Chapter 35 SPIRAL OF EMOTIONS
Our ride pulled up in front of Mr. Lennox's office, and Jaxon was the first to storm out. The moment I got that call from Mr. Lennox earlier today, I knew this was exactly how it would end.
Every plea I made for Jaxon to see Dr. Jane before meeting his father fell on deaf ears. Lately, I've hated how recklessly he ignores his health, as though he's daring his own body to give out.
I hurried to keep up with his long, determined strides as we walked to the front desk-only to find the secretary absent. That told me everything I needed to know: the witch was here before us. Mr. Lennox always sent his secretary away whenever she came over.
Jaxon, of course, didn't notice-or didn't care. Without hesitation, he pushed open his father's office door, and we stepped inside. Mr. Lennox, hunched over his laptop, looked up at the sudden intrusion.
Jaxon didn't give him a moment to speak. He tossed his tie onto the desk and dropped into the chair opposite his father, while I stayed standing beside him, silently bracing myself.
"Will you do me the favor of explaining exactly what I read in the news, and what you said to the press?" His voice was deceptively calm, but his eyes and the tight set of his jaw betrayed the fury simmering beneath the surface.
Jaxon rarely lost his temper with his father-unless the witch was involved, and his father happened to side with her.
"Son, I need you to calm down and let me explain," Mr. Lennox said evenly.
Jaxon scoffed, already convinced his father meant every word of what he'd said in that press conference-the one we'd both watched land like a knife to the gut an hour before our flight touched down.
"So it's true. You're really handing the company over to her?" His voice was sharper now, cutting through the room like glass.
"Not the entire company-just the head hotel," Mr. Lennox replied, still infuriatingly calm, as if the matter didn't bother him at all.
I wanted to scream. Jaxon had worked himself half to death keeping these companies afloat, and now his father was just going to hand the crown jewel to the woman who had caused so much damage? It wasn't just cruel-it was unthinkable.
\---
Jaxon's POV
When I first saw the headline, I didn't panic. I told myself it was a rumor-one I could clear up as soon as I saw Dad. But then I saw him on the broadcast, smiling like a lovesick fool, talking about her-the same woman who'd destroyed everything-as if she were the most precious thing he couldn't bear to lose. That's when the hope I'd been clinging to shattered completely.
"You're going to hand over the hotel you and Mum built from the ground up to her, knowing full well she's up to no good?" My voice was rising, anger finally spilling over.
"Jaxon, I need you to hear me out-and to do that, you need to calm that temper of yours," he said, locking eyes with me.
"I know things haven't been the same since the accident. Both you and your mum-"
"She is not my mother," I snapped, cutting him off before he could finish. My words hit the desk between us like a hammer blow.
His gaze didn't waver. "She will only control the head hotel-nothing more. It's the only one under both your mother's name and mine. The rest remain under your name, yours to run."
That answer should have eased me, but it didn't. I didn't want her controlling anything.
"That's our biggest, most important property. It's the first one you should be protecting," I said, my voice low but trembling with rage I could barely contain.
"Jaxon, please. I need you to let me handle this. I know some things aren't making sense right now, but I promise you-they will, in time."
I laughed bitterly under my breath. "That's all you've ever said since I woke up from that coma. When I told you that woman was a stranger, you said, Give it time. But guess what, Dad? I was twelve then. I'm thirty-two now. Twenty-fucking-years, and nothing has added up."
My chest tightened. "Do you have any idea what she stole from me? What she did to my mind?" The words tore out before I could stop them. My body ached, but it was nothing compared to the sharp, splintering pain in my chest. I raked both hands through my hair, feeling like I could lose my grip on reality any second.
"When was the last time you saw Dr. Jane?" Dad's voice cut in, but it sounded far away, muffled, like I was underwater.
The office felt smaller with every breath I took, the air growing thinner. My vision tilted at the edges. It was like being back at the accident all over again-lungs tight, breath shallow, panic clawing its way up my throat.
Troy's POV
"Jaxon! Jaxon!" I rushed to his side as his breathing turned sharp and ragged. His eyes locked on mine-not with recognition, but with a fear so raw it made my chest tighten. He gripped at his hair, yanking as if trying to rip the panic out of himself, gasping like he couldn't breathe at all. His face drained of color, his gaze flicking from mine down to his trembling hands.
"Troy... we need to go," he rasped, reaching for me. His fingers brushed mine, but there was no strength in his grip.
I glanced at Mr. Lennox, still frozen in his chair, eyes wide, the weight of shock pinning him in place. The guilt carved into his face told me everything-this was the first time he had seen one of Jaxon's episodes up close.
No time to waste. I tore my gaze from him, snatched the suitcase from the corner, and pulled out the single injection that could cut this spiral short. My voice was sharp as I called for Dr. Jane, even as my hands worked automatically. The needle pierced his neck, delivering the liquid that could still him. His body trembled harder, eyes fluttering open just long enough to meet mine before sliding shut.
In less than a minute, he collapsed against the couch, chest finally easing with slow, deep breaths. I stayed there, my hand still at his side, my phone pressed to my ear as Dr. Jane picked up. Mr. Lennox didn't move, his posture rigid, the guilt etched in his features deepening as if each second weighed heavier on him.
\---
Nancy's POV
I stood under the shower, hot water cascading over me, replaying my conversation with Mr. Lennox until it became a loop I couldn't shut off. Each replay left me sicker than before.
Did I regret accepting his proposal? Absolutely. I'd regretted it a thousand times already, wished I'd turned him down the moment he asked. But the truth was, I couldn't. I needed to save the ranch. I needed to catch Ravyn Vale. And I needed to take Mr. Lennox down-three goals I could only reach if I played along.
An hour later, with my skin flushed from the water's heat and my muscles loose from the steam, I finally shut it off. Stepping out, I grabbed a towel, letting the reality of my plan settle heavy on my shoulders.
"Why didn't you tell Mum and Dad about Mr. Lennox's visit earlier today?"
I froze. Arabella was sprawled across my bed like she owned it, her tone far too casual for the question she'd just asked.
"None of your business, Arabella. And how exactly did you know? I didn't tell anyone," I shot back, irritation lacing my voice. The last thing I needed was her prying into my already fractured day.
I moved to my wardrobe, pulling out clothes with sharp, deliberate motions. I needed to get dressed and head to the office. My boss was expecting me-and I needed that meeting more than I needed another one of Arabella's interrogations.
"Well... because Renna told me your boyfriend came over, but you chased him away."
I froze mid-step, my head snapping toward her.
"She said what?" My voice came out sharper than I intended.
Arabella tilted her head like she was savoring the moment. "She said, mummy's boyfriend came over, and he made me promise to teach him horse riding the next time he comes. So I asked her if she knew what he looked like. I showed her Mr. Lennox's photo, and she recognized him instantly."
The breath left my lungs in one long, heavy sigh. The way she said it-so casually-hit me with a mix of frustration and a kind of weary weakness that made my shoulders sag.
"I am simply not having this conversation," I muttered, pulling on my pants, sliding into a fitted singlet, then shrugging on a button-up I wore like a jacket. My shoes followed, then my backpack-stuffed with just enough for the night.
"Has anyone ever told you your dressing is lame?" Arabella chimed, smirking.
I rolled my eyes and headed for the door, her footsteps trailing after mine like an unwelcome echo.
"Can you at least answer my question about Mr. Lennox being here?" she pressed, following me into the hall. "Was he here about the land? Is he coming back soon? And what did you talk about that made him leave without demanding to see Mom and Dad?"
The more she asked, the faster I walked, hoping to outpace her persistence-but Arabella was relentless.
"Arabella, please! Can't you just let it go? I already told you-I'm going to save our ranch. So please, leave it be." I spun around just long enough to throw the words at her before heading for the front gate, where Linda's car waited.
Arabella stopped, glaring at me like she was silently promising this wasn't over, then stormed back inside without another word.
I slipped into the passenger seat of Linda's car.
"Why weren't you taking my calls all day? And I couldn't reach you all yesterday, either." She fired the question before I could even close the door.
"Really? Can I at least put on my seatbelt first?" I shot back, dripping sarcasm. That bought me a brief silence long enough to click the buckle before we pulled onto the road.
"Start talking, Nancy. Something's up with you, and I can't figure you out," Linda said, her tone part curiosity, part accusation.
I hesitated for a beat, then decided to rip the bandage off.
"Mia is missing."