As the sun rose Paul's phone rose along with it, baring loudly as it did. Abruptly shocking the owner to rise, and very quickly as well. And action he deeply regretted as a heavy wave of nausea and a strike of pain attacked him.

Stumbling off the bed he was on, he dragged himself into the bathroom to wash his face. When his vision was finally clearer he saw the notes, on a toothbrush, and bathing things. 'Ah that's right I'm in Jason's manor'. He thought to himself as he recalled the last night.

​​

"I must have lost my mind." He groaned as he rubbed his eyes. After a long internal deliberation he decided to take a shower, deciding he'd just wear his clothes again. Not that he had a choice, Jason would rather die than give out anything that touched his body.

After he was done, he walked to the door eager to find Jessie now he was in his right mind and beg her to talk to Katherine. His pride was crushed enough he was willing to ask for help, from anyone that would give it.

As he reached to push it open the handle got farther and farther from him till he was standing face to face with Jason's butler.

"Mr. Song, I see you're awake" he sniffed "and groomed. Will you care to join the breakfast?"

Paul brow rose at the man, but well all butler's were snobby and pretentious.

He stepped out of the room following the butler lead, Jason's manor was not a place you learn after just three visits.

"Where is Jessie?"

"I should stop inviting you to my manor."

Paul frowned "I should stop coming to your manor. I happen to turn into an alcoholic when ever I do. Where is Jessie?" He asked again.

Jason shot him a glare and returned to his food.

Paul head tilted in confusion. "What does that mean?" He asked referring to his reaction.

"Miss Jessie has left the manor." Butler Choi informed Paul to hash the beef that was definitely incoming. Which two reasonable adults meet each other first thing in the morning and not even a good morning?

"Jessie left the manor? Ohhh that's why do you look like that?" Paul said.

"What's that supposed to mean? I'm perfectly normal." Jason frowned.

"Sure you are." Paul said sitting down at the table.

"Do you not have work?" Jason asked with a raised brow.

"I don't know do you?"

"I'm in my house, in new clothes. Many call this preparing for work." Jason said as he eyed Paul yesterday's clothes.

"Well I'm providing comfort to heartbroken friend but hey not all of us can be heroes." Paul replied.

Jason gaze slitted into a glare once more. "I'm not heartbroken. Not in the slightest."

**************************************************

Jason watched from the window of his study as Jessie wheeled out a small suitcase, her brown hair flowing in the direction the wind lead it. Looking so small and fragile from where he stood. She was just going to leave without saying goodbye.

He wasn't sure how but at that moment he felt as though he hated her. Turning away from the window he deposited the third cup of bourbon that night on his desk and walked out of the study.

Jessie halted in her tracks, looking back upwards she wasn't sure what she was looking at but she didn't feel right at all. It wasn't okay to leave like this, right now in the darkness. Regardless of what he said, she turned back around and pulled her suitcase back into the manor.

Leaving it on the first floor she went up to the second where their rooms were. With the intention of surprising him the next day she headed in to finally get some much deserved rest when she heard mumbling from Jason's room.

"Jason?" She called out from behind the door. No response. Then he began to yell and she shook the door handle, why wasn't it opening?!

"Jason?! Jason!" She yelled pushing it hard with her body, and dashing in the moment she had the chance. He was still sleeping, she jumped on the bed, shaking him violently.

"Jason!" She screamed. Then it all went silent for just a split second when he opened his eyes and tears fell down the sides of his head.

"Jessie?" He asked in confusion, pulling her down on him and wrapping his arms around her, as he cried into her shoulders.

Honestly shaken, Jessie felt tears begin to fall down her own eyes as she felt him break against her. He kept chanting the same things over and over. 'I killed her, I'm a cursed child.'

"Jason." Jessie called out as she struggled to rub his back, well pat it. He held on to her so tightly that her hands were folded against her chest acting as a barrier between both of them. "Jason, who did you kill?" She asked.

"My mother, she was cursed by giving birth to me? What kind of child kills his mother? I don't deserve to live for this." He stated his voice broken and his tone sad.

Jessie was lost for words, what does she tell a person to comfort them for killing their parent? Did he really kill his mother?

"You didn't kill you mother Jason." She said softly.

"How do you know that?" He asked. "You weren't there, no one was."

"Because I don't believe for moment that you could ever do such a thing. That's not the man you are." She said.

Jason pulled away and looked her in the eye. And there it was that same vulnerable look. "Do you really believe that?"

"Jason you took in a stray that you had no obligations to, and took care of her ,fought for her, protected and provided for her. Loved her. I don't care what ever happened but I know that you could never do such a thing." She smiled softly.

"Just to be clear you are the stray I took in right?" He asked, his mask coming back.

Jessie pouted and began to pull away. "I see you're fine now."

"Of course not." He held her back. "I literally just bared my heart to you how can you just leave like that?"

"Bared your heart to me? I have no idea why you think you killed your mother or what happened, want to bare you heart now about start with that." She stated bluntly. Looking at him wide eyed in expectation.

"Why are you here? I was pretty clear, no you were pretty clear aren't you leaving?" He asked.

Jessie scoffed, running her hands through her hair. "Way to change the subject Jason, pretty smooth."

He let go of her and climbed out of the bed, "I wasn't trying too. Why should I share secrets with you?"

"How else can I help you if you don't?" She asked.

"I don't remember asking for your help, leave." He jutted his chin towards the door.

Jessie stared at him blankly. "You're kidding right? You are being childish right now."

"Childish? Childish? That's ripe coming from you." He scoffed.

"Me?" She asked "how I'm I being childish, you're the one holding a grudge like a baby."

Jason's eyes widened and he began to laugh. "How easy is it for you really? I have to ask, did you get so good at this through practice or were you just a naturally born heart-breaker?"

"Heart-breaker?" Jessie huffed. "Because I decided to leave I'm a heartbreaker? You must have a pretty fragile heart then."

"Yes Jessie, yes! I do have a fragile heart and you stomped on it without the slightest care in the world. And now I don't want to keep seeing you, you should leave. I'm done getting hurt like this." He said.

Jessie blinked at him and shut her eyes in frustration. "Why does it hurt you that I want to leave? I thought you'd be happy for me, I'm finally getting back to a semblance of my normal life."

"Why the hell would I be happy that you are putting yourself in danger like this?"

"Well I'm tried of hiding Jason. This isn't your fight it's mine, and I'm tired of letting people fight on my behalf." She said. "Patricia is my enemy, mine."

"She's mine as well, you don't have to this alone." He said.

"I know and I'm not planning to but Jason I can't continue to depend on you like this. I can't take your money, eat your food or sleep under your roof." She said.

"You never had a problem with it before." Jason stated firmly.

"Yeah because I didn't have a choice."

"And yet you're not choosing me."

Jessie grabbed the sides of her head and held down a groan. "Why do you always do this? Why do you always want to make me choose between you and my career?" She cried. "I'm not the type of woman to wait and sit around for a man to do all the heavy lifting. I didn't depend on anyone to get where I am and I'm not about to start. Please understand all I want is just to feel like my life is mine again. Like I'm in control again, hmm?"

Jason looked at her intently, he always knew Jessie wasn't someone to sit on the back and let someone else take lead of her life. But it was like he was just realising it. He didn't like it, not one bit. But...

"I'll respect your decision."