Chapter 58
The truth was that I had never planned on messing with my mom’s grave. I got the whole “let the dead rest in peace” thing,
When Nancy was alive, I didn’t spend much time with her, showing her the love she deserved, and I sure wasn’t going to start now by bothering her at peace in her grave.
It was Hayden who took the liberty to go poking around the cemetery, which was what got everyone’s wires crossed.
Sophia and Yosef had brought it up before, but that was more about saving face for him. But what was Sophia’s angle! And with her stammering now, my gut was telling me she had gotten something to hide
After a long puse, Sophia looked at Yosef for a lifeline. I only opposed it because I didn’t want you to get flak…”
“Yeah, I know you had my back. Relax, will your Our boy’s the priority!” Yoset tried to calm her down.
Finally, Yosef turned to me. “You hear that! Stop stirring up trouble about your mom’s business! Let it rest!
“I said I’m throwing her a new funeral, and I mean it. I retorted, not budging an inch.
Yosef went to swing at me again, but this time, I was ready and dodged out of the way.
I met his gaze with a cold face. Hayden was the one who said i
Vosed wavered for a second at that, but then Sophia tugged at him, and he snapped, “I don’t care how you handle it, but if you don’t, I’m taking back those eight percent of Jackson Group shares you’re sitting on!”
My heart dropped down to my toes. Those shares were my inheritance after Phillip passed. Sophia and Yosef had never brought them up, Yosef mentioning them now was likely Sophia’s doing
When Marlon asked if I had any interest in taking over Jackson Group, I was on the fence. But it looked like before I could make a move, Sophia was already gunning for my shares.
“The legacy my grandfather left me? I’m not giving it up,” I said firmly. Then I turned to Sophia, who was clinging to Yosef, and I added with a small smile, “If you want to play hardball, Im ready for the game”
Sophia’s eyes flickered with malice before she played the victim, hiding behind Yosef. “Honey, look what she
Yourf shielded her automatically and lashed out at me. “Yvonne Jackson! How long are you going to keep this upit
I was a bit stunned. Yosef hardly ever used my full name, so this time, he was really steaming
With a son in the picture, I guess I was just chopped liver to him I said my piece, so I didn’t bother with any more back–and–forth and walked out.
As I reached the door, I ran into Quinn, who was coming in. We locked eyes, gave each other a once–over, and passed by in silent agreement without a word.
I figured Sophia’s son was probably two peas in a pod with her. But what I didn’t catch was that Quinn turned and watched me go for a long
moment
I tuled on the office after lunch, catching up with Lucy over coffee.
She’d heard about my homecoming and plunked her iced coffee on the table, annoyed. “Your dad’s so old–school! He’s got a son now, but who cares? You’re his kid, too! He’s totally playing favorites!”
“Who wouldn’t want a son, right?” I chuckled. Even in this day and age, where daughter were just as loved, some folks still couldn’t shake their old ways of thinking
I used to think my dad was one of the good dads, not the type to value sons over daughters. I guess I didn’t know men as well as I thought,
Lucy massaged her temples, diving into the analysis of my mess of a life. “You marry a loser and have to divorce him, and now your dad’s got some crazy woman under his spell, trying to snatch your shares, What are you gonna do?
I sipped my latte, my voice barely there. T just take things as they come
But Lucy wasn’t about to let us mope for long. She leaned in with a smark and said, “I’ve got a little surprise for you.
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7:48 PM d
Chapter 58
“What?” I looked at her, confused.
Lacy winked and then glanced over my shoulder.
I followed her gaze and there was Dylan, standing at the coffee shop door. He spotted me and Lucy and headed straight over without a second thought.
I almost choked on my coffee. Lucy was sang, saying “See? You’re already looking happier. Mixing with younger guys is good for the soul?”
I rubbed my forehead. Sometimes, I really wondered what was going on in her head.
Dylan was at our table in a fash. I was still figuring out how to greet him when he leaned in, shocked. “Yonne, what happened to your face! It’s all
It took me a moment to remember the slap from Yosef, and I instinctively dodged. “It’s nothing. I just ran into something”
Dylan clearly wasn’t buying that weak story, but he let it go. He got up and asked the waiter for ice.
Lucy sat across from us, grinning. “See! He’s so considerate
“Did you call him over? Lasked, not looking thrilled..
I was trying to avoid Dylan, but Lury kept trying to set us up.
“He keeps asking about you, and he seemed really genuine” Lucy coughed to cover her guilt and took a big gulp of her coffee, which was so that it made her grimace.
Dylan came back with an ice pack to help with the swelling
1 quickly snatched up the ice pack “I got this. If he stepped in to help, rumors would start flying.
Dylan’s hand hung in the air for a long moment before he asked. “Did Hayden do this!
My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly explained. “It’s not him!” I couldn’t believe he thought Hayden hit me.
Dylan was silent, his eyes deep and serious.
I was surprised; I never expected such a look from someone his age. I’d always seen him as just a kil
Lucy found his words amusing. The wouldn’t dare! Yvonne’s from the Jackson family, after all!”
By the end, Lucy’s voice dropped a bit, probably remembering what I’d said about Sophia and Yosef taking back my shares.
bitter
The awkwardness didn’t last long before she added, “Even if Hayden’s a jerk, he wouldn’t resort to violence. If he dared to hit Yvonne, I’d be the first to go after him?””
“He’s avoiding me; it’s not possible he hit me. You guys are reading too much into it,” I said with a helpless smile, thinking they were really good at imagining things.
When he heard my words, the quin in Dylan’s eyes deepened. “Yonne, you’ve been through so much.”
Sensing the shift, Lucy stood up and said, “Uh, I’ve had too much coffee. Gotta hit the restroom. With that, she made a quick exit, not even giving me a chance to follow, leaving me alone with Dylan. The vibe suddenly got kind of flirty.
Extra Check–in
