Chapter 3 Confrontation

Katie held a cup of coffee, her eyes flicking over me. The red-framed glasses on her nose couldn't hide her haughty demeanor, and her bright red lipstick made her look especially arrogant.

She took a sip, set the cup down, and said, "I didn't expect you to be this kind of person. I told you to pack your things and leave the Mitchell family, but you took advantage of my absence to climb into Jase's bed. If Kade knew, he would never rest in peace."

Her tone dripped with mockery, her gaze full of disdain.

I looked at her and said calmly, "If you didn't try to drive me and my son out, I wouldn't have gone to Jase."

If Kade could see me now, he wouldn't blame me. He'd understand what I was doing.

Katie sneered, "You think I care whether your son lives or dies? Clearly, I've been too lenient with you both."

"Jase promised me he wouldn't make things hard for us," I said, meeting her eyes steadily.

Vince's frail health couldn't handle more upheaval. I didn't dare take risks, so I mentioned Jase to make Katie think twice.

"Is that so? What exactly did he promise you? You're just a cheap nobody, thinking you can outsmart me?"

Her words made my fingers tingle with numbness.

I knew her temperament. Even with Jase's word, she'd still vent her resentment and disgust toward me.

When Kade was alive, she had to hold back.

Now, with power in her hands, she was insufferably smug.

"You've got half a month. I was too kind. Did you think sleeping with my son would let you stay with the Mitchells? Do you know where he went today?"

I forced myself to stay composed.

She smiled and went on, "The Mitchells are about to form a marriage alliance with the Higgins family. He's dining with Zoe Higgins tonight. You think you're something special, trying to stay here with your lowlife tactics? Dream on."

She gave May a look.

May stepped forward and slapped me across the face.

Worn out from everything and barely resting, I saw stars from the blow, my cheek burning.

Katie said to May slowly, "Did I tell you to stop?"

Before I could react, another slap came. If someone hadn't grabbed my arm, I might have collapsed. The force was brutal.

I couldn't break free.

I didn't even try. As long as it didn't kill me, it was a decent sob story.

Just as I was about to pass out, I heard a commotion.

Jase strode in, kicking May to the ground and slapping the person holding me, knocking them over. I stared, as stunned as Katie.

Why was Jase, who was supposed to be dining with Zoe, back so suddenly?

May groaned on the floor, clutching her stomach. Katie stood, furious, pointing at Jase. "Have you lost your mind? You hit May! She's been with me for years!"

Jase gripped my shoulders, checking the marks on my face.

Then, with an icy glare at May, he said to Katie, "I told you I'd handle Jolie's matters. You don't need to interfere. Seems no one takes my words seriously."

May looked terrified on the ground.

At Jase's signal, his men dragged her out, along with two others.

May shouted, "Mrs. Mitchell, please-!"

She begged for help.

Katie, seeing Jase protect me, lost all composure and snarled, "You fool! You're supposed to be dining with Zoe right now, not messing around with priorities! You came back just to shield this tramp? She's your brother's woman, your sister-in-law!"

Jase replied unflinchingly, "Jolie was always mine. Besides, Kade's dead."

As he spoke, he gripped my arm tightly, as if afraid I'd vanish.

Sensing his emotions, I let out a slow breath.

Katie reeled back, sinking onto the sofa, clutching her forehead. "You'd drive your own mother to death over a used widow? This family can have her or me, not both! She's no help to you. A widow now, she's not worth your effort." She laid out the stakes.

"Mom, you seem to forget you're a second wife too. My dad didn't mind, and neither do I. If you hadn't interfered back then, we wouldn't have been torn apart. Don't worry, I'll handle things with Zoe. Nothing will be affected. From now on, Jolie stays at my private residence. Without my permission, you and your people stay away. If anything happens to her, don't blame me for turning cold. You can be the matriarch here. No one will challenge that."

He left those words and took me away, ignoring Katie's warnings.

Hearing him mention Zoe made me uneasy, but I told myself I was barely hanging on. I kept quiet and let Jase lead me away.

In the car, he pulled an ice pack from the fridge and handed it to me, his voice sharp with anger. "Why didn't you call me? No hands? No phone?"

I stared out the window, not wanting to go to his private residence. Softly, I said, "I want to see Vince. It's been hours since I've been to the hospital. He'll be looking for me."

It had only been a few hours, really.

"Looking like that, you sure you won't scare him?"

"It'll go down with some icing on the way. It's fine. I'll make up an excuse, and he'll be okay. He's easy to soothe." I pushed his hand away, holding the ice pack myself.

Seeing me sulk, he smiled. "You mad about the Higgins marriage thing?"

"No way. What right do I have to be mad?" I shook my head, denying it.

But he seemed in a good mood, patiently explaining, "Everyone's saying I'm tying the knot with the Higgins family. Zoe and I just went along with it for show, giving the press something to write about. It's just business."

He glanced at my expression and continued, "This kind of news isn't bad for either company. It boosts both our stocks. It's a win-win."

I looked at him and handed back the ice pack.

"Guess I'm pretty easy to soothe too..." I mumbled.

Jase chuckled. "Same as always."

His words made us both pause.

Maybe we both knew the past was gone for good.