"Jagger, stop!" Willow screams.
The other Cartwrights shout, and Sebastian and Alexander try to pull Jagger off me.
Mason leans against the couch with his arms crossed.
Jagger's too angry to stop. His third punch connects with my stomach, knocking the wind out of me. Then his knee drives into my ribs.
I gasp and double over.
He grabs my shirt, and spittle flies at me as he snarls, "You lying bastard! How dare you touch my sister!"
"I love her!" I manage to grit out, blood leaking from my mouth.
"Jagger, stop!" Willow screams again.
"Enough!" Alexander orders, pushing between us.
Sebastian tugs Jagger backward with both his arms locked behind his back.
"Let me go!" Jagger bellows, still thrashing.
"Jagger, enough!" Jacob's voice thunders through the house.
Silence descends.
Jagger's chest heaves. Blood stains his knuckles. His wild eyes remain primed with rage, betrayal, and disbelief.
Willow steps toward me, fretting, "Are you okay?"
I wipe my mouth, breathing heavily, the metallic taste thick on my tongue. I don't look at her. I keep my gaze pinned on Jagger. "I didn't plan it. I tried to stop it. But I couldn't. I couldn't stop loving her."
Jacob steps between us. "You didn't just love her. You hid it. From all of us."
"I know," I rasp, my jaw throbbing and already swelling.
Jacob turns to Willow. "You should've come to us."
She trembles. "We were young and stupid. Don't be mad at us."
"I'm not mad atyou. I'm mad athim," he firmly states, then turns his gaze back to me.
"It's not just his fault," Willow states.
Jacob points at me and continues, "You broke my trust, Wyatt. And that isn't earned back easily."
"I know. I'm sorry for that. But I'll earn it back. Whatever it takes," I vow, my voice ragged.
"Don't make promises you can't keep," Jacob warns coldly.
"I'm not," I say, dragging my gaze to Willow. "But I've always loved her. I never stopped. And I'm not letting her go this time."
The Cartwright brothers all give me deadly looks. Ruby holds a hand to her mouth, her gaze darting between Willow and me. The grandkids have disappeared into the kitchen, and every adult stands frozen like the damn room might split in two.
Jacob finally breaks the silence. "You want to prove something, Wyatt? Then don't just say it. Show it."
I nod, bloody and raw. "I will."
Jagger breaks free from his brothers. He gives me a final angry look and then stalks off, muttering, "Unbelievable."
