บททั้งหมดของ Forbidden Ties; stuck between two brothers : บทที่ 31 - บทที่ 36

The three of us left in Jeremiah's truck, I sat comfortably in the backseat, Jensen was at the passenger's side and Jeremiah was in charge of driving.It felt weird having our boss drive us but Jensen didn't seem to be moved by it.I assumed we were going to spend the ride in silence, but Jensen surprised me by launching into the town's history. "The town hall's been standing since 1892," he said, his hand gesturing animatedly. "Survived two fire, a tornado in '67, but time finally caught up with her. The foundation was crumbling, roof caved in last winter. Shame, really. It was a beautiful building."I listened, fascinated. I'd never heard Jensen string more than five words together at the construction site, and here he was giving me a full historical lecture."They tore her down last month," he continued. "Now the town's looking for someone to rebuild. A more modern structure, but keeping the original footprint."Jeremiah remained silent, his eyes were firmly fixed on the road. I

The ice cream parlor was busy with afternoon customers, but Chuck's excitement was contagious as he pressed his face close to the display case, pointing at every flavor with glee. "Can I get the cookie dough? And maybe the chocolate chip? Oh, wait...they have the choco mint!"I smiled at his enthusiasm. "Pick two, okay?" When our turn came, I placed our orders and reached for my wallet. My fingers counted the bills once, twice, and my stomach sank. It wasn't enough. I was short by several dollars. "Do you... do you have a credit system?" I asked hopefully, already knowing the answer from the attendant's unamused expression. "Cash or card only."Heat flooded my face as I scrambled through my purse, desperately searching for spare change that wasn't there. "I'll cover it." I looked up sharply. Jeremiah stood beside me, already pulling out his wallet. "No, I can't possibly-" I started,but he was already handing cash to the attendant. "It's fine." Chuck beamed up at him. "Thank

The rhythmic sound of labor filled the air while I stood at the trailer entrance, watching the crew move timber, everyone working together. Jeremiah stood at the center of it all, directing them with a commanding presence.Jensen appeared beside me, "Fall's coming."I glanced at him, confused by the emotion in his eyes. "You seem excited." I pointed out. "It's the company's anniversary soon." A small smile played at his lips. "How long have you been working here?" I asked. There was something about the way he watched everything with a dedication that went beyond a simple paycheck. "You seem very committed to be here." His expression softened. "I've been here since Jeremiah's father ran things. I was his right hand man when he was still alive."The past tense hit me. "Was? He's... dead?"Jensen nodded, his gaze was distant. "Him and his wife. A terrible accident claimed their lives." My eyes found Jeremiah across the yard, watching as he lifted a log with ease. Suddenly all I coul