EMBER'S POV

"Too full of hatred and bitterness is a bit too much, don't you think, Ember?" Kate said, shifting from one foot to another, and I eyed her curiously,


"Too much for you, Kate? No, I don't think so. Considering the fact that you almost killed me, and still had the audacity to confront me when I went to make sure that Paris was alright. You know, you can be a bit too bold sometimes, for a woman who has done a lot of wrongs... And those are all the wrongs we actually have knowledge of." I said and she visibly swallowed,

"I'm really sorry about that. It was-"

"diabolical. Diabolical is the word."


She sighed and nodded slowly, "I'm sorry." she said again, and for a moment I deluded myself that she actually was, but then I looked at the big house not so far away, and I could imagine that Paris had said his peace on the whole matter. I didn't suddenly love him for it, but I believed that it was his way. This way was easier. Get her to apologize to me, and soothe his conscience, because we all knew that the mate bond really didn't leave room for him to chase Kate off, or punish her the way she deserved, even if she had endangered his life as well.

And then, I didn't feel so sorry for her anymore, if anything, I felt a little bit annoyed. Kate could do all of the wrongs to everyone, and even me, but all Paris would demand that she do is apologize. As though an apology fixed everything.


"An apology doesn't fix everything." I blurted out, and her brows came together, "and apology doesn't fix this one. So take this pathetic little drama you must have rehearsed on the way here, to someone who will listen, or someone who will buy it."

"I'm not pretending here."

"said every pretender who ever walked the face of the earth." I said coolly "Perhaps this behavior is enough to fool everyone inside of that house, but not me. It can't ever be me." I added,

"I understand that you're angry. I should not have done any of the things I did."

"An apology without change is manipulation, Kate. And your apology is insignificant to me." her mouth fell open and then she turned to Jean, and I thought, 'Wrong move, Kate. Incredibly wrong move.'

"Please help me," she said, making her eyes round and pitiful.

"You have some audacity, miss." Jeans said, keeping his tone low and cool. I knew he could have sounded meaner, and much colder, but I had a feeling he was holding back. Perhaps wishing to let me battle this out on my own. I was going to thank him later for that, "but do you really think an apology is enough to fix everything? It might be okay for a broken jar, or a burnt meal, but for nearly taking a life?" he asked, and I could hear the edge in his voice now. He was slowly teetering toward righteously pissed now, and I had to place a hand on him to calm him down a bit.

But he had a couple of things to get off his chest.

"I've been gracious enough to not put off every urge to go after you and deal with you as I ought, because I know there are ways Ember would not want this to be done, don't push me with your theatrics. That might actually be the thing that wakes the sleeping dog."

I watched those eyes that once feigned innocence open and close with shock and wanted to howl. Instead, I kept a straight face and watched Kate struggle for composure. I'm sure there were parts of her that truly regretted catching up with us right then. And with those eyes of shock and fear, she turned to me, opening and closing her mouth like a fish that had gotten out of water.

I waited for her to say whatever made her mouth flop though, but no sound came until she finally heaved out a sigh,

"I know an apology isn't enough to fix everything. Surely it won’t be enough to fix this. So, I'm willing to do all that I can, all that I need to, to fix this. So whatever it takes, whatever it will take. I'll do it, all of it, again and again, until I earn your forgiveness."

"my forgiveness." I said, and scoffed, "Perhaps you could start by asking God for forgiveness. He is known to be ever forgiving even to the worst of the worst. But not me, Kate. I don't think you should ask me. Because you're never getting anything out of me." I said and reached for Jean's hand.

His hand clasped mine with reassurance, and together we walked away, leaving Kate to her pathetic self.

KATE'S POV

I stood there as they walked away. My teeth gritted, and my hands in fists.

My eyes stung with tears, and no, it wasn't because my apology had been refuted. It was because I could not believe those two had actually spoken to me the way they just had. This was my reward, I guess, for wanting to please Paris.

I reached for the phone I had tucked in the hem of my pants, and clicked end on the recording.

There, at least that was proof, I could offer to Paris on my well-presented apology. Hopefully, now, he could change his mind about me leaving.

At least, all of the insults I just had to bear would not be in vain. Hopefully.

One last look at Ember and her bodyguard had me frowning, but I turned away and walked back to the house.

"All for you, Paris. Everything I do, Is for you."

"here," I said, handing the phone to Paris. He sat on the sofa, watching a game and merely spared me a glance, before returning back to the game

"What is that?" he asked,

"It's a phone that holds a recording of my apology," I said and waited until he looked at me, before playing it.

Voices rang out. Ember's, mine, Jean's. and when it ended, I waited for Paris' verdict.

"she seems to have you cornered." he said, tilting his head, "they both do. Jean sure is a hard nut to crack, isn't he?"

I had no words, he seemed to be enjoying himself way too much right then.

"you knew this would happen," I said flatly and he flashed me a grin,

"turned out better than I expected to be honest. She was very sour when she walked out of this place. I see she's soothed things out with Jean though." he said, and seemed to ponder over that one, and then looked up at me,

"I've done what you asked, Paris, please tell me this changes things."

He thought for a moment, before slowly nodding, "one question though, " he said,

"yeah?"

"how does this make you feel?" he asked,

"Excuse me?"

"how does this situation you just had with Ember make you feel?" he asked again and I sighed,

"terrible."

"just terrible. You don't feel embarrassed, humiliated, pathetic, like the worst person in the world?" his words hurt, but I kept a straight face,

"Is that how you want me to feel?"

"a little bit of raw emotions might be exactly what you need, Kate?" he said and thought for a moment, "maybe then you might start putting yourself in other people's shoes when you do some of the things you do," he said and turned back to the television,

"They don't make me feel that way but you do," I said, and meant every word. He made me feel like less than dirt.

"good. That's good. And as long you are under my roof, and still want to abide by wickedness, you will continue to feel that way. That's what people like you deserve."