Chapter 1

When I saw Florence Chastain again—even from a distance—my body started trembling with fear. I instinctively dug my nails into my palms, the sharp sting forcing back the scream rising in my throat.

Emmett McKinney grabbed my arm, panic sharpening his voice. "Jesse, are you out of your mind? You're actually just going to stand there and watch Florence step into Gerard the widower's house? Aren't you worried they might—"

"Worried about what?" I snapped, cutting him off. "They're both adults. What right do we have to interfere?"

Emmett stared at me in disbelief. "Aren't you in love with Florence? How can you suddenly act like you don't care at all?"

My expression instantly hardened at his words. "Watch your tongue, Emmett. There's nothing going on between me and her. In love? What are you talking about? One more word of slander and I'll rip your mouth apart."

Even if I had once harbored an innocent crush on her, I could never admit it now. To get entangled with her again would only mean drowning once more in the blood and tears of my past life.

A flicker of irritation crossed Emmett's face as he pouted. "Didn't you say it yourself before? If you don't stop her now, she's going to end up making a huge mistake. I'm just looking out for you."

In my past life, I had always treated him as a close friend, which was why I had shared everything with him. But when the locals began pointing fingers and cursing me behind my back, he readily joined in to smear my name.

Exploiting his familiarity with me, he spread rumors throughout town that I had been involved in improper relationships with other women since my school days. And because we had once been so close, the townspeople accepted it without question.

When Florence heard what had been said, she only beat me more brutally. To her, I was nothing but a shameless, disloyal man who had betrayed her trust.

My face darkened as I shrugged Emmett's hand off my shoulder. "And what could I possibly do to stop her? The guy is massive, and he's drunk out of his mind. If I stepped in, I'd just be looking for trouble."

Emmett showed no anger at being brushed off; instead, a flicker of contempt passed through his eyes. "What do you mean you can't? You're a big man. With your build, how could you possibly fail to pull her away?"

He was at it again, saying the same old things as before.

Standing six feet tall, I was undeniably a towering figure among the men in this southern town. In my past life, my height had been something I was very self-conscious about. Emmett knew this too well, yet he never missed an opportunity to use it against me.

I gave a bitter laugh, my face twisting into a mocking smile. "Even so, I can't drag her away. Aren't you supposed to be a saint, Emmett? If you're so concerned about Florence, why don't you go do it yourself? With your gentle, scholarly look, she might even be more inclined to listen to you."

Emmett let out an awkward, embarrassed laugh. "Hey, I'm a single man. What if I end up getting myself into trouble?"

It was obvious he knew the boundaries between men and women, yet he still wanted me to be the one to step in and stop Florence.

At that moment, muffled, suggestive sounds drifted from inside the house, followed by a man's restrained, heavy breathing.

Seeing that the show had already begun, I lifted my foot to leave. I didn't want to linger there for even another second.