Jerome stirred in his bed, the faint light of morning creeping through the window. He turned over, expecting to find Katie already at his side, as she always did. She was supposed to be there, bringing him breakfast as she always did. But when his eyes opened, the bed beside him was empty. A frown creased his face. Where was she? His anger flared up immediately. Jerome rarely tolerated disobedience, and Katie had always been prompt. This wasn’t like her. Without thinking twice, he threw the covers off and swung his legs over the side of the bed. His feet hit the cold floor, his pulse quickening with frustration. He needed to find her. He stormed into the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face, trying to shake off the growing sense of irritation. His mind was already racing. Where could she be? Why hadn’t she come to serve him? After a few moments, he finally felt the tension in his muscles release slightly, though the anger still burned within him. Jerome walked out o
Katie’s hand still throbbed, the sensation from the slap lingering like a sting in her own chest. She hadn’t expected the sudden surge of adrenaline or the burst of clarity when she raised her hand against Jerome. The moment felt surreal. She had spoken her mind, said everything she had held back for far too long, and had struck him the man who controlled her life, the man who saw her as nothing more than an object to be used. But now, standing there in the aftermath, Katie could feel her breath growing shallow, a mixture of fear and exhilaration building up inside her. She hadn't anticipated how quickly the regret would settle in. But still, the thought of her own boldness lingered in her veins, the fear of what was coming next only adding to the heat of her pulse. Jerome didn’t move for a long moment. He stood perfectly still, his face unreadable, his eyes dark and cold. His gaze fixed on her, and Katie couldn’t help but tremble, knowing that whatever was coming would
The cold, dark walls of the prison cell were suffocating, the air thick with the stench of damp stone and lingering mildew. Katie had long since lost track of time. The aching in her body, both from the brutal fight with Garret and the deep, gnawing pain in her abdomen, was unbearable. Her bruises throbbed, and every movement she made sent waves of agony through her chest, where Garret’s fists had landed, the force of his blows leaving her gasping for air. She could feel the rawness in her skin as she shifted in her corner, trying to find some semblance of comfort, but nothing eased the pain. Her abdomen, too, was a constant source of torment. The cramping, the sensation of pressure building deep within her, felt as though something was wrong. She instinctively curled her body tighter, but it only worsened. Her breath quickened, short gasps escaping her lips, as tears welled in her eyes. She could barely think straight, her body wracked with pain. Groaning softly, Ka
Katie had spent the last five days locked in her room, drowning in the weight of her grief. The walls felt like they were closing in, suffocating her with memories of everything she had lost. She had barely eaten, her body weak and frail, but her soul bore the heaviest burden. Tonight, however, thirst drove her to action. Her throat was dry, and the thought of water gave her the courage to leave her self-imposed prison. Her hand trembled as she twisted the doorknob. Slowly, she pushed the door open, peeking out into the dimly lit hallway. Her eyes darted nervously from one end of the corridor to the other. She couldn’t bear to see anyone, especially not Jerome. The thought of encountering someone who would pity her or, worse, speak to her, made her heart pound with anxiety. When she was certain the coast was clear, she stepped out, her bare feet padding softly against the wooden floor. She reached the kitchen, pausing at the door to listen. It seemed quiet, and relief
After Katie had left the room, slamming the door behind her with a finality that echoed through the space, Jerome stood motionless. The sound of her retreating footsteps was like a drumbeat in his chest, each step hammering home the realization of what he had just done. His jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides, but the anger he felt wasn’t directed at her—it was at himself. With a heavy sigh, Jerome sank back into the chair behind his desk. He leaned forward, burying his face in his hands as the weight of his own words pressed down on him. “What’s wrong with me?” he whispered, his voice hoarse and raw. The silence of the room was deafening, broken only by the faint crackle of the fire in the hearth. He replayed the confrontation in his mind, every bitter word he had thrown at her, the venom in his tone. He hadn’t meant to be so cruel. But the moment Katie had stood before him, her fragile form trembling, her voice firm yet laced with pain, he had felt something
The air in the pack house kitchen was thick with the scent of spices as Katie stirred a pot of stew. Her hands moved on autopilot, but her mind was elsewhere — trapped in the dark thoughts of her recent loss. Her child, the one she never even knew about was gone And the crushing silence that followed had become unbearable. The door creaked open, and Katie’s grip on the spoon tightened when she heard the familiar voice she least wanted to hear. “Well, look at you, hard at work,” Rihanna said, her tone light, almost too sweet. Katie didn’t turn. She focused on the stew, refusing to let Rihanna’s presence throw her off. “What do you want?” Rihanna walked further in, her heels clicking softly against the floor. “Nothing, really. Just checking in.” Katie scoffed, finally glancing over her shoulder. “Checking in? That’s rich, coming from you.” Rihanna smiled faintly. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Katie put down the spoon and turned fully to face her. “Yesterday, you m
Katie stepped out into the cool night air, inhaling deeply as a soft breeze brushed against her skin. The evening was peaceful, the dim glow of streetlights casting long shadows over the pavement. She wasn’t exactly thinking about anything—just walking, letting the quiet calm her. Her feet lightly tapped against the floor as she moved, her mind drifting. She sighed, tilting her head up toward the night sky. A few stars peeked through the darkness, but her thoughts felt too distant to focus on them. She kicked a small pebble, watching it roll across the pavement before hearing soft footsteps approaching from behind. A light tap on her shoulder made her turn swiftly. Rohan. She blinked, her breath catching for just a second. He stood there, hands in his pockets, wearing that soft, knowing smile that always made her heart stutter. "Katie," he said, his voice smooth, like a melody she didn’t mind hearing over and over. "Rowan," she murmured, looking up at him. "What’s up? What
Jerome had barely taken three steps away when Katie, without thinking, ran forward. Her heart pounded, her legs moving faster than her mind. "It's not what you think, Jerome!" she blurted out, her voice sharper than she intended. Jerome stopped mid-step but didn’t turn immediately. His hands were still in his pockets, shoulders relaxed, as if the whole situation barely affected him. When he finally turned, his face was unreadable—no amusement this time, no teasing smirk. Just blankness. "Katie," he said flatly, "you’re explaining to me like I care." Katie’s breath hitched slightly. "We don’t have any special relationship," Jerome continued, his voice steady, calm, almost indifferent. "So why are you explaining anything to me?" Katie froze. For a second, she had nothing—no words, no comeback. Her mind scrambled to form some kind of response, but all that came out was, "Um… okay. I’m sorry for explaining." Jerome gave her one last look, then turned around and kept walkin
Shouts and clattering echoed through the hallway, each noise louder than the last. Katie’s brows knitted in confusion as she and Madam Ellene quickened their pace. The tension thickened with every step, voices overlapping—angry, exasperated, and utterly chaotic. “What in the world…” Katie murmured, glancing at Madam Ellene, whose face was already a mask of irritation. The closer they got, the clearer the words became. “You think you can just boss everyone around, Rihanna?” Irie’s voice pierced through the air, sharp and accusing. “Oh please,” Rihanna shot back, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “If I didn’t take charge, this kitchen would be in flames by now.” Someone gasped. Another voice—a third woman—yelped, “Can you both stop? This isn’t helping!” Katie reached for the kitchen door, instinctively wanting to barge in and stop the madness, but Madam Ellene’s hand shot out, halting her. “Wait,” she said curtly. “I’ll handle this.” Before Katie could protest, Madam Ellene yanked
Jerome had barely taken three steps away when Katie, without thinking, ran forward. Her heart pounded, her legs moving faster than her mind. "It's not what you think, Jerome!" she blurted out, her voice sharper than she intended. Jerome stopped mid-step but didn’t turn immediately. His hands were still in his pockets, shoulders relaxed, as if the whole situation barely affected him. When he finally turned, his face was unreadable—no amusement this time, no teasing smirk. Just blankness. "Katie," he said flatly, "you’re explaining to me like I care." Katie’s breath hitched slightly. "We don’t have any special relationship," Jerome continued, his voice steady, calm, almost indifferent. "So why are you explaining anything to me?" Katie froze. For a second, she had nothing—no words, no comeback. Her mind scrambled to form some kind of response, but all that came out was, "Um… okay. I’m sorry for explaining." Jerome gave her one last look, then turned around and kept walkin
Katie stepped out into the cool night air, inhaling deeply as a soft breeze brushed against her skin. The evening was peaceful, the dim glow of streetlights casting long shadows over the pavement. She wasn’t exactly thinking about anything—just walking, letting the quiet calm her. Her feet lightly tapped against the floor as she moved, her mind drifting. She sighed, tilting her head up toward the night sky. A few stars peeked through the darkness, but her thoughts felt too distant to focus on them. She kicked a small pebble, watching it roll across the pavement before hearing soft footsteps approaching from behind. A light tap on her shoulder made her turn swiftly. Rohan. She blinked, her breath catching for just a second. He stood there, hands in his pockets, wearing that soft, knowing smile that always made her heart stutter. "Katie," he said, his voice smooth, like a melody she didn’t mind hearing over and over. "Rowan," she murmured, looking up at him. "What’s up? What
The air in the pack house kitchen was thick with the scent of spices as Katie stirred a pot of stew. Her hands moved on autopilot, but her mind was elsewhere — trapped in the dark thoughts of her recent loss. Her child, the one she never even knew about was gone And the crushing silence that followed had become unbearable. The door creaked open, and Katie’s grip on the spoon tightened when she heard the familiar voice she least wanted to hear. “Well, look at you, hard at work,” Rihanna said, her tone light, almost too sweet. Katie didn’t turn. She focused on the stew, refusing to let Rihanna’s presence throw her off. “What do you want?” Rihanna walked further in, her heels clicking softly against the floor. “Nothing, really. Just checking in.” Katie scoffed, finally glancing over her shoulder. “Checking in? That’s rich, coming from you.” Rihanna smiled faintly. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Katie put down the spoon and turned fully to face her. “Yesterday, you m
After Katie had left the room, slamming the door behind her with a finality that echoed through the space, Jerome stood motionless. The sound of her retreating footsteps was like a drumbeat in his chest, each step hammering home the realization of what he had just done. His jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides, but the anger he felt wasn’t directed at her—it was at himself. With a heavy sigh, Jerome sank back into the chair behind his desk. He leaned forward, burying his face in his hands as the weight of his own words pressed down on him. “What’s wrong with me?” he whispered, his voice hoarse and raw. The silence of the room was deafening, broken only by the faint crackle of the fire in the hearth. He replayed the confrontation in his mind, every bitter word he had thrown at her, the venom in his tone. He hadn’t meant to be so cruel. But the moment Katie had stood before him, her fragile form trembling, her voice firm yet laced with pain, he had felt something
Katie had spent the last five days locked in her room, drowning in the weight of her grief. The walls felt like they were closing in, suffocating her with memories of everything she had lost. She had barely eaten, her body weak and frail, but her soul bore the heaviest burden. Tonight, however, thirst drove her to action. Her throat was dry, and the thought of water gave her the courage to leave her self-imposed prison. Her hand trembled as she twisted the doorknob. Slowly, she pushed the door open, peeking out into the dimly lit hallway. Her eyes darted nervously from one end of the corridor to the other. She couldn’t bear to see anyone, especially not Jerome. The thought of encountering someone who would pity her or, worse, speak to her, made her heart pound with anxiety. When she was certain the coast was clear, she stepped out, her bare feet padding softly against the wooden floor. She reached the kitchen, pausing at the door to listen. It seemed quiet, and relief
The cold, dark walls of the prison cell were suffocating, the air thick with the stench of damp stone and lingering mildew. Katie had long since lost track of time. The aching in her body, both from the brutal fight with Garret and the deep, gnawing pain in her abdomen, was unbearable. Her bruises throbbed, and every movement she made sent waves of agony through her chest, where Garret’s fists had landed, the force of his blows leaving her gasping for air. She could feel the rawness in her skin as she shifted in her corner, trying to find some semblance of comfort, but nothing eased the pain. Her abdomen, too, was a constant source of torment. The cramping, the sensation of pressure building deep within her, felt as though something was wrong. She instinctively curled her body tighter, but it only worsened. Her breath quickened, short gasps escaping her lips, as tears welled in her eyes. She could barely think straight, her body wracked with pain. Groaning softly, Ka
Katie’s hand still throbbed, the sensation from the slap lingering like a sting in her own chest. She hadn’t expected the sudden surge of adrenaline or the burst of clarity when she raised her hand against Jerome. The moment felt surreal. She had spoken her mind, said everything she had held back for far too long, and had struck him the man who controlled her life, the man who saw her as nothing more than an object to be used. But now, standing there in the aftermath, Katie could feel her breath growing shallow, a mixture of fear and exhilaration building up inside her. She hadn't anticipated how quickly the regret would settle in. But still, the thought of her own boldness lingered in her veins, the fear of what was coming next only adding to the heat of her pulse. Jerome didn’t move for a long moment. He stood perfectly still, his face unreadable, his eyes dark and cold. His gaze fixed on her, and Katie couldn’t help but tremble, knowing that whatever was coming would
Jerome stirred in his bed, the faint light of morning creeping through the window. He turned over, expecting to find Katie already at his side, as she always did. She was supposed to be there, bringing him breakfast as she always did. But when his eyes opened, the bed beside him was empty. A frown creased his face. Where was she? His anger flared up immediately. Jerome rarely tolerated disobedience, and Katie had always been prompt. This wasn’t like her. Without thinking twice, he threw the covers off and swung his legs over the side of the bed. His feet hit the cold floor, his pulse quickening with frustration. He needed to find her. He stormed into the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face, trying to shake off the growing sense of irritation. His mind was already racing. Where could she be? Why hadn’t she come to serve him? After a few moments, he finally felt the tension in his muscles release slightly, though the anger still burned within him. Jerome walked out o