Hate You, Marry Me

Episode 3

JADE's POV

The moment I stepped inside my apartment, I tore the dress off in frustration, flinging it onto the nearest chair. Years—years of hiding my true self, crafting a version of me that could blend into society, all for what? To build friendships I hoped weren’t founded on ulterior motives? To find a partner who could love me for who I truly was? And yet, here I stood, questioning everything. Had I achieved any of it? Had I been honest with anyone when I hadn’t even been honest with myself?

With a heavy sigh, I strode to the bathroom and began scrubbing the makeup from my face. The heavy foundation, the dramatic eyeshadow—so unlike me. I’d put it on in the hopes of receiving a marriage proposal tonight, one that would never come. Normally, I’d stick to a simple coat of mascara and a swipe of lipstick.

After cleansing my face, I pulled on a cream-colored turtleneck sweater, its soft fabric offering a sliver of comfort. I paired it with thick black leggings and rummaged for my snow boots. Winter was in full swing, and the weather outside was as tumultuous as my thoughts.

As I packed a small overnight bag, I included a few essential outfits and my nine-step skincare routine. While other things might go wrong, my skincare routine was guaranteed to stay flawless. My caramel-colored hair, still in soft waves from earlier, was carefully tucked beneath a cream beanie, strands peeking out in a way that looked effortlessly chic. I sent Silas a quick text to let him know I was ready and busied myself with tidying up the apartment while I waited.

The dress—the one I’d bought specifically for tonight—hung like a mocking specter in the corner. I pulled it off the chair and placed it among the pile of clothes destined for the dry cleaners. It felt like a symbolic gesture, packing away wasted time and misplaced hopes.

A sharp knock on the door broke my reverie. Without thinking, I swung it open, fully expecting to see Silas. After all, I hadn’t even given him my address, yet I knew he’d find it. He always did. He had a way of knowing things about me, things I hadn’t told him.

But instead of Silas, it was James.

The sight of him made my stomach turn. His presence was like a ghost of mistakes past, a reminder of every lie I’d believed. I moved to close the door, but his hand shot out, stopping it before I could shut him out.

“Jade, just hear me out. Please. One minute, that’s all I’m asking,” he said, his voice desperate.

“You’re not coming in,” I snapped, stepping into the doorway to block him. “Say what you need to say, then get the hell out.”

His face twisted into a pitiful expression, one I might have fallen for weeks ago. But now, it looked rehearsed, false, like every other thing about him.

“Jade,” he said, his voice trembling as his eyes grew glassy, “I don’t know what Silas told you, but he’s manipulating you. That man is dangerous—obsessed with you. He’s been trying to get me out of your life. I don’t know what lies he’s fed you, but you can’t trust him.”

I let out a bitter laugh, leaning against the doorframe as I crossed my arms. “Manipulating me? Really, James? You mean like how you were manipulating me? Like how you were going to marry me for my money? Oh, don’t look so surprised. I saw you. I heard you. Telling that woman about your plans to use me, calling me a gullible fool.” My voice didn’t crack, even though my heart felt like it might shatter all over again. I wouldn’t let him see me cry. Not now. Not ever.

James paled, his mouth opening and closing as he searched for words. I didn’t give him the chance.

“You’ll have to find another rich woman to con,” I said coolly. “Now get out of my sight.”

Before he could respond, a hand shot out from behind him, grabbing James by the collar and yanking him backward with startling force.

Silas.

His expression was a storm of fury, his jaw tight and his eyes blazing with a ferocity that sent a shiver down my spine. Without hesitation, he landed the first punch, his fist connecting with James’s jaw in a sickening thud.

“You dare cheat on her? You dare hurt her?” Silas roared, his voice booming through the hallway as punch after punch found its mark. “Do you know what she deserves? And you treat her like this?”

“Silas, stop!” I shouted, panic flaring in my chest. “Let him go. I don’t care about him!”

My words barely registered. James, taking advantage of the brief distraction, swung a punch that clipped Silas’s cheek and stumbled to his feet. Without looking back, he bolted down the hallway.

Silas lunged to follow, but I grabbed his arm, holding him back with all the strength I could muster.

“Let him go,” I said firmly, my voice steady despite the chaos. “He’s not worth it.”

Silas hesitated, his chest heaving with ragged breaths. His knuckles were bloodied, but he didn’t seem to care. His focus was solely on me, his dark eyes searching into mine with an intensity that sent a jolt through me.

“I’ll kill him for what he’s done,” Silas growled, his voice low and guttural. “He doesn’t deserve to walk away after this.”

“You’ll do no such thing,” I said sharply. “Now get inside before my neighbors call the cops.”

Grabbing his wrist, I pulled him into the apartment, slamming the door behind us. The small space suddenly felt much too small, his overwhelming presence dominating the room.

“Come on, let’s clean that lip before your father starts asking who you’ve been fighting,” I said, tugging him toward the sofa in the living room.

“I’ll tell them you bit me while kissing me,” he teased, his voice dripping with mischief.

“Silas!” I shot him a glare as I darted into the bathroom to grab the first-aid kit. His laughter followed me, though it was tempered by the pain he was clearly trying to hide.

When I returned, he was sprawled on the sofa, one arm slung casually over the backrest as though he didn’t have a care in the world. But his dark eyes betrayed him, still simmering with anger. As I approached, his gaze softened slightly, his intensity never wavering.

“I can’t believe that bastard cheated on you,” he said, his voice taut with disbelief and barely-contained fury. “It doesn’t make sense. How could anyone want someone else when they have you?” His tone dropped, low and raw, and his words sent a shiver through me.

“Cheating is one thing,” I replied with a bitter smile, settling onto the coffee table across from him. “But lying to me, using me for money… that’s also hard to stomach.”

“That’s what I don’t get,” Silas said, his brows furrowing. “Why pretend to be someone you’re not, Jade? Pretending won’t bring you what you’re looking for.”

I said nothing, dabbing the salve onto his split lip. The moment felt unbearably intimate, his face so close to mine that I could see every detail—the tiny scar along his jawline, the faint shadow of stubble, the flicker of emotion in his dark eyes as they searched mine. My heartbeat stuttered, and in the quiet space between us, it felt like the rhythm of my pulse was echoing off the walls. I swore he could hear it, too.

Ever since he’d kissed me, everything had felt… strange. The boundaries I’d so carefully constructed were no longer solid. They were shifting, crumbling under the weight of emotions I didn’t want to name.

“Why?” he asked softly, breaking the silence. “Why do you think you need to be someone else?”

I swallowed hard, looking away from him. “Maybe because everything I saw growing up was fake. The relationships, the smiles, the promises… all of it. Maybe I thought I could find something real.”

Silas tilted his head, studying me as though I’d said something profound. “Just because our families are full of terrible examples doesn’t mean you’re doomed to the same fate,” he said, his voice steady. “As long as you’re with the right person…”

His words trailed off, but his eyes locked onto mine again, piercing through every wall I tried to put up. My heart raced uncontrollably, and for a terrifying moment, I thought he might kiss me again. Worse, I didn’t know if I’d stop him this time.

Panicking, I jumped to my feet, putting distance between us as quickly as possible. “We should get going before it gets too late,” I said, my voice higher than I intended. “We don’t want to get caught in the snow.”

My hands fumbled as I packed the first-aid supplies back into the kit, but all I could hear were his words, looping endlessly in my mind.

“The right person… The right person…”

But my inner voice was quick to interject, cutting through the haze of his presence like a blade.

“It’s not him, Jade. Silas isn’t the right person. He ll never be...”



As I glanced back at him, his lips quirked into a faint, almost knowing smile. I turned away quickly, afraid he might see the turmoil in my eyes, afraid that some part of me was beginning to doubt the voice in my head.