Chapter 35 Breaking point
The house felt quieter than ever. Since Fred went back, I was just in my room and he was in his own room too. Carson and I were avoiding each other, even though we were in the same house.
Sometimes I heard his footsteps in the hallway. Sometimes I saw the light under his door. But we didn’t talk.
It was like we were both waiting for the other to speak first, and yes I miss him but I can't bring myself to talk to him first, because he was the one who caused it.
That morning, I came downstairs and saw him in the kitchen. He had a bowl of cereal, but he wasn’t eating it.
He looked at me and I looked at him back.
Nothing.
I poured myself a glass of water and sat on the other side of the table.
Then not long after, Carson spoke.
“Are you going to keep pretending I don’t exist?” he asked.
I didn’t answer at first.
“I’m not pretending,” I said finally. “I just don’t know what to say,"I added.
He stood up, pushing the chair back loudly.
“You always walk away,” he said. “Every time something is hard, you pull back. You shut down. You leave,”he added.
I stared at him, shocked. “That’s not fair,” I said.
“Isn’t it?” he snapped. “You left this house. You walked out without even letting me explain anything and now you're back again still with no words.”he said.
“Explain what, Carson? That everything has to be on your terms? That I have to sit and wait while you handle everything your way?”I asked.
“I risked my life for you. I went to the dock alone. I fought men with guns. And now you stand here calling me obsessed?” he said louder.
I felt my heart break again.
“I never asked you to do that,” I shouted.
He stared at me, shocked. “Wow. So now it’s my fault?”he asked.
“I didn’t ask you to be a hero,” I said, tears filling my eyes. “All I ever wanted was someone who listens. Someone who stays. Not someone who disappears into files and secrets."I added.
Carson ran his hand through his hair.
“You’re unbelievable,”he said teary.
I stepped closer. “No, Carson. You are. You say you love me, but you don’t even try to understand me.”i said.
“I do love you,” he said quietly.
“Then why does it feel like I’m always alone?” I said back.
He looked away, biting his lip like he was holding something back.
And then Fred came running down the stairs.
“Guys,” Fred said, breathing heavily. “I didn’t want to interrupt, but… Annabel. You need to hear this,”he said.
We both turned to him, still catching our breath from the argument.
“What is it?” Carson asked.
Fred looked straight at me. “It’s your father. I just got a call from the prison,”he said.
“What happened?” I asked quickly.
“They said he collapsed in his cell this morning,” Fred said. “He’s been taken to the prison hospital and It’s serious.”he added.
I froze.
Carson stepped closer. “What kind of sickness and how serious is it ?” he asked.
Fred sighed. “He has a weak heart. They said it’s been getting worse for a while… and today, it finally gave out,”he added.
I sat down slowly. “No, no… he was doing just fine when I saw him last,” I said quietly.
Fred sat beside me. “He’s still alive. But the doctor said… it could go either way.”he said.
I blinked fast, trying not to cry. I felt Carson’s hand reach for mine, slowly, carefully.
And this time… I didn’t pull away, because that's the kind of feeling I need to be calm for now.
“I have to see him,” I whispered.
“We’ll go now,” Carson said.
At the prison hospital, the guard led us down the hallway without saying a word.
Then I saw him—my father, lying on the bed. He looked so small and so tired.
I stepped closer.
“Dad?” I said.
His eyes opened weakly. “Annabel…”he said.
Tears fell from my eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me you were sick?"I asked.
He gave a small smile. “Didn’t want you to worry,”he said.
Carson stood beside me, quiet and respectful.
My father looked at him, then back at me.
“You two fighting?” he asked softly.
I looked down, embarrassed.
He chuckled weakly. “Love is loud sometimes. But don’t let the noise destroy the feeling,”he said gently.
Carson and I both stayed silent.
“I may not have done right by you, Annabel,” he said. “But I know pain when I see it. And I know love too.”he said.
I held his hand tightly.
“You gave us names,” I said. “Henry Clark. Laura Price. Fiona Wallace.” I added.
He nodded. “They’re still moving money. Still planning.”
Carson stepped forward. “Do you know what the next move is?”he asked.
My father shook his head. “No. But they’re scared. That’s why they’re rushing. If you push now, you might break them,”he said.
I looked at Carson.
And for the first time in days… we understood each other without speaking.
“We’ll finish this,” I said. “Together.”i added.
My father smiled weakly. “Good.”
Back at the house, Fred was already working on his laptop.
“We tracked a new shell company under Laura Price’s name,” he said.
Carson sat beside him. “Where is it located?”
Fred pulled up a map. “In the city. But there’s more. Henry Clark is planning a private event this weekend. He’s calling it a ‘business summit.’ But it’s really a cover-up. All their main partners will be there,”he said.
I leaned forward. “We need to get in,"I said.
Carson nodded. “Then we will.”he said.
Fred looked at us both. “That’s not the problem. The problem is what happens after we get in.”he said.
Carson looked at me again.
“I don’t care,” I said. “We finish what we started."I said again.
We were finally on the same page again.
Still healing. Still hurting.
But together.
And that was enough—for now.