Helplessly Watching You Hurt
The hospital waiting room was quiet, the sterile fluorescent lights humming overhead. Jesse and Ivy sat side by side on the stiff gray chairs, tension thick between them.
Through the glass partition they could see nurses moving around Emery’s bed as they worked to bring her dangerously high fever down with medication and cooling measures.
Ivy turned to her twin, studying his face carefully. His eyes were still red-rimmed, jaw tight, dark brown hair disheveled from running his hands through it repeatedly.
“You called her ‘love’,” Ivy said softly, not accusing, just observing.
“In the bedroom. And in the car… you held her so close. Like it was the most natural thing in the world. And the way you lifted her... it wasn’t like you were carrying a stranger.
It looked like you’d done it dozens of times before. ”
Jesse didn’t answer right away. He stared at the floor, elbows on his knees, hands clasped so tightly his knuckles were white. A long, shaky breath left him.
Finally, he spoke, voice low and broken.
“I love her, Ivy.”
Ivy’s eyes widened slightly, but she stayed quiet, letting him continue.
“I’ve loved her for three years,” Jesse went on, the words tumbling out like he couldn’t hold them back anymore.
“We’ve been together in secret the whole time.
She works at the company… she’s been my everything behind closed doors.
I kept it hidden because I wanted to protect her.
.. from Mom, from the family pressure, from the expectations that come with being a Prescott.
I thought if I waited until the timing was right, I could bring her in properly. But I fucked everything up.”
His voice cracked. He pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes for a moment before dropping them again.
“I got angry. She kept asking me to go public and I… I told her we needed a break. That was the night before the wedding. She walked out into the rain crying, and I let her go. Then Camilla ran away, and the next thing I know, Emery is standing at the altar saying ‘I do’ to Alexander. Now she’s my sister-in-law. ”
Jesse let out a bitter, painful laugh that sounded more like a sob.
“She’s married to my brother. I have to watch her live in his room, sleep in his bed… and I can’t even tell anyone. I’m losing her, Ivy. I already lost her.”
Ivy reached over and took his hand, squeezing it tightly. Her own eyes glistened with sympathy.
“Jesse… God, I had no idea,” she whispered. “That’s why you defended her so fiercely at breakfast. Why you looked like you were dying when you saw her at the altar.”
He nodded, swallowing hard. “I wanted to stop the wedding. I wanted to scream that she was mine. But I froze. And now it’s too late.”
Inside the treatment area, one of the nurses adjusted the IV drip. Emery lay pale and still, her long chestnut-brown hair spread across the pillow, fever finally starting to ease under the medication.
Jesse stared through the glass at her fragile form, his intense dark brown eyes filled with quiet, possessive anguish.
“I don’t know how to fix this,” he admitted, voice barely above a whisper. “But I can’t lose her. Not like this.”
Ivy stayed silent for a long moment, still holding her twin’s hand.
“Then we’ll figure it out,” she said finally. “Together. But Jesse… you have to be careful. If Mom or Alexander find out right now, it’ll destroy everything.”
Jesse nodded, but his gaze never left Emery.
He had already destroyed enough.
×××××××
Emery’s eyes fluttered open slowly, her stormy gaze still hazy from the fever and medication.
The hospital room was quiet, the lights dimmed. An IV dripped steadily into her arm, and the cooling blanket wrapped around her body had finally brought her temperature down to a safer level.
Jesse sat beside the bed in a plastic chair, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. The moment he saw her stir, he stood up quickly, relief flooding his intense dark brown eyes.
“Emery…” he breathed, stepping closer. His voice was thick with emotion. “Thank God. You scared the hell out of me.”
He reached out instinctively, his hand moving to brush the damp strands away from her forehead, the same gentle gesture he had done countless times during their secret nights together.
But Emery flinched violently.
She pushed his hand away with surprising strength for someone who had just been burning with fever. Her eyes, though still glassy, flashed with raw pain and anger.
“Don’t,” she whispered hoarsely. “Don’t touch me.”
Jesse froze, his hand hovering in the air between them. “Emery… I’m sorry. I was so worried—”
“Worried?” she cut him off, her voice cracking but growing stronger with every word.
Tears welled up and spilled down her flushed cheeks.
“You were worried? Where was that worry when you asked for a break? When you called me cold and closed off because I was tired of hiding? You’re a coward, Jesse Prescott. ”
Each word hit him like a slap. He took a small step back, jaw clenched, but didn’t interrupt.
“You kept me hidden for three years like I was something to be ashamed of,” she continued, her slender frame trembling under the thin hospital blanket.
Her hair lay messily across the pillow, wispy bangs sticking to her damp skin.
“You made me beg you to go public, and when I finally had the courage to walk away, you let me. And now… now I’m married to your brother because of the mess you created with your silence and your fear. ”
She took a shaky breath, fresh tears rolling down her temples.
“Stay away from me, Jesse. Just… stay away. I can’t do this anymore. You broke us. You broke me. And I won’t let you break me any further.”
Jesse stood there, completely still, his lean build rigid with pain. His eyes, usually so intense and possessive were filled with pure agony. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. The guilt and regret crushed him from the inside.
“Emery…” he finally managed, voice barely audible. “I know I fucked up. I know I’m the reason for all of this. But please...”
“No.” She turned her face away from him, staring at the sterile white wall instead. Her voice was quiet but final. “Leave. I don’t want to see you right now.”
Jesse remained rooted for a few more agonizing seconds, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. Then, with a broken exhale, he turned and walked out of the room, the door clicking shut softly behind him.
Alone again, Emery curled onto her side, pulling the blanket tighter around her body as silent sobs shook her.
She had never felt so lost.
×××××××
Evening had fallen by the time they brought Emery back to the Prescott family house.
Ivy supported her gently as they walked through the grand entrance, one arm wrapped around her waist to keep her steady.
Emery’s steps were weak, her frame still recovering from the high fever. She wore simple borrowed clothes from Ivy, a soft gray sweater and black leggings, and her hair hung loose and slightly damp around her shoulders, the bangs framing her pale, exhausted face.
As they entered the sleek, high-ceilinged drawing room, Emery froze.
Black leather couches surrounded a luxury fireplace that cast a warm glow across the space. Floor-to-ceiling windows on one side revealed the darkening garden outside. Sitting on one of the couches were her uncle Harold and aunt Judith.
“Uncle Harold?” Emery’s voice trembled, fragile and small.
Harold and Judith turned immediately. Harold rose to his feet, his face softening with concern. “Oh, my sweet girl.”
He crossed the room in quick strides and pulled her into his arms. Emery collapsed against his chest, hugging him tightly as fresh sobs broke free. Her shoulders shook violently against him.
“Please, Uncle,” she cried, voice muffled against his shoulder. “I don’t want to live here. Please… take me home.”
Harold rubbed slow, soothing circles on her back, his voice gentle but heavy. “It’s alright, dear. It’s alright.”
She pulled back just enough to look up at him, tears streaming down her rosy cheeks. “It’s not alright, Uncle. Please take me home.”
Rebecca, who had been sitting elegantly on the opposite couch nursing a cup of tea, set it down with a deliberate clink and stood up. Her voice was cool and cutting.
“See, Harold? She is so good at pretending. Inside, she’s just so happy she’s become the daughter-in-law of this house. She knows very well that leaving is not an option.”
Emery turned her tear-filled eyes toward her uncle, innocent and desperate. “Why? Why can’t I leave?”
Harold sighed deeply, cupping her face with both hands.
“Emery, my love… the whole city knows about the wedding now. There have already been complications at the office because of the sudden replacement. To avoid further scandal and damage to both families, you have to stay here. You have to be Alexander’s wife. ”
“No…” Emery’s voice broke. “No, no, no… please, no. I don’t want to stay here! You said it was only for yesterday!”
She started crying harder, hiccupping between sobs.
“I’m sorry, love,” Harold whispered, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Do it for me, please.”
Emery sobbed for a few painful seconds, her body trembling in his arms.
Ivy stepped forward gently, placing a hand on Emery’s back. “Come on. Let me take you to your room.”
She carefully guided Emery away from her uncle, steering her toward the staircase.
Jesse stood silently in the doorway the entire time, watching the scene with a shattered expression. Every broken sob from Emery made his heart stutter violently in his chest.
He closed his eyes for a brief moment, jaw clenched tight, fighting the overwhelming urge to cross the room and pull her into his own arms.
The sound of her cries gradually faded as Ivy led her upstairs.
Once they were gone, Harold turned to Jesse, his voice tired and pleading.
“Jesse… I just want her to adjust. Please help her.” He paused, swallowing hard. “Your mother is a little strict, but… you are intelligent. Your sisters are too. Alexander is exceptional. Please make her feel at home here. Please.”
Jesse nodded slowly, his eyes heavy with guilt and quiet resolve.
“I will try my best.”
Harold gave him a grateful, exhausted look before turning back to Judith. Jesse remained standing in the doorway long after they left, the echo of Emery’s desperate cries still ringing in his ears.
He had never felt more helpless in his life.
×××××××