Mariam’s hands clenched into fists till her knuckles turned white.
“You…how heartless can you be?!”
Jackson didn’t answer.
He simply stood up from the table, pushing his chair back.
The sound echoed in the stillness.
He picked up a towel and wiped his hands slowly, deliberately, as if nothing in the conversation had affected him at all.
“Mikhail,” he called out calmly.
Within seconds, footsteps approached.
The tall man who was built like a mountain entered.
“Mikhail,” Jackson said without turning, “take her back upstairs.”
Mariam’s eyes widened.
“No—!”
Before she could move, Mikhail stepped forward.
His grip was strong but not rough as he took hold of her arm.
He no longer dared to be forceful with her after his boss’s warning the last time.
“I said no!” Mariam struggled, her voice breaking into a shout as she tried to pull away.
“Let me go.”
Her voice echoed through the dining room as she was dragged forcefully toward the stairs, her protests growing weaker as distance increased.
Watching the scene, Jackson felt a sharp, oppressive ache tighten in his chest.
Mikhail threw Mariam back into her room, her “Rapunzel tower,” and locked the door from the outside.
Once again, Mariam was left alone, and she couldn’t stop herself from crying until she eventually fell asleep.
***
Mariam, 8 years old.
Megan had once given Jackson permission to visit whenever he wanted—and unfortunately, he actually took full advantage of it.
On a hot, draining evening, Ronan and Minghao were practicing basketball on the court at Doyle mansion while Mariam sat nearby under the shade, sipping cola through a straw.
The heat in the air was too much, leaving her too tired to join them.
So she simply watched their game.
That was when she noticed Jackson approaching.
Ronan and Minghao noticed him too.
Ronan grabbed the basketball and threw it sharply.
The pass was fast and intentional—and it struck Jackson directly in the eye.
She was aware that her friends disliked him, but this was going too far.
“Ronan, you shouldn’t have done that!” she protested.
He hadn’t needed to go to such extremes.
Ronan barely acknowledged her.
He and Minghao stayed focused on Jackson as he closed the distance to retrieve the ball.
“What are you doing here Jackson?” Ronan asked in a taunting way.
“Tea time with Megan,” Jackson said flatly, a faint curl forming on his lips as he gave the ball back.
His tone carried a cold edge before he turned away and walked off as if nothing had happened.
Ronan stared after him.
“Tea time? Seriously? Are we suddenly British?”
“Or Indian?” Minghao added, equally unimpressed.
“Why does Megan even spend time with him…”
Mariam didn’t answer him.
She pressed her lips together, her gaze fixed on Jackson’s retreating figure.
A bruise was already forming around his eye where the ball had hit.
Megan would not be pleased….