Chapter 5

Colton. My brother. His eyes were red. They burned with a fury I hadn't seen in years.

He saw the needle in my hand. His gaze hardened. His jaw clenched.

"Colton," I whispered. My voice was weak.

He turned slowly. His finger pointed at Jax.

"You," Colton snarled. "You again. What are you doing here? Haven't you done enough to her?"

His voice cracked with emotion. "Seven years ago, you broke her. And now you come back to film her? To humiliate her? Do you want her dead?"

Jax looked surprised for a moment. He hadn't expected Colton. Then a sneer twisted his lips.

"Colton Spencer," Jax said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Still the loudmouthed thug, I see. What, did you just get out of prison? Or are you just here to collect your sister and disappear again?"

"Your sister," Jax continued, "made her own choices. She wanted the money. She betrayed me. Now she's paying the price. And I, being the good samaritan, am here to help her 'redeem' herself."

Colton let out a bitter laugh. "Help her? With cameras? You call this 'help'? You're exploiting her! Using her for your damn reality show!"

He pointed at Harlow. "And you! You conniving little bitch! I know you're behind this. Filling his head with lies. Stirring up trouble."

"Get out!" Colton roared. His voice echoed in the small room. "Get out of my sister's sight, both of you!"

Harlow flinched. Her face went pale. She hid behind Jax.

"Colton, please," Harlow whimpered, her voice shaky. "We mean well. We really do."

"Shut up!" Colton snapped. "Don't you dare call me Colton. You make me sick."

He stepped closer. "Or should I tell the cameras what you did back then? To Joleen? What a real 'bitch' you were?"

Jax's face stiffened. He shot a warning glance at Harlow. She shrank further behind him.

Jax took a step towards Colton. His eyes narrowed.

"I tried to be civil with you, Colton," Jax said, his voice low and dangerous. "Because of who you are. But don't push it."

"This show is happening," Jax declared. His gaze was fixed on Colton. "And you and your sister will cooperate."

He gestured to his crew. "Keep filming. Get this. The caring brother. The emotional reunion. The viewers will love it."

He smirked. "We'll show them how I'm the victim here. And how you two are just crazy, ungrateful people."

Colton's body trembled. His fists clenched.

Then, with a roar, he lunged. His fist connected with Jax's jaw. A sickening crunch.

Jax stumbled back. His hand flew to his mouth. Blood bloomed on his lip.

He wiped it away with the back of his hand. His eyes, burning with hatred, locked onto Colton.

"You bastard!" Jax screamed. He lunged back.

The room erupted into chaos. Bodies collided. Shouts filled the air.

Harlow shrieked. The crew scrambled to pull them apart. But it was too late.

The cameras kept rolling. Capturing every punch. Every furious scream.

I sat on the bed. My mind a blank. Why were they fighting?

"Stop it!" I cried. My voice was a tiny squeak. Lost in the noise.

Colton and Jax were a tangle of limbs and fury. The fruit basket crashed to the floor. Oranges and apples rolled everywhere.

Harlow watched the brawl. Her eyes glinted. A plan forming.

She suddenly let out a piercing scream. She ran between the two men. Pretending to break them apart.

Colton's fist swung out. He tried to stop. But it was too late. His fist grazed Harlow's shoulder.

Harlow let out another ear-splitting shriek. She collapsed to the floor. Rolling. Clutching her arm.

"My arm! My arm! It's broken! He broke my arm!" she wailed.

Jax stopped fighting. His eyes wide with shock. He rushed to Harlow's side.

He knelt. He pulled her into his arms. Her shoulder was red where Colton's fist had brushed it.

Jax's head snapped up. His eyes, now bloodshot, glared at Colton.

"You animal!" Jax roared. "You touched my woman! If she's hurt, if even one hair on her head is harmed, I swear to God, I'll make you and Joleen pay. I'll make you both regret the day you were born!"