KAREN"Drugs, Karen,"Henley's voice echoed in my head as I stared blankly at my computer screen. Apparently I still haven't digested the news properly. How could I?I see no reason why Jason would want to destroy my family and all we have worked for. I just don't get it. None of it makes any sense. I force myself to concentrate on the task at hand which is finding out for myself if Henley is right. I don't want to believe him, even though a small but significant part of me believes everything he told me. Why would Henley lie against his brother? To paint a bad image of him, maybe?Jason's image is rotten where I'm concerned. Henley is not the kind of man who back bites and certainly not the type to spread rumors about his rival just to get the girl. No, he's not that type of person. There's a stiff muscle in my neck and shoulder that makes itself known as I type in a search word. Turning my head this way and that, I wait for search results. As expected, nothing unusual pops up

HENLEYMy phone rings and vibrates on the table as I get ready to leave the office. It's been a really rough week so far, especially when I have to be extra careful in order to avoid those nosy reporters. I am really, really trying to stay off the news as much as I can. Nothing seems to be working though because it seems they're all hell bent on milking this piece of fodder thrown at them until all the juice runs out. Well, let them have at it, I'll be here trying to restore my peace of mind. Peace that my father didn't bother to restore himself and mother so calmly shattered what was left of it. At this point, I don't really know what to think of them anymore. It's getting really hard seeing them as my parents now and I really don't want to entertain some thoughts even though it seems I am already having an immense amount of clarity which is all because of one stranger. A stranger no one refuses to acknowledge. No wonder she had to go to the news to get my attention. Well, now

HENLEY  "Are you ready to do this with me?" I turned my head to face a very quiet Neila whose gaze was fixed on the house.  She took a deep breath and nodded, "yes I am. Nothing has really changed about this place since I saw it last, maybe just the flowers," she commented and made to get out of the vehicle.  "Let me get that for you," I say to her, referring to the door on her end.  She gives me a weak smile and steps out gingerly like the earth would swallow her immediately she sets her feet on it as I hold the door for her.  Slamming the door shut, I led the way to the mansion with her walking quietly behind me.  The weekend was the best time to meet my Father because he had a lot of free time during the weekends. The only downside is that Jason and Mother would be present, just like the last time.  

KAREN"Hey," I smile sweetly. "Hi, Karen," Henley grins from across the table. It's our second date so far and I'm going to make sure it's not the last. I have had time to think, really think, since the last time we were together and no matter the angle of thought I used to approach the matter, I always arrived at the same conclusion.I'm eager to hear what Henley will say about it once I inform him. Though this isn't an official date, I consider it a date since Henley asked me to go with him. He's been going through a lot ever since his biological mother announced her existence and now, things are getting really out of hand. I don't blame him for needing some sort of moral support and it's touching that he thought to invite me. "Thank you for asking me to come. It's like you know that all I want to do is help you in any way I can," I give his arm a soft squeeze. How is he able to keep his head above water in times like this?I can't help but wonder. "I really couldn't come her

HENLEYNo matter what I have done or said or even tried to do, nothing seems to be enough to calm her down or make her happy. Hearing her sound so broken and devastated over the phone as she politely asked me to come over was one of the worst moments of my life. Looking down at her as she sobbed quietly, there's nothing I wouldn't do to stop her tears and ease her sorrows. I'd go to the end of the fucking world for her, she just doesn't know the extent of my love for her. "Sweet Karen," I called softly and gently held her shaking shoulders as she buried her head in my neck and cried. Running my hand slowly up and down her back, I coo to her softly, whispering sweet words to her to calm her down. "I can't believe that after everything we went through together they chose to believe him. Of all people, they chose him over their own daughter," she said, her voice hoarse from crying. "It's really disappointing, I agree. They had no right to cut you off like that. Anyone can see that