Hate You, Marry Me

Episode 6

JADE's POV

"William called last night to tell us the news. We were absolutely shocked! But we’re so happy for you both," Silas’s mother, Evelyn, said warmly, her joy lighting up her face.

“Thank you, Evelyn. It was… quite sudden for us too,” I replied, forcing a polite smile that felt like it might shatter at any moment. My jaw ached from holding it in place, especially with Skylar’s scrutinizing gaze burning into me. I knew she didn’t believe it for a second.

“Mom, they just got here,” Skylar interjected, her tone light but firm. “Let them rest for a bit. You and Dad should get some sleep too. We’ll catch up over brunch later.”

“She’s right,” Evelyn agreed with a soft smile. “Jade, Silas, why don’t you head upstairs and rest? It’s still so early, and we don’t want to overwhelm you.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, grateful for the escape. But as we climbed the stairs, with Skylar bounding ahead of us, I could feel her curiosity buzzing like electricity in the air.

Skylar led us to Silas’s room, her enthusiasm practically vibrating off her as she skipped two or three steps at a time. I knew this house well; I’d been here countless times growing up. As soon as she opened the door, I recognized Silas’s room. It hadn’t changed much—same dark wood furniture, same masculine tones. It felt frozen in time, much like the memories I had of this place.

“Skylar, calm down already,” Silas said as he shut the door behind us, his tone exasperated.

“Never!” she shot back, spinning to face us with her arms crossed. “Now, spill. What is going on?”

Her sharp brown eyes, so similar to Silas’, darted between the two of us. Despite their shared gaze, the siblings couldn’t have been more different. Skylar was petite, with a head of bouncy curls and soft, delicate features that made her look almost doll-like. Silas, on the other hand, was all sharp angles and broad shoulders, his presence commanding even in silence.

I sat on the edge of the massive bed while Silas moved to the window, his back to us as he folded his arms across his chest. Even from across the room, I could feel the tension radiating off him. The mention of James had darkened his mood instantly, his body language taut and brimming with restrained anger.

“James was planning to propose at the New Year’s party,” Skylar pressed, her voice tinged with disbelief. “He let it slip, trying to act all mysterious about it. What happened?”

I sighed, knowing there was no way around this conversation. “James was only with me because of my family’s wealth,” I admitted. “At the party, I saw him kissing another woman—he was bragging about how he planned to marry me for my money.”

Skylar gasped, her hands flying to cover her mouth. “What a bastard!”

“I proposed to Silas in front of everyone to humiliate him,” I continued, trying to keep my tone even. “I didn’t realize Silas’ father was there. That’s why we’re here now. It’s not real, Skylar. We need your help.”

Skylar’s wide-eyed shock quickly turned into a look of exasperation. “Are you kidding me? Mom and Dad think this is real!”

“Just cover for us,” I pleaded. “We’ll give it a little time, then tell them we’re rethinking things, that we’re not ready yet.”

She rolled her eyes but relented. “Fine. Let them have their fantasy for a while. They’ve probably already started picturing family dinners and grandkids, so you’d better break it to them gently later. At least they’ll get some fleeting happiness out of this.”

“Exactly,” I agreed. “Now you’re our accomplice.”

Skylar snorted and punched Silas’ arm playfully as she walked past him. “Fine, but you owe me. And don’t make me regret this.”

Silas smirked, rubbing his arm. “Noted.”

As Skylar left, she paused at the door. “Jade, get some rest. You look exhausted.”

“She slept like a baby the whole way here,” Silas said, leaning casually against the doorframe with a smug grin.

“I was resting my eyes,” I retorted, unable to help the playful edge in my voice.

He chuckled, shaking his head before stepping out and closing the door behind him. Alone in the quiet room, I let out a deep breath, my body sinking into the soft mattress.

This house, nestled in the middle of the forest with its sprawling garden and snow-covered paths, had always felt like a winter escape. The family would retreat here for New Year’s or the occasional getaway. It had been nearly a decade since I’d last stepped foot inside, but it felt oddly unchanged, as though time had stopped for this place.

I lay back on the bed, staring out the floor-to-ceiling window at the falling snow. My thoughts wandered as the gentle rhythm of the snowfall lulled me into a hazy calm. Before I knew it, I had drifted off.

When I woke, only a few hours had passed, but I felt oddly refreshed. Stretching, I padded to the attached bathroom, where I unpacked my skincare products and lined them neatly on the counter. Before stepping into the shower, I chose an outfit for the day and laid it on the bed—a simple but cozy sweater dress and thick tights, perfect for the wintry weather.

The hot water poured over me, chasing away the lingering chill. I let my mind drift as I stood under the stream, but it didn’t take long before it returned to him.

Since he kissed me, my thoughts had been a tangled mess, circling back to him over and over. It was infuriating. I wasn’t even thinking about James—his betrayal should have gutted me, should have sent me into a spiral. If anyone had asked, I would have said I’d be devastated if something like that happened. But I wasn’t. In fact, I felt nothing for James. Not even hatred.

And that’s what terrified me. Because hatred, as twisted as it was, was something I couldn’t seem to let go of when it came to Silas. It wasn’t just anger; it was something deeper, something darker. And the worst part? It wasn’t going anywhere.

I stepped out of the shower, feeling the weight of my tangled thoughts hanging over me like a fog. After finishing my skincare routine, I dried and combed my hair, letting it fall loosely over my shoulders. A quick touch of makeup followed—a hint of mascara, a soft blush, and a swipe of nude lipstick. With a sweater and leggings chosen earlier, I finally felt ready to step out of the room.

But before I did, I needed to make sure Silas hadn’t already gone downstairs. If we left separately, the cracks in our story might start showing, and that was the last thing I needed right now. Quietly, I slipped into the hallway and padded toward the guest room where Silas had gone to sleep.

The door creaked slightly as I pushed it open, just enough to peer inside. He was still there, sprawled on the smaller guest bed, his chest rising and falling steadily with each breath. He looked peaceful—too peaceful for someone who had always been a force of chaos in my life. Something about seeing him like this, in such a vulnerable state, tugged at the edges of my resolve.

I should have left. I should have turned back and waited in my own room, but instead, I found myself stepping inside. Maybe it was the silence of the house, the way the soft light of the bedside lamp illuminated his face. Or maybe it was something else entirely—something I didn’t dare name.

Closing the door behind me, I moved to the edge of the bed and sat down carefully, making sure not to wake him. He didn’t stir, his breathing remaining slow and steady. I told myself I’d wait here until he woke, so we could head downstairs together. It made sense—logical, even—but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was making excuses.

For a while, I scrolled aimlessly through my phone, flipping through photos of New Year’s celebrations and half-hearted captions from acquaintances. The room was dim, the heavy curtains blocking out any light from the snowy morning outside. It wasn’t long before the quiet darkness began to lull me, my eyelids growing heavy despite my best efforts.

I set my phone down on the nightstand and lay back on the bed. Just for a moment, I told myself. But when Silas shifted in his sleep, turning toward me, my eyes snapped open. I sat up abruptly, thinking he’d woken, but his eyes remained closed.

He looked different while he was asleep. The sharp lines of his face softened, the tension in his brow smoothed away. He didn’t look like the Silas who had spent years trying to control every aspect of my life. He looked… innocent. Like the boy I used to know before everything had spiraled into obsession and chaos.

The longer I watched him, the more I felt pulled back into our shared past, a time when things were simpler—when he hadn’t yet become the storm that threatened to consume me. But those memories felt like illusions now, fragments of something that had never truly been real.

Suddenly, his eyes opened.

I froze, caught off guard by the sharpness in his gaze. He didn’t look startled. He didn’t even look surprised to see me there. He’d been awake, I realized. The moment he’d turned toward me, he’d already known I was in the room.

“Were you just pretending to sleep?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, laced with incredulity.

His lips curved into the faintest smirk, and I knew the answer before he said anything. “Couldn’t resist seeing what you’d do.”

I opened my mouth to fire back, but before I could, he moved—fast, deliberate. In a heartbeat, he had me pinned, his body pressing me down against the bed. His hands gripped my wrists, pinning them above my head as he hovered over me.

“What are you doing? Let me go,” I demanded, trying to wriggle free, though my efforts were half-hearted at best.

“If you wanted me to lie beside you, you could’ve just asked,” he said, his tone teasing, but his eyes burned with something much darker. His voice dropped lower, a rumble that sent a shiver through me. “But maybe you enjoy these games a little too much.”

I glared at him, but my body betrayed me, my skin warming beneath the weight of his. The heat of him, the closeness, was enough to make my thoughts blur, the line between hatred and something more dissolving.

“Why don’t you just say it?” he murmured, his smirk softening into something more serious. “Say you don’t feel this, and I’ll let you go.”

"I feel nothing, Silas."

It was a lie.

He released my wrists, the movement slow and deliberate. But I didn’t push him away. I didn’t move at all. Instead, I stayed there, locked in his gaze, my heart hammering in my chest as something I didn’t want to name stirred inside me.

Just as quickly as he’d trapped me, he pulled away, climbing off the bed with a swiftness that left me breathless. It was as if he was fleeing from the moment as much as I was.

“We can go down together, but I need to change my clothes first.”

“Fine,” I managed, my voice steadier than I expected. “I’ll be in your room. Come get me when you’re ready.”

He nodded, and I slipped out of the guest room, my steps quick as I fled down the hall. Once inside his room, I leaned back against the door, my chest rising and falling as I tried to calm the storm raging inside me.

Silas had always been chaos in my life. But now? Now, he was something far more dangerous.