Chapter 3: Family Lies and Broken Trust

KATHRYN POV

“Under arrest? For what?” I asked, disbelief written boldly on  my face as I stared at Ruby.

“For physical assault against Mr Jacob Mayers" one of the police men answered casually.

“You are really arresting me? Wow.” A small laugh slipped out.

“Why are you shocked?” she replied, stepping closer. “Did you honestly think I would let you get away with nearly killing my son?”

I moved toward her, shrinking the space between us. “Your son almost forced himself on me,  again. Just like he has for years. And you knew about it. You stayed silent.”

She scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Forced himself? Please. You are his wife. That is not possible.”

I felt nothing but pure rage. The casual way she said it made me so disgusted. .

“I will  have him arrested. For everything he has  done to me. I will  make sure he rots,” I snapped.

Her lips curled into a smile.

“Go ahead. Try. With what money? With what connections?” she taunted. “Whatever you think you have,  it is  nothing compared to this family.”

She paused, inhaled, then looked me over like I was beneath her.

“From where we stand, the story is simple: you caught your husband cheating and tried to kill him. And last I checked? Cheating isn’t a crime. Also have you forgotten you have got a history of mental breakdowns and violence”

Her smile deepened.

“So tell me, who do you think the court is going to believe?”

“You evil woman!” I snapped as I lifted my hand to hit her but  the officers grabbed me first, twisting my arms behind my back and snapping cuffs on my wrists.

“Officer, hurry and take her away,” Ruby said, dramatic as ever. “This is what we deal with every day.”

They started pulling me toward the door. I began to panic . I didn’t want to leave, not without my daughter.

“I swear to God, Ruby, you will pay for this! You and your son!” I yelled as they dragged me forward. Eventually, I stopped fighting and let them guide me to the car,  there was no winning in that moment.

I was just about to step inside the vehicle when a voice cut through everything.

“"What’s going on here?”

The sound of his voice felt like  ice water. My body went rigid because I already knew who it was.

“Mr. Jacob,” one of the officers said. “Your mother reported a physical assault. We were in the process of escorting your wife to..”

“That won’t be necessary.”

I lifted my head.

Jacob stood a few feet away, scarily calm. A bandage wrapped around the cut on his head, but it didn’t affect the psychotic smirk on his mouth. He looked amused and Satisfied.

“I am not pressing charges,” he continued. “Let my wife go.”

My heart dropped.

No.

Jail would have  been better. Jail would have  been safer.

The plan had been simple, get my daughter and leave before he came home but ruby ruined it!  That was impossible now.

“I did hurt him,” I said quickly, turning to the officers. My voice cracked despite my effort. “You can see that. Just take me in.”

The cop hesitated, eyes flicking between us.

“I said remove the cuffs,” Jacob repeated, his voice serious. “And leave.”

That was it.

The cuffs came off. Cold air kissed my wrists where the metal had bitten into my skin.

“Have a good night, sir,” the officer said.

And just like that, they were gone.

The sound of the patrol car disappearing down the street felt louder than the silence that followed.

I rubbed my wrists, trying to calm my breathing.

Jacob stepped closer.

Too close.

I maintained eye contact as he took a slow drag from his cigar, then deliberately blew the smoke into my face.

“You are getting bold, Kathryn,” he said lightly. “I like that.”

I panicked.

Then suddenly he grabbed my arm.

I gasped. “Let go, you are  hurting me!”

“You don’t tell me what to do,” he said, tightening his grip. “What were you doing in my brother’s arms today?”

“I almost got run over,” I cried, trying to pull free. “He helped me. Let go of me!”

“I don’t care why he helped you,” Jacob snapped, the calm finally cracking. “I don’t want you anywhere near him.” His grip tightened. “Is that why you want the divorce? Seeing him again after seven years and suddenly you are ready to crawl back into his bed?”

I shoved him with everything I had and slapped him hard across the face.

For a second, he just stared at me.

Then he smiled.

A slow creepy smile that made my blood run cold.

“You are lucky,” he said softly. “I am learning how to control myself.”

He leaned in, voice dropping. “Because if I wasn’t… you would  regret that.”

“Sign the papers,” I said, my voice shaking but loud. “This is the last time you ever touch me.”

I turned and walked away before he could answer.

Behind me, his voice followed

“You are so lucky, Kathryn. So lucky.”

I didn’t look back.

Ruby, who was perched on the couch and rubbing her temples, finally noticed me when i stepped in. She sprang to her feet, eyes blazing.

“You! What the hell are you doing here?”

“I told the police to let her go, Mom,” jacob said from behind me.

Ruby’s expression softened the second she saw her son.

I didn’t waste a second. I ran upstairs, ignoring their muffled voices behind me, and slipped into my daughter’s room.

She was fast asleep. Thank God. At least she didn’t have to witness the chaos. I leaned down, pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, and sank into the chair, just staring at her for a long moment.

Hours passed, and I figured I  needed a drink, something to clear my head. I got dressed, grabbed my car keys, and drove to a nearby bar. Just a couple of drinks to make the mess feel a little smaller.

.

.

.

“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath, my eyesight blurring even more. Staying in control was getting harder by the minute slipping through my fingers no matter how much I tried to hold on.

“Hey, watch where you’re going,” someone snapped.

A hard shove hit my shoulder, knocking me off balance. I had staggered straight into her while making my way back from the bathroom, thanks to the too many shots I’d downed at the bar.

“S-so… sorry,” I slurred.

The woman looked me over with open disgust, or at least that’s what I could make out through the haze before she scoffed.

“Stupid drunk,” she muttered, already walking away.

“Shit,” I cursed, dragging myself back to my seat at the bar. I leaned heavily against the counter. “Another shot, please.”

Keeping my head up felt like a challenge on its own.

The bartender hesitated. “Uh… you sure about that?”

“Another shot,” I repeated.

He didn’t argue. Just poured the drink and slid it toward me.

I reached for it

And suddenly, a large hand closed around the glass before I could.

“Huh?” I mumbled, lifting my head, squinting up at whoever had just stolen my drink.

My breath caught.

No.

That wasn’t possible.

Iris Mayerz?

He downed the shot in one smooth gulp, then set the empty glass down like it belonged to him.

“That’s enough for tonight,” he said. “I’m taking you home.”

“D-don’t… touch me,” I slurred, swatting at him weakly. “I..I can go home myself.”

I dug through my bag, fingers clumsy and uncooperative.

When I finally found my keys, they slipped straight through my grasp and clattered onto the floor.

“Wow,” Iris said mildly. “That was a very convincing demonstration."

"Shut up!"

I bent down, but before I could reach them, Iris was already there.

He scooped them up and slid them into his pocket like it was nothing.

No,” I snapped. “Give those back.”

“I wont ,” he said. “You can barely stand, and I am not explaining to a cop why I let you turn yourself into a headline.”

"You don’t have to explain shit to a cop,” I snapped. “You don’t know me and I don’t know you.”

I pushed myself upright too fast. The room tilted.

He caught me before I could fall before swiftly pulling me close to him, too close.

“Are you sure about that?” he murmured against my ear, his breath hot on my skin.

I froze.

His hand felt warm on my side, too familiar. My body reacted in a way I hated  before my brain could stop it and  my heartbeat stuttered traitorously.

.“You really don’t know me kathryn?"

The way my name rolled off his tongue, it felt too natural.

I shoved him away the second i forced myselt to break from his trance. “C-can you stop appearing everywhere?” I snapped, gagging slightly before forcing it down. “You are… so annoying.”

He smirked. Of course he did. “I know. .” Then, softer but firm, “Come on. Let me take you home.”

“Go fuck yourself,” I muttered, already scanning for another exit. “I’ll walk.”

“Sure. You can.” he paused. “You just won’t make it three blocks without falling on your face.”

"I will rather fall on my face than go anywhere with you!" I practically yelled.

“Fine,” he said. “Do what you want.”

I didn’t wait for him to change his mind. I turned and stumbled out of the club, the door slamming shut behind me.

The night air was  cold. The street was quiet, too quiet but I barely registered it. Maybe I was too drunk to care.

I pulled my jacket tighter and kept walking.

My heels slapped against the pavement, each step i took makoing me feel pain but I welcomed it. Maybe I deserved that too.

“Why does everything always go wrong?” My voice cracked. “Why can’t I just..” I sucked in a shaky breath. “Why can’t I ever be happy?”

A car roared up behind me, headlights blinding. I froze in the middle of the street, shielding my eyes. The vehicle stopped beside me, and the window rolled down.

“Get in, Kathryn,” Iris said “You shouldn’t be out here alone.”

“You?” I barked, disgust in my word . “Jesus can you just leave me alone?” I staggered forward, refusing to look at him.

The car crept alongside me.

“Be mad at me later,” he said. “Just get in. It’s not safe.”

“Argh!” I screamed, frustration ripping out of me. “Do you seriously have nothing better to do, Mr. Mayerz?” I didn’t wait for his answer.

I wobbled forward, my heels unbalanced, pride keeping me upright longer than it should have . For a few steps, I thought I had it.

Then the ground shifted.

My foot caught on something. The world flipped. I didn’t even have time to brace myself before I slammed face-first into the pavement.

He was right..

I blacked out immediately.

.

.

.

"F… fuck.”

My voice was rough, barely there. My head hurt like someone had hit a hammer on it and kept swinging.

I squeezed my eyes shut, pressing my fingers into my temples as sunlight came in through the blinds. My mouth tasted awful. My stomach rolled.

“Oh my God,” I groaned. “This is not okay.”

I shifted slightly and froze.

What was that?

I felt something warm, strong and big  pressed against my waist.

My eyes snapped open. I immediately scanned my enviroment.

The room wasn’t mine. White sheets, bland walls, the smell of a hotel. My pulse spiked as I looked down.

A large hand was resting against my skin, not moving.

I began to panic. I put a hand over my mouth, choking back a scream.

I was in bed.

Half-naked.

Only my underwear.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck, Kathryn. You blacked out. You got wasted. You probably slept with some random creep. This is exactly how nightmare stories start.

I forced myself to turn my head, feeling nothing but fear.

Please. Not a homeless guy from the gas station.

Please. Not a homeless guy from the gas station.

I opened my eyes.

And everything inside me stopped.

lying there asleep, impossibly close, impossibly awake and annoyingly calm was him

A random stranger would have  been okay.

A homeless guy would have been better.

Anyone but him would have been okay

What the hell am i doing half naked in bed with Iris Mayers.