Chapter 20
The sound of footsteps cut through the tension like a blade.
Both Sally and Brad turned their heads in unison–and there he was. That familiar figure stood tall in the doorway, casting a long shadow over the living room. It was Jaxon.
Why was he suddenly back? Unknowingly, they shared the same thought.
“Jaxon, I was just a little emotional, that’s all…” Brad let go of Sally’s arms without thinking, brows furrowing as he turned to face the man before him.
Jaxon gave him a dispassionate glance–calm, cold, unreadable–then shifted his gaze to Sally.
Their eyes locked just for a second. Then he looked away.
“You two arguing?” he asked casually, his voice as cool as ever.
Brad opened his mouth but didn’t speak. But Sally beat him to it, her tone flat. “Just a difference of opinion.”
A difference of opinion?” Brad suddenly scoffed. “You mean how Grandpa won’t stop trying to fix our marriage? When he saw her today, he made me bring Nick too. If I had known you were going to be here-”
“If I’d known you’d be here, I wouldn’t have come.” Sally’s words cut in like ice, sharp and clean.
“You really just had to embarrass me like that?” Brad growled.
“Oh? Wasn’t it you who embarrassed me first, Mr. Zale?” Sally’s lips curled in a cool, mocking smile. Her eyes shimmered with a biting chill.
“You” Brad stepped forward, but a voice called out from the kitchen. “Dinner’s ready.”
They all turned. The maid had finished preparing the meal. Jaxon was the first to look away. He cast a look at the couple.
“Since you’re both here, just sit down and have dinner properly. Don’t argue in front of father. You both know his health isn’t. great.”
He shot a pointed glance at Brad–subtle, but heavy with warning.
“I’ll go get the others,” Sally said politely to Jaxon.
Jaxon nodded and stepped slightly aside, giving her room to pass. As she brushed by, her shoulder grazed the crook of his
arm.
For the briefest moment, she caught the faint, clean scent that clung to him. But then the distance returned immediately.
Jaxon glanced after her, eyes unreadable and impossibly deep. Brad watched him for a beat before asking, “Why’d you come back all of a sudden?”
“Father asked me to join him for dinner,” Jaxon replied coolly. “After the disaster at the last family gathering, I guess he’s trying to make up for it.”
“I’m sorry,” replied Brad. “Because of everything between me and her, you all—”
“The one you should apologize to isn’t us.” Jaxon cut him off mid–sentence, his words heavy with implication.
The implication was loud and clear. Before Brad could respond, Jaxon was already striding away.
Watching him go, Brad’s eyes slowly darkened.
Why did it always feel like Jaxon was deliberately shielding Sally? He thought. Was it just his imagination?
Dinner, of course, had to go on. With Howard at the table, no one could leave early. Not only that–he even insisted Sally share a few drinks with them.
It wasn’t until late into the evening that she realized Grandpa’s real intention.
1/3
Chapter 20
“Sally, you’ve had quite a bit to drink tonight. Why don’t you just stay here and rest?” Howard said kindly, his eyes practically twinkling with matchmaking enthusiasm. “Share a room with Brad, and let Nick stay with me tonight…
Sally glanced toward Brad, about to refuse–but he beat her to it. “Grandpa, I’ve still got work tonight. I don’t think I can stay.”
“What work could possibly be more important than your wife?” Howard’s voice sharpened. “You’re not going anywhere. Stay and take care of Sally–look at her, drunk out of her mind. She can’t be left alone!”
Sally lifted her head, aiming her gaze at Grandpa–but her eyes drifted, landing instead on Jaxon, who was sitting beside him.
He was reclining against the couch, elbow propped on the armrest, fingertips pressed lightly against his lips. His face betrayed no emotion as he watched the family drama unfold.
“I don’t need anyone to look after me,” Sally tore her gaze away and turned back to Grandpa. “I’ll just sleep in the guest room.”
Having said that, she wobbled to her feet, heading upstairs.
“Brad, go after her!” Howard insisted.
Brad hesitated–only a second–but in the end, he had no choice. He followed, unaware of Jaxon’s gaze behind him and Sally.
“Jaxon,” Howard continued. “Did you bring a driver tonight?”
Jaxon’s gaze drifted to his father, his lips twitched into a dry, quiet laugh. “You’re kicking me out while keeping the lovebirds
in?”
“Don’t twist my words. You know what I mean.” Howard leaned in, lowering his voice. “Your room’s right next to Brad’s. It’s been so long since they’ve been together… it’s only natural…”
He didn’t finish the sentence, but the implication was clear. Jaxon–ever sharp–understood perfectly.
He smirked, that hint of amusement never reaching his eyes. “You may have lit the match, but I doubt the fire will catch.”
Howard looked puzzled, but before he could ask, Jaxon was already walking upstairs.
He reached the landing–only to see Brad standing outside the bedroom, fists pounding on the door.
“Sally! Open the door!” shouted Brad.
Jaxon passed by him without a word. Brad turned, startled. “Jaxon? You’re staying over too?”
“Yeah.” Jaxon gave him a glance, then walked straight toward the study,
Behind him, the banging continued. “Sally! Open up!”
On his way to the study, Jaxon passed the guest rooms. Every other room was locked expect the one Sally was staying in. He couldn’t help but let out a low scoff.
Father really went all out, didn’t he? Desperate to patch things up between the two. But… what’s the use?
Meanwhile, inside the room, Sally leaned against the balcony, her cheeks flushed from wine, her body swaying slightly in the breeze.
She could hear the knocking. Loud, insistent. But she chose to ignore it.
The night air felt good–cool against the back of her neck where she’d tied her hair into a messy bun during dinner.
She reached up to undo it. But as she yanked the hair tie off, it snapped loose, and flew straight over the balcony railing into the one next door.
Her brows pinched. Through the glass partition, she could just make out the small band lying on the neighboring balcony floor.
She hesitated. Then, without another thought, she stepped up and climbed over to reach her hair band.
2/3
