The silence in the living room did not last long. It shattered when Ned jumped to his feet like a startled animal. His thick fingers pointed straight at Jacob’s face, trembling with fury.
“Jacob, what is going on here,” he demanded, his voice shaking with outrage. His eyes, still swollen from drink, bulged with disbelief. His greedy plans, his anticipation, his disgusting fantasies had all been wrapped around Hazel, and now she was telling him she belonged to another man.
Jacob’s entire body stiffened. Sweat gathered on his forehead, even though the room was warm. He forced a smile, the corners of his mouth twitching unnaturally as he tried to swallow his panic.
“Ned, please do not listen to this girl’s nonsense,” Jacob said quickly. His tone flipped instantly into flattery, the same to
