KAY POV

I watched her the entire time she walked back inside.

She didn’t look shaken. She didn’t look fragile.

And that bothered me more than if she had.

Jake stood from the swing a second later, adjusting his sleeve like nothing had happened. Like he hadn’t just cornered her in the garden.

My jaw tightened. I shouldn’t have let her go alone with him.

When she stepped past me near the garden doors, I caught her wrist gently.

“Are you okay?” I asked quietly.

She looked up at me. And for a second — just a second — something flickered in her eyes.

Not confusion. Not fear. Awareness.

“I’m fine,” she said softly.

I didn’t let go.

“What did he want?”

Her lips curved into a small, knowing smile.

“To talk.”

My grip tightened slightly.

“About what?”

She hesitated. Too long. And that’s when jealousy mixed with something colder. Suspicion.

“He was just checking on me,” she said. “You’re overthinking.”

Maybe. But the way Jake looked at her this morning wasn’t concern. It was calculation.

I stepped closer, lowering my voice.

“If he said anything that made you uncomfortable, you tell me.”

Her eyes searched mine.

“Why?” she asked softly.

Because I don’t trust him. Because I don’t like the way he looks at you. Because I don’t like the way you look back at him.

But I only said —

“Because I don’t like not knowing what’s going on.”

She studied me, like trying to figure out if I was telling the truth or just bluffing. I turned my head away to compose myself, then looked at her again.

“Next time, do not go with him somewhere alone!” I said so firmly that even I surprised myself.

“Why, Jake!?” she asked, and for the first time, I didn’t know how to reply.

I stammered quickly, “Because I’m your fiancée, and I do not like you being alone with another man — even if he’s my best friend!”

Her eyes widened at my declaration, but she quickly masked her surprise.

“Are you trying to control me!?” she asked softly.

I shook my head. “No. I’m just trying to protect you. It hasn’t even been a day, and you’re already stressed by asking questions!”

Half of that was true. The rest? My suspicions about Jake and what he was planning behind my back.

I let go of Vanessa’s wrist and instead placed my hand gently on her back, giving Jake a sharp, suspicious look.

“Let’s get you to the bedroom so you can actually rest. I’ll make sure no one disturbs you today.”

I could hear the possessiveness in my voice, and I didn’t recognize it. I was never possessive — not over anyone I barely knew.

---

EMILY POV

“Damn it!!” I muttered bitterly as I watched the tension crackle between Jake and Kay, the protectiveness radiating from Kay like heat.

I thought I had Jake all to myself, that Vanessa and Kay were just background noise. But no. Jake’s attention was all over Vanessa, moody and calculating, while Kay stared at him like he wasn’t a friend — like he was the enemy.

What do I have to do to be the most noticeable? To be the most important to Jake?!

And how does Vanessa already have Kay wrapped around her finger when it’s barely been a day since they met?

I bit my freshly done nails and ran my fingers through my hair in frustration.

What if Jake realizes I’m not worthy? Throws me away like trash? I cannot let that happen.

I need to make him notice me again — and I need to manipulate Kay at the same time.

I know exactly how to do it.

After all, my charisma is my strongest talent… next to singing.

I watched Kay’s hand linger on Vanessa’s back as they disappeared down the hall, and a thrill ran through me.

He doesn’t even realize he’s already part of my plan.