𝔅𝔬𝔯𝔫 𝔱𝔬 𝔡𝔦𝔢 - Rafe Cameron

①④

...

Jazmine fastened her top, her hair pulled back in a half-up style with loose waves cascading down her back. She'd taken her time with her makeup, adding a hint of blue shadow to accentuate her high cheekbones, blending it delicately along the bridge of her nose. There was a small satisfaction in making herself look nice; after all, Eden—the guy she'd met at the country club—had texted her last night.

He'd asked her out to dinner, just the two of them.

At first, the message had annoyed her. But eventually, she saw it as a way to escape the relentless drama and get away, even if only for a while, into a quieter place.

Her focus tightened as she held her brown eyeliner pencil to draw a smooth, precise line close to her lashes. It was perfect—until Rafe's voice cut through the quiet.

"And what will people think, huh?"

Jazmine flinched, the pencil slipping, leaving a streak across her cheek. She breathed out, irritated, and rolled her eyes before grabbing a tissue to wipe it away. Without another thought, she headed up the stairs.

Rafe was standing on the terrace, gripping his phone tightly, talking in a low, tense voice.

"Listen, Dad, I'm in charge now, okay? I wear the family ring," he said with finality.

He ended the call abruptly, his jaw tight as he leaned against the railing, eyes fixed on some distant point. Jazmine approached cautiously, her gaze searching his expression as he turned to her.

"Everything okay?" Her voice was soft but edged with concern.

Rafe's face hardened, brows drawing together. "Does it look like it? No, it's not okay."

His eyes flicked away, frustration flashing across his face. "My dad doesn't trust me. He... he thinks I stole the cross."

"What? I thought you and Barry..." She raised an eyebrow, her expression almost unreadable, but with a hint of frustration showing through.

"Yeah, we handled it, but... damn it, I don't know why he keeps sticking his nose in." He clenched his jaw, looking away in irritation. "He's the one who sent me here."

Rafe's eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms, his tone hardening. "Me, stealing that cross? It's mine. Not theirs."

Jazmine couldn't help but smirk, amusement flickering in her eyes as she leaned against the dresser, studying him.

"What? What's with that look?"

Jazmine shrugged, trying to hide the smile tugging at her lips. "Nothing. Just... it's funny, you know? That cross, you did steal it, didn't you?"

Rafe's face darkened, disbelief flickering across his eyes, and his mouth set in a tight line. "What are you getting at?"

Instead of challenging him, Jazmine's expression softened with a calm confidence, a hint of a chuckle escaping as she watched his reaction.

"You stole it, Rafe." Her voice was steady as she took a measured step closer, locking her gaze on him. "From Pope's family. Your sister and her friends found it. It was theirs first, and you took it."

His lips pressed into a hard line as he scoffed, folding his arms more tightly, his posture defensive. "That cross is mine. I don't know what you're on about."

Jazmine shook her head, her expression turning exasperated, her eyes narrowing. "Do you ever stop lying Rafe?"

She met his gaze with an unwavering stare, her eyes piercing. "You took it from them. It doesn't belong to you."