A Reckless Choice
Emily’s POV
I did not know what possessed me.
Maybe it was the sting of Jason’s rejection, or the bitter taste of his indifference that lingered on my tongue. Maybe it was exhaustion from waiting for someone who never seemed to choose me. Whatever it was, the moment Jace stepped onto the balcony, something inside me shifted.
He was a distraction. A dangerous one. A reckless rebellion against the ache that had settled deep in my chest.
Jace’s presence was effortless, his charm cutting through the tension like a blade. His smile was mischievous, familiar, and far too tempting. When he spoke, it felt easy to listen, easier than sitting alone with my thoughts and replaying every moment Jason had pushed me away. I leaned into the attention, telling myself it meant nothing. Maybe I wanted to remind myself that I was still desirable. Maybe I wanted to prove that Jason was not the only man who could make my heart race.
I had not seen Jace in years, and the mystery of why he was here hovered between us like an invitation I should have refused. He was not Jason. His touch promised trouble, and some twisted part of me welcomed it.
The air on the balcony felt thick, charged with tension I pretended not to notice. When he guided me toward the couch and kissed me, I let myself surrender. Just for a second, I wanted to erase Jason from my mind. I wanted to forget the confusion, the longing, the humiliation of wanting someone who would not claim me. In Jace’s arms, I convinced myself it was enough.
Then Jason appeared.
The fury in his eyes shattered the illusion instantly. The look on his face made my stomach twist, dread crashing over me all at once. I had crossed a line. A terrible, irreversible one.
Jason had warned me about his brother. I had dismissed it as jealousy, as control disguised as concern. Now I understand. This was not a simple rivalry. It was something darker, something raw and deeply rooted. The hatred between them was palpable, simmering beneath the surface.
What had I done?
I had thrown gasoline on a fire that was already raging. The tension crackled like electricity, volatile and dangerous, and I was the one who had struck the match. Guilt settled heavily in my chest as Jason’s gaze flicked between Jace and me. Then, without a word, he turned and walked away.
I wanted to call after him. I wanted to run, to explain, to beg for forgiveness. But the voices in my head drowned out my instincts.
He rejected you.
He left you waiting.
You are allowed to choose someone else.
I was still trying to steady my breathing when Jace moved closer, taking my hands in his. His touch was meant to comfort, but instead it sent a shiver through me, unsettling and electric.
“I am sorry you had to see that,” he murmured, his voice smooth and persuasive. “Jason has always been violent. That is who he is. He will never change.”
His words wrapped around me, sinking in despite my unease.
“But I am here,” he continued, his gaze unwavering. “I do not want our kiss to be the last.”
His fingers brushed my cheek, igniting a spark beneath my skin. My heart raced as confusion threatened to swallow me whole. I felt like I was drowning, pulled under by guilt, attraction, and the lingering image of Jason’s fury.
“Say something,” Jace urged softly. “Your silence is killing me.”
I opened my mouth, but the words would not come. Jason’s face flashed in my mind, the pain behind his anger cutting through me.
“I… I do not know,” I whispered.
Panic surged. I pulled away from Jace abruptly and fled, my pulse pounding as I escaped down the hallway.
I slammed my bedroom door shut and collapsed onto the bed, curling into myself. Shame, regret, and confusion swirled violently inside me. I hugged my knees to my chest, wishing I could rewind time and undo everything.
I buried my face into the pillow, desperate for quiet, when Layla stormed in.
“Tell me it is not true,” she demanded.
I stayed silent.
“Emily, talk to me.”
“I do not know what you are talking about,” I muttered weakly.
“Everyone knows,” she snapped. “You kissed Jason’s brother.”
Heat flooded my cheeks. “I did not mean for it to happen.”
“Look at me,” she said firmly.
Reluctantly, I sat up.
“I have known you a long time,” Layla said. “You have made bad choices before, but this is the worst one yet.”
“I did not plan it,” I whispered. “I felt rejected. Maybe I wanted to punish Jason.”
Layla groaned. “You are playing with fire. This family is toxic. Nothing good will come from any of them.”
Her words stung, but they rang painfully true.
Once she left, silence engulfed me. Sleep never came. My thoughts chased each other in endless circles, all of them leading back to Jason.
At dawn, restless and aching, I went for a walk. I checked on Aurora, then stepped outside, letting the cool morning air clear my head.
Without realising it, my feet carried me to the gym.
Jason was there.
He was hitting the punching bag with brutal intensity, each strike fueled by something dark and violent inside him. The sight was both terrifying and hypnotic. Beneath his rage, I saw pain that mirrored my own.
I should have left.
Instead, I stepped inside.
He moved fast. Too fast.
In a blur, he flipped me onto the mat, his body pinning me down. His heat overwhelmed my senses, his breath hot against my skin.
“No one sneaks up on me,” he growled.
“I did not mean to,” I started.
“Did not mean to kiss him?” he snapped.
“Let me go,” I said, my voice shaking.
His grip tightened, anger radiating from him.
“I warned you about my brother,” he said. “And you still kissed him.”
Pain flashed through his eyes, raw and unguarded. I wanted to tell him it meant nothing. That it was always him.
Before I could speak, he kissed me. It was desperate and consuming, filled with fury rather than tenderness. Fear crept in, twisting my chest.
“Jason, stop,” I gasped.
He pulled away instantly, horror and regret flashing across his face.
“Out,” he shouted. “Go be with him.”
His words cut deeper than I expected.
And I knew nothing would ever be the same.