Chapter 2: The Moment of Truth

KATHRYN POV

There was no way I was actually seeing him.

My brain scrambled for logic, for denial, anything that would turn this into a nightmare I could wake up from if I just tried hard enough.

But his scent was real.

His hand at my waist was real.

The feeling of him standing this close was too real.

My thoughts scattered, refusing to settle.

The city faded. The noise. The movement around us.

Everything blurred until it felt like there was only him.

Only us.

Iris Mayers. Standing right in front of me.

“What the hell is going on here?”

My soul nearly left my body when I heard that voice. I flinched and immediately tore myself out of Iris’s grasp

I knew exactly who it was before I even turned.

My husband from the depths of hell..Jacob.

He stormed toward us, his jaw clenched, eyes razor focused. A thin line of blood flowed down the side of his head, no doubt from what I had done to him earlier.

The psychotic expression he always wore was gone, replaced by anger he was trying to hide.

How is he even still standing after what I did to him?

He reached us in seconds. Before I could react, he yanked me away from Iris,  his fingers locking around my wrist painfully as he stepped between us.

I felt pure pain from his grip but I swallowed it down without a sound.

“Brother,” Jacob said, forcing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “What are you doing here?”

Iris didn’t break contact with me. His expression turned cold as he studied me, refusing to look away. Jacob noticed. He glanced back at me briefly before returning his attention to his brother standing inches away.

Jacob’s grip only got tighter around my wrist, too tight. I had to fight the urge to wince.

“I haven’t seen you since that business trip,” Jacob continued, trying to keep his tone casual “Months, huh? Funny time to show up. Why are you back in town after all these years?”

“I came for something,” Iris replied evenly.

Jacob raised a brow. “Something?”

Iris’s eyes flicked to me. I quickly looked away, desperate to avoid his gaze, but I could still feel it, burning into my skin.

“Something I lost a long time ago,” Iris said. “And I intend to get it back.”

My heart skipped. I lifted my eyes and found him staring straight at me.

Something he lost?

Jacob’s hand tightened again, like he meant to crush my bones. I dug my nails into my palm, trying to keep myself calm through the pain.

“What could possibly be worth that much trouble?” Jacob asked, his voice dangerously low.

Iris didn’t answer. He just stared me down, and for once, I didn’t look away.

“Your head is bleeding, brother,” Iris finally said, breaking eye contact as he glanced at Jacob. “Don’t you think you should get that treated?”

Jacob touched the side of his head. “I was just on my way to the hospital.”

Then he turned to me and pressed a kiss to my forehead. Disgust churned in my stomach, but I didn’t react. The last thing I want is iris knowing how fucked up my life is.

“Don’t worry about me, love,” he said loudly. “Go home darling. Celine has

The performance was obvious. He had never been anything but an abusive beast. This was nothing more than him marking his territory.

“Mmh,” was all I managed as I nodded. I turned away from the chaotic scene.

“Later,” I muttered, hurrying off, desperate to put as much distance between us as possible.

A few blocks later, I hailed a taxi and slid into the back seat. I gave the driver my destination, but my mind refused to settle. Everything was confusing. Too much had happened in too short a time.

The car eventually stopped near a quiet park, empty at this hour, just like I liked it,  a little sanctuary where I could think, breathe, try to make sense of the chaos.

I sat on a  bench, staring at the stream, the trees, trying to center myself.

Why now? Why after all these years was he back?

Thoughts of Iris Mayers bothered me, the old pain in my mind  resurfacing. I shoved it down, promising myself I would  never let it take over again. But even as I tried, I felt it: a useless, stubborn ache that wouldn’t go away.

Eventually, I decided to go home. I needed my daughter. She’s the only one who ever makes me feel grounded when everything else spins out of control.

It was late by the time I made it back to the mansion.

I barely stepped inside before I felt a slap on my face.

The sound echoed.

For a second, I just stood there, stunned, my fingers lifting slowly to the burning skin as I looked up.

Of course.

Ruby Mayers.

My mother-in-law. The woman who had perfected cruelty into an art.

“How dare you walk in here after what you did to my son?” she snapped. “He’s in the hospital because of you. I warned Jacob not to marry someone like..”

I didn’t let her finish.

My hand moved before my fear could stop it.

Smack.

Her head snapped to the side. She staggered back, clutching her cheek, eyes wide with shock.

The room went silent.

“D-did you just hit me?” she whispered.

I stepped closer“Touch me again, and I will  it twice as hard.”

Her shock turned  into a bitter laugh. “You ungrateful little thing.” Her eyes dragged over me with disgust. “This family took you in when you were nothing. We gave you a name. A life. Without Jacob, you would  still be..”

“Stop,” I cut in.

I pointed at her, my hand trembling but not my voice. “I am  leaving. Isn’t that what you have  always wanted?”

Her mouth tightened.

“And don’t rewrite my life,” I continued. “I have a career. I built it myself. Your son didn’t give me success, he leeched off his brother while I worked my ass off.”

I met her glare without flinching.

“So enjoy your mansion, Ruby. Because the ‘nobody’ you looked down on doesn’t need your family anymore.”

“What?” Was all that could come out of her .“You really think you would have that job if you weren’t married to Jacob?”

I let out a short laugh. “Nobody even knows I am married to him.” I tilted my head. “So no, your family isn’t doing me any favors.”

She stepped toward me  “I see you have  gotten bold.” A thin smile. “The question is, how long do you think you can keep this up?”

I stepped forward too, closing the distance between us, refusing to blink. “What are you going to do, Ruby?”

My heart was racing, but I didn’t back down.

All that anger, years of it needed somewhere to go.

And she was standing right there.

“Mommy, what’s going on?”

My heart skipped. My daughter’s voice floated from the stairs. I looked and saw her little face. My glare softened instantly, and I forced a smile.

“Go upstairs, celine. I will be there soon.”

“Are you and Granny fighting again?” she asked, innocence in her eyes.

I inhaled slowly. “No, baby, we are  not. Just go upstairs, okay? I will be there soon.”

She nodded, took a deep breath, and ran back up the stairs.

My glare returned the second I was sure my daughter was out of sight. I turned back to Ruby.

“I am leaving. Tonight. With my daughter. And finally, I can disappear from your life  just like you have  always wanted,” I said, stepping toward the stairs.

“Yes, you are  leaving but not with my granddaughter,” Ruby snapped. “You are  going somewhere fitting for someone like you.”

I froze, spinning to look at her. “What?”

Then I saw them,  two uniformed police officers walking through the front door.

“Mrs. Kathryn Mayers,” one said, his voice cold and formal. “You are under arrest