Closing the van’s open doors, I yawned and then hopped into the driver’s seat and let out a quiet sigh. I pushed the keys into the ignition and put my seatbelt on. I gave myself a few moments to rest, my head hitting the headrest with a quiet thud as I closed my eyes.
I fingered the small bracelet on my wrist as I often did in moments like this, a soft smile wavering on my lips as I stroked the thin chain, plaited strands of silver and gold, the small words engraved on it.
The bond between a brother and sister knows no distance.
Who would have known that this gift would have such a profound meaning? It was one of the last things he gave to me.
“I hope this still applies, bro,” I mumbled, wiping away an escaped tear.
The overwhelming pain his death caused had eased, at least enough that I could function again. Not that I had much choice. The gaping hole and the feeling of being split apart and only half re-built was as strong as ever. I wouldn’t ever be whole again.
Some days, the only thing that kept me putting one foot in front of the other was the children under my care, more lost than I felt. And my grandmother, who kept us all together and surrounded us all with her love and devotion.
“Not tonight, Quinn,” I reminded myself. Tonight was a night for celebration and happy tears only. The restaurant was thriving again, and the catering business had finally found its legs. Tonight was a good night.
The drive home wasn’t the longest. I spent the entirety of it longing for the moment that I’d finish unloading the items in the back of the van into the basement.Andfinally get to climb up the restaurant steps to head up to the apartment that sits atop it, which I shared with my grandmother, niece, and nephew.
After parking the van, I yawned, pinching the bridge of my nose to chase the sleepiness away as I opened the doors. I jumped back and let out a scream.
Jasper
Couldn’t they have chosen an indoor event? It’s not like we’re lacking in space.
My grip tightened on the bedsheets as I heaved a heavy sigh. Despite the closed windows, the music still drifted from the garden below. My family’s estate—myestate now—had thrown its elegant doors open to the city’s elite for the evening. Everyone looked forward to the lavish events that gave them the chance to marvel at the impressive manor.
Meanwhile, I want to leave.
A knock jerked me out of my thoughts, and I perked up, thinking it was Nigel. When the door opened, however, I practically deflated as I caught sight of long, scantily clad legs. Realizing it was only Crystal, myfiancée, I squeezed my eyes shut and feigned sleep.
“Jasper, sweetheart,” she called as she strutted inside, her high heels clacking loudly against the tiled floor. She let out a quiet sigh, turned giggle before I felt the bed dipping as she sat down beside me. “Jasper, please, I know you aren’t asleep.”
She leaned down and pressed a lingering kiss to my lips, and I remained perfectly still, hoping she’d think I really was asleep. No such luck.
“Come on. You’ve already missed most of the party. Are you sure you don’t want to at least show your face before everyone leaves? Hosting the gala for your family’s foundation is tradition! I think you should be down there. You’re the King, after all.”
Giving up on my act, I sighed heavily, opening my eyes to look at her.
Three years ago, I wouldn’t have had to be persuaded to attend a party. I would have been down in the garden with our guests, mingling and getting to know the single women better and relishing the rich bachelor playboy lifestyle. I used to eat up the attention from the tabloids and embrace the carefree lifestyle I loved so much. I was Jasper King, sole heir to my family’s fortune.I had everything that I could have wanted right at my fingertips.
Now look at me. Almost thirty years old and barely able to get out of bed.
“I don’t feel like partying right now, Crystal,” I said, the words stuttering out. The Jasper from three years ago never would have uttered those words, but I guessed this was another example of how I was only a shell of the man I used to be.
“I know it’s hard, but you can’t just shut yourself away like this. You’re wasting away in this suite. What would your parents think? It’s their legacy being honored and celebrated tonight!” she huffed, staring at me as if I was the most selfish man in the world.
My eyes narrowed as I looked at her. She couldn't care less about my parents’ honor, so who was she to lecture me about it?
“I don’t need a night to remember my parents, Crystal,” I growled, anger suffusing my disjointed words. “And I don’t need to be gawked at by a room full of people, either!”
“No one’s gawking at you, Jasper. They’re just concerned. Especially your friends! They miss you—Imiss you. I was even hoping that we could discuss some of our wedding plans tonight—”
And there it was. The real reason Crystal was trying to persuade me to leave my room.
All she wanted to do lately was talk about our wedding. Meanwhile, I wished that it didn’t have to happen at all. This time next month, I’d be a married man, and this time next year, a father. It was all planned out by my best friend and lawyer, Eddie, and everyone else who thought they had some sort of say in how my life should go. But not by me.Me, the one person whoshouldhave had a say, didn’t.
This was mostly Eddie’s fault. I knew he meant well, coming up with this little scheme to get my life ‘back on track’ but things had gone way too far, and I was sick of agonizing over wedding plans I didn’t care about in the first place.
‘It makes perfect sense,’ Eddie had told me a million times before. ‘Crystal is beautiful. Crystal is from a good family. Crystal is head over heels for you! Crystal can give you a family and therefore your family name will continue. Crystal can help you enjoy life again! Crystal, Crystal, Crystal,’ I was sick of Crystal. If Eddie’s cousin was so damn great, he should marry her instead.
