The Meeting
The Harper family's grand dining room was a place where major decisions were made—charity events, business deals, and, apparently, interventions for daughters who had the audacity to marry the wrong man.
I stood at the head of the room, gripping the back of a chair so tightly I was worried I might break it. My mother, Margaret, was pacing like an agitated swan in her designer heels. My father, Edward, leaned back in his chair with a resigned expression, clearly just here to play referee. Ethan Grey, the man who couldn't take no for an answer, sat poised and smug, his every move calculated.
And then there was Jackson.
He was slouched in a chair on the far end of the table, one leg draped lazily over the other, his hands clasped behind his head. He looked completely unbothered, like this was some sort of dinner theater and he was here for the free entertainment.
When you're standing in front of three of the most controlling people in your life, there's really no good way to start. Do you thank them for their unsolicited advice, or skip straight to the yelling? I opted for neither, mostly because Jackson was already smirking at me like I was the lead actress in his favorite drama.
He wasn't wrong.
---
The Showdown Begins
Margaret wasted no time, launching into her usual guilt-ridden lecture. "Lila, this nonsense has gone on long enough. The scandal is in every paper, and now the investors are asking questions. Do you understand what that means for us?"
I said nothing, my grip tightening on the chair.
"You need to end this… situation," Margaret continued, throwing a hand in Jackson's direction like he was a particularly offensive centerpiece. "The company's reputation is at stake. Our family's reputation. You need to annul this marriage and start thinking about what's best for the Harpers."
Jackson let out a low whistle. "Wow. I didn't realize I was single-handedly destroying the empire. My bad."
Margaret's head snapped toward him, her eyes narrowing. "This is not a joke."
"Could've fooled me," Jackson muttered under his breath.
---
Before my mother could respond, Ethan cleared his throat, his tone smooth and self-assured. "Lila, your mother's right. This has gone far enough. You don't have to deal with this alone. I can make all of it go away—clean up the scandal, restore the company's image, and protect your family's legacy. Jackson will be nothing more than a bad memory, and you can move forward."
His words were calm, polished, and calculated to hit all the right nerves. But all they did was make my blood boil.
He smiled, clearly thinking he had won. "We'll save the company together, just like we planned."
I opened my mouth to respond, but Jackson beat me to it.
---
Jackson chuckled, leaning forward in his chair. "Wow, Lila. Tough crowd. I didn't realize we were auditioning for the 'Best Puppetmaster' award tonight. I mean, the competition's fierce, but I think Ethan might have the edge. No offense, Margaret."
My mother gasped, Ethan glared, and I fought the urge to laugh.
---
The laughter bubbling in my throat died as I finally found my voice. "Enough," I said, my tone sharper than I expected. The room fell silent, everyone turning to look at me.
"For years, I've done everything you've asked," I said, my voice steady despite the tremble in my hands. "I've been the perfect daughter, the perfect employee, the perfect… chess piece in whatever game you're all playing. But that stops now."
I turned to my mother first. "If the company's reputation can't survive one mistake, then maybe the company isn't as strong as you think."
Margaret's eyes widened in shock, but I didn't stop. I turned to Ethan next. "And you? Stop acting like you're some noble savior. You don't care about me, Ethan. You care about control. But guess what? You don't have it anymore."
Ethan's jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
---
I glanced at Jackson, expecting a smug comment or a sarcastic quip. But instead, he just looked at me—really looked at me—with something like admiration in his eyes. It caught me off guard, but I didn't let it break my focus.
---
Ethan's Retaliation
Ethan's composure cracked slightly as he leaned forward. "You think Jackson's different? He's a liar, Lila. He's reckless and selfish, and he's going to drag you down with him. You're throwing away everything for him?"
Jackson stiffened, his jaw tightening, but he didn't take the bait.
---
To everyone's surprise—including my own—I didn't hesitate. "Jackson's not perfect," I said, my voice firm. "But at least he's honest about who he is. That's more than I can say for some people in this room."
The silence that followed was deafening. Margaret looked scandalized, my father stared at me like he didn't recognize me, and Ethan's glare was cold enough to freeze the entire room.
---
Jackson's Turn
Jackson finally stood, his usual casual demeanor replaced by something serious and sharp. He turned to my parents first.
"You've got one hell of a daughter here," he said, his voice steady. "And instead of supporting her, you're trying to make her feel like she owes you her entire life. Newsflash: she doesn't."
He turned to Ethan next, towering over him. "And you? You might have money and power, but that doesn't mean you own her. So back off."
---
I stared at Jackson, stunned. He'd always been sarcastic and carefree, but this—this was something else. Genuine loyalty. Respect. And it left me completely speechless.
---
The Fallout
Margaret stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. "You've lost your mind," she snapped at me. "When this all falls apart, don't come crying to me."
She stormed out, Edward following after her with a resigned sigh. He paused briefly in the doorway, glancing back at me. "You've made your point," he said quietly. "I just hope you don't regret it."
Ethan stayed behind, his expression colder than ever. He leaned in close to me, his voice low. "You think this is over? It's not. You'll come crawling back to me when Jackson ruins you."
I didn't flinch, meeting his gaze head-on. "We'll see about that."
---
A Quiet Moment Between Lila and Jackson
When everyone was gone, I sank onto the dining room steps, the weight of the confrontation finally hitting me. Jackson appeared a moment later, holding out a beer he'd apparently stashed in his jacket.
"You know," he said, sitting beside me, "for someone who says she doesn't like drama, you're really good at causing it."
I let out a weak laugh. "It's a gift."
---
For a while, we just sat there, the silence surprisingly comfortable. Then, Jackson spoke, his voice softer than usual. "I wasn't always like this, you know. The guy who doesn't care about anything. It's just easier than letting people see how much they get to me."
I glanced at him, my heart tightening. "I think you care more than you let on."
---
Jackson reached over, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. His usual smirk softened, his voice low. "You're not half bad at this whole standing-up-for-yourself thing, Mrs. Carter. It's kind of hot."
I rolled my eyes, but my pulse quickened all the same.
---
"He was trouble. But for the first time, I wasn't sure I wanted to fix it."