All Chapters of Stolen Night With My Brother In Law: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

KATHRYN POVI did not slow down as I walked down the stairs. “Running again Kathryn?" he said. His voice stopped me before I even reached the step.I stood still for a second. Then I made myself move again, stepping down the stairs slowly. “I do not have time for this Iris," I said without looking at him.My fingers got tighter around my car keys.I felt him move closer to me. “That did not look like anything,” he said, his voice was lower now. He sounded like he was holding something back. “You do not take a child away from someone like that for no reason, " he said.My jaw got tight.I turned to face him slowly. “Because you do not belong in her life, " I said.Each word I said was colder than the last.There was silence.“I am protecting my child,” I said. “From what?" he asked, his voice was softer now.It was more intense.“From me?" he said.The answer was yes. I was protecting my child from him. I could not say that. So I chose to be cold and distant.“Kathryn…" he started to

KATHRYN POVI sat up slowly, my eyes fixed on the door and my body tense. “Who is it?" I called out quietly so I would not wake Celine.The maids' voice came from the side of the door. “Sir is asking for you," she said.Jacob.I did not respond. Why now?The maid knocked again. “He said it’s Important ma'am, " she said.I looked down at Celine. She was still asleep, her face relaxed. “I’ll be back " I whispered, though she could not hear me. Then I stood up, went to his room, my hand hovered slightly before I knocked.Once.Twice.“Come in,” Jacob's voice came from inside. Calm and Controlled.I pushed the door open. Stepped in.“You wanted to see me, " I said, keeping my voice neutral.He turned slowly. Smiled. “You came,” he said softly.“I assumed it was important, " I replied.He studied me for a moment. Then he exhaled slowly. Ran a hand through his hair. “I missed you, " he said.The words felt strange. Not warm. Not comforting. Just off.“You missed me," I repeated slowly, my b

KATHRYN POVI stood quickly. My heart jumped. “What happened?" I asked, stepping toward the sound.Anna was already there when I arrived. She was standing over the pieces. Her expression was shocking. “Oh my goodness," she said loudly. "Kathryn, I didn't expect you to be so careless."My brows pulled together. “What?"She turned to me. Slowly. Like she was performing. “I saw you earlier," she continued. "You were the one here."“I didn’t touch anything," I said immediately.The maid hesitated. Confused. Then looked at me. Then at Anna. And like that. The doubt was planted. I felt it instantly. ****Another evening it was the kitchen incident. I had barely stepped in when the cook gasped. “The soup!"I froze. Everyone turned.The pot had spilled. Burned slightly at the bottom. Anna was already shaking her head. “I left it here,” she said softly, looking directly at me. "Kathryn, why would you touch something you don’t understand?"“I didn’t touch it,” I said instantly.She sighed. L

KATHRYN POVIris stood there framed in light. His expression changed the moment he saw me. Not surprised. “Kathryn,” he said quietly. “I don’t want to talk, " I said immediately. “You don’t have to,” he replied after a moment. That should have been a warning. Instead it felt like permission. He stepped aside slowly. He didn’t pull me in. Force anything. He just opened space. I walked into it, and the door closed behind me.I let out a breath that didn’t feel like relief. More like surrender. “I just… needed the noise to stop,” I whispered. I was almost embarrassed by how honest it sounded.Silence followed.I felt his presence shift closer. “You’re shaking, " he said quietly.“I’m not," I replied quickly. My body betrayed me. A small tremor in my fingers. Then my shoulders. “I think I’m just tired, " I added, quieter this time.Iris didn’t correct me. He just looked at me like he understood how far tired could go. That was worse. Something in me loosened. Not suddenly. Not dramatic

JACOB POVI knew something was not right long before that night. It was because Kathryn started acting weird. She was quieter. She was careful in a way that was not like her.I notice these things. My jaw got a little tighter. Anna had said to me that day, "Kathryn has been going to Iris' side more often." Her voice was soft. Her eyes told a different story. "I do not think it is a coincidence anymore, " she said.I did not say anything then. I did not need to. Because I had already seen it. I had seen the way Kathryn looked at him. I had seen the timing. I had seen the way Iris appeared whenever Kathryn needed something. I had seen the way Kathryn stopped reacting to me. That part irritated me the most.I pushed myself off the railing. I walked down the hallway with my hands in my pockets. My steps were quiet and controlled. Because I needed to be sure. I needed to see it with my eyes. So I waited outside his door in the shadows.I started to think that maybe Anna was wrong. Then the