LOGINJACOB POVThe knock came again. Harder this time. Then the handle moved. “Who is it?" I snapped. My voice was rough. Louder than I meant it to be.Kathryn's breath caught beneath my hand. Then…“Jacob?" Anna's voice came from the side. I was confused. Suspicious. "Why is the door locked?”Everything inside me stopped. My hand dropped from Kathryn's neck. She took a breath. Stepped back. Her chest was falling quickly. Her fingers brushed against her throat. Like she was marking the spot. Like she knew I had crossed a line.We stared at each other. For a second.Her eyes said everything her mouth didn't.The handle rattled again. “Jacob?" Anna called. Sharper this time. "Open the door.”I exhaled sharply. I dragged a hand through my hair. I stepped away from Kathryn. I put distance between us. Like that could erase what just happened. I moved toward the door. My movements were controlled now. Even though my mind was a mess. As I unlocked it. I didn't look back at Kathryn.The door sw
JACOB POVI knew something was not right long before that night. It was because Kathryn started acting weird. She was quieter. She was careful in a way that was not like her.I notice these things. My jaw got a little tighter. Anna had said to me that day, "Kathryn has been going to Iris' side more often." Her voice was soft. Her eyes told a different story. "I do not think it is a coincidence anymore, " she said.I did not say anything then. I did not need to. Because I had already seen it. I had seen the way Kathryn looked at him. I had seen the timing. I had seen the way Iris appeared whenever Kathryn needed something. I had seen the way Kathryn stopped reacting to me. That part irritated me the most.I pushed myself off the railing. I walked down the hallway with my hands in my pockets. My steps were quiet and controlled. Because I needed to be sure. I needed to see it with my eyes. So I waited outside his door in the shadows.I started to think that maybe Anna was wrong. Then the
KATHRYN POVI stepped back on instinct. There was nowhere to go that didn’t feel like I was out in the open.Iris didn’t even turn around. He just let out a breath like Jacob was wearing him out more than threatening him. “Do you often hear things?" Iris asked, his tone light. Jacob narrowed his eyes. “I heard something,” he said firmly.I pressed my hand to my mouth hard. “Are you just bored this morning?" he added calmly. "Because if you’re looking for something to do I can suggest you find it elsewhere.”The insult was subtle. Jacob’s jaw tightened. “I’m not joking," Jacob said, his voice getting harder. "Something is off.”Iris leaned his head a bit. “Off?" he repeated. "That’s your conclusion?”Jacob stepped closer. “People don’t just disappear," he said.Iris sighed again like this whole conversation was a hassle. “If you don’t have work this morning Jacob," he said evenly, "try not to make problems in people’s place of peace.”The silence that followed was different.And the
KATHRYN POVIris stood there framed in light. His expression changed the moment he saw me. Not surprised. “Kathryn,” he said quietly. “I don’t want to talk, " I said immediately. “You don’t have to,” he replied after a moment. That should have been a warning. Instead it felt like permission. He stepped aside slowly. He didn’t pull me in. Force anything. He just opened space. I walked into it, and the door closed behind me.I let out a breath that didn’t feel like relief. More like surrender. “I just… needed the noise to stop,” I whispered. I was almost embarrassed by how honest it sounded.Silence followed.I felt his presence shift closer. “You’re shaking, " he said quietly.“I’m not," I replied quickly. My body betrayed me. A small tremor in my fingers. Then my shoulders. “I think I’m just tired, " I added, quieter this time.Iris didn’t correct me. He just looked at me like he understood how far tired could go. That was worse. Something in me loosened. Not suddenly. Not dramatic
KATHRYN POVSomeone was walking into the kitchen. My breath caught and I straightened up quickly trying to make my face look calm before I turned around.Iris stood there. For a second neither of us said anything. The silence between us felt different now. He wasn’t looking at me like everyone else did. Not with blame. Not with curiosity. Just looking at me. Like he already knew more than I wanted to say. "You’re up late,” he said quietly.My throat got tight. "Yes,” I said quickly. I told myself to act normal.He glanced toward the hallway for a second. Then he looked back at me.I knew he heard it too. My chest got tight. It hurt. "I was just getting water," I said, trying to sound calm. My voice was too sharp.He didn’t say anything. He just leaned against the counter across from me. Not too close, just standing there. "Right,” he said.That one word meant he understood a lot. The silence was uncomfortable.I picked up my glass again. I tried to drink even though my throat felt cl
KATHRYN POVI stood quickly. My heart jumped. “What happened?" I asked, stepping toward the sound.Anna was already there when I arrived. She was standing over the pieces. Her expression was shocking. “Oh my goodness," she said loudly. "Kathryn, I didn't expect you to be so careless."My brows pulled together. “What?"She turned to me. Slowly. Like she was performing. “I saw you earlier," she continued. "You were the one here."“I didn’t touch anything," I said immediately.The maid hesitated. Confused. Then looked at me. Then at Anna. And like that. The doubt was planted. I felt it instantly. ****Another evening it was the kitchen incident. I had barely stepped in when the cook gasped. “The soup!"I froze. Everyone turned.The pot had spilled. Burned slightly at the bottom. Anna was already shaking her head. “I left it here,” she said softly, looking directly at me. "Kathryn, why would you touch something you don’t understand?"“I didn’t touch it,” I said instantly.She sighed. L







