My stomach twisted into knots as dread pooled there. The thought of Gary coming after me made bile rise in my throat.
“Jake, listen?—”
“No!” he barked back, cutting me off again. “You need to get away from him now before it’s too late.”
The tension hung thick between us like an impending storm ready to break. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to run—to find safety—but a part of me felt trapped in this web of choices I had spun myself into.
“I’ll figure it out,” I managed to say, though doubt crept into my voice.
“Figure it out?” Jake scoffed bitterly. “What does that even mean? Ken—please.” His tone softened for a moment, tinged with desperation. “Just come home.”
I leaned against the counter, my breath quickening as I tried to steady myself.
"I'm not going back there," I said firmly, though uncertainty churned in my gut. The image of Gary's cold smile flashed in my mind, and I couldn't bear the thought of facing him again.
"Ken, you need to listen to me." Jake’s voice came through the phone, thick with concern. “You don’t understand what you’re getting into.”
“I know what I’m doing,” I insisted, even as doubt gnawed at me.
“Do you?” he shot back, incredulous. “You think Maddox is your way out? He’ll destroy you before he ever saves you.”
I flinched at his words. A wave of frustration washed over me. “He’s not like that! You don’t know him.”
“Exactly!” Jake spat. “I don’t know him. And neither do you! You’re chasing a fantasy, Kennedy. You’re putting yourself in danger!”
I felt a fire ignite within me. “I can take care of myself! You act like I’m some helpless girl who needs saving.”
“Is that what you think?” His tone softened but held an edge. “I want to protect you from making a mistake that could ruin everything.”
“What if I’m already ruined?” My voice cracked, and I fought against the tears welling in my eyes.
“Don’t say that,” he urged, sounding almost pleading. “You’re not ruined. You just need to come home.”
“No!” The word exploded from my mouth before I could rein it in. “I won’t go back?—"
A heavy silence settled between us, stretching painfully long.
“Ken—”
“I have to go.” Before he could respond, I hung up, cutting off whatever else he might say.
My hands trembled as I set the phone down on the counter with a shaky breath. The warmth of defiance quickly chilled as reality crashed back in around me.
What had I done?
I found my way to the guest bathroom, drawn by a strange mix of curiosity and the need for a moment alone. The space was immaculate—gleaming marble, plush towels neatly hung, everything so luxurious it felt foreign. I stepped inside, feeling like an intruder in someone else’s life.
On the sink counter lay a folded t-shirt. One of Nick’s. The fabric looked soft, inviting even. Before I could think better of it, I pulled off my dress and picked it up, slipping it on. The shirt hung loosely on my frame, its scent wrapping around me like an embrace—a blend of his cologne and something uniquely him.
When I caught my reflection in the mirror, my breath hitched. The girl staring back didn’t look like Delgado’s fiancée; she looked like someone different entirely. She looked wild, untamed—a woman who had been claimed by the villain.
My heart raced as I lifted my hand instinctively to adjust my hair, but then I hesitated, glancing at the small black box resting on the counter beside me. Nick’s ring lay inside. Just a simple band—nothing extravagant—but something about it whispered power and possession.
With trembling fingers, I opened the box and took out the ring. It caught the light perfectly as I turned it over in my hands. What would it mean to wear this? Just for a moment, I wanted to know how it felt.
I slid it onto my finger, and to my surprise, it fit perfectly—as if it had been made just for me.
Staring at myself in the mirror again, adorned with his shirt and now his ring, reality hit hard. The reflection held a truth that was undeniable: I had crossed a line I couldn’t uncross. This wasn’t just rebellion; this was commitment in its own twisted way.
