Fractured Bonds and Lingering Ghosts
Jasmine didn't move for a long time after shutting the door.
Her hands still trembled, her pulse still raced, but it wasn't fear.
It was anger.
Luke had the audacity to show up unannounced, demand explanations, and act jealous when he was the one who had thrown her away like she meant nothing.
She squeezed her eyes shut. She was done.
---
Unwelcome Visits
An hour later, just as she was finally settling into a moment of peace, her phone rang.
Rita.
Jasmine groaned, already knowing what this would be about.
"Before you say anything," she muttered as she answered, "I did not do anything with Asher."
Rita snorted. "So you admit something could've happened?"
Jasmine rolled her eyes. "You're impossible."
"I'm just saying, Jas, you spent a whole night out without looking like you wanted to crawl into a grave. That's progress."
Jasmine sighed, rubbing her temples. "If you called to interrogate me—"
"No," Rita interrupted. "I called because I'm outside your apartment."
Jasmine froze. "You're what?"
A sharp knock echoed through the room.
"Open the damn door."
With a groan, Jasmine tossed her phone onto the couch and stomped toward the door.
She barely had it unlocked before Rita pushed her way inside.
Her sister's sharp gaze swept over her, narrowing slightly. "You look too calm. I don't trust it."
Jasmine sighed. "I'm trying to be calm."
Rita crossed her arms. "Luke was here, wasn't he?"
Jasmine tensed.
That was all the confirmation Rita needed.
"That bastard," she muttered. "What did he want this time?"
Jasmine dropped onto the couch. "To remind me that he hates when I say he owes me his life."
Rita scoffed. "Oh, poor him. It must be so hard knowing he's alive because of you."
Jasmine let out a humorless laugh. "Right? And apparently, he's also jealous now."
Rita blinked. Then she grinned.
"Oh, I love this."
Jasmine groaned. "Rita—"
"No, seriously. Let's talk about how Luke is losing his mind because you spent one night dancing with another man."
Jasmine shot her a glare. "That's not the point."
"It kind of is."
Jasmine sighed, rubbing her temples. "He asked if I was with Asher."
Rita's brows lifted. "And?"
Jasmine hesitated. "And… I told him it was none of his business."
Rita gasped dramatically. "Did my sister just set a boundary?"
Jasmine rolled her eyes. "I hate you."
"No, you love me. And honestly, Jas?" Rita's voice softened. "I'm proud of you."
Jasmine blinked.
Rita smirked. "Now, tell me everything."
---
The Past Still Clings
It took forever to get Rita to leave.
By the time Jasmine finally had her apartment to herself again, it was past noon.
She sank into the couch, exhaling slowly.
Her phone vibrated.
She hesitated before checking.
Asher: Did Luke give you trouble?
Jasmine stared at the message.
How did he even—?
She bit her lip before responding.
Jasmine: How do you know Luke came over?
Asher: I have my ways.
Jasmine narrowed her eyes.
Jasmine: That's not suspicious at all.
Asher: You're fine, though?
She hesitated.
Then—
Jasmine: Yeah. I handled it.
A pause.
Then—
Asher: I never doubted that.
Jasmine stared at the screen for a long time, something warm curling in her chest.
She needed to be careful.
Because if she wasn't, she might actually start looking forward to his messages.
And that?
That was dangerous.
---
Unfinished Conversations
Jasmine didn't want to think about Luke anymore.
But Luke made sure that was impossible.
Three days passed without incident, and just as she was starting to feel like she could breathe, he showed up again.
This time, he wasn't alone.
Belle was with him.
---
An Unwanted Reunion
Jasmine was just coming home from work when she saw them standing outside her apartment building.
Her steps halted.
Belle looked as put together as ever—soft curls, flawless makeup, a perfectly tailored dress.
Luke, on the other hand, looked different.
There were dark circles under his eyes. He looked restless. Tense.
Like he hadn't been sleeping well.
Jasmine almost laughed.
Good.
She debated walking past them, pretending not to see, but Belle spotted her first.
"Jasmine!"
Her voice was too bright, too fake.
Jasmine's jaw tightened. "What do you want?"
Belle's smile faltered, but she recovered quickly. "We just wanted to talk."
Jasmine scoffed. "We?"
Luke finally spoke. "It's important."
She leveled him with a stare. "If it's about your kidney-related guilt, I'm not interested."
Luke's expression darkened. "That's not—"
"Then what is it?" Jasmine cut him off, crossing her arms. "I have nothing to say to either of you."
Belle sighed, stepping forward. "Jasmine, please. I know things have been… difficult. But—"
Jasmine barked out a laugh. "Difficult? You mean like when you moved into my home and had my fiancé completely forget I existed?"
Belle flinched. "That's not fair—"
"Not fair?" Jasmine took a step forward, lowering her voice. "Let me tell you what's not fair. I gave up my kidney for this man. I let him break me in ways I still haven't fully recovered from. And now, after all that, you have the audacity to stand here and tell me things have been difficult?"
Belle's mouth opened, then closed.
Luke ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "Can you just—"
Jasmine held up a hand. "No. I don't owe you a damn thing. Either of you."
Luke's jaw clenched. "Fine. But at least listen—"
"No." Jasmine turned on her heel and walked away.
She was done letting them have power over her.
She was done being their victim.
---
A Late-Night Call
By the time Jasmine reached her apartment, she was still shaking.
Anger. Frustration. Exhaustion.
She had so much of it bottled up inside her, she thought she might explode.
She needed a distraction.
She needed—
Her phone buzzed.
She glanced at the screen.
Asher.
She hesitated.
Then—
She answered.
"Bad day?" His voice was smooth, deep, calm.
Jasmine exhaled. "You could say that."
A pause. Then—
"Luke again?"
Jasmine closed her eyes. "He brought Belle this time."
Asher was silent for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice was unreadable.
"Do I need to handle it?"
Jasmine let out a soft laugh. "Are you offering to beat up my ex?"
"I was thinking something more legal, but if you prefer the direct approach…"
Jasmine smiled. For the first time all day, she actually smiled.
"As much as I'd love to see a judge throw hands, I think I can handle it."
Another pause. Then—
"I don't doubt that."
Something warm curled in her chest.
"Thanks, Asher."
She meant it.
She wasn't sure what this thing between them was yet, but for the first time in a long time, she didn't feel alone.
And maybe… maybe that was enough for now.
---