Chapter 47

Chapter 47
KAT’S POV

There’s silence between us after Percy finishes talking about Paula, but it isn’t uncomfortable. His hand still rests on my waist, his thumb brushing slow, steady circles that keep my breathing calm. The rain continues its violent tapping against the windows.

For  the first time in a long time… I don’t feel alone.

And maybe that’s why the next words slip out of me before I can stop them.

“I caught Matt cheating on me.”

Percy’s body tenses immediately. His arm tightens around me like he’s preparing to hold me together if I break.

“With who?” he asks.

“My best friend.”

His inhale is sharp and furious. “Kat…”

I swallow hard. I don’t look up. If I see the pity in his eyes, or the anger on my behalf, I might crumble. My fingers twist into the blanket on my lap until the fabric bites into my skin.

“I walked into our house early,” I say softly. “I’d come back early to surprise him. It was our anniversary. I bought cupcakes, his favorite, and I was so excited. I remember feeling stupidly happy that morning, like everything was finally fine again. Like he was changing.”

My throat tightens. Percy’s hand finds mine instantly, threading his fingers through mine. He holds my hand the way someone holds something fragile, something precious. His knuckles brush mine. His thumb rubs soothing circles over my skin.

“I heard noises,” I whisper. “From the bedroom. I didn’t want to believe it at first”

I shut my eyes. “But when I opened the door, he was in bed. With her.” My voice cracks. “And he didn’t even look surprised. Neither of them did.”

Percy doesn’t speak. His jaw clenches so tightly I can feel the tension radiating through his arm.

I continue, even though my voice trembles. “She smiled and said it wasn’t what it looked like. As if the two of them were just—”

He cuts in quietly, “Kat, you don’t have to relive this.”

“I do,” I whisper. “Just this once.”

His grip tightens around my hand.

“It shattered something in me permanently,” I say. “Something I’ve never gotten back. Not even now.”

The storm cracks again, shaking the jet for a moment. Percy’s thumb moves faster. His hand grips mine tightly.

“I’m so sorry you went through that,” he murmurs. “You didn’t deserve even a second of that pain.”

I breathe out shakily, trying not to cry. “It’s fine. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

“No,” he says firmly, turning his body toward me. “It matters. It matters because it hurt you. It matters because you carried it alone. And it matters because I care.”

His voice drops to a whisper. “I care about you more than I’ve cared about anyone in a long time.”

That tightens something inside me - painfully, beautifully. I look up at him, but his face is so close. His eyes are so warm and intense that I feel my breath hitch.

He swallows, looking almost nervous. “I have fears too.”

“What kind?”

He hesitates. His fingers tighten around mine. “Fear of… losing someone I actually care about for once. Fear of opening up. Fear of offering something real after I spent years being manipulated by my ex-wife.”

I blink. He’s never looked this unguarded. Never sounded this vulnerable.

“Percy…”

“I’m not used to this,” he admits. “To wanting someone this badly. To trying this hard. To feeling anything I can’t control.”

The emotional weight between us grows so heavy it feels like the air thickens, like everything inside the cabin shrinks to just the two of us.

Our breaths mingle with each other. Our hearts are beating too fast. It’s almost suffocating — in a strangely beautiful way.

Maybe that’s why he suddenly clears his throat, gently nudges something toward me, and tries to break the tension.

“Open this,” he says softly.

It’s a gift bag. My heart races. I saw it earlier but didn’t think too much of it.

“I… what is this?” I ask.

“Just open it.”

I hesitate, then slowly open it.

The first thing I see is a silk robe. It’s soft, luxurious, in a color I didn’t even know I loved until this moment. I inhale sharply.

“Percy…” My fingers slide over the silk. “This is…”

“There’s more,” he says.

I reach inside again and pull out a book. It’s one I have been wanting to buy for months but kept putting off because I don’t have the time to read it. My heart slams against my ribs.

“How did you… know?” I ask in shock “I’ve wanted to buy this for a while now”  

He shrugs lightly. “Lucky guess. And because it seemed like something you needed.”

My throat locks.

I reach inside again and freeze when I open a small jewelry box.

A stunning diamond necklace catches the light with matching earrings beside it. the jewelry sparkles. It’s beautiful. My breath hitches. My vision blurs for a moment because my eyes sting too fast.

Then I uncover the next box: designer shoes. In my exact size.

And then one more: a Tiffany & Co bracelet.

My chest tightens painfully.

“Percy…” My voice is barely a whisper. “Why… would you get me all this?”

He doesn’t hesitate. Not even a second.

“Because you deserve to be cared for,” he says simply. “And because I want you.”

My heartbeat spikes dangerously. The pressure in my chest becomes unbearable. I slam the bag shut before I can start crying.

Matt never paid attention. Never noticed what I liked, what I wanted, what I dreamed of. He never cared enough to try.

But Percy… Percy saw me. Without even asking.

I swallow hard, forcing my voice to be steady. “Percy… I want revenge on them.”

He exhales slowly. He doesn’t look surprised. “Kat, there’s no need for revenge. You’re doing great on your own. That is the best revenge.”

I shake my head. “You don’t understand. I was so obsessed with revenge that I thought of sabotaging Paula’s bets and making her… a personal assistant. Just to humiliate her.”

He pulls away slightly, looking at me like I’ve just confessed to burning down a building.

“That’s… a bit extreme.”

I blink. “What do you mean?”

“Kat, that’s bordering on psychopathic behavior,” he says, laughing lightly. “And you’re way too much of a nice person for something like that.”

Guilt rushes through me so fast my stomach twists. He has no idea I already did those things. No idea this conversation is basically a confession disguised as “hypothetical.” No idea how far I’ve gone.

I look down at my hands so he won’t see the guilt on my face.

“You don’t think it’s… too much?” I ask softly.

He squeezes my hand gently. “No. I think you’re hurt. And you’re human. But you’re not cruel, Kat. Not like them.”

His certainty stings. It stings because it’s wrong. Because he believes I’m good when I’m not sure anymore.

Then he sighs, leaning back.

“You know… Brittany cheated on me with my best friend too.”

I jerk my head up. “What?”

He nods. “Caught them in our guest room. Same story. Same lies. Same… humiliation.” He rubs his temple. “Her family wasn’t any better. I never got along with them. They were judgmental, entitled, constantly putting her on a pedestal while tearing everyone else down. She’s an actress so most times, she cheats on me when she’s on set or away for work”

I swallow hard, sinking deeper into the seat. “What did you do?”

“I walked away,” he says simply. “Because the past is the past. And the only thing that matters is that I’m free from her now.”

His eyes soften. “And you’re free too.”

My stomach twists.

Free. But guilty. Guilty in ways he doesn’t even know.

“Kat?” he asks softly, noticing my silence.

I force a smile. “I’m fine.”

But I’m not. At all.

There’s one thought burning at the back of my mind – have I gone too far?