I frowned. Damon wasn’t one to care about stuff like that. "No. Why?"
"Just… check it out. It’s about the winery."
Unease coiled in my gut. I quickly pulled up the headlines, and my blood went cold:"Bellavista Winery: Built on Blood?"
It felt like a punch to the gut. What the hell were they talking about? Our business was built on hard work—legitimate work. I scrolled through the article, my mind racing.
Damon’s voice broke through my thoughts. "Dad wants to see us. He’s called a meeting with the top execs, but he wants to talk to us first."
I nodded, though he couldn’t see me. "I’ll be right there."
***
The last week has been a whirlwind of meetings. Tense, accusatory meetings. Someone had leaked documents to the press—sensitive ones that made it look like our family had ties to some kind of criminal enterprise in the winery’s early days. No one was admitting to anything, and the search for the culprit had hit a dead end. For now, we were focused on damage control.
After another long, heated meeting, I needed to clear my head. I drove aimlessly, city streets blurring together as I tried to make sense of everything. I couldn’t go back to my studio; Jake had warned me about the carpenters working late on the roof. It has been eight days since I’ve been to my apartment.
So, I ended up at a quiet park, the soft glow of streetlights illuminating the playground. I pulled over, shutting off the engine and sat in silence for a moment.
I stepped out of the car and took a deep breath of the cool evening air, letting the stillness wash over me. The park was empty, except for a few scattered benches and a children’s playground.
I began to walk aimlessly, my feet carrying me towards the playground. As I sat on one of the swings, gently swaying back and forth, I gazed around the park and a wave of nostalgia washed over me.
This place was full of memories—Jake, Elon, and I used to come here after school. We’d spend hours exploring the playground, laughing, climbing and forgetting everything else.
But now, the park felt… different. Elon’s sudden disappearance had left a gaping hole in our group, and we’d never come back here together after that.
We had often wondered what had driven him away, what had made him leave so suddenly. He’d just left a note, saying he was sorry. No other explanation and we’ve never heard from him again.
My mind snapped back to present, and the weight of the day’s events crashed down on me. I sat on one of the swings, swaying gently. My father was hiding something about the winery, and I couldn’t shake the frustration building inside me. Why couldn’t he just tell me the truth?
As I sat there, lost in thought, I heard a faint sound carrying on the wind. At first, I thought it was just the rustling of leaves or the distant hum of a car, but then I heard it again—a soft, muffled sob that caught my attention.
I froze, listening carefully. It was coming from a nearby bench, partially hidden by trees. I stood, moving toward the sound. As I rounded the trees, my heart skipped a beat.
It was Kendra.
Chapter Nine
Kendra
All I wanted was to curl up in my bed, surrounded by comforting darkness, and cry myself to sleep. Today was a day I dreaded, a painful reminder of the life I once had. It had been exactly one year since Elon’s passing, and the wound still felt fresh.
Every memory of our time together was engraved in my heart, on my mind, underneath my skin… there was no shaking it off, no pushing it to the recesses of my mind... no forgetting.
I remembered the day like it was yesterday. One moment, we were happy, singing along to Elon’s favorite R&B tune as we drove to the hospital for my prenatal appointment. The sun was shining, the music was playing, and we were both feeling carefree. Elon was behind the wheel, his eyes fixed on the road ahead, while I was chatting away, enjoying the warmth of the sun on my skin.
And then, in an instant, everything changed.
Elon’s eyes snapped toward the left, his face set in a determined expression. “Hold on!” he yelled, as a bus swerved out of its lane, heading straight for us. I felt a jolt of fear as Elon yanked the wheel to the right, trying to evade the oncoming vehicle.
But it was too late.
The bus crashed into us, sending our car spinning out of control. I felt like I was floating, weightless, as the world around me dissolved into chaos. The sound of crunching metal and shattering glass filled my ears, making my head ring. I saw Elon’s face, his eyes wide with panic and fear, as he struggled to regain control of the car.
We spun around once, twice, the force of the impact throwing me against the seatbelt. I felt a wave of nausea wash over me, and my vision began to blur. Elon’s voice was hoarse with desperation as he yelled, “Kendra, I’m sorry!”
And then, everything went black.
