Chapter 32 CURIOUS BLUE EYES
"This is insane! I already told you to leave this ranch alone. Why can't you just do that?" I demanded, feeling my anger coil tighter inside me.
"Kelvin, listen to me. You're my son, and I want the best for you-you know that more than anyone in this world. I'm doing all of this because of you. I'm sacrificing a lot to give you the life you deserve. Everything will soon belong to you because it was meant to be yours before someone stole it away from us," she said over the line, her voice carrying that heaviness that always pierced through me.
"Mum, I'm tired. I'm tired of us chasing after things that can never be ours. I'm tired of hiding," I said, hoping she would hear me for once... hoping she would understand. But that wasn't what I got.
"Kelvin, you don't have to worry. Just let Mama handle it. I'm going to get that land under your name. Be safe, okay? Just know that I love you, son."
And with that, the line went dead. I clenched my phone in my fist, fighting the urge to scream.
That was all I had been hearing since I was three years old-since the day my mum left me at the orphanage to chase a life we could never have.
"Kelvin?"
My heart nearly ripped out of my chest at the sound of Nancy's voice behind me. I turned sharply to find her standing there, not far from me, the dim porch light casting soft shadows across her face.
"Nancy..." I managed, my eyes scanning her expression, searching for any sign that she had overheard my call.
"Why are you still up? It's past midnight," she asked, a faint smile tugging at her lips. It reached her eyes-barely-but it was enough to hide just how exhausted she looked. God, she looked so tired.
Relief washed over me when her calm tone told me she had only just arrived. That's when I noticed the oversized hoodie she wore, its sleeves almost swallowing her hands.
"I couldn't sleep, so I decided to call my mum," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Well, you don't look happy for someone who just spoke to his mum," she observed as we walked together toward the porch.
"Sometimes I forget that I can never lie to you," I teased, grateful when her smile grew just a little wider. It brought a fragile kind of light to her tired eyes.
We both sat down on the bench, the silence between us not heavy-just lingering.
"Well, let's just say I've known you long enough to tell when something's bothering you," she said, giving me a quick glance before looking away almost immediately. The way she sighed heavily made my chest tighten with guilt, because deep down, I knew-I was the reason for that heaviness.
"Just as much as I know something's bothering you too... and I know it's about the ranch," I said, watching every flicker of emotion cross her face. Her chin tightened with that familiar stubbornness before a forced smile curved her lips. Then she turned to face me.
"No one is taking my home away from me. I'll save this ranch, even if it's the last thing I do," she said, her gaze locking with mine. I saw the pain there-the kind she was desperately trying to hide.
Right there and then, I knew I had to stop my mum from buying this ranch. It wasn't enough that Jaxon was already on my tail; now, if he decided to put this property under his name, I could be forced to leave. And I didn't want to leave-not this place, not Nancy.
I'd grown to see her and her family as my own, and I was tired-tired of sacrificing my own happiness just so my mum could get what she wanted.
"Try and get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow," she said, starting to rise from the bench. But before I could think it through, I reached for her, pulling her back down and into my arms.
"I'm sorry... but can I hug you for just a minute? I promise I'll let go," I murmured, my grip tightening instinctively around her waist.
But then she pulled away-quickly creating space between us. That small distance felt like a blow to the chest.
"I'm sorry, Kelvin... but I'm not in the right mind to comfort anyone right now. I'll see you tomorrow."
And just like that, she was gone.
I don't know how long I stayed there, staring at the empty space she'd left, but I could feel my sanity slipping. I tried to steady my breathing. Nancy had always been the one to ground me when my mind was in chaos. But now... it felt like my worst fear was coming true. She was pushing me away.
Nancy's POV
The moment I closed the door behind me, my tears came-hot and unrestrained. I hated this storm of emotions inside me. I could barely even name them.
I didn't know if I was more broken over Mia's disappearance, the young girls being forced into things they never agreed to, or the fact that I was the only one still clinging to the memory of a night that had changed my life.
All I knew was that I was too tired, too drained-mentally and emotionally-to give comfort to anyone.
Dropping my backpack onto the bed, I went straight to the bathroom and splashed cold water over my face, trying to steady myself before heading to Renna's room.
Standing across from her bed, I just stared-letting the last five years replay in my mind. From the moment I found out I was pregnant with her... to the moment I was forced to leave home... to the countless days and nights I had to push through on my own.
And through it all-she was the reason I kept moving forward. Whenever I felt like breaking, I looked at her face. Her smile. Her laugh. And somehow, I'd find the strength to stand back up again.
But today... I needed a hug. Without thinking, I slipped into bed beside her, pulling her small frame into my arms. I held her close, feeling the soft warmth of her body against mine, her steady heartbeat thudding against my chest like a lullaby. I closed my eyes, letting that sound soothe the chaos in my mind, and somehow-whether it was minutes or hours later-sleep finally came for me.
\---
Jaxon's POV
Very early the next morning, we booked a flight back to Hollowmere. The only thing on my mind was Miss Carter-and the picture I'd found yesterday.
"Are you sure we're not going to see a doctor?" There it was again. Troy had been pestering me about it since we left Brentmere, and it was starting to grate on my nerves.
He knew very well how much I hated hospitals-the smell, the lights, the cold sterility of it all.
"Troy, drop it and just focus on driving. Have Doctor Jenny or Sam come over the moment we're back in Brookleigh, and also book us an afternoon flight," I replied without even glancing at him.
"Fine. My fault for worrying about you," he muttered, annoyance clear in his tone. I kept my gaze on the road, ignoring him.
A few minutes later, we pulled up in front of Miss Carter's house. I was the first to step out, Troy trailing behind me-but I knew I wanted to go alone.
"Troy, stay back. I've got a feeling she'll be more willing to talk if it's just me," I said. He gave a quick nod, and I headed toward the front yard.
Before me stood a beautiful rambler house, embraced by a riot of vibrant flowers and flowering trees. Their blossoms swayed gently in the breeze, scattering petals that danced through the air. The bricks stood strong and proud, their deep earthy tones holding the kind of ageless grace that made it hard to tell how many years had passed. White trim framed the wide windows, each polished to catch the glint of the morning light.
The low, sprawling structure rested like it belonged to the land, its wraparound porch lined with wooden rocking chairs and hanging baskets bursting with color. The air was rich with the scent of lavender and wild roses, carried by the warm breath of the wind. Somewhere beyond, the faint symphony of ranch life played-horses neighing, cattle shifting in the pasture, the slow creak of a windmill turning.
It was the kind of house that whispered stories-of laughter spilling from the kitchen, of family dinners under a soft chandelier glow, of quiet nights spent on the porch with nothing but the stars for company.
And maybe, for the first time, I understood why Miss Carter wanted so badly to save this place... why the thought of losing it sparked such fire in her eyes.
I was so lost in the beauty of it all that I didn't notice the small figure watching me from a short distance-until I did. And when I finally turned my gaze toward them, I froze at the sight of curious blue eyes locked on mine.