Cedar Hollow, State of Pacifica.
At the heart of this small town stood an expansive villa, its grandeur unmatched in the area. The sprawling estate hosted a lively gathering of guests, their murmurs and conversations filling the air. A closer look would reveal that most of the attendees were dressed impeccably, reflecting the elegance of the occasion. Men wore tuxedos in shades of brown, white, and black, while the women flaunted dresses perfectly suited to the event's formal atmosphere.
Among the crowd, seated in a quiet corner with a glass of wine in hand, was Mira Hansen. This was the same Mira who had been brought to tears by Jacob just three days prior. While the sting of that day lingered, she couldn't deny the lesson she'd learned from the encounter. Jacob had taught her that change was always possible, even if it felt insurmountable.
Though she was still withdrawn, Mira had made a conscious decision to try. She knew that breaking out of her shell wouldn't happen overnight, and her awkwardness in social situations was still a hurdle. When her old high school classmate Sam Johnson had messaged her to invite her to his wedding, she saw it as an opportunity—a chance to reconnect with old faces and, perhaps, improve her communication skills.
For now, though, she was content to sit back and observe, letting the lively chatter swirl around her.
"Ms. Mira," a voice broke through her thoughts.
She glanced up, frowning instantly. The man addressing her was none other than Brian Kennedy, another old classmate—but one she would've preferred to avoid entirely.
Brian walked up with his usual smug grin, shamelessly plopping into the seat next to her and leaning in far too close. "Drinking already? The ceremony hasn't even started yet," he chuckled.
Mira's expression soured. She sighed and shifted away from him slightly. "What do you want, Brian?"
Brian Kennedy had been a persistent thorn in her side during college. Annoying, shameless, and utterly oblivious to personal boundaries, he had been one of the main reasons Mira's aloof demeanor had hardened over time. Seeing him here was an unwelcome surprise. If she had known he'd be attending, she might've skipped the wedding altogether.
Brian feigned hurt, though his eyes gleamed with mischief. "What? That's all I get after all the time we spent together? Come on, Mira. Don't be like that."
She scoffed. "We didn't spend any time together. We're not even friends. Just leave me alone, Brian."
She took another sip of her wine, hoping he'd get the message and go away. Instead, Brian reached over and snatched the glass from her hand, placing it on the table with a loud clink. Mira's eyes widened in shock.
"Strangers?" Brian sneered, leaning closer. "After everything I did for you in high school, after dedicating my entire life to you, you think we're just strangers?"
Mira closed her eyes briefly, sighing. She was too familiar with this conversation. It always boiled down to the same toxic narrative with Brian. Strangely, she found herself comparing him to Jacob. While Jacob had his audacity, at least he had substance—something Brian severely lacked.
"It's not my fault you kept chasing me," Mira said softly, keeping her voice calm. "I never asked for your attention, Brian. You wasted your time. I never liked you."
Her words cut deep, though she doubted Brian would take them to heart. Without waiting for his response, she stood up, grabbing the wine glass he had taken from her. She glanced at him one last time, noticing his face darkening with anger, but she couldn't bring herself to care.
Shaking her head, she muttered, "Goodbye, Brian."
But before she could take a step, Brian's hand shot out, gripping her wrist tightly. The wine in her glass spilled, staining the pristine floor as Mira froze, stunned by the sudden aggression.
"Let go!" she snapped, twisting her wrist in a futile attempt to free herself.
Brian's grip only tightened. His face twisted into something cruel, and his eyes gleamed with a dangerous mania. "You're mine, Mira. You've always been mine."
Mira's stomach churned in disgust. She tried to pull away, but Brian was too strong. Tears pricked at her eyes as fear began to creep in.
"What the hell are you doing?" she demanded, her voice trembling.
Brian sneered, his lips curling in a deranged grin. "You don't get it, do you? I've missed you every single day since graduation. You were always supposed to be mine. I should've banged you back in high school."
Mira shivered at his words, nausea rising in her throat. She tugged at her arm again, desperation seeping into her voice. "Don't do this…"
"You're not going anywhere," Brian growled. "You're going to marry me. This year."
Mira's heart raced, her fear threatening to overwhelm her. She couldn't believe this was happening.
"Let go of her!"
A booming voice echoed through the room, silencing the chatter and drawing every pair of eyes toward its source. Even Mira and Brian froze, turning their heads toward the unexpected interruption.
Mira's breath caught in her throat when she saw who it was. It was Jacob. But not the Jacob she had met three days ago. This Jacob was a completely different person.
He strode forward confidently, clad in a pristine black suit that radiated an air of authority. A luxury watch gleamed on his wrist, reflecting the warm light from the chandeliers above. His face, now adorned with a neatly trimmed beard and mustache, was almost unrecognizable to her. How did he grow that in just a few days? Mira couldn't make sense of it. But what unsettled her the most was the cold, commanding vibe he exuded.
Feeling the weight of everyone's stares, Brian hastily released Mira's wrist and spun around to confront the newcomer. His face twisted in irritation and confusion.
"Who the fuck are you?" Brian barked.
Jacob's expression didn't waver. Instead, he smirked and replied in a low, gravelly voice, "Who the fuck are you?"
The tone in Jacob's voice was so deep and unfamiliar that Mira couldn't believe it belonged to him. If she hadn't been looking directly at his face, she would have sworn it was someone else entirely.
"I'm asking you a question, you imbecile!" Brian's voice rose, his frustration getting the better of him.
Jacob sneered, sliding his hands into his pockets as he approached with deliberate steps. His movements were slow and measured, exuding a predatory calm. "Imbecile? Says the guy who bullied people just to scrape by with average grades. If anyone here should be ashamed, it's you."
"The fuck do you want!?" Brian shouted, his patience snapping as he stormed toward Jacob. He pulled back his arm and threw a punch, his fist aimed directly at Jacob's face.
For a split second, Jacob's eyes flickered with nervousness, but he quickly masked it with a composed expression. Just as Brian's fist was about to connect, a massive hand appeared out of nowhere, catching it mid-air.
Brian groaned in pain as his fist was crushed in the iron grip. He glanced up, panic flashing across his face as he realized who had stopped him.
A hulking, bald man stood beside Jacob, dressed in an equally immaculate black suit. Dark sunglasses covered his eyes, and a deep scar ran across his cheek, giving him an intimidating presence. The bodyguard's expression remained stoic as he tightened his grip, causing Brian to wince.
"Ah," Jacob said, shaking his head with a calm smile. "As I thought, an imbecile. Charging at me like a rabid dog when I have a bodyguard. Truly pathetic."
Brian gritted his teeth, his free hand trembling with anger. "Motherfucker, fight me fairly!"
"Fairly?" Jacob's expression turned icy, his voice laced with mockery. He stepped closer, his presence looming over Brian. "Fairness is a myth. In all my years as the head of my family, I've never seen anyone fight fair. And if you want to play fair..." Jacob leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "…you might as well die."
Brian's eyes widened in fear, his bravado crumbling in an instant. He desperately tried to wrench his hand free, but the bald giant's grip was unrelenting. The bodyguard chuckled, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder.
Finally, the bodyguard released Brian, who stumbled backward from the force of his own struggles. He fell unceremoniously onto the floor, his face burning with humiliation.
Jacob arched an eyebrow, his smirk widening as his gaze shifted downward. "What's this? Are you a baby or something?"
Confused, Brian followed Jacob's line of sight. His face turned crimson when he realized what had happened. A dark stain had spread across the front of his pants.
The room erupted into muffled gasps and whispers as onlookers tried to suppress their laughter. Overwhelmed by embarrassment, Brian scrambled to his feet and bolted toward the exit, nearly tripping over himself in his haste.
Jacob let out a small chuckle and glanced at his bodyguard. "Good work."
"Gracias, Don," the bodyguard said in a low, respectful tone, stepping back to stand at attention.
The brief exchange didn't go unnoticed. The word "Don" hung heavily in the air, sending ripples of curiosity and disbelief through the crowd.
"Did he just say Don?" one guest whispered, wide-eyed.
"Who is he? Is he some kind of mob boss?"
"Look at the way he carries himself. He's definitely not an ordinary guest."
Mira, still frozen in place, stared at Jacob with a mixture of awe and confusion. She couldn't reconcile the confident, imposing figure before her with the scruffy, sarcastic man she had met just days ago.
Jacob turned to Mira, his piercing gaze softening slightly. "Are you alright?"
Mira nodded wordlessly, still trying to process what had just happened.
"Good," Jacob said, straightening his suit. He turned back to the crowd, his voice booming with authority. "Let's not let a fool like him ruin the festivities. Enjoy the event, everyone."