WILLIAM STONE. I sat in front of my laptop, the screen's glow bathing the room in cold blue light. I had been staring at the same document for fifteen minutes, trying to revise a proposal, but the words blurred together because Jasmine's voice kept echoing in my ear. “I just… want you out of my space.”I ran a hand through my hair and leaned back, exhaling slowly. I deserved it. I knew I did. It still didn’t make it easier to hear.A new notification popped up at the bottom corner of my screen.Anonymous Message: Meet me at 9 PM. Don’t be late.There was a location attached. An abandoned railway station just outside the city limits.I stared at it, my chest tightening. I didn’t need a name to know who it was from.Judas.I clenched my jaw and clicked the message away. I wasn’t going. I told myself that three times. I wasn’t walking into his trap, not after all these years, not when he could still burn down everything I had built.And yet… at 8:45, I stood outside Jasmine’s room, my
JASMINE POVThe next morning, I woke up feeling oddly refreshed, considering I had spent most of the night tossing and turning. William had not said a word to me after I left him standing there all broody and aroused. Good. Let him simmer.We were scheduled for a local walking tour that morning, one William had reluctantly agreed to after the hotel concierge suggested it with too much enthusiasm for cobblestones and crumbling statues. I didn’t mind. It was better than sitting in the suite being watched like I was on house arrest.The tour guide was a petite woman with a strong accent, talking animatedly about the ‘Wall of Confessions, ’ a centuries-old stone wall where people used to write anonymous confessions with chalk still preserved. Still in use. People wrote secrets, regrets, and wishes. Some are funny, Some are painful, and Some are deeply shameful.The guide handed everyone chalk sticks.“Feel free to write something, even anonymously. Many couples do. It’s tradition.”I wa
WILLIAM STONE.“Where are we going?” Jasmine asked when the driver took a sudden left, veering off the familiar road leading to my mansion.I glanced at her, taking my time before responding. “The airport.”Her head snapped to me. “The airport?”I tilted my head, watching her. “Yes. For the honeymoon.”“Now… When you said we were going on a honeymoon, I did not expect it to be now.” She screamed at me.“If you are worried about packing, you don’t have to. Everything you need will be brought to you upon our arrival.” I said, looking at my watch. “I’m not worried about that. I just… you know what? Never mind.” She scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest and returning to the window. I knew she was biting back a hundred things she wanted to say, and I could almost hear them clawing at the back of her throat. The jet was ready and waiting when we arrived. I stepped out first, extending my hand in what I imagined was a gentlemanly gesture. She stared at it like it might burn her before
WILLIAM STONE“But I did,” I interrupted, thumb brushing her cheek. “And I would do it again.”Jasmine was about to say something when we were interrupted by paparazzi and their blinding flashlights. I squinted against the onslaught, instinctively sliding my arm around Jasmine’s waist to steady her.“Jasmine! Is it true you and Nathan Hale are together?”“William, are you and Jasmine in a relationship?”“How long has this been going on?”Jasmine panicked, leaning closer to me. “Did you call them?” She whispered.“No,” I replied smoothly, giving her a reassuring squeeze. “I have no idea how they found us.”That part, of course, was a lie. I knew exactly how they found us. I had Mateo send the coordinates out an hour ago, just enough time for them to swarm the place. Nathan Hale holding her in his arms like he owned her? Not on my watch. If the world wanted a story, I would give them the right one.I straightened up, raising my voice above the noise. “I appreciate everyone’s interest,”
WILLIAM STONE.I could not sleep. Whenever I tried to, the thought of what Nathan might be doing with her kept me awake. I couldn’t stop thinking that Jasmine might be swayed by what the internet said about them. Nathan Hale and Jasmine were trending all over the goddamn internet.I sat at my desk for hours, scrolling through tweets, watching that damn video on repeat. The one where she was harassed at that coffee shop, with that smug girl throwing her accusations like stones. And right when I thought Jasmine would break, Nathan swept in like a hero, wrapping his arms around her, shielding her.Pictures of him holding her close were everywhere. Her face was buried in his chest, his hand firm on her back. The world was eating it up. Are they a couple? Is Jasmine Carter moving on?Some people supported the idea, commenting about how she deserved someone like him. Others bashed her, calling her a gold digger, a clout chaser. The speculation was endless, and by the time morning rolled ar
WILLIAM STONE Since Jasmine left my house, I had been so angry at everything, mostly myself. I let my ego take the wheel, overreacting like a damn fool. It wasn’t like she wanted to drown, but I lashed out when she called out my crying. It made me feel weak, and all that bitterness I had buried over her leaving came roaring back to life. It was like she unconsciously thrived on giving me pain, and I hated that I still harbored feelings for her after all these years.She had dumped me so cruelly: no message, no reason, no call. I went to her house for weeks, sitting outside in the rain or blistering sun, waiting for her to speak to me. But she never came down. She was cruel, and I started to think she saw my love as a weakness. Maybe that’s why she thought I wasn’t good enough for her. And the worst part? She was right. She was my weakness. I should’ve ignored her and moved on like any sane man would. But I didn’t. Because even after everything, I still wanted her. So when I saw tha
JASMINE POV. Once he was satisfied that I was okay, he turned towards the girl who had splashed the coffee at me. “Oh my God… you are Nathan Hale.” She screamed, raising her hands to her mouth when she recognized who he was.A ripple of recognition swept through the small café, whispers spreading like wildfire. I saw several phones discreetly rise, fingers tapping away with feverish excitement. Nathan Hale, a supermodel and actor, had his face plastered across every billboard in the country. I had worked with him once when I was still Jasmine Carter, not this weak Jasmine with nothing to her name.“I—I didn’t mean to spill it on you,” she gushed, flipping her hair back and straightening her blouse as if he would somehow be dazzled by her existence. “I’m such a huge fan of yours.”Nathan’s expression didn’t change. “No fan of mine would treat people that way.” He said coldly. The girl’s face blanched, but she recovered quickly, her mouth curving back into that sneer. “I’m not usual
JASMINE POV. “Just make sure to write the orders clearly. Table numbers are listed right here.” The old lady, who insisted I call her Mrs. Hargrove, tapped the notepad in my hand with a gentle smile. “And don’t worry if you mess up, dear. We all do at first.”I nodded, tying the apron strings around my waist. “I understand.”It had been years since I had done anything like this. The last time I worked in a restaurant was when I was young and in college, trying to start up my business. I straightened my apron, picked up the notepad, and walked over to the next table. A young woman sat there, tapping her manicured nails against the tabletop. I gave her my best customer service smile. “Good morning! What would you like to order?”Her eyes snapped to mine, and she squinted, her head tilting slightly. “Wait… I know you.”My smile faltered. “I’m sorry?”Her eyes widened. “I know you!” she repeated, louder this time, turning a few heads in our direction, I blinked, pressing a hand to my c
JASMINE POVFuck.I had not thought this through. I mean, yes…I hated the way he spoke to me, and it made me feel so small. I felt like I was nothing but some stray; he picked off the street and could kick around when he pleased.But it wasn’t like I meant to drown.God, I had just been trying to help a stupid cat.And for that, he treated me like a child, like I owed him for breathing.Still… storming out without a plan? That was Stupid.No money. No apartment. And we had already established I didn’t have any friends left.The last person I’d trusted had rubbed it in my face that I was only standing because he let me. And now here I was. Back to square one.I stared down the street, thinking maybe I could swallow my pride, turn around, call William, and ask him to come get me. But that felt like carving my dignity up and handing it to him on a silver platter. It would mean admitting I needed him and that I was nothing without him.And I couldn’t do that.I sighed and glanced at the s