Harpers Jealousy & Rage
Three days had passed since the court verdict, and Harper Prescott-Ryde looked like a ghost of herself.
She stepped out of her old bedroom in the Prescott house, her usually perfectly styled hair now disheveled and tangled, falling messily over her shoulders.
Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and her face was pale, drained of its usual sharp confidence. She wore the same silk robe she'd had on since yesterday, wrinkled and hanging loosely on her frame.
She moved like someone lost in a fog: slow, aimless steps down the hallway, bare feet silent on the cool floor.
Since losing full custody of Kitty, Harper had barely eaten, barely slept, and barely spoken to anyone. The humiliation from the courtroom still burned fresh in her mind.
She had tried everything.
Yesterday, she had begged her mother.
"Mom, please... go to the Ryde house. Talk to Percy. Tell him to give Kitty back to me. I'm her mother."
Rebecca had looked at her with cold disappointment.
"No, Harper. You brought this on yourself. You need to face the consequences and become a better mother before you can demand anything."
Harper had even swallowed her pride and gone to Alexander.
"Alexander... you're my brother. Help me. Talk to Percy. Tell him I deserve to keep my daughter."
Alexander had stared at her with tired eyes, his own bruises still faintly visible.
"You got what you deserved, Harper. You slapped Mrs Ryde. You neglected Kitty. Until you change, I won't help you hurt that little girl any more."
Now, there was nothing left to do but wander.
Harper drifted down the grand staircase, her hand trailing along the railing. She moved without purpose, eyes glassy, shoulders slumped. The house felt too big, too quiet, too empty without the sound of Kitty's laughter or even the chaos of her own arguments.
She stopped at the bottom of the stairs, staring blankly into the living room. For the first time in her life, Harper Prescott looked truly broken: devastated, humiliated, and completely alone in her grief.
A single tear slipped down her cheek as she whispered to the empty house,
"My baby... I just want my baby back..."
But no one answered.
She stood there for a long moment, lost in the silence of the grand home that suddenly felt like a prison.
×××××××
The kitchen was bathed in warm afternoon light as Emery stood at the counter, preparing a simple snack of yogurt with honey and a few nuts.
Her bump pressed gently against the edge of the marble island. The baby had been particularly active today, kicking and turning with enthusiasm.
Emery smiled softly, one hand resting on her belly as she spoke in a gentle, melodic voice.
"Hey, little one... are you practicing your football skills in there? You're so strong today. Mama can feel your little feet pushing against me. Take it easy, okay? Mama's trying to make us a snack."
The baby responded with another firm kick, making her chuckle quietly.
Jesse entered the kitchen carrying a small woven basket filled with fresh, plump blueberries. He had picked them up from the market earlier, knowing they had become one of her favorite cravings lately.
Emery looked up and her face softened instantly.
"Jesse... thank you," she said warmly, eyes lighting up at the sight of the berries. "You always remember."
He set the basket down beside her and stepped closer, his voice low and gentle. "Of course I do. I saw them and thought of you."
Without thinking, he reached out and tenderly cupped her cheek with one hand, his thumb brushing lightly over her skin. The touch was soft, intimate, and full of quiet affection.
Emery leaned slightly into his palm, her eyes meeting his with a small, shy smile.
"You're spoiling me again," she murmured.
Jesse's gaze was warm, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You deserve to be spoiled. How's the boy today? Still kicking like he's training for the World Cup?"
Emery laughed softly, placing her hand over his on her cheek. "He's been very active. I swear I felt his little foot right here earlier." She guided his hand gently to the side of her bump.
Jesse's expression melted as he felt the movement under his palm. "There he is... strong little guy. Just like his mama."
They stood like that for a moment, talking about nothing and everything at once: the weather, the sweetness of the blueberries, how the baby seemed to calm down whenever Jesse's voice was near.
The conversation was light, playful, and full of the easy warmth that always existed between them when no one else was watching.
"You know," Emery said teasingly, "if you keep bringing me berries every day, I'm going to turn into one."
Jesse chuckled, his thumb still stroking her cheek. "Then I'll just have to eat you up."
Emery's cheeks flushed pink as she laughed, the sound soft and genuine.
Unbeknownst to them, Harper had just walked past the kitchen doorway.
She stopped abruptly, eyes narrowing as she caught the tender moment: Jesse's hand cupping Emery's cheek so lovingly, the way they smiled at each other, the quiet intimacy that screamed of something far deeper than a brother-in-law relationship.
Harper's lips pressed into a thin line. She didn't say a word. She simply watched for a few seconds longer before slipping away silently.
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Camilla sat in her room at the Bramwell Estate, staring at her phone with growing frustration. Two months had passed and her investigator had found nothing concrete about Emery's ex-boyfriend. The relationship had been too well hidden.
"Fine," Harper muttered to herself. "If no one else can find anything... I'll have to do something myself."
×××××××
One day later.
The nursery was quiet and peaceful, filled with soft afternoon light. Emery sat in the beautiful white rocking chair, eyes half-closed, gently rocking back and forth. One hand rested on her belly as she hummed softly to the baby, trying to calm him after a particularly active morning.
The door suddenly burst open.
"You bitch!"
Emery's eyes flew open. Harper stood in the doorway, face twisted with pure rage and hysteria. Her hair was messy, eyes wild, looking like she hadn't slept properly in days.
"Harper?" Emery said, startled, sitting up straighter. "Did something happen?"
"Yeah! It happened months ago!" Harper screamed, voice cracking with fury. "You happened! And this bastard happened!"
Before Emery could react, Harper lunged forward and grabbed her wrist in a bruising grip, yanking hard.
"Get up!"
Emery gasped in pain, instinctively trying to pull her arm back. "Harper! Stop! Let go of me!"
But Harper was beyond reason. She was hysterical, months of jealousy, hatred, and now the fresh agony of losing custody of Kitty exploding out of her all at once.
"You think you can just sit here in your perfect little nursery, playing happy mommy?
" Harper shrieked, dragging Emery out of the rocking chair with violent force.
"While my daughter is taken away from me?
You stole my brother's future! You play with both my brothers!
You've fooled my sister! And now you're carrying this bastard that probably isn't even Alexander's! "
Emery stumbled, trying to resist as Harper pulled her roughly toward the door. "Harper, please, you're hurting me! Let go!"
Harper didn't listen. She kept dragging her down the hallway, her grip like iron on Emery's wrist.
"This baby is a lie!" she spat, voice rising to a scream. "Just like you! I'm taking you for a paternity test right now. I'm going to prove that this bastard isn't Alexander's, and then everyone will finally see what a whore you really are!"
Emery's heart pounded in terror. "Harper, stop! Let go of my wrist, you're hurting the baby!"
She tried to plant her feet, but Harper was stronger in her manic state and kept yanking her forward. Emery felt a sharp, alarming pop somewhere deep in her lower belly, followed by a wave of pain that made her gasp.
"Harper, please!" Emery cried, tears springing to her eyes. "Something's wrong! Stop!"
Harper didn't care. She shoved Emery out the front door and toward her car parked in the driveway.
"Get in!" she snarled, throwing the back door open and roughly pushing Emery inside. Emery landed awkwardly on the backseat, crying out in pain as another sharp twinge shot through her abdomen.
Harper slammed the door shut, then jumped into the driver's seat and locked all the doors from the inside so Emery couldn't escape.
"You're not getting away with this," Harper muttered wildly as she started the engine. "I'm going to expose you today."
Emery banged desperately on the window, tears streaming down her face. "Harper! Let me out! Please, the baby!"
At that exact moment, Ivy's car pulled into the driveway. She had just returned from the gym, still in her workout clothes. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw Harper's car speeding past with Emery inside, banging on the windows and crying.
Ivy slammed on her brakes and jumped out.
"Harper! Where are you going?!" she shouted, running a few steps after the car. "Harper, stop!"
But Harper didn't slow down. She drove straight past Ivy, tires screeching as she accelerated away.
Emery's tear-streaked face was visible through the back window, her hand pressed to her belly in pain.
Ivy stood frozen for a second, heart racing, then spun around and sprinted toward the car.
She yanked her phone out of her gym bag, fingers trembling as she dialed.
"Jesse! Pick up, pick up!" she gasped.
Jesse was in the middle of a meeting at the office when his phone rang. The moment he saw Ivy's name, he excused himself and answered immediately.
"Ivy? What's wrong?"
Ivy's voice was frantic, breathless, and filled with panic.
"Jesse, it's Harper! She's gone completely crazy! She dragged Emery out of the house, forced her into her car, and drove off! Emery was crying and holding her stomach, I think something's wrong with the baby!"
Jesse's blood ran cold. For a split second, the world seemed to stop.
Then pure rage and terror exploded inside him.
"What?!" he roared, already grabbing his keys and jacket. "Where are you right now?"
"I'm in my car, just leaving the house! I saw them drive past me toward the main gate!"
Jesse was already running down the hallway toward the elevator, his voice sharp and commanding.
"Ivy, listen to me... follow Harper right now! Do not lose sight of her car. Stay on the phone with me. Tell me every turn she makes. I'm leaving the office this second. Call the police if you have to, but do not let her take Emery anywhere alone!"
Ivy's voice cracked. "Jesse, she looked hysterical. Emery was begging her to stop... I'm scared for the baby!"
Jesse's heart slammed against his ribs as he slammed into the elevator, jabbing the ground floor button repeatedly.
"Stay calm and drive fast," he ordered, voice tight with barely controlled fury. "I'm coming. Tell me where you are every minute. If Harper tries anything, call the police and tell them Harper is kidnapping Emery and endangering a pregnant woman."
He burst out of the building and sprinted toward his car, phone still pressed to his ear.
"I'm on my way, Ivy. Just keep following them. Don't let her hurt Emery or the baby."
Jesse's hands were shaking as he started the engine. His mind was racing with worst-case scenarios. Emery in pain, the baby in danger, Harper's unstable rage.
He floored the accelerator, tires screeching as he tore out of the parking lot.
"Hang on, Emery," he whispered fiercely under his breath. "I'm coming. I'm coming for both of you."
On the other end of the line, Ivy's voice trembled as she tried to keep up with Harper's car in the distance.
"Jesse... she's driving really fast. I'm scared."
"Just stay with her," Jesse said, his voice raw with fear and determination. "We're not losing them."
The line stayed open as Jesse sped through the city streets, heart pounding, praying he wouldn't be too late.
×××××××