Page 69 of Twice as Forbidden

Chapter twenty-five

Jackson

Numbness.Itseepsin,drowning the anger. All-consuming rage followed by nothing. I let her walk out after tearing her down, treating her like nothing more than an object. My chest tightens. The sensation that’s been there since the moment I found her in my room is suffocating now, a weight I can’t shake. But it’s done. Over. If there’s one thing I can’t and won’t tolerate, it’s betrayal.

She couldn’t trust me enough to come to me, and that cuts the deepest. Instead, she chose to put everything I’ve built, everything I’ve sacrificed for, on the line: my family, fractured as it is, and my career, which I’ve bled for. All because she didn’t want to hurt Noah.

But she didn’t think. Didn’t see. If that USB got into the wrong hands, it wouldn’t just be me or my son destroyed—it would destroy everything. Yet, she made that choice.

I slam my mug down and hiss as coffee spills over, burning my hand.

“Morning.” I blink and look up at Noah as he walks into the kitchen. “You see Georgia this morning?”

Georgia. Like the Peach.

“No.”

“Did you see her when you came home? She was here. I don’t think she slept here, though. Unless she fell asleep in the media room.”

I grip my mug to the brink of shattering it. “I haven’t seen her. Listen, I want to talk about yesterday.”

He shrugs me off. “Nothing to talk about.”

“There is. I was out of line. You caught me in a vulnerable state. I was upset about something and took it out on you.”

Noah pauses from grabbing the coffee pot and stares at me. “What did you just say?”

“You can wipe that smirk off your face. Yes, this is me apologizing. You walked in after something dire had happened, and my emotions got the best of me. I reacted poorly, taking it out on you. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.” He freezes, eyes wide and jaw slack. He should be shocked. I’ve never been one to take the blame or apologize. “Now, tell me, do you plan to show up to work today or continue this show of trying to displease me any chance you get?”

He fills his mug. “Showing up. I even plan to work the whole day.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it.”

We stare at one another in a moment of truce before I break the connection and stand. “Hurry up. You’re gonna be late.”

“Yeah, yeah. But I’m serious. I’m kinda worried about Georgia. I’ve called and texted her, but nothing.”

A ping of guilt stabs at me, but I push it away. “Like I said. She’s a big girl. Maybe she got sick of this and went home.”

“No. There’s no way she’d do that. She’d head back to school before going there.”

“Why’s that?” I ask, my interest piqued. I shouldn’t care, though. She’s not my concern anymore.

“Her stepdad is a piece of shit. That fucker hit her. Hits her mom, too.”

My fists clench at my sides. “What?”

“Yeah. Sad. Her dad died when she was young, and her mom remarried. Guess the guy is a total loser.” He pulls out his phone and taps her contact before putting it up to his ear. I silently pray she answers so I know she’s okay and not at the hands of a motherfucker. “Straight to voicemail. Her phone has to be off.”

“I have an early meeting. Do you need a ride?”

“No, I’m good.”

I nod, unable to look him in the eye any longer. “See you at the office.” My words are clipped, and I walk out with heat rising in my chest. The drive to work is a blur, my grip tight on the steering wheel. My fingers itch to call her. Text her to make sure she’s safe. But this could be a ploy—a calculated move to wedge herself into my son’s life. To make him feel sorry for her. The thought churns in my mind as I replay every interaction and moment Georgia and Vince crossed paths. Could they have been working together? The boat. That morning he walked her up the stairs because she “wasn’t feeling well.” It took him far too long to come back, claiming he needed his AirPods.

Then there’s Burt. That bastard would absolutely use his son as a pawn to get to me. But where does Georgia fit into all this? Is she a victim, or is she playing the game just as hard?

Did Vince visit Noah at school? Have they been simmering on this for some time now? I offered her a fucking job, falling right into their trap.

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