CHAPTER 1

“I SAW HIM. I saw Jarrel…”

Kai sat at the edge of her bed, feeling breathless. Her fingers trembled as she gripped her phone, talking to her best friend, Jessielyn, who looked just as troubled as she was.

It had been a week since she returned from Canada, where she spent three years working for a major company. She accepted the job without hesitation, grabbing the opportunity to escape without a second thought.

Because back then, running away was her only choice.

Leaving everything behind—including him.

Jarrel Grayson.

The man she tried so hard to forget.

“You can’t escape now,” Jessielyn murmured.

“I know.” Kai sighed deeply, staring at her reflection in the vanity mirror. “And I don’t plan to run away again.”

“Are you ready to face him?” Jessielyn asked, her voice tinged with worry. “Jarrel is… different now. Scarier, even. But that doesn’t stop women from chasing him.”

Kai swallowed hard. “Is he with the mother of his son?” That was the first question that slipped out of her lips. “Are they together?”

“I don’t know.” Jess shrugged. “But there’s a woman who’s been visiting his resort for the past year. The longest any woman has ever stayed in his life.”

“Who?”

“Maisie Victoria—the vice mayor’s daughter.”

Kai’s stomach twisted. “Do you think she’s Jarshel’s mother?”

She hated how weak her voice sounded.

She adored Jarshel—Jarrel’s son—so much that if she could take him home, she would.

“Why don’t you ask Jarrel?” Jess challenged.

“As if I can do that,” she muttered. “He’s changed. I can’t even look him in the eye. Just being near him makes my heart race in the worst way.”

“Well, you do owe him, Lex.”

Kai looked down, guilt weighing heavily on her chest.

She knew that. She had hurt him.

And even now, she was still hurting because of what she did. But no matter how much she regretted everything, she could never undo the past.

“Yes, it was my fault. If only I—”

“I’m sorry, Lex.” Jess cut her off, squeezing her hand. “None of us knew things would turn out that way. Stop blaming yourself.”

“I can’t help it. I know I’m at fault. And I… I don’t think I’ll ever forgive myself.”

“Maybe. But to me, you did nothing wrong.” Jess paused before adding, “To Jarrel, though? You did.”

A lump formed in Kai’s throat. “I don’t know if I can ever tell him the truth.”

Jess gave her a look. “He deserves to know everything, Lex. But if you don’t want to hurt him more… then maybe it’s best to keep it to yourself.”

“I don’t want to hurt him again,” Kai whispered. “Leaving him without saying goodbye was already cruel enough. I don’t want to add to the pain I left him with.”

Jess sighed. “I get it. But for now, stop thinking about the past. Focus on the present. You need to pick an outfit for dinner tonight.”

Kai groaned. “Do I have to go?”

“Where is it, anyway?”

“His beach resort.”

Jess smirked. “Oh, good luck, Lex.”

Kai exhaled in frustration. “I wouldn’t even go if I had a choice. But I can’t say no to his son…”

She could refuse Jarrel.

But not Jarshel.

Never Jarshel.

“That boy is dangerously charming,” Jess teased. “It’s amazing how he grew up so well despite not having a mother.”

Kai smiled, but the ache in her chest lingered.

Because deep down, she knew—that was her fault, too.

…

“Jarrel is a good father. I can tell.”

Jessielyn smirked. “You mean the ruthless, hot Jarrel Grayson?” She giggled. “If you had been here the past few years, you’d be so jealous of all the rumors about the women he’s been with.”

Kai’s chest tightened as if tiny needles were pricking her heart.

So while she was abroad—crying, hurting, missing him—Jarrel was in bed with other women?

“How many?” she asked, even though she already knew the answer.

“Too many, Lex!” Jess scooted closer, growing more animated. “And get this—there are rumors he even had a threesome!”

Kai clenched her fists. “I don’t want to hear it.”

“And apparently, he’s an animal in bed!” Jess whispered dramatically. “Women say he—”

“Stop!” Kai shrieked, covering her ears. “I don’t want to know! He’s such an asshole!”

Jess raised a brow. “Ooooh. Is that jealousy I hear?”

“I just don’t want to hear any of it. It’s disgusting.”

Jess grinned mischievously. “Well, if you change your mind, I have plenty of juicy details.”

“Ugh. No, thanks.”

“Your loss.” Jess stood up, stretching. “Anyway, I’m leaving. But call me later and tell me all about your ‘date.’”

“It’s not a date!”

“Sure, sure. Whatever you say.” Jess blew her a kiss before winking and walking out of the room.

Kai groaned, collapsing onto the bed.

Her mind betrayed her, flooding her thoughts with images of Jarrel with other women.

While she was mourning their past, he was busy screwing around?

Damn him.

No wonder he had a son now. At the very least, he could have given Jarshel a mother.

Kai shifted uneasily in her seat.

She had just arrived at Jarshel’s Resto, anxiously waiting for Jarrel and his son.

Her heart pounded in her chest.

Was this a mistake?

Just the thought of seeing Jarrel again brought back everything—every memory, every heartbreak, every regret.

“Teacher! Teacher!”

Her heart jumped at the sound of that excited little voice.

She turned just in time to see Jarshel running toward her, his face lit up with a wide grin.

“Hello, Jarshel…” Kai adjusted her seat and opened her arms, welcoming the little boy’s hug.

“Teacher, I have something for you!” He turned to look behind him.

Kai’s breath caught in her throat.

Jarrel was walking toward them.

Dressed in a fitted grey long-sleeved shirt, a luxury watch on his wrist, and khaki pants that hugged his frame just right, he looked dangerously handsome.

His presence was suffocating.

She swallowed hard, feeling weak in the knees as his piercing gaze locked onto her.

“Here.”

His deep, baritone voice sent a shiver down her spine.

Kai blinked, realizing he was holding out a bouquet.

“T-thank you,” she stammered, hesitantly taking it.

“Thank my son.”

Her cheeks flushed.

Of course. The flowers weren’t from Jarrel—he was just handing them to her.

Biting her lip, she crouched down so she was eye-level with Jarshel, forcing a smile.

“Thank you for the flowers, sweetheart,” she whispered, kissing his forehead.

“You’re welcome, teacher! Do you like it?”

“I love it!” She winked at him.

“Daddy told me those are your favorite flowers!”

Kai froze.

She looked down at the bouquet—roses in every color. White, yellow, red, pink, and even blue.

Jarrel still remembered.

Her favorite flowers.

Her chest tightened.

She should be happy.

So why did it hurt?

When she lifted her gaze to Jarrel, he simply looked away—expression cold, indifferent.

He still hated her.

And she deserved it.

She had to accept the way he treated her.

“I love seafood, teacher!” Jarshel beamed, pointing excitedly at the plate of shrimp that had just arrived.

Kai smiled. “Really? I love seafood too!”

She picked up a few pieces and placed them on his plate.

“Daddy doesn’t like it as much as I do.”

“That’s because he’s allergic to seafood.”

Jarshel blinked in surprise. “How did you know?”

Kai’s breath hitched.

She glanced at Jarrel, who was calmly eating—but the slightest smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

“Such a curious little boy…” she said playfully, ruffling Jarshel’s hair. “Now, finish your food. And eat your vegetables too, okay?”

“What if I don’t?” Jarshel pouted.

“You don’t like vegetables, huh?”

The little boy looked down, clearly guilty.

Kai chuckled. “Come on, sweetheart. I won’t force you to eat them if you don’t want to.”

Jarshel’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

“Yes… but,” she emphasized, “you should try eating them sometimes. Just a little, until you start liking them.”

Jarshel nodded enthusiastically as if she had just convinced him of the greatest idea ever.

Jarrel, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes. “Why do you only listen to her?”

Jarshel blinked. “Because you’re my daddy.”

“And?”

“And… you love me so much that you always give me whatever I want! If I don’t like vegetables, you don’t get mad at me.”

Jarrel leaned back, arms crossed. “Well?”

Jarshel grinned. “But I’ll eat vegetables now because I don’t want my teacher to be mad at me.”

Kai couldn’t stop herself from laughing softly.

Watching them interact—seeing this side of Jarrel—warmed something deep inside her.

It was… nice.

Comforting.

After dinner, Jarshel begged her to take a walk around the resort.

Jarrel had to leave for a meeting, so it was just the two of them.

“Where’s your mom?” Kai asked as they sat on a picnic blanket in the sand.

Jarshel yawned and rubbed his eyes.

“I don’t know, teacher.”

Her heart leaped.

So Maisie wasn’t his mother?

She didn’t know why, but that thought made her absurdly relieved.

“Are you sleepy, sweetheart?”

Jarshel shook his head stubbornly.

Kai chuckled, brushing his hair gently. “You can sleep if you want…”

“Teacher, sing for me,” he whispered.

Kai hummed softly, stroking his hair until his breathing slowed.

A deep, raspy voice interrupted her.

“He fell asleep.”

Her body stiffened.

Jarrel was standing next to her, watching them.

She nodded awkwardly, glancing down at the sleeping boy in her lap.

“Yeah… He was really tired.”

Jarrel sat beside her, his fingers brushing against Jarshel’s arm as he adjusted his son’s position.

Kai swallowed hard.

“You’re not leaving yet?” he asked.

“I-I was waiting for you to take Jarshel.”

“We can stay a little longer…”

His voice lowered.

“It’s been a long time, Kai.”

She exhaled shakily.

“Yes, it has…”

“You came back… as if nothing happened.”

Her heart clenched.

“Jarrel, this isn’t the right place to talk about that…”

“Then where is?”

He turned to her, his dark eyes filled with something dangerous.

She took a glance at him. No matter how heavy it felt to meet his gaze, she could tell that he truly wanted to talk. But she wasn’t ready. Not yet.

Under the soft glow of light behind them, she could still study every inch of his face. His deep, dark eyes carried the weight of everything he had been through when she left. Those eyes—filled with unspoken pain—only made the ache in her chest worse.

His thick, furrowed brows told her how unwelcome her presence was, how he wasn’t pleased to see her again. His sharp jawline, dusted with a light stubble, was just as striking as she remembered. And God, how she wished she could touch him again like she used to.

His aura was too overwhelming. Even now, she could barely handle it. He always made her knees weak. She couldn’t hold his gaze for long, but every time her eyes flickered to his lips, it felt like all the pain between them could disappear with just one kiss—like all their wounds would fade away the moment their lips met.

If only it were that simple. If only a kiss could erase everything they had been through.

“No…” His husky voice, laced with restraint, and the faint scent of mint on his breath pulled her from her thoughts.

Their faces were too close. One wrong move and their lips would meet.

She shut her eyes, biting down on her lower lip—out of embarrassment or desperation, she wasn’t sure. Maybe both. Desperate to kiss him again. Desperate for the foolish hope that it could wash everything away.

“Jarrel…” His name slipped from her lips in a whisper, soft and pleading.

“Look at me.” His voice held the weight of an order, yet there was something gentler underneath—like a king commanding his queen.

Firm, yet controlled. If he weren’t so angry with her, she knew that tone would’ve been softer, almost impossible to resist.

Slowly, she forced herself to meet his gaze. And the moment she did, her chest tightened painfully.

He was struggling. It hurt him to look at her, and yet he was forcing himself to do so.

She swallowed hard when he tilted his head forward, closing the distance between them.

Her lips parted in anticipation. God, she wanted this so badly.

“Fuck…” Jarrel cursed under his breath just before his lips crashed against hers.

There was nothing soft about his kiss. It was raw. Punishing. Filled with unspoken emotions—anger, pain, longing. She could almost taste the bitterness on his lips, could almost feel the heat of his frustration in the way he bit down on her lip.

She could feel just how much he wanted to devour her.

And all she could do was kiss him back with the same intensity. Matching his fire with her own.