Chapter 46

Chapter 46
KAT’S POV
The jet lifts into the sky with a low, powerful sound that vibrates through my bones. I feel the pressure ease in my ears.
I sink deeper into the plush seat, trying to look calm even though my stomach twists like someone is pulling it from the inside.
I force myself to eat, even though every bite feels too heavy. I keep telling myself to act unbothered, composed, unaffected, but my body refuses to listen. Every few seconds, my eyes move toward Percy. He eats slowly but his attention isn't on his food. It’s on me. Always me. His eyes keep sliding back to my face, studying the way I hold my fork, the way my lips tighten when I chew, the way I push my hair behind my ear.
He watches me with this quiet attentiveness that makes my skin feel too warm. As if he’s memorizing me.
I hate that.
Or at least… I should hate it.
I try to appear indifferent, leaning back casually, pretending to be absorbed in my food, but my heartbeat jumps every time his knee brushes mine under the small dining table. It’s subtle. Barely a touch. But each contact sends electricity up my legs and straight into my chest. It makes me lose my breath, lose the calm expression I’m desperately trying to hold.
Percy pours wine into my glass without being asked. His fingers brush mine as he passes it over. I pull my hand back a little too quickly, feeling the heat shooting up my arm. He pretends not to notice, but his eyes soften in that way that makes it impossible to remain stone-faced. He always notices. I think he notices everything.
I finally take a sip to clear my head but my thoughts to start spiraling again. I still cannot believe he went through all this trouble for me. I had no idea he was planning this.
Well, how could I? I never answered any of his calls or texts.
Halfway through the meal, Percy set his utensils down then looked at me.
“Kat.” He says
I freeze. My breath stumbles.
“You deserve the truth,” he says. “All of it.”
A cold shiver crawls up my spine. My fork stops halfway to my mouth. I put it down slowly, bracing myself.
He inhales hard, like he’s preparing for something ugly.
“That woman at the gala,” he begins. “She wasn’t my current wife.”
My stomach sinks. I fold my arms, forcing my face into something neutral.
“We were married,” he continues, “years ago. During a time when I was… honestly, a mess. I was drinking too much. Working too much. Letting everyone manipulate me. Including her.”
I keep my jaw clenched. I don’t let my expression crack, but my pulse beats fast against my collarbone.
“She cheated on me,” he says quietly. “More than once.”
I swallow hard but keep my arms crossed. I don’t want to show that his words hit something deep inside me.
“I filed for divorce. But she refused to let it end. Every time I took interest in someone new… she resurfaced. Every time.” His voice tightens. “Including at the gala. She showed up intentionally. She always does when she wants my attention.”
The knife twists deeper. I straighten my spine, pretending none of this affects me.
“I had no idea she was coming,” he adds.
I still don’t speak. My jaw is so tight it aches. He studies my face for a long, heavy moment.
“…You’re not saying anything,” he murmurs.
“I don’t really know what to say,” I answer, staring down at my plate. “It’s not… my place to comment on your past.”
“That’s not what I want from you,” he says. “I want honesty.”
I laugh under my breath. The sound is bitter “Honesty is messy.”
“I don’t mind messy.”
His voice is too soft. It makes something weak inside me tremble. I sigh deeply. I look at the window instead of him, watching the dark sky.
Finally, the words slip out.
“I felt jealous.”
It tastes like poison. Like humiliation. Like something I should never admit.
“Kat…” he says gently. “I’m sorry. I didn’t expect that to happen.”
I twist the napkin in my hands. I hate how vulnerable I sound. What the hell is wrong with me? Why does he affect me so much?
Then his voice drops even softer.
“Kat… I want you. Not her.” He pauses. “Not anyone else.”
A shiver runs straight through me. It lowers every wall I’ve been struggling to hold up. I meet his gaze — and the intensity in his eyes steals my breath. His hair falls slightly over his forehead. He has the most beautiful pair of blue eyes I’ve ever seen.
God, why does he have to be this gorgeous? Why am I this affected?
Thunder cracks suddenly. The sound is loud. The jet trembles. Rain slashes at the windows. The lights flicker slightly.
I flinch hard and gasp as I grab the seat.
Percy reacts instantly. He slides closer, pulling me into his side. His arm wraps around my waist. His body is warm  against mine.
“Hey,” he murmurs. “I’ve got you.”
I stiffen for three seconds. Exactly three.
Then I melt….completely.
My body softens against his, absorbing his warmth like it’s the first warmth I’ve felt in years.. His hand tightens around my waist as the jet jolts again.
He leans his head slightly toward mine. “Looks like the storm is trying really hard to ruin my romantic plans tonight.”
I laugh.
“There it is,” he whispers. “Your actual laugh. I’ve been waiting.”
“Oh, shut up,” I mutter, but I’m smiling, and he can hear it.
The storm rages outside, but inside, I feel warm. I rest my head on his shoulder fully now. I can feel his heartbeat against my cheek. I feel safe. Too safe.
“I used to love Matt,” I say softly. “Stupidly. Blindly.”
Percy goes still for a moment, then he lets out a deep breath.
“I always knew he was married,” he says, “but we were never close enough for him to tell me anything real. I never knew who you were to him.”
“It’s no wonder I’ve never met you before,” I reply softly. “His family was always… selective.”
He laughs dryly. “That’s one word for it.”
More memories flash in my head.
“Paula was always cruel to me,” I whisper. “She mocked my clothes. My intelligence. My background. Everything.” I swallow hard. “She blamed me for Matt’s cheating. Said I wasn’t ‘woman enough.’”
Percy groans loudly and rolls his eyes. “Jesus Christ. Of course she did.”
I blink. “You know her that well?”
He grimaces. “Kat… Paula is my sister.”
I jerk back slightly. “What?”
I knew Percy was Matt’s uncle but I didn’t know from what side.
“Unfortunately,” he mutters.
A shocked laugh escapes me. “You’re kidding.”
“I wish I was. Paula has been a bitch since childhood. She bullied everyone she could. Don’t take it personally. She’s miserable inside.”
A tear slips down my cheek before I can stop it. I wipe it quickly, feeling embarrassed.
But then more spill out.
Percy notices immediately. He cups my cheek gently. He uses his thumb to brush the tears away with slow, careful strokes.
“You didn’t deserve any of that,” he whispers.
I close my eyes for a second. His voice is too soft. Too kind.
“What was she like… growing up?” I ask quietly. “If you don’t mind telling me.”
He exhales slowly and pulls me closer, like he wants to warm me through.
“We were never close,” he begins. “She made sure of that. And she made sure Matt hated me too.”
I look up at him. “How?”
He runs a hand through his hair, .
“She sabotaged everything,” he says. “Since we were kids. She’d break things and blame me. Tell our parents I hit her when I didn’t. She’d steal money and say I took it. She got me grounded. Suspended. She ruined every friendship I had. She manipulated anyone she could. And when Matt got older, she filled his head with lies about me — said I thought he was worthless. Said I looked down on all of them. Said I planned to cut him out of the family business when I never cared about it in the first place.”
My chest tightens painfully. “Percy…”
“That wasn’t even the worst,” he says quietly. “Once, when we were teenagers, she staged this entire scene, fake tears, fake bruises,  telling my father I shoved her down the stairs. I didn’t even touch her. But she was convincing. Too convincing. I got sent to live with an uncle for a year. A whole year. Because of her.”
A cold shiver runs through me.
“That’s…” I swallow. “That’s horrific.”
He nods once, slowly. “And she enjoyed it. That’s who she’s always been.”
I stare at him in shock. My heart squeezes painfully. I can almost picture the versions of Percy he grew from — younger, hurt, blamed, exiled, misunderstood.
And suddenly everything makes sense.
Everything about him — the way he observes before speaking, the way he chooses his words like, the way he gives space but also clings quietly to connection — it all fits now.
Because he grew up in a house where he had to protect himself every day.
I breathe out shakily, leaning my forehead against his shoulder.
“Percy… I’m so sorry.”
He wraps his arm tighter around me, pressing a soft kiss to the top of my head.
“It’s not your burden,” he murmurs.