seless trash.


    Tessa took a deep breath, disgusted by how terrible her judgment had been.


    Why had she ever fallen for someone like that?


    How had she made it through all those years?


    And how had she tolerated it for so long?


    Sometimes, she even admired her past self for enduring it all.


    But now, it was all in the past–there was no point dwelling on it anymore.


    Her voice…


    The thought made her lift her hand to touch her throat, sorrow flickering in her eyes.


    Grace caught the gesture, and her heart twisted painfully.


    She was only in her twenties.


    Why did she have to go through all this?


    Her voice had been perfectly fine.


    Why did she have to suffer such senseless harm?


    The ache in Grace’s chest surged.


    She took a deep breath and turned to Albert. “Well? Your ce or mine?”


    Albert hesitated for a moment before saying, “Let’s go to mine. It’s closer.”


    “I figure you’d prefer to get this over with quickly.”


    For once, Grace didn’t argue.


    She gave a small nod, which counted as agreement.


    She was beyond furious.


    If Jason hadn’t been holding her back, she might’ve pped Julian several times by now.


    Who would’ve thought–after one trip abroad, that wretched boy came back broken.


    Maybe it was karma catching up with him.


    The group split into two cars and headed for Albert’s house.


    As Julian stared at the familiar vi in front of him, he le out a quiet sigh


    He had made it back here alive.


    He used to think this ce meant nothing, but after everything that had happened, it now felt like a lifetime


    ago.


    As Julian looked at every familiar tree and de of grass his eyes burned with tears.


    Albert nced at his miserable son standing by the door and couldn’t help the wave of irritation rising in


    his chest.


    “Move it. Why are you just standing there?”


    He watched as Julian stumbled his way into the house.


    Julian followed instinctively, mimicking Albert’s pace.


    He’d been pretending to be insane for so long that he’d almost convinced himself.


    Never in his life had he imagined that faking madness would be his only way to survive.


    If he hadn’t reacted fast enough in Millford, he probably wouldn’t have made it back alive.


    It was that close.


    And because of that, Julian now clung desperately to the life he had left.


    Albert, watching him shuffle like that, could barely contain his anger.


    If not for all the people watching, he wouldn’t have bothered with this son anymore.


    But he still had apany to run–he couldn’t just let the Hayes Enterprises fall apart.


    He had to give the Waltons an answer.


    It was the only way to protect the family, and everything he’d built over the years.


    Meanwhile, Tessa stayed close behind Grace, gripping the hem of her mother’s coat.


    Noticing this, Grace reached back and held her hand, offering a steadying look.


    “Tessa, there’s nothing to be afraid of. I’m right here.”


    She turned to Jason. “And besides, we’ve got Mr. Jason Here. This is awful country–you don’t have to be scared.”


    Tessa gave a small nod, but the fear on her face was still in to see.


    Seeing her like this, Jason couldn’t help but feel a jolt of shock.


    This was the same Tessa who’d once threatened him?


    Now, she looked like apletely different person.


    It was hard to believe how much had changed in just over a month.