Mag-log inTwo months later…Claire stood behind the podium with cameras flashing so fast it looked like lightning going off in one spot. John stood just off to the side, with his arms folded, doing his best not to look too proud and failing at it completely."Thank you all for coming." Claire said, adjusting the mic. "I know there's been a lot said about my family this year, some of it true, most of it exhausting."A few reporters laughed."I'm here today to officially announce my return to public life, and to talk about where the Jenkins family goes from here." She continued. "I'll be establishing a foundation focused on survivor support and legal aid for people who can't afford to fight cases the way we were fortunate enough to.""Miss Jenkins, does this have anything to do with your father's trial?" One reporter shouted."It has everything to do with it." Claire said plainly. "Not everyone gets a Thomas. Not everyone gets an Andrew with a flash drive. I want to change that."More flashes wen
A month later…John and Claire were finally in the Maldives. They were in a restaurant, eating and laughing. The past two weeks had been the best for them.Karen was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison with no option of parole. Her sentence was very reduced because of Kyle's influence. Claire also got a restraining order for whenever she finally made it out of jail.Kyle was sentenced to twenty years in prison, and he was not a bit bothered about anything. He knew he'd have the same privileges wherever he was in the world. He knew he couldn't go after Mark and his family anymore since Mark had attended the court sentencing where he was convicted with the president of the States. He didn't know Mark was also connected in powerful places like he was.Anabelle had to serve five years in prison also. Her sentence was shockingly reduced. The court nullified Rebecca's relationship with Mark as she was born out of forced wedlock. Although it didn't stop Mark from wanting to be
Present time…"Kyle, that son of a bitch." Mark growled, shaking his head in anger and surprise."How do you know him?" John asked. "He's Karen's father.""He used to be a competitor until he became devoted to politicians. His obsession with ruining my company got so crazy, I had to get protection, and just when I thought he had moved on." Mark scoffed, shaking his head."How long ago was this?" Claire asked."Years. Before you were even old enough to sit in on my board meetings." Mark said. "I thought it ended when he moved into politics but I was clearly wrong.""That's mental." John said."You really think you deserve help? Sort it out on your own. Hell, go report to the police yourself or something. Just leave us out of it!" Vivian growled."I know I do not deserve your help, but for the sake of your daughter. She has done absolutely nothing wrong in this case." Anabelle begged."Don't use her as your excuse." Vivian snapped. "You've used her enough already."Mark's eyes met Rebec
A week before..."So, speak mum! I'm losing patience." Rebecca snapped, shaking her legs in anger and fear at the same time. Anabelle was barely ever scared or worried about anything, so her reactions worried Rebecca and imprinted the same emotion on her."Just say it, whatever it is." Abraham added, his voice quieter than Rebecca's but no less tense."So, a year before I conceived you, I was dating this guy. It wasn't going to lead anywhere serious, but he was really rich, so I didn't want to lose him." Anabelle explained. "He took care of my needs, and he only asked for sex once in a while whenever he was in town.""Who is he?" Rebecca asked immediately."Let her finish, Rebecca." Abraham said, though his knuckles were white where he gripped the arm of the couch.Abraham took a deep breath and rested his back on the couch, seeing that it'd take a lot of time before she'd be done talking."So, he came to me one day and told me he had a job for me. It was a one time thing, and I might
A week later…Claire was back in the penthouse. She didn't want to go back to the mansion immediately. They sat on the couch with John's head on Claire's thighs. She was playing with his hair, and he was overly infatuated with her face. He couldn't take his eyes off her no matter how much he tried to."Why are you so gorgeous?" John asked, and Claire helplessly blushed."Stop." She beat his head playfully."I could stare at your face forever and not get bored for a single moment." He muttered."You flatter me too much." She giggled."I mean it though." John said, propping himself up on his elbow to look at her properly. "I spent two weeks staring at a hospital ceiling wondering if I'd ever get to say something this corny to you again.""Don't do that." Claire said, her voice softening. "Don't remind me of the ceiling.""Sorry." John said, lying back down. "I think we should go back to the room." He winked at her. She immediately understood what he was trying to say."And you didn't te
Tony wouldn't let John drive, because he knew it meant sending everyone of them to an early grave. He wasn't particularly careful either, but he was way better than John who just wanted to see Claire already."Can you go any faster?" John asked, gripping the door handle."I can, and then we'll spend the rest of the day explaining to a cop why we were doing ninety on a hospital road." Tony said."Fine. Just don't hit anything.""I make no promises." Tony said, and sped up anyway."How far are we?" John asked, checking his phone for the third time in two minutes."Fifteen minutes, if the lights cooperate." Tony said."Make it ten.""I heard you the first time." Tony said, not slowing down but not exactly speeding up either.Mark and Vivian were still not speaking to each other. It was weird sitting so close to each other and not speaking to each other. Usually, Mark would be all over her, but he was just by himself, happy he had finally been vindicated. Andrew was smiling and happy with
Claire sat on the kitchen counter, legs dangling, scrolling through nothing in particular when Andrew called again."What now?" she groaned."You can scratch what I told you earlier." He exhaled into the phone. "He had to leave the state again."Claire was quiet for a moment. "That's exactly why I
Claire had her usual morning exercise routine without leaving the room, since the gym was quite far from where she stayed. John's room was more comfortable than she had imagined it would be. Even his bed felt like it was hers. To her, everything just aligned. She had her bath and changed into his t
John couldn't stop staring at Claire. No matter how serious the conversation with potential investors got, he found himself looking for her across the room. Her elongated conversation with the stranger— whom he later discovered to be Andrew Fletcher, surprised him. Mark Jenkins didn't eventually s
Everyone turned around to see who could have such an authoritative voice amidst the whole drama, and there stood Andrew. He was dressed in a blue tuxedo, and he rushed over to stop Natalie from hitting Claire. Andrew walked in on them in time to stop the madness. “And who do you think you are?!”







