Chapter 1: Between Pain and Power

KATHRYN POV

I am coming to your office with the divorce papers.

I sent the message before I could stop myself, then turned my phone off and shoved it aside.

My hands were already shaking.

Is going to his office the right decision or was I walking straight into my own death?

I picked up the documents and pressed my fingers into the edges until the paper bent beneath my grip.

Would he lose control again?

And if he did… how far would he go this time?

Have you heard?” someone whispered near the printer.

“Yeah, my cousin said he’s in town.” Another replied.

I shouldn’t have listened, but curiosity still pulled me in anyway.

“It is really crazy! One of the most influential men on the continent Iris mayers is back and he didn't come quietly"

I froze. The papers slipped a little, like even they knew what that name meant to me. I suddenly felt this pain in my heart, far worse than whatever I had felt earlier.

Iris Mayers?

He’s actually back?

People had been whispering about his return for weeks. I ignored every rumor, tried not to poke the bruise it left behind. Cities are huge. Gossip gets lost. That’s what I told myself. Over and over.

But the rumors  around me only got louder.

“They say he’s way hotter in person. Cameras lie.”

“Imagine marrying someone like that,” a third voice sighed. “I’d retire from dating immediately.”

“Don’t be delusional,” her friend snorted. “Men like that don’t look twice at people like us.”

"What’s that?”

A very annoying familiar voice suddenly interrupted my eavesdropping. I flinched, looking up, and yep, there she was.

Lila. One of the people I hated most in this office.

“Nothing. Just work stuff,” I muttered, shoving the divorce papers out of sight. The way she stared only made my skin crawl.

She leaned against the desk beside mine, eyes focused, lips already curling like she smelled blood. “You look stressed,” she said sweetly. “What is that you are hiding?”

“I said nothing!," I said flatly, turning away. “Work.”

She laughed. “You are a terrible liar Kathryn.” Her hand shot out before I could react.

“Give that back!” I stood, lunging for the papers, but she was too quick.

“Divorce?” she said, voice loud enough to carry.

The word cracked through the office.

Conversations died. Chairs scraped. Every head turned.

Lila looked at the papers, then slowly up at me, her expression softening  not with concern, but with something rehearsed.

“Oh, Kathryn.” She tilted her head, lowering her voice just enough to sound kind. “I had no idea.”

A few people shifted closer. Listening.

"Are you… okay?” she asked gently. “Because if you need someone to talk to, I’m here. I know this kind of thing can be really hard. Especially for someone like you.”

My jaw clenched.

“it is fine” I snapped, ripping the papers from her hands and shoving them into my bag. "We are not friends so drop the act"

She laughed quietly, shaking her head. “Wow. Defensive. I know we are not friends but i cant help but be a good person”

Then, louder, so everyone could hear "I am  just saying  divorce is rough. I mean, I can’t imagine how it must feel to finally realize your marriage didn’t work out.”

Her eyes ran up and down my form

“I was honestly surprised someone married you in the first place,” she added lightly. “But hey, mistakes happen. At least now you can… start over.”

A pause.

“Assuming anyone’s interested.”

A few people laughed. Not loudly. Worse..awkwardly.

She smiled at me like she’d done me a favor.

“The next time you read my life out loud like some office gossip, I won’t be so classy,” I hissed through gritted teeth, fists clenched, trying to keep my anger from exploding.

Lila blinked, thrown off for a second before scoffing. “Relax. I was just trying to help”

“I don't need your help ” I shot back, glaring, before snatching my papers and storming out. No looking back. No care for their expressions or mocking laughter.

I didn’t stop until I reached his office.

Jacob’s.

I shoved the door open and crossed the room before he could speak, slamming the papers onto his desk.

“Sign them.”

For a moment, he didn’t move.

Then, slowly, he lifted his head.

Wearing that same cold and unbothered expression.

My hands trembled at my sides, but I kept my chin up. I felt nothing but fear at that moment but i decided the best thing to do was ignore it

I have been afraid of this beast  long enough.

He leaned back in his chair.

“So,” he said calmly. “This is happening now?”

“Yes.”

The word came out calmer than I felt. I clenched my fists, refusing to look away.

A faint smile formed on his lips and it was not the amused type.

He reached for the papers, skimming them slowly. His fingers tapped once against the desk before he removed his glasses and set them aside.

“Interesting,” he murmured. Then he looked up at me. “Funny timing. My brother comes back to town, and suddenly you want out.”

I stared at him. “Are you serious?”

His smile vanished.

“Have I ever joked about you?” he asked quietly. “Do you really think I am that stupid?”

“This marriage was never re..re..real,” I said. My voice shook despite my effort. “And you know it. You slept with your secretary.”

He shrugged. “So?”

My chest tightened. “She’s pregnant.”

“And?” He stood, towering over the desk. “That doesn’t erase everything I have done for you. You wouldn’t even be here without me.”

Something inside me went still.

“I am done,” I said. “Sign the papers.”

“where would you go Kathryn? ”  He began to close the distance between us. “you don't even know how to pay a light bill without my name on it.”

“I can manage just fine without you. Sign the papers,” I couldn’t even bring myself to argue further with him because he is obviously insane.

He slammed his hand on the table angrily as I flinched and instinctively stepped back. I knew exactly how he got when he lost control like this.

“You think you can just leave because you are  mad and embarrassed?” he snapped.

Before I could react, he crossed the space in a heartbeat and grabbed me.

“Let go,” I hissed, struggling against his grip. “Stop it.”

His arm locked around my waist, dragging me closer. “You are  mine, Kathryn. You are  not leaving. Not because of some papers. Not because of Iris.”

He shoved me back against the table, pinning me there. I pushed, fought but he was strong, a lot stronger than me.

“Get off me. Stay away, Jacob, or I swear..”  My voice shook. “I will kill you.”

He didn’t care. My threats bounced right off. Things escalated too fast, his hands yanked at my skirt, trying to pull it down as he tried to force his kisses on me.

I knew exactly where this was headed. Not again.

My eyes darted across the desk, searching for anything I could grab,  anything to pry him off me.

My hand closed around something hard and metallic. I didn’t even look,  I just swung.

The hit landed. He staggered back, grabbing his head.

“Fuck!” he yelled, stumbling as pain displayed on his face.

That was my opening. I ran.

I ran without looking back, heart in my throat, terrified of what he would  do if he caught me.

People stared as I flew through the office, but I didn’t care. I burst out of the building and kept going, across the sidewalk until I came to a stop on the street.  my lungs burned as I pressed a hand to my chest, trying to breathe.

“Get out of the road!” someone shouted from across the way.

I blinked, dazed, my brain struggling to catch up.

Then the horn blared, it was  loud and  terrifying.

I whipped my head left towards the direction of the horn.

A massive truck was barreling toward me,  so close it was seconds from rolling right over me.

I knew I should move,  get out of the road, save myself but adrenaline glued me in place. The truck got closer, and for a second I honestly thought that was it.

Then someone grabbed me.

A strong arm yanked me backward, pulling me out of the lane. I slammed into a chest, their breath quick against my ear while their  arm wrapped around me protectively .

I gasped, trying to process the fact that I had  almost died.

I didn’t know how long but I simply stayed in the stranger's arm, shaking and trying to catch my breath.

“Are you okay?” The person who had just saved me ask. His voice a deep and manly.

And then I felt something familiar .

That voice… I recognize it

Wait, The scent too

Even the  way they  held me. Everything felt so familiar

My heart started racing again, louder than before like it wanted to escape my ribcage.

I gently pushed at the person who had just saved me, needing space, needing air. I braced myself and finally looked up to see his face.

My breath stopped .

Everything stopped making sense.

He wasn’t a hallucination this time. Not a dream. Not one of those moments when my mind tried to trick me.

He was real. Standing right in front of me.

He was really back.