Chapter 23 LIVING THE NIGHTMARE
When I got back home, everywhere was eerily quiet, the lights off and the silence pressing. I figured everyone had already gone to bed. I made my way to the kitchen to grab a glass of water, hoping it would help soothe the storm in my trembling head.
I couldn't believe I had only flown into town hours ago, and yet my life already felt like it had spiraled into chaos. I drank the water like my life depended on it, desperate for something-anything-that could calm the mess in my chest.
Then I walked over to the dining table and sank into a chair, throwing my head back and covering my eyes with both hands. I tried to breathe through the heaviness pressing against my ribs.
How am I supposed to save the ranch?
How am I supposed to get rid of Jaxon Lennox so my life can possibly go back to what it used to be?
"You look like you're going to pass out," my dad's voice broke through the chaos in my head. I hadn't even heard him walk in.
"Hey, Dad. You're still up?" I said, forcing a smile, trying to mask the weight I was carrying.
"Well, I came to grab a bottle of water for your mum-just in case she wakes up and needs it," he replied, grabbing a bottle before taking a seat beside me. I nodded slowly, my fingers tightening slightly around the rim of my empty glass.
"You've been out?" he asked, and the question caught me a little off guard.
"Yeah... I had to meet Linda for a few things," I said, struggling to explain, knowing full well I sounded vague.
"It's okay, honey. You don't have to explain yourself," Dad said gently. He sighed heavily and leaned back into the chair, his shoulders slumped in a way that made it clear something was weighing him down. He was trying to hide it-but I could see right through him.
"How was your stay in Austin?"
"How is Mum?" we both asked at the same time.
We shared an awkward glance. Why was I so tense around him? I'd never been this on edge with my father.
"My stay in Austin was... good," I said quietly. "I met people, made new friends. And for once, it actually felt like I belonged somewhere. Like I found a place that truly saw me."
A real smile crept across my face-one of the few genuine ones I'd had in a long time.
"I'm glad you had a great time," he said softly. "And I'm sorry if we cut it short for you."
His voice held guilt, and it settled like a weight between us.
I reached out and placed my hand over his, giving it a gentle squeeze. "It's okay, Dad. I don't blame anyone for my distress. I just..." I hesitated before continuing. "I know Mum doesn't want to talk to me right now, but... can you tell her something for me? Tell her I'm going to save this ranch. Because this-" I looked around the dim dining room, "-this is our home. No one's going to take it away from us."
He looked at me, his eyes filled with something unspoken. Then he spoke, his voice low and conflicted.
"I don't know, Nancy... maybe the sheriff is right. Maybe it's time to let the land go. We could make a lot of money from selling it. Maybe even buy a nice house in a good city. Start over. Relocate."
But his words didn't sound like conviction. They sounded like a man trying to convince himself of something he didn't want to believe.
"That's not going to happen," I said, my voice hardening. "And I don't want you or Mum talking to the sheriff about this again. How could he even do this to us? He's not thinking about us, Dad. He's only trying to get the Lennox to buy our land for his own damn benefit."
My voice rose, anger bleeding into every word. I stopped and took a sharp breath, struggling to steady myself.
When I looked back at my father, he was silent-still and unreadable.
And that silence cut deeper than any argument.
"We're not losing our home," I said firmly, locking eyes with my dad. "And I want you and Mum to reject the offer to sell the ranch. It won't be long before Lennox shows up with the sheriff, and when that happens, I want you to turn them down. Okay?"
He nodded in response, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips-as though he was proud, yet worried all at once.
"I'd better get back before your mum wakes up. I'll see you in the morning. Good night, sweetie," he said softly, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to my cheek before walking away.
I made my way back to my room and took a long, hot shower, hoping the steam and silence would wash away the weight of the day. But even after slipping beneath the covers, seconds turned to minutes, and minutes stretched into hours. I just lay there, wide awake, my mind consumed by the worst possibilities.
What if Linda was right?
What if Jaxon really did know about Renna?
What if he had come back-not for me-but for her?
With his wealth, power, and endless connections, I wouldn't stand a chance if he ever took me to court. I'd be nothing compared to him. A nobody. And she'd be gone from me-just like that.
The thought crushed me.
I quietly slipped out of bed and padded down the hallway to Renna's room. She was lying there, fast asleep-her tiny chest rising and falling peacefully. I carefully slid into bed beside her and pulled her into my arms, wrapping her close and pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.
She stirred and shifted toward me, her small arms instinctively circling around my body like she knew I needed her.
"Mummy?" she whispered, her eyelids fluttering open.
Those eyes. So beautiful. So familiar. They reminded me so much of him-and yet, they were my light in the darkness.
"I'm sorry, baby. Did I wake you?" I asked softly.
She gave the smallest nod, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
"Can I stay with you tonight?" I whispered. "Mummy really needs a big hug."
Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms tightly around me and began gently patting my back-just like I used to do for her when she was a baby.
I couldn't help but smile through the tears stinging my eyes. How had time moved so quickly? When had my baby grown into someone so emotionally aware, so full of love?
"I love you, Mummy," she whispered against my shoulder.
"I love you too, baby," I murmured, tightening my hold on her.
And just like that, exhaustion washed over me. I let it in. I let it swallow me whole, but not before making one silent promise to myself:
No one-not even Jaxon Lennox-will ever take you away from me.