PHOENIX

6| SHE RECOGNIZED ME

Jackson knew he wouldn't be able to forgive himself if anything happened to Sue or Ethan. Regardless of whether Sue liked it or not, he was determined to keep her from pursuing the Roys. He had been training for years, understanding the intricacies and dangers involved in confronting such a powerful family. A small mistake could easily lead to death, which was why he refused to let his sister embark on what he saw as a suicide mission. It wasn’t technically a suicide mission, but the risks were too high, especially with his sister's life at stake.

The irony of hate was that it often became the chains that bound us. These were the exact words his mentor used when Jackson first revealed his desire to learn to fight solely for revenge. His mentor quickly discerned the hatred driving Jackson, and it was this very hatred that kept Jackson motivated, pushing him to rise each time he fell.

Reflecting on his mentor’s wisdom, Jackson realized that hate, while a powerful motivator, could also be a dangerous shackle. It had the potential to cloud judgment and lead to reckless decisions. This understanding reinforced his resolve to prevent Sue from being consumed by the same destructive emotions. He needed to protect her, not just physically, but emotionally as well.

Jackson, you need to channel that hate into something productive. His mentor had said. Revenge might give you a temporary sense of satisfaction, but it won't bring back what you've lost. It won't heal the wounds.

At the time, Jackson had scoffed at the notion. How could he possibly channel his hatred into something productive when all he wanted was to see the Roy family suffer? But over time, he began to understand. His mentor wasn't telling him to let go of his desire for justice—he was telling him to use it wisely.

He promised himself that he was never going to let anything slow him down, and he wasn't going to start now. Even if he died in the end, he wanted to die after finishing his mission. There was no way he was dying without getting his revenge first.

Sue was a very stubborn girl, but Jackson was equally stubborn. He would convince her to let him handle everything, one way or another. He always knew how to persuade her when they were kids, and now he had to believe that he still had that power over her because now he needed it more than ever before.

His revenge would mean nothing if the people he loved got caught in the crossfire. It was his responsibility to make sure that nothing happened to either of them. When he started this, he hadn't planned on involving anybody, especially not his little sister. He wanted to make sure that whatever he did, it never affected them, and he intended to keep that promise.

In your pursuit of revenge, always make sure that no innocent people are hurt in the process. You don't want to live with that guilt for the rest of your life. You are still young for that and you have so much ahead of you. I know I'll never be able to change your mind about it but I can at least try to guide you. You are a good man, with a good heart, and I would really like it if you could stay that way.

His mentor's words kept ringing in his head before he fell into a deep sleep. His mentor was the only person who had helped him stay sane during the years of training. No matter where he was, his mentor remained a guiding force. He treated Jackson like a son, and Jackson wasn’t a fool to not appreciate that. He learned from that man that family isn’t always blood.

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Jackson woke up the following day, exhausted. He hadn't slept half the night, consumed with thoughts about how to make his sister listen to him. The stakes were high, and he needed a plan—fast. He didn’t have much time, and he still had other pressing matters to attend to.

When he returned from Saudi Arabia, his main goal was to destroy the Roys. That had been his number one priority. He never wanted his sister to be part of that fight. In fact, he never thought he would see her again because, in his mind, Sue was supposed to be at university in Singapore, far away from this chaos.

He had been so sure of his path. There were no second thoughts about what he needed to do. He had believed he was alone in his quest, and if things went wrong, he would be the only one to bear the consequences. But now, everything had changed.

Not only did he have a sister to protect, but he also had a little brother. Ethan was just an innocent kid, oblivious to the events that had transpired five years ago, and Jackson intended to keep it that way.

"I can’t let Sue into this," he muttered to himself as he splashed cold water on his face. "If anything happened to her and Ethan, I would never forgive myself." The weight of that responsibility was crushing, but he knew what he had to do.

Jackson spent the morning gathering his thoughts and formulating a plan. He needed to distract Sue from her vengeance and redirect her focus elsewhere. But how?

He decided to leave his room as early as possible if he wanted to stop by Sue's apartment and also start what he came here to do. He wanted to know everything there was to know about Roy and his family.

Jackson went to the bathroom and took a shower. After he was done, he rummaged through his bag, selecting clothes that would help him blend in, then he left the hotel room, his mind focused on the task ahead.

He was walking through the lobby, lost in his thoughts, when he collided with someone. The impact jolted him back to the present, and he instinctively reached out to steady the person he had bumped into. At the same time, the other person's phone slipped from their hand and clattered to the ground.

"Sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going," he said, crouching down to pick up the phone.

The other person mirrored his action, and their hands touched. Jackson froze, a sudden rush of familiarity flooding through him. No matter how many years went by, he would never forget that touch, those beautiful hands, and who they belonged to.

His eyes slowly lifted, and he found himself staring into the wide, astonished eyes of Melissa. She was the woman who had betrayed him, the woman who had set the fire meant to kill him.

"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. I hope I didn't cause any problems for you," she said, her voice as soft and familiar as ever. He knew the softness of that voice too well, maybe even more than most people did.

Jackson cleared his throat, forcing himself to speak. "I wasn't paying attention either. Forgive me for my ignorance." As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized how bad an idea it was. Her eyes widened in surprise, and he saw recognition dawning in those beautiful, haunting eyes. He shouldn't have spoken again.

Even after all these years, Melissa still looked just as stunning as he remembered. Everything that had happened between them came flooding back, the good and the bad, making him smile a little until the memories of that fateful day resurfaced. The day he almost died because of her. Because she saw him as a threat.

"I have somewhere to go and I'm already late. See you," Jackson said hurriedly, hoping to escape before he lost his cool and exposed himself. He knew Melissa was smart and that if he stayed any longer, she would figure out who he was before he could come up with a solution.

"You're going to pretend like you don't know me? After five years without seeing me, this is how you react when you see me?" she said, frustration clear in her voice. Jackson felt a surge of anger.

"What are you talking about?" he replied, deciding to play dumb. He knew she already suspected it was him, but he wasn’t about to boost her ego. Never!

"Really, Jackson? Am I that unimportant to you? You leave me for five years, making everyone believe you're dead, and when you see me you pretend not to know me? I can't believe you!" Melissa's voice was filled with hurt and anger.

Is she serious right now? Jackson thought. After what she did to me, she expects me to pretend like nothing happened? Something is definitely wrong with her head.

"Ma'am, I think you're mistaking me for someone else. I'm Zachary Stone, and I have no idea who Jackson is. I just moved here a few days ago, and since I'm in the process of finding an apartment, I'm staying in this hotel. Do you mind if I ask you who Jackson is?"

Melissa looked him up and down, as if trying to discern the truth in his words. Her eyes searched his face, and he felt the tension in the air thickening. He wasn’t expecting her to say anything, but then she spoke, her voice softer.

"I'm sorry for misunderstanding you. I'm also sorry for how I acted. I'm usually not like this with people, I just thought you were someone I knew five years ago. I'm so sorry, please excuse me."

She left him standing there and literally ran up the stairs. Jackson watched her retreating figure, confusion and anger swirling inside him. What is wrong with her?

Jackson knew exactly what he was supposed to do, continue with what he planned for the day, but no, that's not what he did. He ran up those stairs, following her. When he saw the door that she went through, he found himself knocking. The door didn't open for a while, and he was about to leave when it finally creaked open.

Melissa stood there, and Jackson could tell she had been crying. Her eyes were puffy and red, and she seemed surprised to see him at her door.

"What are you doing here? I told you that I mistook you for someone I know, and I already apologized for that," she said, her voice shaky.

Jackson held the door when she was about to close it. "I'm sorry, I just noticed that you were upset, and I wanted to know if you're okay or if perhaps I said something to make you upset."

"You don't have to worry about me. I'm okay, and if I'm really upset, you can be rest assured that it has nothing to do with you. Now, if you'll excuse me." She closed the door before he could say anything. He didn't even know she had that much strength in her tiny body.

He stood there for a long time, not knowing what to do. He could knock again and just tell her that he really was Jackson and that he was here to make her and her whole family pay for what they did to him, but that would mean that all his hard work for the past three years would go to waste. They would just kill him, or Melissa would kill him the moment he told her the truth. After all, she was Roy's daughter, and she didn't hesitate to burn him five years ago; she could do it again and maybe make sure this time around, he stayed dead.

Jackson sighed, leaning against the wall next to her door. His mind raced with conflicting thoughts. He couldn't believe he had been so reckless, but seeing her again after all these years had stirred up emotions he thought he had buried long ago. The pain, the betrayal, the anger—it all came flooding back, threatening to overwhelm him.

He took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure. He needed to focus. He couldn't let his emotions get the best of him, not now. He had a mission to complete, and he couldn't afford any distractions, no matter how much seeing Melissa had shaken him.

After a few moments, he pushed himself off the wall and walked away from her door. He needed to get back on track, gather information about Roy and his family, and ensure Sue and Ethan stayed safe. He couldn't let his guard down, not even for a second.

As he left the hotel, he made a mental note to keep a closer eye on Melissa. She was an unpredictable variable in his plan, and he needed to know what she was up to. But for now, he had to focus on the bigger picture.

He walked briskly to Sue's apartment, his mind already strategizing his next moves. When he reached her door, he knocked and waited. Sue opened the door, her expression a mix of surprise and concern.

"Jackson, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost," she said, stepping aside to let him in.

"I just ran into Melissa," he said bluntly, walking past her into the apartment. "She’s here, in the same hotel I’m staying at."

Sue's eyes widened. "Melissa? What did she say?"

"She recognized me, or at least she suspects it's me. I had to lie and tell her I was someone else, but she’s smart. She'll figure it out eventually if she hasn’t already," Jackson explained, pacing the room.

Sue frowned. "This complicates things. What are you going to do?"

"I need to accelerate my plans," Jackson said, stopping to look at her. "I have to take down the Roys before they figure out who I am and come after us. You and Ethan need to stay out of this, Sue. It's too dangerous."

Sue crossed her arms, a determined look on her face. "Jackson, you can't do this alone. Let me help you."

"No," Jackson said firmly. "I can't risk your lives. Please, just take care of Ethan and keep a low profile. Let me handle this."