When Love Turns to Rage
Jason’s POV
A single thought ignited a fire within me.
No more games. No more hiding.
For most of my life, I had existed inside a prison of my own making. The bars were not iron or steel, but guilt, fear, and the unshakable belief that I was unworthy of love. Losing Amara had sealed that belief into my bones. Her death had felt like divine punishment, a verdict passed down by the universe itself. As though I had dared to reach for happiness and been struck down for my arrogance. I told myself the pain was deserved. That carrying it was my sentence.
But something inside me had shifted.
If the universe had decided, for reasons I could not understand, to grant me a second chance, then I would not waste it. I would not hide behind self-hatred or use my past as an excuse to remain alone. This time, I would fight. This time, I would claim the love that had slipped through my fingers like sand.
With resolve burning in my chest, I left the hotel room. Each step felt heavy, weighed down by the consequences of everything I had done, yet charged with purpose. The hallway lights blurred as I moved, and by the time I reached my car, my hands were shaking.
The city roared around me as I drove. Neon signs flashed, horns blared, and crowds spilt onto sidewalks, but none of it registered. My mind was locked onto one thing only.
Making this right.
Before going home, I detoured to Winnie’s. Words would not be enough. I needed something tangible, something Emily could hold, something that would speak when my voice failed me.
The moment I stepped into the shop, the scent of polished wood and warm metal wrapped around me. It was familiar, comforting, grounding. Winnie looked up from her workbench, her hands dusted with filings and stone residue.
“Don Jason,” she said with a smile. “What brings you here today?”
“I need a custom necklace,” I replied, my heart pounding. “Something that captures love, chaos, and hope.”
She studied my face, her expression softening with understanding. “Then we will make something extraordinary. Tell me, what stones speak to you?”
I moved closer to the display, my fingers hovering over the glass. My gaze landed on a deep blue sapphire. Its colour reminded me of the night sky, of the night I first met Emily, when everything had changed without my permission.
“This one,” I said quietly.
Winnie nodded, pleased. “Sapphire represents devotion and truth.” She reached for a piece of rose quartz next. “This symbolises love, compassion, and healing.”
“Yes,” I said without hesitation.
Then her fingers brushed over a piece of black tourmaline, dark and solid. “This one grounds and protects. It absorbs negativity.”
My chest tightened. “Yes. That too.”
As she sketched the design, I leaned forward, watching every line take shape. When she finally turned the paper toward me, my breath caught. The necklace was knotted and intricate, the sapphire at its heart, flanked by rose quartz and black tourmaline. Chaos and tenderness woven together.
“It’s beautiful,” I said softly.
“It will take two weeks,” Winnie replied.
“No,” I said immediately. “I need it today. Before sunset.”
Her brows lifted. “Custom work takes time.”
“Double the payment,” I said firmly. “Can you do it or not?”
She searched my face, then nodded. “I will do my best.”
“That’s all I ask.”
I stepped outside and drove aimlessly while she worked, my thoughts circling endlessly around Emily. I replayed every moment, every smile, every argument. Fear gnawed at me, but hope burned brighter.
When I returned, Winnie greeted me with a tired but proud smile.
“It’s done.”
I took the necklace from her, the cool weight settling into my palm. The sapphire shimmered beside the rose quartz, grounded by the tourmaline. It felt like a promise.
“Thank you,” I said sincerely, leaving more than enough money on the table before rushing out.
The drive home felt like a race against my own doubts. My phone rang. Lucas.
“Not now,” I muttered, silencing it.
As the sun dipped low, my nerves tightened. Would Emily understand? Would she forgive me? Would I be too late?
I parked and sat for a moment, forcing myself to breathe. I had fought against this love for so long, convinced it was wrong, convinced it would only end in ruin. Yet here I was, standing on the edge of something new.
I stepped inside.
The familiar scent of home wrapped around me, but relief lasted only seconds.
A sharp, vile cologne cut through the air.
My stomach dropped.
With each step toward the living room, the scent grew stronger. My pulse roared in my ears as rage ignited in my veins. I prayed I was wrong.
I was not.
Emily sat on the couch, relaxed in another man’s arms. His lips brushed against hers in a kiss that shattered something deep inside me. Time slowed, then fractured.
I lunged forward, grabbing him by the collar and yanking him away. My fist connected with his jaw, sending him crashing to the floor.
“Jason, what are you doing?” Emily cried.
I stood over him, breath ragged. “Who the hell do you think you are, showing up like this? You don’t get to disappear and come back when it suits you.”
He smirked as he stood. “Good to see you too, brother. Is this how you welcome your only brother home?”
He moved closer, but I shoved him away.
“Your marked woman looks terrified of your outburst,” he whispered cruelly.
I glanced at Emily. Fear and confusion filled her eyes, and it cut deeper than any blow.
I stepped back, forcing myself to breathe. I wanted to explain everything. I wanted to show her the necklace, to tell her I chose her.
But the moment was gone.
My fingers curled around the jewellery box in my pocket. Without a word, I turned and slammed the door behind me, leaving everything unsaid.