Jack English
1149 Words
The man stared at Kate, his deep brown eyes narrowing in suspicion. “Do you know me?”
Her heart pounded, each beat echoing like a drum in her ears. Standing before her was Jack English—the one person from her past who had always stood by her, the one she had pushed away in the name of love.
It had been over two years since she’d last seen him—two years since he disappeared overseas without so much as a goodbye after her marriage to Peter.
Kate’s throat tightened as memories flooded her mind. She and Jack had grown up together in the orphanage, their bond forged in shared struggles. To her, Jack had been like a protective big brother, but to Jack, she had been much more—a love he had quietly harbored but never confessed.
When they left the orphanage, Kate had been lost, a naive young woman with no idea how to navigate the world. But Jack had been her anchor, guiding her through the chaos and helping her build her confidence.
It was Jack who had secured the loan that launched her first company, Parsons Corps. He had believed in her when no one else did. Together, they had faced countless challenges, and with Jack’s support, Kate had turned her small startup into a thriving business empire.
Though the early days were tough, Kate’s perseverance and Jack’s unwavering support paid off. Over five years, Parsons Corps grew into a successful company. Eventually, she expanded into various ventures, including airports and makeup brands.
But then Peter entered the picture.
Jack had seen through Peter from the start, warning Kate that something about him didn’t feel right. But Kate, blinded by infatuation, had dismissed his concerns. Their disagreement had escalated into a fallout, and Jack had left the country after her wedding, heartbroken and unable to bear watching the woman he loved fall for someone he didn’t trust.
He didn’t attend the wedding. By the time Peter had managed to convince Kate to rename Parsons Corps to Gilmore Empire, Jack had already vanished from her life.
Now, standing before him, Kate felt a wave of regret. Jack had been right all along. Peter had been a liar—a manipulative man who had stolen everything from her, even her life.
Jack’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. “I asked you a question, lady. Do you know me?”
Kate scrambled for a response, her mind racing. “Uh… You’re the famous Jack English, aren’t you? I’ve seen you around.”
Jack’s expression darkened, his suspicion growing. “What were you doing just now? It looked like you sliding something into that car.”
“What?” she replied with feigned surprise. “That’s a bold accusation, Mr. English. Perhaps what you saw was just a figment of your imagination? Your mind might be playing tricks on you.”
Jack didn’t buy it. “When I see something, I never see wrong.”
He brushed past her and peered into the car. Kate’s stomach dropped as she saw him spot the note she had left.
Jack turned back to her. His eyes were sharp, cutting through her facade. “I saw wrong, huh?”
Panic surged through her veins. Without thinking, Kate turned and bolted, her heels clicking loudly against the pavement as she ran.
She cursed herself with every step. Leaving the note had been a reckless decision—a moment of anger and defiance that could jeopardize her entire plan. She had wanted to rattle Peter, to let him know that someone was watching him. But if Jack got involved, things could spiral out of control.
Kate flagged down a cab and slid into the back seat, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She gave the driver her address and leaned back, closing her eyes.
As the cab wound through the streets of New York City, her thoughts turned back to Jack. His absence had left a void in her life, one she hadn’t realized until it was too late. She had been so consumed by Peter’s charm that she hadn’t seen the one person who truly cared about her slipping away.
Tears welled in her eyes as regret tightened her chest.
Jack had been right. I was so foolish.
---
Back at the funeral, Peter basked in the aftermath of his performance. He shook hands and accepted condolences, his handsome face perfectly arranged in a mask of grief. But inside, he felt nothing but triumph.
Years of effort had finally paid off. His plan had worked flawlessly. Enduring a marriage with Kate—a woman he would never have looked at twice under normal circumstances—was worth every effort.
For two years, he had played the devoted husband, forcing himself to endure Kate’s company, pretending to love her, whispering sweet lies into her ears, all to get what he wanted: her wealth—it had all been worth it.
He stepped into the back seat of his chauffeured car, feeling lighter than he had in years. Today marked the beginning of his new life. In a few months, he would marry Lisa, the woman he had loved all along. Together, they would enjoy the fruits of their deception.
Of course, Lisa had been the mastermind. His girlfriend of many years, Lisa had been the one to encourage him to seduce Kate. Together, they had orchestrated the entire plan, and now, it had paid off.
As the chauffeur drove through the streets of New York City, Peter leaned back in the seat, a smug smile playing on his lips. By the time they reached the Gilmore Estate, he was practically glowing with triumph.
He stepped out, brushing past the maids without so much as a glance. He took the stairs two at a time, eager to reach the bedroom he had once shared with Kate.
Lisa was waiting for him, lounging on the bed in her silk underwear. Her lips curved into a sly smile as he entered the room.
“We did it, honey,” she said, her voice low and sultry.
Peter grinned, shedding his suit jacket. “We did it.”
He joined her on the bed, their laughter mingling as they celebrated their victory with champagne and whispered promises. They had won, and there was no one left to stop them.
---
Meanwhile, across the city, Jack sat in the back seat of his car as his assistant drove through the quiet streets.
In his hand was the note Kate had left in Peter’s car which he'd pulled some strings to acquire. He unfolded it carefully, his eyes scanning the bold, elegant handwriting.
The message was simple but chilling:
I Know You Killed Her. You Murderer!
Jack’s lips curled into a faint, sad smile as he refolded the paper.
“Well, well,” he murmured.
- Writer
