Chapter 37 WEIGHT THAT RUNS DEEPER
“Linda,” I groaned through gritted teeth as another sharp pain shot through my neck.
“Did I hear you right?” Linda asked, staring at me like I had just confessed to murder. “You made a deal with Jaxon Lennox… the Jaxon Lennox!?”
“That’s exactly what I said,” I snapped, my patience hanging by the thinnest thread. “And I have my fucking reasons, Linda. So can you do me a favour and not break my neck before we make it to the station?”
Linda’s eyes widened as if she still couldn’t process my words.“You hate the likes of him. You hate anything that has to do with him. So why the sudden change of heart? Did you suddenly realize Renna needs a father figure in her life?”
I felt my face twist in disgust so fast it almost hurt.“Hell no, Linda. I still hate him with every goddamn part of me. We don’t need him in our lives. Renna doesn’t need him when my dad already fills that space.”My voice came out harsher than I intended, but I didn’t bother softening it.
“Then why make a deal with him?” Linda continued, starting the engine. “And what type of deal are we even talking about? Because I know it has something to do with the ranch.”
“It seems I’m not the only one who hates Ravyn Vale,” I muttered, my gaze drifting out the window even as my chest tightened at the thought.
“What do you mean by that?” Linda asked.
“Mr. Lennox wants me to help him find Ravyn Vale,” I said, keeping my eyes fixed on the road as a bitter smirk tugged at my lips. “In exchange for my parents’ ranch.”
“I don’t understand,” Linda said, shaking her head as the car slowed into the station parking lot. “Why would he be looking for Ravyn Vale?”
“I never asked,” I said coldly. “Because I don’t care. They’re the same kind of monster. I mean—how can he host parties where young girls are molested and used like sex toys because they owe his shitty ass some money?”The anger inside me spilled out before I could reel it back in.
“Nancy…” Linda murmured, her face softening.
“Linda, at this point I don’t care,” I said, my voice trembling with exhaustion, fury, and something else I didn’t want to name. “I just want to find Ravyn Vale and get rid of Jaxon Lennox because I can barely stand him. And honestly? It’s a great fucking idea. I find Ravyn Vale, hand him over to the head officer, and then tip Jaxon off about his whereabouts after I confirm the documents securing my parents’ ranch are safe. Then he can disappear from my life forever.”
My emotions were everywhere—anger, fear, relief, bitterness—crashing into each other in a chaotic wave.
“Nancy,” Linda said softly, “I know you’re angry at this guy because he ditched you after a night together, but I still think you shouldn’t let your emotions lead you. Have you both even bothered to have a real conversation about that night? The night that brought Renna into this world? What if he showed up for her? What if—”
“There is no what if, Linda.”My voice cut through her words, sharp and final. I finally met her eyes for the first time since this whole conversation started.
“He doesn’t even remember that night,” I said quietly, but the quietness held more pain than shouting ever could. “He doesn’t remember me. He asked if we’d met before, Linda. He has no memory of that night, and that’s what makes everything perfect. It proves he didn’t show up because of her. He didn’t show up for Renna. He showed up because he took an interest in the ranch—nothing more. And that… will soon end.”
I tore my gaze away from Linda’s, not wanting her to see how deeply that truth cut me—even now.
Linda sighed, her voice soft and weary when she finally spoke.“Even though… I still don’t think you should let your emotions get the best of you.”
“Even though I still don't think you should let your emotions get the best of you,” Linda said, her voice coming out weary and small, like she was afraid her words might break me further.
“I don't care about Jaxon Lennox,” I replied, forcing every word to stay steady even as a knot tightened in my chest. “And he must never know that Renna is his. This should only be about saving my parents’ ranch and finding Ravyn Vale. If we’re going to get our hands on that CCTV footage, then we might as well call him in. I’m sure he’s ready to do anything to find Ravyn Vale.”I kept my tone clipped, professional—cold even—because letting emotions slip now would only make everything messier.
“Why are you so certain he’ll be willing to share footage of a night that was supposed to be a private party?” Linda asked, brows knit together in confusion.
“Because of the look I saw in his eyes,” I said, remembering it clearly—too clearly. “He was desperate… like whatever Ravyn Vale stole from him wasn’t just important, but something far more precious. He wasn’t just angry, Linda—he was enraged. And that, to a man like him, is more than enough reason.”Linda stared at me for a moment, looking a little lost, like she was struggling to keep up with the logic running wild in my head. But then she slowly nodded.
“Let’s meet the head officer today, then go looking for Mr. Lennox tomorrow.”
“You got it, boss,” Linda said with a forced grin, though worry flickered behind her eyes. I knew she had more to say—a thousand unspoken warnings weighing on her tongue—but she swallowed them down and let it go.
We both straightened ourselves and walked toward the head officer’s office, ready to give our report on Ravyn Vale… and step deeper into the dangerous path we had already chosen.
Troy’s POV
I sat beside Jaxon, my eyes fixed on his pale, motionless face. It had been hours since he passed out—hours since we carried him back to the house—and the silence in the room felt heavy enough to crush my chest. Dr. Jenny had stepped aside to speak with Mr. Lennox, who was still visibly shaken after witnessing one of Jaxon’s attacks for the very first time.
I couldn’t even decide who deserved more blame.Jaxon—who kept ignoring every warning, every symptom, every crack forming in his health…
Or his father—who continued to take that witch’s side and refused to believe a single word his son had been screaming for help for over twenty years.
How was Jaxon supposed to turn out fine after everything he’d survived?
The accident that left him in a coma for months.Waking up only to be told he was mentally unstable because he couldn’t even recognize his own mother.
Being shipped off to a psychiatric facility, treated like he was broken.Running away out of fear, only to be kidnapped and forced to endure horrors no twelve-year-old should ever see, let alone survive.
Being saved—yes—but at the price of pledging loyalty and his very life to the man who rescued him.And then being dragged straight back to that psychiatric ward the moment they found him.
Who wouldn’t be mentally shattered after all that?Especially when the person who may have destroyed your entire life is still free—breathing, smiling, pretending innocence—while the only family you have left refuses to believe your truth.
A heavy sigh slipped out of me. I pushed my fingers through my hair, then covered my face with both hands, the frustration sitting deep in my bones.
Even though Dr. Jane had assured us that Jaxon was out of immediate danger, the fact that he still hadn’t woken up sank like a stone in my stomach. It wasn’t comforting. Not at all.
“Troy?”
Dr. Jenny’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. I lifted my head to find her standing over me, worry softening her usually firm expression.
“Mr. Lennox would like to have a word with you,” she said gently. “And after that, I need you to go freshen up, eat something, and rest. You look like you’re two seconds away from collapsing.”
She wasn’t wrong. But all I could do was nod before I forced myself out of the room to meet Jaxon’s father.
Mr. Lennox looked worse than I expected—exhausted, defeated, hollow. Jason had always tried to maintain some form of relationship with him, but taking the head hotel chain from him… that had been a brutal blow. One not even Jaxon saw coming.
“Sir, you called for me,” I said, unsure of what he wanted. My voice sounded stiff even to my own ears.
“Yes, Troy,” he breathed out, every word laced with regret. “I need you to do something for me.” He paused, sighing three… four times in a row, like he couldn’t keep the weight inside his chest steady. “Once Jaxon wakes up, I know he won’t want to see me. And honestly, I don’t blame him. I’ve become a terrible father. So I’m going to leave… to avoid causing him another mental breakdown.”
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I wasn’t sure what to respond to first—the self-blame, the guilt, or the sheer helplessness in his voice.
But then he said something that shocked me.
“Please… help me convince Jason to leave Brookleigh and move to Hollowmere.”
I stared at him like he’d completely lost his mind.Leave everything? Now?The request felt unreal, almost desperate.
Before I could gather the right words to answer, the door to Jaxon’s room suddenly swung open.
And there he was—Jaxon. Standing in the doorway, unsteady and weak, his face drained of all color. Dr. Jane rushed behind him, panic written clearly in her eyes.