

“You know very well that you shouldn’t be threatening our Princess like this.” This deep voice continues. Knowing I was safe, I unlocked my car and climbed out of it, rushing to Uncle Hunter’s arms and taking in his familiar Dior cologne.

“Hey there, Jess. Heard you needed a knight to come rescue you, Princess.” He coos to me, wrapping me in his arms.

“I do.” I whimper out, relieved to no longer be alone with the bastard.

“Well, I am here now, so don’t worry, Princess. I will take care of everything. You just need to point and tell me what to pack. Think you can do that?” He says, and I nod.

“Will you record everything in case they broke some of my things in the last hour?” I ask quietly, getting a chuckle so deep, I feel it down to my toes.

“Of course, Princess. Can’t let that bastard and his whore get away with breaking my Princess’s things.” With Uncle Hunter’s promise, I untangle my arms from around him and slowly back away. Uncle Hunter looks down at Colton, the man holding Jonathan down, before scoffing.

“Keep the fucker down until we are done. I want Jessica packed and gone within the hour.” He orders and I smile, happy that someone was here to take charge while I focused on leaving Jonathan for good.

“No problem, boss. Is Mavis recording?” Colton asks.

“I started recording as soon as we stopped the truck. Caught Johny boy here threatening Jessica too.” A sultry voice calls from behind me, and I look to find Mavis, Colton’s wife, holding out a brand-new cellphone in her hand. I knew then that Uncle Hunter had planned ahead and was ready to gather any and all evidence I would need in case Jonathan or Daniel came at me with a lawsuit. I know Uncle Hunter would be my witness, and that my dad would find me the best Lawyer money could buy, who would tear my ex and my stepfather apart.

“Good. Let's get my Princess here packed away.” With that, Uncle Hunter takes my hand and pulls me alongside him towards the house. We step through the door, and I scan the room, taking a deep breath when I find that nothing is out of place, yet.

“Where do we start?” Uncle Hunter asks and I frown. I designed this house, had everything meticulously planned and paid for. But now I wanted non of the furniture.

“Think you can find a place to sell all the furniture?” I ask, getting a dark smirk from my Uncle.

“I own a used furniture store, Princess, I can sell whatever you want and give you a nice pay day.” He answers darkly, making me grin.

“Good. Get another truck to come in so we can pack away what I want to sell. I paid for everything here, and the bastard can sleep on the floor for all I care.” I answer, clutching Uncle Hunter’s hand. With that settled, I began to point to what I wanted packed away in the living room, making sure to take the giant flatscreen on the wall and the gaming system I paid for. Once all that was left for the furniture which I had a feeling Jonathan already fucked Helen on, we move to the kitchen and I quickly clean that out as well, only leaving the things Jonathan bought and the food in the cupboard. Unfortunately, the stove and fridge Daniel bought so that bastard could cook a meal if he wanted to, but I scoff at that idea. I was the one who always cooked.

The first floor was quickly cleaned out in moments, and by the time we were ready to move to the upstairs, the truck Uncle Hunter called for was already here, and the furniture was being moved outside. Uncle Hunter asked me if I wanted to head to the basement, but I shook my head. The basement was Jonathan’s area, and everything down there belonged to him.

“What room do you want to start with upstairs?” Uncle Hunter asks as we climb the steps, and I hesitate as there are three rooms upstairs that I painstakingly planned. One was my office, one was the bedroom I shared with Jonathan, and the last one was a nursery for the baby I was excited to one day have.

“My office, first.” I whisper, leading him towards the right to head down the hallways, but I stop, looking back over my shoulder at the closed door with a little pink bow hanging on it.

“What’s in that room, Princess?” Uncle Hunter asks, his voice soft and gentle.

“Just some broken dreams.” I answer back, feeling a lump forming in my throat. Uncle Hunter says nothing, but lets me lead him to my office. His workers were quick with boxes and bubble wrap, packing away everything inside.

“I will have a room ready for you to be your office at my home.” Uncle Hunter reassures me, rubbing my back. Shocked, I turn to look at him, finding his gentle yet possessive gaze on me. My mouth goes dry, and I swallow, feeling like prey caught in a predator’s gaze.

“Your house?” I ask quietly, feeling confused.

“Yes, my house. Your father wants me to keep you safe for now until we deal with Jonathan.” He answers, his tone leaving no room to refuse. I nod, knowing that it was for my safety, and look away, a soft smile playing on my lips. I am happy knowing I won’t be alone with my pain at least, and Uncle Hunter’s home has always been my second home when I needed to escape my mother and Daniel.

My office was swiftly packed away with only small outlines of where furniture used to be, and pictures were hung on the walls.

“Bedroom next?” He asks, and I nod, numbness settling in as I lead the way to the room where I caught Jonathan cheating on me.

This one was easy to go through as I only wanted what belonged to me. The furniture was a gift from Daniel and my mother, and I did not want to take this set with me, let alone sell it as I believed it was now cursed. Jonathan could keep this set since I took everything else away from him.

After telling Mavis to film the crew packing away my things with Uncle Hunter focused on making sure my jewelry was accounted for, I sneak out of the bedroom, finding it hard to be in there since it still reeked of sex. Instead, I make my way to the room with a bow on its door and quietly step inside.