Chapter 46 Who Lets In A Harrington?
The pounding on the door didn't stop. Sarah felt her heart hammering against her ribs as she hurried down the stairs, tying the belt of her robe tight.
Alex was right in front of her, but she quickly overtook him.
Sarah reached the door and took a breath. She looked at Alex, who stood a few feet back, looking like he wanted to disappear and protect her at the same time. She opened the door.
Mark stood on the porch. He just looked at his mother with a blank expression that hurt more than anger. Then his eyes shifted to the driveway, where Alex’s truck sat in the morning sun. He didn't say anything. He just stepped inside.
"Mark," Sarah whispered. "You're home."
"I'm just here for my things, Mom," Mark said. His voice was flat.
Alex was standing by the sofa. In the awkward silence, he had instinctively reached out to Sarah as she sat down on the edge of the cushion, trying to ground her.
Alex cursed under his breath. He looked at the floor, his hands balling into fists. He felt like he had ruined everything again. Every time things felt stable, the reality of their situation crashed back down.
"I didn't mean to interrupt," Mark said. "I just need my computer and the rest of my clothes. I’ve started work, and I need my gear."
"Work?" Sarah asked, standing up quickly.
"Mark, I’ve missed you so much. We can talk about this. Please, just stay for breakfast. Alex was just leaving."
Mark didn't look at her. He started walking toward the stairs. "I’m busy, Mom. I have a lot to do."
Sarah followed him to the base of the stairs, her hands trembling.
"Where are you staying? Are you okay? Do you have enough money?"
Mark paused on the steps. He looked down at her. "I'm fine. I'm taking care of myself now." He continued up to his old room without looking back.
Sarah stood there, frozen. Alex walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm so sorry, Sarah," Alex whispered. "I should have moved the truck last night. I should have known."
"It’s not the truck, Alex," Sarah said, her voice breaking. "It’s everything. He’s like a stranger in his own home."
They waited in the living room while Mark moved around upstairs. They could hear the sound of drawers opening and closing. It felt like he was erasing himself from the house. Ten minutes later, Mark came back down carrying a heavy duffel bag and his laptop case.
He headed straight for the front door.
"Mark, wait," Alex said. He stepped forward, trying to sound like the friend he used to be.
"Man, talk to me. We used to be brothers. You can't just walk out like this."
Mark stopped with his hand on the doorknob. He turned to look at Alex. For the first time, a small, mocking smile touched his lips.
"Brothers," Mark repeated. He let out a short, dry laugh. "That’s a funny word to use now, don't you think?"
"I still care about you," Alex insisted. "I never wanted any of this to hurt you."
Mark shifted the weight of his bag. "You know, it’s funny. I got a phone call yesterday. A man named Richard Harrington."
Alex felt the air leave his lungs. He went completely still. Sarah’s eyes went wide.
"He told me he heard I was looking for a start," Mark continued. He was mimicking a deep, professional tone, clearly repeating words that had been said to him.
"He said he could offer me a 'real' future. A career with a path. He said I deserved a life away from the... how did he put it? The 'mess' my mother created."
Alex felt a surge of pure rage. He realized exactly what his father was doing. Richard couldn't get to Alex directly, so he was going after the person Alex cared about most. He was trying to steal his best friend as a form of revenge. He was using Mark's pain to build a wall between them that could never be torn down.
"Mark, don't listen to him," Alex said, his voice low and urgent. "He doesn't care about your career. He’s using you. He’s my father, I know him and he’s a predator. He only called you to get to me."
Mark shrugged. "Maybe. But at least he’s offering me something other than lies. He told me I shouldn't be held back by people who don't respect me."
"I respect you!" Sarah cried out from the doorway. "Mark, I love you! That man is trying to destroy us. Please, don't let him into your life."
Mark finally looked at his mother. The blankness was gone, replaced by a deep, simmering hurt. "You already let a Harrington into yours, Mom. Why can't I?"
The words hit the room like a physical blow. Sarah felt like she couldn't breathe. She looked at Mark, then at Alex. She was standing right in the middle of them, caught between the son she had raised and the man who made her feel alive. She realized in that moment that her love for Alex wasn't just a secret. It was a trade. She was keeping Alex, but she was losing her son.
"I’m going," Mark said. He opened the door. "I start on Monday. Don't call me, Mom. I need to focus on my 'real' future."
He walked out and shut the door.
Sarah slumped against the doorframe, her face in her hands. Alex was at her side in an instant. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his chest. He was holding her as if he could keep her from falling apart.
"I'll talk to him," Alex promised, his chin resting on top of her head. "I'll make him understand. My father won't have him, Sarah. I won't let it happen."
Sarah didn't answer. She just held onto his shirt, sobbing quietly. She believed Alex wanted to fix it. She believed he would try. But as she listened to Mark’s car drive away, she knew that some things couldn't be fixed with promises.
She felt Alex’s heart beating against her ear. He was her rock, her lover, and her protector. But he was also a Harrington.