Genesis jumped from her seat like it had caught fire. Her eyes locked onto Kieran's, and she shook her head—fast, frantic—signing, No one. Nobody.
But he didn't believe her.
Kieran stalked forward, eyes dark and dangerous. His gaze flicked between Genesis and Melissa—sharp, calculating. His voice was quiet, but every word landed like a blade.
"Who. Kissed. You?"
Before Genesis could even think of lying again, Melissa stepped forward quickly, voice high and falsely cheerful.
"It's nothing, really—it wasn't about her. We were just talking about some random book stuffs. Just girl stuff. Harmless."
She let out a nervous laugh.
She tried to defuse the ticking bomb in front of her.
Kieran turned to her—slow, deadly—and that laugh died in her throat.
"Sit. Down."
Melissa froze.
"I said," he repeated, "sit down."
Her knees gave out as she backed away and sank into the nearest chair, like her soul had just been yanked from her body.
Kieran turned back to Genesis, stepping into her space until she had no choice but to look up at him.
"Was it someone from the studio?" he asked, voice low, each word thick with restrained violence.
Genesis hesitated.
That was all the answer he needed.
He stepped even closer, his breath brushing her lips.
"Did he touch you?"
She shook her head weakly, then forced her hands to move:
He kissed me... I didn't kiss him back.
Kieran went still.
"You're telling me," he whispered, "some punk from your studio kissed you on the mouth… without your permission?"
She signed again, slower this time:
I pulled away. It was fast. He caught me off guard. I didn't let him do more.
But logic didn't matter to Kieran.
Only one thing did.
Someone had dared to put their mouth on what belonged to him.
He stared at her, jaw clenched, breath heavy. His fingers flexed like he could already feel them wrapped around someone's throat.
"Tell me his name."
Genesis backed away slightly, still trembling. She couldn't bring herself to say it.
So Melissa spoke again, her voice soft and unsure.
"Mr Blackwood, please, just let it go. It was a stupid mistake. A guy got carried away—it meant nothing."
"Shut up."
Kieran's voice cracked through the room like a whip. Melissa flinched, lips parting, but no sound came out.
He turned back to Genesis, his eyes softer now—but no less intense.
"I don't care if it meant nothing," he said, cupping her face. "If he looked at you with want, he dies. If he touches you, I'll kill him slower. And if he kissed you…" His jaw clenched so tightly it ticked. "…then he's already dead. He just doesn't know it yet."
"Tell me."
Her body trembled. She glanced at Melissa, who looked pale, and then looked back at Kieran. She opened her mouth—lips quivering—and mouthed the name.
"Jaden."
Kieran caught it.
The silence that followed was terrifying.
He turned toward the door, already reaching for his phone.
"No!" Genesis cried, throwing her arms around him from behind, pressing her entire body against his to stop him from moving.
He froze.
"Move, princess," he said softly. "Move before I do something I can't take back."
But she clung tighter, signing quickly against his chest:
Please. Don't hurt him. It was a mistake.
Kieran turned around, gripping her arms and pulling her just far enough to see her face.
"You're mine," he growled, and she shivered. "And he put his lips on yours."
Genesis shook her head desperately, tears filling her eyes.
Don't hurt him.
Kieran stared at her, eyes narrowing, watching the tears spill and her shoulders tremble.
Then something shifted in him. Something sharp and ugly.
"Do you like him?" he asked suddenly.
Genesis froze.
Before she could answer, Kieran laughed bitterly, raking a hand through his hair.
"You do like him?"
She shook her head fast, horrified by what he was implying. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. That thought had never crossed her mind.
But Kieran continued, voice cold and cutting.
"So let me guess—the reason my wife is begging me to spare that bastard is because you like him. Which means you lied. He didn't steal that kiss. You let him."
Genesis flinched like he'd slapped her. She stared at him, stunned. She couldn't believe what he was saying.
Kieran's eyes turned black with rage. He stepped forward.
Melissa stood up fast, moving instinctively like she expected to stop a blow.
Genesis's hands moved fast, frantic.
Why are you saying this? I would never.
"Don't lie to me, princess," Kieran snarled, stepping closer. The shadows under his eyes deepened, wild. "You're protecting him. You're crying. Begging for him. But why, huh?"
Genesis shook her head, hands flying.
Because I don't want anyone to get hurt. I don't want violence...
But he wasn't seeing the signs anymore.
His rage had blinded him.
"No," he growled. "It's because you like him, isn't it? You didn't pull away. You let him. You stood there and let some fucking twinkle-toed punk kiss you while thinking about how sweet his lips felt—what's next? Were you gonna let him fuck you too?"
Genesis reeled back like he'd punched her in the chest.
She stared at him—eyes wide, shattered—before her face twisted with anger and betrayal.
Then… SMACK.
The sound cracked through the room like thunder.
Kieran's head snapped to the side from the force of the slap, stunned into silence.
Genesis stood there, her hand still trembling from the impact, tears streaming down her face. Her chest heaved, her whole body shaking.
She hadn't meant to hit him.
But she had.
And the moment he turned back to face her—she saw it.
Not anger. Not rage.
Hurt.
Deep. Raw. Bleeding in his eyes.
He blinked slowly, jaw tight, lips parting like he wanted to speak—but nothing came out.
Genesis's hands moved sharply, furiously, tears falling faster now as she signed:
How dare you say that to me? How dare you think I would ever want someone else? Do you really think so little of me?
He didn't answer. He couldn't.
She took a shaky step back, hands still slicing through the air, her voice silent but deafening:
You said you loved me. You said I was yours. But now? You think I'd betray you like that?
Kieran's voice finally came, low and regretful. "I didn't mean that, Genesis…"
No.
She cut him off, shaking her head violently.
You did. You meant it.
He stepped toward her.
She stepped back.
And then came the final blow.
Her hands moved slower now, trembling.
If you don't trust me… if you really think I would do something like that… then maybe you should go to her.
She looked down, chest rising unevenly.
To Amelia.
Kieran's expression shattered right in front of her.
She's pregnant, right? Her fingers stilled for a second. At least she can give you a child. I can't even do that.
Her chest hitched, and she turned away, hugging herself tightly.
So go ahead. Her signs were clumsy now, barely readable through the shaking.
Go back to the one you let into our home.
"Genesis," Kieran breathed, stepping forward. "Don't say that."
But she turned her back on him, arms locked around herself, shoulders trembling.
And he stood there..
His strong, violent hands hanging uselessly at his sides
Realizing he'd just pushed the one person he couldn't live without…
To the edge.