Chapter 57
Sapphire.
Six years later.
The soft click of the door pulled my attention from the papers strewn across my desk. I looked up just as my assistant, Clara, entered, herusal composed expression firmly in place,
“Miss Jenson,” she addressed me formally, her megemle but reminding. You have a meeting with Mr. Langston and his associates in one hour
Inodded, acknowledging her. Tll be ready,
She give a curt nod, professional as ever, and doappened juss.
jas smully as she’d come. Once the door clicked slut behind her, 1 sighed, sinking back imo my chair. My eyes drifted to the letter I’d been molding for days, sitting atop the pile of contracts and documents I was supposed to be reviewing The envelope bare my old name, the one I hadn’t used in six years.
Sapphire Wher
Six years since I ran away from that pack. Six years since I severed ties with everyone, including Leah
Thadn’t thought about the pack in a long time, not until that letter showed up at my office a week ago. The name scrawled across the from sent a chill down my spine, a reminder of a life I worked in hand to leave beland. I had iguored it until now, pushing it aside as if it didn’t exist. But here in jas, staring me down, daring me to remember
The only person truly missed was Leah She was the one bright spot in that life, my confidante, my anchor when everything che felt like it was filling spart. I refused to contact her when I left, terrified that the park would use her as a pawn if they knew how much she meant to me. It was for her own protection. And yet, she had been on any minal nearly every day since I left
I ran my fingers over the edge of the later had left everything behind: that dreadful pack, my identity, and the name I was born with. I used the money Benita gave me and traveled to the other side of the country. I wanted a fresh start, away from everything that had nearly destroyed me.
I glanced around my office, the sleek, modern furniture a stark contrast in the world I’d grown up in. The framed awards on the wall reminded me of just how for Ed cene. Thad changed my entity, vested ball of Benita’s money into cryptocurrency, and rented a small apartment in a city where no one knew any me. It was hard at first–hell, it was terrifying, but somehow, I made it work. Lenrolled in school, studying cybersecurity, and soon after, I mained my company.
I will couldn’t believe how far 1 had come. I had bolt a cyber security empire from the ground up. It wasn’t easy, but the drive to provide for my son pushed me harder than I thought possible.
My eyes drifted in the picture on my desk. My son, Charlie, smailed back at me, his lande face lighting up the phosn like a beson of hope. He was the reason I pushed so hard, why kept fighting, even when everything felt impossible.
The memories of that night cause flooding back, the night everything changed.
I sat on the cold bathroom Coor, my legs pulled so my chest as I stared blankly at the little white stick in my hand. The two pink lines blurred in and out of focus as my breath hitched in my thro
No. This can’t be happening.
My heart pounded as I read the instructions again, hoping that maybe, just maybe, I had misunderstood them. But no, the result was clear Pregnan
test to the
I linked rapidly, the reality of it sinking in. This wasn’t supposed to happen–not now, not like this. My hands trembled as I dropped the test floor and buried my face in my hands.
I wasn’t ready for this. I had just escaped, just started a new life, and now everything was about to change. “God.” I whispered. “What am I going to do?”
I wanted to cry, to scream, to lash ou at the universe for throwing this curveball at me. But instead, I just sat there, mun, staring at the wall. Then, slowly, something shifted inside me. A tiny flicker of something that felt almost like hope. I won’t just pregnant. I was carrying a life inside me, a part of me, a miracle I never expected
Thad debated what to do for days, wavering between fear and excitement. Hnew this child would change everything, bon as the days passed, my fear began to melt away, replaced by a quiet determination
This child won’t a burden. He was a gift. And I was going to give him a life for better than the one I had.
I stood up from the bathroom floor, my legs shaky but resolute. I wasn’t just running away anymore. I was m heure where any on and I could live free, withou fear, without the claims of the pack weighing us down.
ruming toward something. Toward a
| went to school, studied at night and drew up plans to start up my company. Luckily, the crypto investment made blew up, it rewarded me with more than enough money to set me up for life.
Prevent Day
I shook myself from the memory, blinking away the emotion that threatened to surface. So much had changed since than night. Charlie had become my entire world, and in the process of building a life for him, 1 had built something for myself, too. A company, a reputation, a name that wasn’t tied
Chapter 57
to my past
1 glanced at the clock on the wall. Thirty minutes until my meeting.
1 sighed, pushing the letter to the side once more. Whatever was in that envelope could wait. Right now, I had a future to focus on, one that Had buch with my own hands.
Leaning back in my chair, I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the weight of everything sink in. Iharlenme so far, and no matter what was waiting for me back in that life, I knew one thing for certain I wasn’t going back. Not for them. Not for anyone,
Charlie’s laugh echoed in my memory, grounding me in the present. For him, I would keep moving forward.
1 kept working till seas almost time.
I adjusted my blazer one last time, snoothing the fabric over my shoulders before turning to the mirror. My reflection stared back, calm an composed, but I will leased in closer to check my makeup. Every detal matered today, first impressions were everything, especially withadient n important as this one. Satisfied. I grabbed my folder off the desk and took a deep breath.
“Alright.” I manered to myself “Let’s do this.”
aiting outside the
Stepping our of my office, I walked with purpose down the sleek corridor, my heels clicking against the polished flour, Clare was waiting conference room, her face carefully neutral, as always
She was efficient, professional, and one of the few people who understood jon how much my compony meant to me. ThatHoult this empire from the ground up, and I broke my back daily to ensure its success. Nothing was more important than the. Well, almost nothing
] They’re already inside,” She said quietly as l’approached. “Ready when you are.”
I nodded. This was another pivotal moment for the company. A deal like as could open new doors, expand our reach into marken Edonly dreamed of touching. I was at the stage where nothing could bring me down–everything was laning up perfectly, and I wasn’t about to let anyoor gri in my way.
I was just about to push open the door when Claire’s hand landed lightly on my arm. “Wait”
Itumed, brow furrowed. Claire wasn’t someone who stopped me lightly. “What is a?”
“Something urgent,” she said. “Charlie’s school called.”
My heart stopped. Charlie, Immediately, a hundred horrible scenarios flashed through my mind. Was be bun? Was be in danger? I free, my l catching in my throat
she must have seen the panic in my eyes
my eyes because she quickly added, “He’s okay. It’s nothing serion Bibe got in a fight
I exhaled slowly, relief washing over the, but quickly replaced by frustration. A fight? Charlie? He wasn’t usually the type to
klights – what had
poddaj
to pack
I sighed and closed my eyes for a moment, gardering myself. This was not the time or place to let emotions get the better of me. But still, he wan my son. I wasn’t going to let him deal with this alone, un matter how important the meeting was.
go.” Esaid firmly, standing straighter
need to be there.”
She hesitated “And the meeting”
I gave her a look, one that spoke volumes. “Nothing is more important than Charlie, Reschedule it
Her eyes flickered with understanding. Claire krw. She always knew. We have been together from day one since hired her from my apartment she understood how much the company and my son meant to me but she knew I would never pick anything over Charlie
That boy was my life and I do not joke with him.
She nodded and pulled out her phone, ready to handle the fallout of my sudden departure.
I barely registered her calling the team as 1 hurried back down the hall to grab my coat and keys. The only thought in my mind now was getting to Charlie’s school. I had always been fiercely protective of him, and that wasn’t going to change just because I had an important client waiting.
I arrived at the school within twenty minutes, my thoughts racing as I tried to piece together why he would get into a fight. He was usually so calm,
thoughtful. As I emered the main office, the secretary at the front desk recognized me immediately and gestured for me to follow her.
“They’re in the counselor’s office,” she said, her tone polate but laced with concem. Your son’s okay. Just a bit shaken up.”
I nodded, though my heart was still pounding. I could handle business crises, I could handle competitors, but when it came to my son, and control Ed built over the years virushed.
all the poise.
As I stepped into the office, I saw Charlie sitting on one of the chairs, staring down at the floor. His knarkles were bruised, and his face was a mix of frustration and guilt. Across from him at another boy, about his age, with a split lip and a lonk of defianer in his eyes.
The counselor. Mrs. Gregory, stood up as I entered, giving me a sympathetic smile. “Miss Jenson. Thank you for coming so quickly.”
Tharely nodded at her, my focus on my boy, I knelt down in front of him, gently lifting his chin so he’d meet my gaze. “Charlie,” I said softly. “Wher
He swallowed, eyes flickering with emotion. “h wasn’t my fault, Mom.”
“Tell me.” I urged “What happened?”
He glanced over at the other boy before looking back at mr
kept making fun of him, calling him na
spicking on on
on one of the younger!
r kich. I told him to stop, but he wouldn’t. He just L. I told him to knock it off, but thenthe pushed me, and I hit him. He looked down again, ashamed “1
Chapter 37
didn’t
mean to hurt him. Mom. I just wanted him to stop.
My chest tightened with both pride and concern. I wasn’t thrilled that Charlie had gotten into a fight, but knowing that he stood up for someone weaker! That made my heart swell
Mr. Gregory cleared her throat. “It seems both boys were at fault, though I understand Charlie’s intentions were noble. We’ll still need to talk about the consequences”
I nodded, but my focus stayed on Charlar, “We’ll handle it.” Tassured her. “But right now, I need to make sure my son’s okay.”
I stood up, offering my hand to Charlie. He hesitated for a moment, then took it his fingers curling around mine. I could feel the tension in his grip. the uncertainty of whether he had done the right thing
on shaken up.
He was scared I would punish him, but not when he was too
As we walked out of the office. I could feel the other parents eyes on us, judging aswimming But I didn’t care. Clurlie was my priority, and right now, he needed me more than the company did
Once we reached the car, Thined to him, resting my hand on his shoulder. “Hey pumpkin, I’m proud of you for standing up for someone ebe,” I said. “But you have to find another way to handle situations like that. You can’t just hit people *
He nodded, tears brimming in heye Tknow. I just. I couldn’t let him keep doing it. He called me names too,
“I understand.” I said softly, pulling him amo a hug. “Bur next time, come to a teacher. Okay?”
“Okay” he whispered
-That’s my boy,”
