Chapter 3

Early the next morning, I stepped out of the kitchen with a freshly prepared breakfast tray, only to run into Jack coming out of the master bedroom.

He stammered, looking uncomfortable.

"Lily was having nightmares. I stayed up watching over her for the second half of the night."

I gave him a weird look.

Hadn't that been his daily routine lately?

Why was he suddenly explaining himself to me?

I gave a nonchalant nod and tried to walk past him.

The moment I took a step, Jack's voice lifted with sudden delight.

"Emma, I knew it. Deep down, you still care about me most."

"These stuffed breakfast rolls are my absolute favorite."

I slapped his hand away as he reached for the plate.

"What are you doing?"

"This is for Tom."

Without another glance, I walked past him toward the living room.

Ever since Lily moved in, the kitchen hadn't felt like mine. Claiming she needed peace and quiet for the baby, she monopolized the entire first floor. If I wanted a late-night snack, I had to walk on eggshells—she would clutch her belly and complain that the cooking smell made her nauseous, and Jack would immediately tell me to "be understanding."

Yet multiple times in the middle of the night, I had caught her sitting alone in the kitchen, happily munching on beef jerky she bought online, scrolling TikTok and laughing her ass off.

When I brought it up, Jack just brushed it off: "She’s pregnant. Why are you picking fights with her?"

I shook my head, clearing those bitter memories away.

When I walked into the living room, Tom, who had been waiting for me with a bright smile, instantly shrank back into a timid, cautious posture.

I turned around and realized Jack had followed me like a shadow.

"Emma, you've worked so hard!" Tom said, his voice laced with guilt.

"I'm so useless. If only my legs weren't broken!"

"You watched over me all night, and now you're making me breakfast... I really don't deserve this..."

Seeing his self-blame, I quickly comforted him.

"Don't say that. I did it because I wanted to."

"Besides, you only got injured protecting your pack members, and those bastards actually kicked you out—"

Before I could finish, Jack exploded behind me.

"Didn't we agree that I'd take the couch so you could have the home office?"

"Emma, you stayed in the guest room watching over him all night?!"

At Jack's roar, Tom immediately hung his head.

My temper flared instantly.

"Jack, his legs were killing him. Of course I had to watch him."

"Isn't that the exact same thing as you watching over Lily?"

Jack choked, instinctively arguing, "That's not the same..."

"How is it any different?"

I cut him off cold.

"I don't care that you care about Lily, so don't you dare meddle with me caring about Tom."

Jack froze, completely speechless.

He stood there, stunned, his thoughts churning.

I didn't have time for his nonsense. I handed the plate to Tom.

"Tom, this is from that bakery you used to love. I bought the exact spice blend. It’s going to taste amazing."

A wide smile finally broke across Tom's face.

"Thank you, Emma."

Suddenly, Jack snatched the plate away.

"Emma this, Emma that! Who gave you permission to call her Emma?"

"Why the hell are you eating food my wife bought?"

"Her name is Emma Davis! You don't get to call her Emma!"

Tom murmured softly, "But... she's my Emma..."

I looked at Jack, totally exasperated. "Have you lost your damn mind?"

Lily's voice drifted out again, calling for him.

Yet Jack didn't budge. He glared at me intensely, looking like he was ready to brawl.

Right as the tension reached its breaking point, Lily shuffled out with red-rimmed eyes.