The Other Woman in His Shadows - Chapter 6: Chapter 6
You are reading The Other Woman in His Shadows, Chapter 6: Chapter 6. Read more chapters of The Other Woman in His Shadows.
"I'm not upset. Honestly, you and Shairine are perfect for each other."
"Cut the crap—"
Before Jason could finish, Yves rounded the corner, balancing a steaming bowl of ginger soup. "Hey, what's going on here?"
I forced a smile, avoiding eye contact. "Jason's torn about Shairine's confession. He wanted my advice."
Jason's face went icy, his eyes burning with barely contained fury.
In one swift motion, he grabbed my wrist, his grip crushing. "Zoey," he hissed through clenched teeth, "do you even hear yourself right now?"
A sharp gasp escaped me as pain shot up my arm.
"Of course I do. Jason, don't you like her?"
Our eyes locked, and for just a second, I saw hesitation flicker in his. A bitter laugh bubbled up in my throat.
Yves, oblivious to the storm between us, stepped closer with the soup. "Alright, this is between Jason and Shairine. Not our business. Zoey, come drink this before you get sick."
With Yves there, Jason had no choice but to let go—but not before leaving an angry red mark on my skin.
Yves' eyes narrowed. "What the hell, man? You trying to break her wrist?"
Jason stiffened, caught off guard.
I rubbed the sore spot, shaking my head. "It's fine. Let's just go, Brother."
There was no point dragging this out.
Back in my room, my phone buzzed. A message from Jason:
[We need to talk. Tonight.]
I ignored it and tossed the phone aside.
The afternoon chill had left me drained. The ginger soup helped, but I skipped dinner, curling up under the covers instead.
Just as I was drifting off, a knock startled me awake.
Shairine stood at the door, holding a tray.
"Your brother had the kitchen make this for you," she chirped, stepping inside without waiting for an invite. "Eat up before it gets cold."
I eyed her, my voice rough. "You didn't come just to play delivery girl, did you?"
The sweet act dropped instantly. A smug smile curled her lips. "You're not as dumb as you look. I was worried Jason might've fallen for you, but after today? It's obvious—he's still mine."
So she had pushed me. All to test his reaction.
My throat burned too much to scream. "Did he actually say he likes you?"
"Not in words," she said, flopping onto the sofa. "But you're the only girl he's ever this close to. If there wasn't something going on, why would he care so much?"
"Maybe because he's basically my second brother?" I shot back. "Nothing's ever happened between us."
And nothing ever would. This was how things should've been from the start.
Shairine tilted her head. "Really? You don't have feelings for him?"
"Not a single one."
Not since the day I died in another life—carrying his child, drowning in regret.
That love was long gone.
"Cut the crap—"
Before Jason could finish, Yves rounded the corner, balancing a steaming bowl of ginger soup. "Hey, what's going on here?"
I forced a smile, avoiding eye contact. "Jason's torn about Shairine's confession. He wanted my advice."
Jason's face went icy, his eyes burning with barely contained fury.
In one swift motion, he grabbed my wrist, his grip crushing. "Zoey," he hissed through clenched teeth, "do you even hear yourself right now?"
A sharp gasp escaped me as pain shot up my arm.
"Of course I do. Jason, don't you like her?"
Our eyes locked, and for just a second, I saw hesitation flicker in his. A bitter laugh bubbled up in my throat.
Yves, oblivious to the storm between us, stepped closer with the soup. "Alright, this is between Jason and Shairine. Not our business. Zoey, come drink this before you get sick."
With Yves there, Jason had no choice but to let go—but not before leaving an angry red mark on my skin.
Yves' eyes narrowed. "What the hell, man? You trying to break her wrist?"
Jason stiffened, caught off guard.
I rubbed the sore spot, shaking my head. "It's fine. Let's just go, Brother."
There was no point dragging this out.
Back in my room, my phone buzzed. A message from Jason:
[We need to talk. Tonight.]
I ignored it and tossed the phone aside.
The afternoon chill had left me drained. The ginger soup helped, but I skipped dinner, curling up under the covers instead.
Just as I was drifting off, a knock startled me awake.
Shairine stood at the door, holding a tray.
"Your brother had the kitchen make this for you," she chirped, stepping inside without waiting for an invite. "Eat up before it gets cold."
I eyed her, my voice rough. "You didn't come just to play delivery girl, did you?"
The sweet act dropped instantly. A smug smile curled her lips. "You're not as dumb as you look. I was worried Jason might've fallen for you, but after today? It's obvious—he's still mine."
So she had pushed me. All to test his reaction.
My throat burned too much to scream. "Did he actually say he likes you?"
"Not in words," she said, flopping onto the sofa. "But you're the only girl he's ever this close to. If there wasn't something going on, why would he care so much?"
"Maybe because he's basically my second brother?" I shot back. "Nothing's ever happened between us."
And nothing ever would. This was how things should've been from the start.
Shairine tilted her head. "Really? You don't have feelings for him?"
"Not a single one."
Not since the day I died in another life—carrying his child, drowning in regret.
That love was long gone.
End of The Other Woman in His Shadows Chapter 6. Continue reading Chapter 7 or return to The Other Woman in His Shadows book page.