All Chapters of Heartbreak And Wars: Chapter 151 - Chapter 160

Aloe's POVThe primary debate was scheduled for Portland State University, moderated by local journalists and broadcast statewide. Blake had been preparing for weeks—mock debates with Margaret playing Crawford, practicing responses to anticipated attacks, memorizing statistics about criminal justice reform."You're going to be great," I told him before we left for the venue. Hope clung to his leg, sensing his tension."Daddy nervous?" she asked, her two-year-old vocabulary barely capturing the concept."A little nervous," Blake admitted, kneeling to her level. "But nervous is okay. It means I care about doing well.""You always do good, daddy."The simplicity of toddler faith was simultaneously comforting and terrifying Hope had no concept of how badly this could go, how much rode on Blake's performance tonight.At the university, protesters lined both sides of the entrance. Some held signs supporting Blake "Second Chances Matter" and "Reform Now" while others condemned him: "Felons D

Wakes's POVThe morning after Blake's primary victory, I convened emergency strategy meeting at my Portland office.The general election would be different beast entirely Republicans would deploy resources Crawford hadn't had, attacks would be more brutal, and Blake's novelty as convicted-felon-candidate would be exploited mercilessly."The Republican candidate is Sarah Mitchell," Sofia announced, pulling up her profile. "Former federal prosecutor, two terms as county commissioner, significant funding from law enforcement unions. She's formidable."Mitchell's campaign website was already updated with attacks: "Blake Matthew: Convicted Criminal Wants to Make Your Laws. Sarah Mitchell: Prosecutor Who Put Criminals in Prison Where They Belong.""Subtle," Marcus observed dryly."Effective," I corrected. "This is going to be uglier than the primary. Mitchell has unlimited funding from conservative PACs, and she'll use every dollar to paint Blake as dangerous criminal."Blake looked exhaus

Blake's POVThe Oregon State Capitol building loomed ahead as I drove through Salem's early morning traffic. January rain pelted the windshield, appropriate weather for my first day as State Representative. Aloe had wanted to come, but Hope had woken up with fever, and someone needed to stay home with her."You'll be fine," she'd assured me before I left. "Just be yourself. That's who they elected."Sofia met me in the parking lot, clipboard already in hand. She'd transitioned seamlessly from campaign manager to chief of staff, trading campaign t-shirts for professional blazers but maintaining the same intense energy."Ready for orientation?" she asked. "We have new legislator training all morning, office assignments at noon, then you meet your legislative assistant at two.""Legislative assistant? I get staff?""You get one assistant funded by the state. I'm your chief of staff, funded through the campaign account. It's a small operation compared to what you're used to seeing in Cong

Sofia's POVI first met Heron Lewis properly at the Second Chances Initiative's quarterly board meeting in March. I'd heard about him Morrison's former operative who'd helped frame Blake, then cooperated and testified to bring down the conspiracy. But seeing him in person was different.He was early forties, quiet intensity in dark eyes that seemed to assess threats automatically. After serving his reduced sentence for cooperation, he'd started working security for the foundation appropriate irony, the man who'd helped manufacture Blake's charges now protecting the organization fighting to prevent similar injustices."Sofia Martinez?" he said after the meeting, approaching carefully. "I wanted to introduce myself properly. I'm Heron Lewis, head of security and intelligence operations.""I know who you are." My tone was cooler than intended. "You helped Morrison try to destroy Blake.""I did. I was paid to commit federal crimes, and I made that choice. I've spent the last two years try

Aloe's POVI discovered I was pregnant again on a Tuesday morning in August, exactly three years after Hope's arrival. Blake was at the capitol for summer session, James was at day camp, and Hope was with my mother for the day. I stared at the test's two pink lines with mixture of shock and joy.We hadn't been trying. We'd barely discussed having more children, both of us consumed with Blake's legislative work and managing two kids already. But here it was unplanned, unexpected, undeniable.I called Sofia first, just like last time. "I'm pregnant. Again. I don't know how to tell Blake.""Why wouldn't you just tell him? He loves being a father.""Because he's in the middle of re-election planning, managing legislation implementation, and barely has time to sleep. Adding a newborn to that seems cruel.""Aloe, Blake will be thrilled. Overwhelmed, but thrilled. Tell him tonight."I spent the day oscillating between excitement and anxiety. Another baby meant another pregnancy, another newb