Beatrice arrived home, her mind still racing from the events of the day. She had barely stepped inside when she saw Wiley in the hallway. His usual confident demeanor seemed subdued, and Beatrice took the opportunity to ask him about Kaye.
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"Wiley, do you know what happened at the dance class with your sister today?" Beatrice asked, her tone a mixture of concern and frustration.
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Wiley shifted uncomfortably, feeling a pang of remorse for his sister. He had been standing between her and Jae, trying to protect her, but now he wondered if he had made things worse. "No, Mom. I don't know anything," he replied, avoiding her gaze.
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Beatrice sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I don't understand why Kaye is suddenly acting up. She seemed like she was finally finding happiness."
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Wiley felt a knot form in his stomach. Could it be because of Jae? Had Kaye found happiness with him, and he had failed to see it because of his own protective feelings? The thought weighed heavily on him, but he remained silent.
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Beatrice shook her head and decided to go upstairs to talk to Kaye. She needed to get to the bottom of this.
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Upstairs, Kaye was lying on her bed, texting with Graeme. They were sharing short videos of figure skating and ice hockey back and forth, debating over why their favorite figure skaters and hockey players were the best.
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"Lyra Hanyu's triple lutz is flawless. Her technique is unmatched," Kaye texted, a small smile playing on her lips.
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Graeme responded with a video of an incredible goal by Orin Falkner. "Falkner's precision and power on the ice are legendary. Valcourt doesn't even come close."
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Kaye laughed softly, enjoying the friendly banter. It was a welcome distraction from her turbulent emotions. But just as she was about to reply, her bedroom door burst open.
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"Kaye, we need to talk," Beatrice said, her voice stern as she entered the room without knocking.
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Kaye quickly put her phone aside, her expression turning defensive. "Mom, what's going on? Can't you knock?"
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Beatrice ignored the question and got straight to the point. "Why did you leave the dance class today? You know this was your punishment for mazing the coach weeks ago. I specifically told you how important the High Society Gala is to your father. You were supposed to behave at least until the gala was over."
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Kaye felt a surge of anger and defiance. "Is that all you care about? Our family image? Do you even care about me?"
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Beatrice was taken aback by her daughter's outburst. "Kaye, of course I care about you. But you have to understand how important this is for our family."
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Kaye's frustration boiled over. "I'm always expected to do the right thing, sit the right way, behave, be a lady. I'm never allowed to breathe and do what I want without everyone trying to control my life. You and Dad always telling me what I must and must not do. And Wiley trying to control who I can and cannot date. I'm sick of it!"
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Beatrice was at a loss for words, shocked by the intensity of Kaye's emotions. Before she could respond, Kaye grabbed a jacket and her phone and stormed out of the room.
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As she left her room, she found her brother standing outside, clearly eavesdropping on their conversation. Wiley's eyes widened in shock at her words and sudden rebellion. He felt a pang of guilt for trying to keep her and Jae away from each other.
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"Kaye, wait—" he started, but she brushed past him without a word.
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Outside, Kaye got into her car without a driver and sped off, her emotions a whirlwind as she sought an escape from the suffocating expectations of her family.
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Meanwhile at the Starling Estate, Jae pulled up to the front of his home, his mind still reeling from the tumultuous events at the dance class. As he turned off the engine and stepped out of the car, he couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom. The house was eerily quiet, but something felt off.
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Throughout the day, Jae's thoughts had been consumed by Kaye. He couldn't forget the warmth of her touch when she reached out to console him. The guilt of what happened with Lizzie gnawed at him, and he kept questioning what had transpired between Kaye and Lizzie that caused her to never return to class.
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As he entered the foyer, he was immediately confronted by the stern faces of Alice Starling and Henry Davenport. Their expressions were a mix of concern and determination, and Jae felt his stomach drop.
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"Jae, we need to talk," Alice said, her voice steady but firm.
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Jae frowned, his guard going up. "What's this about? Why are you both here?"
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Henry stepped forward, his tone calm but authoritative. "We've been worried about you, Jae. Your mom called and asked me to come and see you about your behaviour, she says it’s been erratic, and we're concerned that you're heading down a dangerous path."
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Jae's eyes narrowed, anger bubbling up inside him. "Oh, I see. This is an intervention, isn't it? You think you can just waltz in here and fix everything?"
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Alice took a deep breath, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and resolve. "Jae, this isn't about blaming you. We care about you, and we want to help."
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Jae scoffed, his frustration boiling over. "Help? Really? Is that what you call it when you're both secretly fucking behind my back? How long has it been going on? Did dad know, is that why he…" he couldn’t bring himself to say the words.
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Alice and Henry exchanged horrified glances, taken aback by Jae's accusation. "Jae, it's not like that, you were never supposed to find out this way." Henry said, his voice steady.
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Jae's anger flared, and he clenched his fists. "Don't lie to me! The only reason why you pretended to care so much was because you were sleeping with my mom. You’re my dad’s best friend."
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Alice's eyes filled with tears, and she shook her head. "Jae, please. It's not what you think."
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Jae took a step back, his heart pounding in his chest. "Then what? You’re in love? That’s disgusting.”
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Henry stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on Alice's shoulder. "Yes Jae, you deserve to know the truth. Your mother and I... we're in love. We’ve loved each other since we were teenagers."
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Jae's eyes widened, his mind racing. "What the fuck?"
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Alice took a deep breath, her voice trembling. "Jae, there's something you need to know. Something I’ve kept from both of you for far too long."
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Alice's tears began to fall freely as she spoke. "Henry, Jae is your son. He's your biological father." Her gaze shifting between the two.
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The room fell into a stunned silence as the weight of Alice's words settled over them. Jae felt his world tilt on its axis, the ground shifting beneath his feet. The last thing Henry expected was for her to say those words; to have a child he hadn’t known for seventeen years, belonged to him.
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"My father?" Jae whispered, his voice barely audible.
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Henry’s face was pale, barely registering what was happening. “I have a son. You lied to me all of these years?” The betrayal was as fresh cut.
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Jae's anger and confusion swirled within him, a maelstrom of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. He took a shaky breath, trying to process the revelation.
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"You lied to me," Jae said, his voice trembling. "All these years, you lied to me. Is this why I was treated so badly by my father, by Damon?"
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Alice stepped forward, her eyes pleading. "Jae, I’m so sorry."
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“You robbed us both, Alice, I can never forgive you for this.” Henry looked at Alice, not sure he would be able to trust her ever again.
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Jae felt a mix of rage and betrayal, his emotions a tangled mess. He turned and stormed out of the house, needing to get away from the suffocating truth that had just been thrust upon him. He ignored Henry’s call after him, his image fading into a distance in the rear-view mirror as Jae drove away. His mind raced with questions and uncertainties. The revelation of his true parentage had shattered everything he thought he knew, and he wasn't sure how to move forward from here.
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The old pier was the perfect place for Kaye to escape. Since the new one was built, the old pier had been abandoned, offering a sense of freedom and secludedness that she desperately needed. The stormy waters crashed against the wooden planks, sending up sprays of icy water. The heavy wind of the night signified the changing season, and the cold air filled Kaye's lungs, giving her a sense of being able to breathe again.
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Kaye climbed on top of the railing and sat there, staring out at the turbulent ocean. The sound of the waves and the creaks of the old pier were the only noises that broke the silence. She thought about her past, and how everything had changed from the strict rules she had to follow when she first arrived. The ever-present creeping thought of when things would shift in her life haunted her, as she grappled with the suffocating expectations placed on her.
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The night sky was overcast, and the distant glow of the city lights barely penetrated the darkness. Kaye felt a mix of fear and exhilaration, her emotions a whirlwind as she reflected on her life. She looked down at the water splashing upwards against the wooden planks, feeling both a sense of freedom and the weight of her worries.
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Jae drove aimlessly, his thoughts a tangled mess of anger and confusion. His world completely upside down. As he approached the old pier, he recognized a car parked there—it was one of the Burcharts'. His heart raced as he realized that Kaye must be there.
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Jae felt a surge of horror when he saw Kaye sitting on top of the railing at the end of the pier. The image of her teetering on the edge filled him with dread. Without thinking he quickly exited his car, ran towards her, the sound of his footsteps drowned out by the roaring wind and crashing waves.
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"Kaye!" he shouted, but the wind carried his voice away. Terror of reliving his past once again, overwhelmed him.
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Fear gripped him as he reached her. In one swift motion, he grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the edge, his heart pounding with a mix of relief and anger.
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"What the hell are you doing? Are you out of your mind?" Jae yelled, his voice filled with fear and frustration.
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Kaye stumbled as she landed safely on the pier, her eyes wide with surprise and confusion. "Jae, what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice trembling.
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Jae's grip on her arm tightened as he struggled to contain his emotions. "I saw your car. Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? You could have fallen!"
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Tears welled up in Kaye's eyes as she looked at him, the weight of her emotions crashing down on her. She couldn’t get out a word, the image of him in bed with Lizzie the only thing she sees when she looks at him.
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Jae's anger melted away, replaced by a deep sense of fear and concern as he searched for the meaning behind her eyes. "Kaye, promise me you’ll never do something like that ever again."
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Kaye gulped, still speechless as the emotions of everything run over her.
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Jae pulled her into a tight embrace, his heart aching for her. She pushed him away. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? Is this fun for you? I know what you did last night, I know about you and Lizzie so just leave me the fuck alone.”
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Horror plastered over her face. “Nothing happened, Lizzie is insane, I’m pretty sure she drugged me and that nothing happened between us.”
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She shoved his arm away, “Don’t lie to me, Jae. I saw the pictures, something clearly happened. I guess I never really meant anything to you if you’d jump into bed with someone so easily.”
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Jae's frustration boiled over. “You think I wanted this? You think I wanted to wake up next to her, not knowing what happened? I feel sick just thinking about it!”
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Kaye's eyes flashed with anger. “How convenient for you to blame it all on her. You were there, Jae. You made a choice.”
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Jae's voice rose, filled with desperation. “I only went there for the alcohol; we did some drugs but I suddenly felt my consciousness slipping. I didn’t choose this! I don’t remember anything! Lizzie has had this delusional of me and her for as long as we have been friends. She’s manipulative and cruel. You know that!”
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Kaye crossed her arms, her voice cold. “And yet, you still ended up in bed with her. How am I supposed to trust you after this?”
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Jae's eyes filled with tears. “For fucks sake, Kayetana! I don’t know how to make you believe me. I care about you more than anything. This is killing me.”
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Kaye's resolve wavered, but the hurt was still too fresh. “I need to figure out if I can ever trust you again.”
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Jae's frustration boiled over, and in one violent motion, he punched one of the pier's planks with his bare fist, splintering the wood. The weight of the news his mother had dropped on him and the look in Kaye’s eyes became too much to bear. He fell to his knees, defeated, and cried.
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Kaye's anger softened as she saw him in his vulnerable state. She knew Jae well enough to realize that his breakdown couldn't simply be because of their argument. Pushing their personal issues aside, she knelt beside him, her own tears falling as she saw him broken.
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"I'm sorry, Jae," she whispered, her voice trembling. "What is going on with you lately? Tell me what's hurting you."
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Jae looked up at her, his eyes filled with pain and despair. "My mom... she told me that Henry Davenport is my biological father. All these years, I've been living a lie. I finally understand why Damon treated me differently from my siblings, why Sam hates me this much."
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Kaye's heart ached for him as she wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly. "I’m sorry Jae, I’m sorry for being so selfish when you’ve had to endure this pain all by yourself, I’m here now, I promise we’ll get through this together."
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They sat there on the old pier, the stormy night and crashing waves a backdrop to their shared sorrow. In that moment, they found solace in each other's embrace, knowing that they could face the challenges ahead together.
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