JACKSON’S POV

Vera twirled around, her eyes wide with horror, and ran straight into Tim who had followed closely behind her. She quickly covered his eyes with trembling hands, shielding him from what she had just witnessed. Without saying a word, she led him outside and slammed the door behind her, not sparing another glance in my direction.

I stood frozen, chest heaving, anger boiling under my skin.

At that moment, I hated myself.

I hated that Vera saw me like this, half-dressed, caught in the middle of something that wasn’t what it looked like. I needed to explain, to make her understand what really happened.

“Vera!” I called as...