THIRTY

"Ethan honey..." Grandma Reed's voice followed as she gently pushed the door open."Ma.." Ethan pocketed his phone and walked up to her."I know you'd be leaving first thing tomorrow morning." she smiled and caressed his cheek like a baby. "You won't even say hi first."Ethan forced a smile despite his mind still racing with thoughts of Talia."Anything the problem ma?""Not really honey... You looked troubled this morning before you left the house. Anything the matter?" her worrisome eyes searched his and Ethan chuckled.Grandma Reed tried not to keep any favorites between her two sons and extending same to her grandchildren but yes. Only she would come all the way to his room to ask him a question like this."Ma....there's nothing to be worried about... I'm not twelve." he chuckled and she rolled her eyes."Adults are more delicate and wounded than kids are. They need more love." she rubbed his hand and he nodded with a smile."Grandpa would be mad I stole his wife even for a minute

THIRTY ONE

The breakfast table that looked like a celebration turned quiet. Ethan's hands paused midair as he had tried picking up his spoon. His mother was drowning in smiles across him but nothing made sense right now. “I still can’t believe how quickly it all came together,” she clasped her hands together. “Mrs. Bellingham is an absolute delight, Ethan. So refined. So… sensible.” Ethan barely heard her. His gaze rested on the silverwares that lined the table. “I met her in Valmont last year,” his mother continued. “At the charity gala. We spoke for barely ten minutes, but I remember thinking—this is a woman who understands legacy. Family. That’s rare these days.” She slid the box toward him. “I had this prepared months ago. Just in case,” she said, eyes shining. “A mother knows.” Ethan eyes flickered to the slim velvet box. He didn’t touch it. The silence stretched. “Open it,” she urged softly. He folded his napkin with deliberate calm and set it aside. “I can’t accept this, Mom.” H

THIRTY-TWO

"Just so you know... I'm not an artist. If yours comes out better, it's just as it should be." Ethan whined in a whisper as they sat opposite each other, a sketch book and pencils in their hands, sketching each other's curves and loveliness. Talia stifled a chuckle. They were in the library. As much as she wished they could have more open dates, it wasn't possible with her kind of family. But Ethan didn't seem to be complaining. "Done." she smiled, meanwhile Ethan had this scared look as he looked down at his own craft. Talia laughed out now but got hushed by the librarian. As she stretched her hands to grab his book which he was withholding, insisting to redo his sketch, she felt something wet on her lips. A whisper following in her ears. "Babe...." "Babe..... *It did the job. It pulled her awake. Awake from the only place where she could own a real happy smile — DREAMLAND. The first thing Talia felt when she woke again was the weight. Not pain. Not fear. Weight.It pressed do

THIRTY-THREE

Three days more, that's all Talia had to wait, because today, it was all coming down. The email didn’t come with noise. It arrived with a quiet disbelief in each word. Just a subject line that landed quietly in the inbox of every senior member of the Benson Group:— URGENT: Sanderson Medical Review (Confidential)Bill Benson opened it first. At first, it looked like any other compliance file—structured, clean, annoyingly thorough. But then he started reading, and his expression changed.The moment the first call came in, Bill’s jaw tightened. He turned to his secretary. “Call for a meeting! Now. "Across the city, Ethan sat in his office, phone to his ear, a smile to his face because Bill Benson finally said it.“We’re pulling out. Not just pulling out,” Bill continued. “We’re burning it down on the way out.”“Good.”After a long meeting, the Bensons had come to a conclusion and right now, it was time for a final blow to the Sandersons. Ethan’s gaze darkened.Phase One — Reed Withdr

THIRTY-FOUR

Something else joined in the mix.Liquid. Salty too. Talia was in tears. Ethan's heart heavied, his right hand pulled her even closer to him. He could feel her hurt. He could feel the weight she'd been dragging along.For five years, he was the sole start of her burdens, how would he ever cure the trauma that would now live with her?How can he claim to love and care when he gave up to easily five years ago. She looked really weak, but now she'd broken the kiss. Her hands wrapped around his neck, her head found rest on his chest. Her tears soaked his shirt. Ethan held her close. Too close like he'd loose her again should his grip weaken. He hated himself for letting her go through all these. Talia couldn't even mutter a word. She just rested there. She probably was soaking it all in. All that had happened to her.This wasn't a movie. This was her life and now it seemed like it was finally over. She couldn't believe it.When she finally lifted her head, she wiped her tears and step

THIRTY-FIVE

It had been over thirty minutes, if not an hour. Talia Grey's heart bled, and she cried. When she was done, she picked herself up from the floor, her eyes completely swollen. She wiped them with the back of her hand. Then she looked at the breakfast. It had gone cold. She bit her lip, wiping off another stubborn tear that fell. She almost threw it away... but stopped. She remembered Ethan. He had woken up early to make this. She didn't want to waste his efforts, but either her tears had satisfied her hunger or she had lost her appetite. She grabbed the plate and walked into the kitchen to heat it. Stepping back into the dining area with the reheated meal, she sat alone and ate slowly. With the very first spoonful, her tears flowed again. When was the last time someone cooked for her? Without wanting something back? Without expecting gratitude? When was the last time she was actually cared for? She remembered her toilings in the Sanderson residence. The punching bag she had tu