Chapter 229
Chapter 229
Jake's POV
I woke up at 5:15 AM.
Didn't need an alarm. Haven't needed one in three years.
The bed was empty beside me. Sadie was in the guest room down the hall, where I'd carried her last night after she finally stopped crying and fell asleep in my arms.
I sat up, rubbing my face. My head felt like it was full of broken glass.
Everything from yesterday kept replaying. Phoenix Brooks. The truth about what happened three years ago.
I got up and pulled on sweatpants. The house was silent. Dad would be awake soon.
I headed downstairs to the kitchen. Mrs. Garcia was already there, prepping breakfast like always.
"Morning," I said, my voice rough.
She looked up, surprised. "Jake. You're up early."
"Yeah." I walked over to the counter. "I need you to teach me something."
---
Mrs. Garcia showed me how to make scrambled eggs the way Mom liked them. Low heat, cream, constant stirring. The bacon had to be crispy but not burned. Toast buttered while still hot.
I screwed up the first batch of eggs. Too much heat. They clumped.
I dumped them and started over.
Mrs. Garcia didn't say anything. Just watched me work through it until I got it right.
By the time the sun started coming up, I'd sent the kitchen staff out. I wanted to do this alone.
I stood at the stove, flipping bacon, watching toast brown in the oven, squeezing fresh orange juice.
My parents had spent three years looking for "the girl who made me happy." Mom had cried over my cold indifference more than once.
I owed them this. A real conversation. An explanation.
And a breakfast I made myself.
---
At seven, I heard footsteps on the stairs.
Mom appeared first, wrapped in her robe, hair still loose. She stopped when she saw me standing at the counter with two plated breakfasts.
"Jake?" She looked confused. "What are you—"
"Morning, Mom." I set the plates down. "Morning, Dad."
Dad had followed her in, fully dressed already. He didn't look surprised. Just waited.
Mom's eyes went to the food. The eggs were fluffy, the bacon perfect, the toast golden. Not Mrs. Garcia's work and she knew it.
"Honey, what's going on?" she asked carefully.
"Sit down," I said. "Please. Both of you."
They exchanged a look. Then Dad pulled out Mom's chair for her and sat down himself.
I stayed standing across from them, watching them take their first bites.
"Surprisingly good," Mom said softly. Then her eyes came back to me. "Jake. Talk to us."
I glanced at Dad. He was eating calmly, like he'd been expecting this.
Mom noticed too. She looked between us. "Charles?"
"Let him finish breakfast first, Diane," Dad said quietly.
We ate in silence. I only had orange juice. Couldn't stomach anything else.
When the plates were empty, Dad stood. "Living room."
---
I sat across from them on the couch. Leaned forward, hands clasped.
"I went to London," I said.
Mom inhaled sharply. Her hand found Dad's.
Dad's expression shifted. Still calm, but heavier now.
"So you know about Phoenix's background," he said.
"I know he's in prison." I paused. "But what I don't know is what happened between him and you two. What kind of history makes you react that violently when you found out about me and Sadie?"
Mom looked at Dad. Waited.
Dad was quiet for a long moment. Then he spoke, voice low and deliberate.
"Twenty years ago, Phoenix Brooks was my most trusted business partner. We built the early foundation of Montgomery Financial together."
I went still.
"But right before the company was set to go public," Dad continued, "Phoenix forged financial documents. Tried to dilute my shares and transfer assets. If I hadn't caught it in time, the Montgomery family would've lost everything overnight. Your grandmother Mary would've lost her life's work."
"What happened to him?" I asked.
"I used every resource I had," Dad said. "Collected evidence on everything—fraud, money laundering, attempted murder. He's serving fifteen years in federal prison right now."
Mom leaned forward. "Jake, we weren't trying to control your life. We were terrified. Phoenix swore he'd destroy everything we had, including you. We thought Sadie might be a tool for his revenge. Or that you'd be used because you loved her."
I took a breath. Forced myself to stay calm.
"Sadie isn't Phoenix," I said. "She doesn't even know most of this. Three years ago, she left me because his conviction destroyed her diplomat dream. She thought she wasn't good enough for me. She protected me even when I forgot her."
Mom's eyes filled with tears.
Dad was silent. Then he said, "I know."
I looked at him sharply.
"I've been watching you for three years," Dad admitted. "I knew you switched out your security team. I knew you were searching for her. I didn't stop you because I was waiting. Waiting for you to remember on your own. Waiting to see if you'd still choose her."
He met my eyes.
"I couldn't do what I did three years ago again. Threaten an innocent girl. Hurt my son. I needed to know this was real."
"It is," I said.
Mom wiped her eyes. "Then we won't stand in your way."
I stood up. Walked over to them. And for the first time in years, I knelt down in front of my mother and took her hand.
"Thank you," I said quietly. "Both of you."
Mom touched my hair, crying. "Where is she now?"
"Here," I said. "At the estate. Resting."
Dad raised an eyebrow. "You brought her back from London?"
"Yes." I stood. "And I'm going to propose to her. Officially. I need your blessing."
Mom blinked. "Jake, are you sure? You two just reunited—"
"I've been sure for three years," I cut in. "I'm not giving her another chance to run. And I'm not letting anyone—including Phoenix Brooks's past—get between us again."
Dad studied me for a long moment. Then he nodded.
"If that's what you want, you have my blessing. But Jake, Sadie will need time to process all of this. Including the truth about her father."
"I'll handle it," I said. "I just need you to promise me something. Don't blame Sadie for what Phoenix did. She's innocent."
"We promise, sweetheart," Mom said, standing to hug me. "And I want her to know she doesn't have to be afraid of us. She's not responsible for her father's sins."
I held her tight. Then pulled back.
"Thank you."
Dad stood too, clapping a hand on my shoulder. "Go take care of her. We'll talk more later."
I nodded and headed for the door.
As I walked upstairs toward Sadie's room, I felt something I hadn't felt in three years.
Peace.