Jealous

Katie stormed out of Jerome’s room, her mind swirling with humiliation and anger. Her feet carried her to her own space.

As she entered her room, the door clicked shut behind her. For a moment, she just stood there, her chest heaving as if she had run a marathon.

Her trembling fingers moved to unbutton her gown.

“This is too much… I can’t—” Her voice cracked, and she swallowed hard, forcing the tears back.

She pulled off her clothes mechanically, piece by piece, and without a second thought, she stepped into her small bathroom.

The cold tiles under her feet sent a shiver through her body, but she ignored it, turning on the shower.

As the water ran down her, she let her mind drift, trying to make sense of everything, yet finding herself only further frustrated.

Once finished, Katie wrapped herself in a towel and stepped back into the room.

Grateful for the small mercy of solitude, she rummaged through the box where her clothes were shoved without care or space.

There wasn’t even a proper closet she could use—just a pile she had to dig through every morning.

After finding a light, loose top and some plain leggings, she slipped them on, her hair still damp as she combed it quickly with her fingers.

Finally done, she headed downstairs, entering the kitchen in hopes of resuming her work.

She was still replaying Jerome’s cold tone in her mind, wondering why he felt it necessary to speak to her like that.

But as she entered, she noticed one of the kitchen helpers, an older woman who had earlier given her the work assignment, watching her with a concerned expression.

"Are you done already?" the woman asked, eyeing Katie’s wet hair. "And why is your hair so damp? You’ll catch a cold."

Katie managed a small smile, trying to brush it off. “Oh, it’s nothing. I’m used to it."

The woman tilted her head with pity. “Hmm,” she responded.

Katie’s smile tightened at the woman's expression. “No need to worry. I’ll be fine. I won’t get sick.”

The woman gave her an approving nod, but her gaze softened slightly. "Well, alright, but… are you sure there's nothing bothering you?"

Katie shook her head quickly. "No, ma'am. I’m fine. Just… wondering if there's anything else you’d like me to help with."

The woman glanced around the kitchen. “Actually, the kitchen… it’s off-limits for now. And—well, it might be better if you sorted things out with him instead.”

Katie felt a pang in her chest but forced herself to smile again. “Alright. Thank you anyway… I’ll, uh, see what I can do.”

The woman gave her a sympathetic look, and Katie caught her gaze drifting toward the empty table where, just hours ago, a group of younger maids had gossiped about her.

She let her eyes fall briefly on the empty chairs, realizing how alone she felt in that moment.

With a soft sigh, she turned and left the kitchen, moving quietly as she shut the door behind her.

She stepped outside into the cool, fresh air, feeling the weight of the morning’s events settle on her chest.

She gazed around the park grounds, searching for anything to distract herself. Maybe a walk would help.

She slipped into her sandals, leaving the pack house and strolling beyond the gates.

The breeze played through her damp hair, and she breathed in the scent of the outdoors, letting it calm her.

As she walked further, she could almost feel her thoughts clearing, the cold air soothing her mind.

But soon, her feet grew tired, and she turned back toward the house. As she neared, she spotted a familiar figure by the side of the pack’s gate.

It was Jerome, unmistakable even from afar, and he wasn’t alone.

Beside him stood a woman, and Katie’s stomach twisted as she saw them leaning close, their lips pressed together in a passionate kiss.

A sickening sensation settled in her chest, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away.

Why did it hurt so much? He’d made it abundantly clear that she was nothing to him.

And yet, seeing him with someone else was like a stab to the heart.

She forced herself to look away, intending to slip quietly past and head back into the house.

But before she could take more than a step, Jerome’s voice cut through the air.

"Where are you coming from?"

Katie stopped, her heart sinking. She turned slowly, only to find both Jerome and the woman now staring directly at her.

Jerome’s lips were still tinted red from the kiss, and the sight felt like a sharp blow.

“I… I just took a walk,” Katie murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jerome’s gaze was icy as he approached her. “Did I not tell you not to wander off without permission?”

Katie swallowed, trying to keep her voice steady. “I… I didn’t mean to go far. I just… needed some air.”

The woman beside him gave Katie a scrutinizing look, one brow raised. “Who’s this?” she asked, her tone dripping with indifference.

“Nobody you need to worry about,” Jerome replied, not sparing Katie a glance.

Katie felt her cheeks burn. She clenched her fists, feeling an anger she hadn’t allowed herself to feel before.

“I’m sorry,” she said, barely containing her resentment. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Jerome scoffed, turning his attention back to the other woman. "You’re not interrupting anything important."

Katie’s chest tightened painfully, and she took a step back. "I’ll just go inside, then."

Jerome's gaze lingered on her for a moment, his expression unreadable, but he simply nodded, his attention already shifting away as if she were nothing more than an afterthought.

Katie turned, her steps quickening as she walked away.

Before Katie could go far, a hand reached out, gripping her wrist so tightly it made her gasp.

The next thing she knew, she was being yanked back with such force that she stumbled, barely managing to stay on her feet.

She tried to catch her balance, but whoever was dragging her moved too quickly, not allowing her a moment to steady herself or even glance down to watch her step.

Just as she regained her footing, she felt herself being spun around and pressed against the cold surface of a wall.

She looked up, wide-eyed, only to meet Jerome's intense gaze as he loomed over her.

His face was set in a harsh line, his eyes flashing with something she couldn't quite place. Anger? Frustration? Or something else entirely?

"You know you get on my nerves, right?" he said, his voice a low growl.

Katie stared at him, heart pounding in her chest. "What have I done?" she asked, her voice trembling but defiant.

Jerome didn’t answer. Instead, he leaned down, his face coming dangerously close to hers.

Before she could even process what was happening, he captured her lips in a fierce, demanding kiss.

His mouth moved over hers with an intensity that took her breath away, and she felt his tongue pressing against her lips, seeking entrance.

She tried to resist, pressing her lips together in a last-ditch effort to hold onto her dignity.

But the force of his kiss was too much, and she found herself giving in, her lips parting as his tongue slipped into her mouth.

The kiss deepened, his tongue tangling with hers as he seemed to push her to the edge of her own resolve.

She felt herself melting, her initial resistance crumbling as she responded, matching the intensity of his movements.

For a brief moment, she lost herself, letting her own desire rise to meet his.

But just as she began to feel a sense of connection—however fleeting—Jerome abruptly pulled back, his eyes scanning her face with a look of contempt and satisfaction on his face.

He smirked, his gaze drifting over her flushed cheeks, her parted lips.

“This is probably the only thing you’re ever going to be good for,” he sneered, his voice laced with cruel amusement.

Katie's chest tightened painfully, and she felt the sting of tears welling up in her eyes, despite her best efforts to hold them back.

She looked away, her heart pounding, desperately trying to maintain her composure.

Jerome’s gaze lingered on her tear-filled eyes, his expression unreadable. “Crying already?” he mocked, arching a brow. “That’s hardly surprising.”

Katie swallowed hard, blinking back the tears as she forced herself to straighten, hastily wiping her eyes. “No, I am not crying,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Without waiting to hear what she was saying, Jerome turned around and walked away, heading out the pack gate without a backward glance.

Katie watched him go, the lump in her throat growing as she tried to hold herself together.

Once he disappeared from sight, she leaned back against the wall, her knees giving way as she slowly slid down to the ground.

Her head dropped forward as the tears she’d been holding back finally broke free, streaming down her cheeks in silent waves.

She couldn’t understand why it hurt so much or why his words had cut so deeply into all she just knew was that her heart ached badly.